We have all heard of ’hard floors’ when it comes to interior decoration and furnishing, but what actually embodies this so-called hardwood flooring?

Wel, the term hardwood is used to describe wood from broad-leaved angiosperm trees, mostly deciduous, but not necessarily, as in the case of tropical trees. Hardwood contrasts with softwood in that softwoods come from conifer trees. Hardwood species are more varied than softwood. There are about a hundred times as many hardwood species as softwoods.

On average, hardwood is of higher density and hardness than softwood, but there is considerable variation in actual wood hardness in both groups. There is a large amount of overlap; some hardwoods are softer than most softwoods, and specifically, yew is an example of a hard softwood. Hardwoods have broad leaves and enclosed nuts or seeds such as acorns. When hardwood is involved in your flooring purchase, be sure that your floor has been through the Janka Hardness Scale test. This ensures that whatever you are purchasing has been testd by the industry standard process.

Cheaper “hardwood” doors for instance, now consist of a thin veneer bonded to a core of softwood, plywood or medium-density fiberboard. Examples of European hardwoods from evergreen trees include holly, boxwood and oak. Common deciduous European and North American hardwood species include the oaks, beech, ash, maple and cherry.

If hardwood is not your choice selection, or if you prefer more affordable alternatives, why not consider laminate floors? These are synthetic materials which are pre-produced in factories and coloured according to your choice. Laminate flooring is suitable in cases where hardwood installation is extremely difficult or impractical. It is mobile and light, making it easily transportable and installation is a breeze. Beware if you decide to buy laminate flooring though, because there are many substandard manufacturers out there which might short change you in terms of quality.