Some flooring materials are of high quality, and are also more expensive. Bruce flooring is an example. Bruce Floors was founded in 1884, and is a division of Armstrong, the largest hardwood flooring manufacturer in the world. Bruce is recognized by architects, builders, and remodelers as the industry standard of hardwood flooring. Even though it’s rather expensive, its high price is matched by its high quality and beauty.

Bruce floors can be found in home centers, lumberyards, and flooring stores throughout North America. They can be used in most any area of the home, are an elegant addition to an office, and are suitable for any lifestyle. They add value, are easy to clean and care for, and have great style combined with durability.

Bruce hardwood floors come in a extremely varied selection of wood species, styles, and colors, so there is plenty of variety from which to choose. Types of wood available include ash, basswood, cherry, hickory, maple, oak, pecan, and some exotic species. The flooring material can be purchased in parquet, plank, or strip styles, each giving a different appearance to the same wood. And colors range from light woods such as maple to darker varieties like oak.

Another choice to make is whether you want solid wood ( single pieces ), or engineered wood ( thin layers glued together ). The relative merits of these options will be covered in more detail in another article. Basically, solid wood cannot usually be installed over concrete or below ground level, but it has the advantage of being able to be sanded and refinished.

You can also choose between Bruce flooring that is factory-finished and unfinished material that can be sanded and stained after it has been installed. The former is both cheaper and carries a better warranty, but some people prefer doing it themselves.

Bruce now offers laminate flooring as well as hardwood. Many people are looking for a cheaper alternative due to the rising cost and scarcity of hardwoods. Laminates can imitate just about any type of material – not just wood, but stone or ceramics. Laminates are much more resistant to moisture, so they don’t warp easily like wood.

Laminates are manufactured by sandwiching four layers of different materials together. The top layer is for protection, the next layer shows the design, then an inner core of high density fiberboard impregnated with melamine, and finally a backing of moisture-proof material to protect against warping. Two different methods of fusing the layers together gives you a choice in the quality of your laminated flooring.

Bruce flooring can lend a touch of beauty and sophistication, making your home much more valuable if you decide to put it on the market. When you choose one of the many types of Bruce flooring available, you know you are buying a product with a long history of satisfied customers.