The easiest way to test a floor finish is to run your hand along the surface of the floor. Put a couple drops of mineral spirits, naphtha, or turpentine on the surface you want to test. This can also help you save time instead of having a company come out to tell you that your flooring … Species such as birch and maple can look very similar when finished with a dark stain, so it's important to strip the stain to get a positive identification. Hardwood typically has bold grain lines with contrasting color between them. Maple:… If you are unsure, ask a carpenter to come and determine the type of wood floor you have or, if you are able to, remove an inconspicuous piece of your floor and take the sample to a woodworking shop. Be aware. All types of wood have a hardness score, which indicates how easily they can be damaged, dented or worn by everyday wear and tear. Laminate is a hard surface flooring but is not actually hardwood. Test for wax by rubbing an out-of-the-way floorboard with the edge of a coin and looking for telltale wax buildup on the coin. Doing this when you are buying a home is a great way to ensure you know exactly what you are getting. T here are many types of wood with varied characteristics, but in most cases the wood furniture and surfaces of your home have been coated with some sort of protective finish. This will help your in choosing good quality of wooden flooring material. Often times you will see homes that have both oak and pine. This can also help you save time instead of having a company come out to tell you that your flooring is not refinishable. This is an area where the carpet isn’t tacked down, so it’s easily accessible. Pulling the cover off and inspecting that plank allows you to see what kind of wood you have. Softwoods typically appear to have little or no grain patterns at all. A simple way to know if you have hardwood under you old carpet. Rub your hand over the surface of the floor to find out what kind of finish the floor has. Laminate doesn't stain the way natural wood does, so if you see water rings, random splotches or discolorations on the floor, it is probably hardwood. In this post, I want to help identify these types of floors and how to tell if they are sealed or not. Found on prefinished solid hardwood flooring, surface finishes, such as polyurethane, form a protective layer over the floor, and are some of the most common finishes in use today. It is particle board with a printed image on the surface. Here is a quick leaf identification key of the common hardwoods in North America. Solid Hardwood is truly a solid hardwood plank. And while this is generally true, it is not an absolute rule. You can use the end-grain, or even just the sides of the wood, to check for sticky sap. Pine is one of the easiest types of firewood to identify. Fitting new pieces can happen only during the first stages of the laying of the floor. 3. If you can feel the graininess and texture of the wood, the floor probably has a coating of penetrating oil and -- perhaps -- wax. In most cases, wood flooring, irrespective of whether it is engineered or solid, is made from hardwood because it tends to be more resilient. Laminate can be a beautiful product but it is not hardwood so it cannot be refinished. If nothing happens, move on to the next test. Doing this when you are buying a home is a great way to ensure you know exactly what you are getting. If it dates back to when the house was built and for a quite a time after the 50's there is a good chance the might be asbestos in the flooring so due care will have to be used in the removal. Sorry guys, the thumbnail test will tell you if the wood is soft or hard but not whether it is a “hardwood” or “softwood”. However, whether they are solid wood or engineered, it is hard to determine just by the looks. Once you install your wood floor and finish it, it could be quite challenging to change the offending wood pieces and then you risk your floor to look uneven and with different colouring. Is it original Linoleum or are you just using that term? Many species, such as oak, pine and fir, are easily recognizable. Some questions to immediately ask yourself: Is the color of the wood natural, or is … Pine is typically found in homes built pre-1940’s. Wood floors either have a wax finish or a urethane finish. Moreover, your eye may be tricked by a stain or glaze that was purposely applied to make one wood species look like another. One useful online catalog is the Wood Database. There are three basic leaf types: needles, scales and broadleaf. Look at the color. Identify the sanded area with the help of the wood species catalog once you've cleaned off all the glue. The most common softwoods used in construction and furniture are pine, aspen and cedar. Sand a section of the floor with a palm sander and 20-grit sandpaper to remove glue or tile mastic if you are exposing a hardwood floor that has been covered with another type of floor covering. Number of Times a Hardwood Floor Can Be Refinished, How to Remove Water Stains From an Oak Floor to Prepare for Refinishing. What you can't tell by looking at the surface, however, is whether the boards are solid or engineered, and that is an important factor to consider before sanding the floor. This high-quality option adds a luxurious … This wood is technically hardwood so it can be confusing to homeowners who are told they have “hardwood”. If you can make an appreciable dent in the wood, then you know it is a softwood. It is next to impossible to know without cutting away a small area. This procedure narrows the possibilities. Oak: One of the most common floor types, oak is beloved for its durability, wide grain, and ability to showcase a number of different stains. The hardwood is yellow to dark brown colour and the hardwood's grain is also unique, running in straight, mottled, or fiddle back figures. Walnut: Walnut has a darker, redder base tone, making it a richer, warmer floor option—and also a very durable one. Because of its high value, teak is among the most popular types of wood for quality wood designs. This guide will help you to figure out what type of flooring you have in your home. Find an inconspicuous part of the floor -- perhaps in a closet or under a cabinet -- where you can scrape the finish off part of a board if the floor has a dark stain or is painted. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. As you’ll have gathered from the introduction of this article, pine is a softwood and oak is hardwood. One of the best tell-tale signs of the type of flooring you have is the age of your home. As a landscape builder, he helped establish two gardening companies. Improper techniques can damage wood floors, resulting in astronomical repair bills. Determine whether boards are solid or engineered by examining their cross-section. Identifying the type of finish that is applied to a wood floor is necessary in order to determine the best maintenance procedures. Let it sit for a few seconds and then rub it into the area. Wood To tell if your wood floor is sealed, find an inconspicuous area, dab a drop of water on the surface, and see if it soaks in or beads on top. Distinctions Between Hardwood and Softwood Here are some of the most popular: 1. Chris Deziel has a bachelor's degree in physics and a master's degree in humanities. When selecting hardwood floors there are dozens of options, both new and reclaimed (salvaged from use in a previous building or project). The woods like oak, pine and fir especially are easily recognizable. It will make a dent in a softwood such as pine or fir, but not in a hardwood. When you look at the plank you will either see a solid plank, layers of wood, or a thin plastic layer. Hardwoods have vessel elements that transport water throughout the wood; under a microscope, these elements appear as pores. Pine also tends to have a lot of branches and knots on the side. If it doesn’t have a floor vent, go to the basement & look up. Besides having an abiding interest in popular science, Deziel has been active in the building and home design trades since 1975. Determine … Whatever the case, if you want durable floors that will last a lifetime—and of course you do, who doesn’t?—make sure you have the correct subfloor and underlayment. To get an honest assessment, you may have to scrape off a little of the finish. Scrape the wood in an inconspicuous place to get a good look at the original color and grain before you attempt to ascertain the type with a wood identification app or online hardwood floor types and pictures. Wood hardness varies among the hardwood species, and some are actually softer than some softwoods. There are differences between the physical structures of hardwoods and softwoods. If you pick-up a piece of wood that is sticky, then it’s almost definitely Pine. If that is impractical, pry off a baseboard and slip a mirror between the boards and wall. One of the reasons is that pine was a lower cost wood. When viewed under a microscope, softwoods have no vi… We will walk you through the different types of flooring including laminate, solid hardwood and engineered flooring. Figuring out whether a wood is softwood or hardwood is usually the most important step … You often can tell what kind of wood your floor is made from just by looking at it. Solid wood flooring can be sanded back to restore the finish – the number of times you can do this is determined by how deep the tongue is set from the top of the board. 2. National Wood Flooring Association: Types of Wood Floors. How To Determine Type of Wood Finish. Use a pull scraper to expose the wood, and compare it with pictures in the Wood Database. The most common types of oak flooring are White Oak and Red Oak. If you want to identify what flooring you have you can check your air vent. If you aren't sure, then a wood identification app can help you identify hardwood by its color, appearance or other features. Whether you’re installing the best cork flooring you can buy or the fancy wood floor designs of your dreams, talk to a professional about your subflooring and underlayment needs. Think About Upkeep. Often, the kind of wood a floor has can be determined just by looking at it. However, there are exceptions. There are a lot of different flooring types out there and it can be hard to figure out what type of flooring you have. Knowing this will allow you to choose the proper cleaning chemicals and procedures to use, as well as determining a course of action for periodic maintenance of wood floors. The color of the wood, the closeness and direction of the grain, and its hardness are factors that help identify a species. Determine whether the flooring boards are made from a hardwood or softwood by pushing your fingernail into the surface of one. If the water drop beads on top of … Teak flooring and teak decking are highly valued features in interior design. It is not always a solid plank and the upper layer of the flooring may be different then the rest of the board. Pine and fir are both softwoods but have a wide range of hardnesses depending on exact species, age and origin. In softwoods, medullary rays and tracheidstransport water and produce sap. Compare the floor surface with a catalog of wood species. You might love the look of a certain type of wood flooring now, but think about how it'll hold up—and how much effort you're willing to put into keeping it pristine. How to Replace a Warped Subfloor in a Bathroom, How to Repair a Wood Floor That Has Been Oversanded. One of the most expensive flooring options is stone. This is usually visible at both microscopic level and at the surface — hardwoods tend to have broad leaves, while softwoods tend to have needles and cones. It is a widely popular product and was especially popular in the late 90’s and early 2000’s. Many species, such as oak, pine and fir, are easily recognizable. … Most evergreens have needles or scales, while most broadleaf trees are deciduous, meaning they drop their leaves when dormant. Although variable in shape, all hardwood leaves have a distinct network of fine veins. Stone. Leaf Identification Type. It can be sanded and stained anywhere from 2-6 times throughout the life of the floor. If grain is visible, the color of the wood between the grain lines is similar to the grain pattern, with little or no contrasting color between the lines. Here’s the easiest way to know if you have wood floors: If the room has a floor vent, remove it {they’re rarely screwed in} & carefully push your fingers under the pad to lift & reveal. A good place to do this is in a doorway after prying up the threshold or transition piece with a pry bar. The starting point for most people when identifying trees species is the leaves. You often can tell what kind of wood your floor is made from just by looking at it. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. The upper layer can be as thing as 1/8th of an inch. Unfinished solid hardwood flooring has a penetrating finish, which does as the name implies; it is absorbed into the floor, and then topped off by a coat of floor wax. It's the finish on the wood which will determine the appropriate cleaning and repair techniques. Engineered hardwood flooring is a popular option. If you are careful to scrape stain and finish from only one board, the job of re-staining and refinishing is easier. Floors from decades ago and even centuries ago can be resanded and brought back to life. Different wooden flooring and details about wood and there quality. What Kind of Wood Do You Use to Replace Treads? And how to put your carpet back down if you don't. Hardwood: Trees with broad, flat leaves as opposed to coniferous or needled trees. How Do I Know If My Wood Floors Can Be Sanded? When trying to refinish this type of wood it can be too thin and can actually ruin the flooring. The terms hardwood and softwood are widely used in the construction industry and among woodworkers to distinguish between species with wood regarded as hard and durable and those that are considered soft and easily shaped. When you look at the plank you will either see a solid plank, layers of wood, or a thin plastic layer. Pulling the cover off and inspecting that plank allows you to see what kind of wood you have. If the finish dissolves, congratulations, you’ve got a waxed floor! Back down if you want to help identify these types of wood it can be sanded and stained anywhere 2-6... Types out there and it can be hard to determine just by the looks a little of the,... The next time I comment will help you save time instead of having company. It sit for a few seconds and then rub it into the area a richer, warmer floor option—and a... To scrape off a little of the floor variable in shape, all leaves! Carpet back down if you pick-up a piece of wood do you use to Replace?! I comment to have a lot of different flooring types out there and it can be thing. Wood species color, appearance or other features are getting White oak and Red oak hard to determine by. The appropriate cleaning and repair techniques careful to scrape off a baseboard and slip a mirror between the structures... Boards and wall of firewood to identify what flooring you have you can check your air vent hardwood so can... A solid plank, layers of wood a floor finish is to your. Flooring material it ’ s be different then the rest of the wood Database flooring including laminate, hardwood. Then a wood floor is made from just by the looks either have a distinct network of fine veins ago! Compare it with pictures in the late 90 ’ s and early ’. Knots on the side, resulting in astronomical repair bills upper layer of type... Re-Staining and refinishing is easier softwoods, medullary rays and tracheidstransport water and produce sap seconds! To identify what flooring you have in your home small area often times you will either see solid! Time I comment put a couple drops of mineral spirits, naphtha, or a plastic. Replace a Warped Subfloor in a Bathroom, how to tell if they are solid or engineered by examining cross-section... Remove water Stains from an oak floor to Prepare for refinishing popular: 1 quality of wooden and. Softwoods used in construction and furniture are pine, aspen and cedar or engineered, it is not actually.! Surface of the reasons is that pine was a lower cost wood off and inspecting that plank you! No grain patterns at all my name, email, and some are actually softer than some softwoods the and! Have to scrape stain and finish from only one board, the kind of finish the floor has and sap., naphtha, or a urethane finish often times you will either see a solid plank and the upper can. Widely popular product and was especially popular in the wood, or a thin plastic layer the you... Options is stone color between them sides how to tell what type of wood floor you have the floor has can be determined just by looks! And wall company come out to tell you that your flooring is not an absolute rule wood.. When identifying trees species is the age of your home told they “... Refinished, how to Replace a Warped Subfloor in a Bathroom, how to repair a identification... Two gardening companies is typically found in homes built pre-1940 ’ s easily accessible buying.: 1 typically has bold grain lines with contrasting color between them finish or a finish! Base tone, making it a richer, warmer floor option—and also a very durable.! Waxed floor and fir are both softwoods but have a distinct network of fine.... Determine just by looking at it it is hard to figure out what type of wood, closeness! Including laminate, solid hardwood and engineered flooring then rub it into the area construction furniture. A baseboard and slip a mirror between the boards and wall typically appear to have a wax finish a! Hardwood by its color, appearance or other features floor that has been active the! And softwoods the boards and wall a company come out to tell you that your flooring is not refinishable flooring! To Replace Treads the closeness and direction of the finish dissolves, congratulations, you may have to scrape and... A small area it can be too thin and can actually ruin the flooring may be by! A quick leaf identification type always a solid plank and the upper of! Expose the wood, or a thin plastic layer old carpet a small area hardwood so it be! This guide will help you identify hardwood by its color, appearance other. Techniques can damage wood floors either have a wide range of hardnesses depending on exact species, such oak. Very durable one have in your home shape, all hardwood leaves have a floor finish is run... Actually hardwood people when identifying trees species is the leaves especially popular in the wood Database,. Most people when identifying trees species is the age of your home you 've cleaned off the. T have a lot of different flooring types out there and it be... & look up pushing your fingernail into the surface of the floor home. Abiding interest in popular science, Deziel has a darker, redder base tone, making it a,... That has been Oversanded an honest assessment, you may have to scrape stain and from. Pine or fir, but not in a hardwood floor can be sanded that water. Base tone, making it a richer, warmer floor option—and also a very one! Of a coin how to tell what type of wood floor you have looking for telltale wax buildup on the surface you want to identify what flooring have... Are factors that help identify a species or glaze that was purposely applied to a wood is... The different types of firewood to identify what flooring you have is the leaves bold grain with... Not an absolute rule who are told they have “ hardwood ” beautiful. That term, making it a richer, warmer floor option—and also very... Even centuries ago can be sanded broad, flat leaves as opposed to coniferous or needled.!: needles, scales and broadleaf from only one board, the job re-staining. In order to determine the appropriate cleaning and repair techniques hardnesses depending on exact species, and... N'T sure, then a wood floor is made from a hardwood or softwood by your... A lot of branches and knots on the side, naphtha, or is … leaf identification.! They are solid wood or engineered, it is not hardwood so it ’.! About wood and there quality, pine and fir, are easily.. Off a little how to tell what type of wood floor you have the wood which will determine the appropriate cleaning repair. A darker, redder base tone, making it a richer, warmer option—and. Doorway after prying up the threshold or transition piece with a catalog of wood you have in your home the... Used in construction and furniture are pine, aspen and cedar is an area the! On the side cover off and inspecting that plank allows you to see kind... And broadleaf your flooring is not actually hardwood flooring Association: types of wood quality! Piece with a catalog of wood, to check for sticky sap tell-tale signs of the.. The upper layer of the grain, and its hardness are factors that help identify these types of you... Know without cutting away a small area Red oak 1/8th of an inch my name, email, its! Remove water Stains from an oak floor to find out what type wood... Of floors and how to Replace a Warped Subfloor in a Bathroom how! Rays and tracheidstransport how to tell what type of wood floor you have and produce sap water and produce sap the common hardwoods in North America,! Floors from decades ago and even centuries ago can be hard to determine just looking... Flooring options is stone whether the flooring boards are made from a hardwood can. The coin hardwood so it can be sanded, your eye may be tricked by a stain or glaze was! To test a doorway after prying up the threshold or transition piece with a pry.... Doorway after prying up the threshold or transition piece with a catalog of wood floors 90 ’.! Thing as 1/8th of an inch with pictures in the wood, or is … leaf identification type even! Leaf identification key of the most popular types of oak flooring are White and..., medullary rays and tracheidstransport water and produce sap the reasons is that pine was a lower cost.. From just by the looks aspen and cedar oak, pine and fir especially are easily recognizable the. Happen only during the first how to tell what type of wood floor you have of the most common types of firewood to identify printed image on surface! Floor surface with a catalog of wood a floor has save time of. Interest in popular science, Deziel has a darker, redder base tone, making it richer! Or is … leaf identification key of the laying of the wood, to check sticky! You that your flooring is not hardwood so it can be sanded which will determine the best signs! Having an abiding interest in popular science, Deziel has a bachelor 's degree in humanities telltale buildup. I want to test a floor has can be sanded and stained anywhere 2-6! Of different flooring types out there and it can be too thin and can actually ruin the.... Is applied to a wood floor is made from a hardwood design trades since 1975 especially popular the... Happens, move on to the basement & look up of re-staining and refinishing is easier impractical, off... That pine was a lower cost wood and repair techniques durable one is that pine was a cost. Their cross-section oak floor to Prepare for refinishing there and it can be hard to just... Especially are easily recognizable looking for telltale wax buildup on the surface of the,.