Real wood floors add warmth, character and lasting value to a home — and they can be refinished instead of replaced. Here is everything that goes into choosing the right wood, plus professional installation across Pearl, Brandon, Madison, Flowood, Ridgeland and all of Central Mississippi.
Book a Free In-Home Estimate Call (601) 790-1030Almost every hardwood choice starts here. Both are real wood on top — the difference is what is underneath, and that decides where you can install it.
A single, solid piece of wood (3/4″ thick). Its big advantage: it can be sanded and refinished many times, so it can last generations. Because solid wood expands and contracts with humidity, it should be installed on or above ground level — not in basements or over concrete, and not in bathrooms.
A real-wood veneer bonded over a cross-layered plywood core. That core makes it far more stable against moisture and temperature swings, so it can go anywhere — including over concrete and below grade. It can be refinished too, but only a limited number of times, depending on how thick the top wood layer is.
| Solid | Engineered | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it installs | On/above grade only | Any level, incl. over concrete |
| Refinishing | Many times (longest life) | Limited (depends on veneer) |
| Moisture tolerance | Lower | Higher / more stable |
| Best for | Main floors you'll keep for decades | Slabs, basements, wider planks, humidity |
Different woods dent at different rates. The Janka scale measures that hardness — the higher the number, the better it resists dents from heels, furniture and pet claws. (It is one factor; finish and grade matter too.)
| Species | Janka | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hickory | ~1,820 | Hardest common domestic wood; rustic, dramatic grain — great for busy homes. |
| Hard Maple | ~1,450 | Clean, light, contemporary look; very hard. |
| White Oak | ~1,360 | The current favorite — neutral, takes stain beautifully, hard and stable. |
| Red Oak | ~1,290 | Classic, warm tone with strong grain; the American standard for decades. |
| Walnut | ~1,010 | Rich, dark, luxurious — softer, so best in lower-traffic, formal spaces. |
| Brazilian Cherry (exotic) | ~2,350 | Extremely hard and richly colored, a premium exotic option. |
This is what sets real wood apart from every other floor: when it gets worn or you want a new color, it can be sanded back to bare wood and refinished instead of torn out. Solid wood can take many refinishes over its life; engineered can be refinished a limited number of times depending on its wear-layer thickness. We can refinish your existing hardwood too — ask us before you replace.
A huge range of engineered and solid hardwood with durable factory finishes.
Engineered and solid hardwood built for real-world stability.
Premium hardwood with beautiful design and feel underfoot.
Designer hardwood styles and rich, characterful textures.
Trusted American hardwood — solid and engineered.
We carry additional lines and can special-order. Ask us what fits your room and budget.
Browse our full hardwood collection by style, color and brand — and use the room visualizer to see it on a photo of your own space.
We quote every job for your home, not off a chart. Your price comes down to the product line you choose, the size of the space, how much subfloor prep the room needs, and the trim, transitions, and stairs involved. We measure everything for free and give you one clear, itemized price — no guesswork.
| 1. Free in-home measure | We assess your subfloor, grade level and moisture, and measure precisely. |
|---|---|
| 2. Samples in your light | See species, stains and finishes in your own rooms, or visit our Pearl showroom. |
| 3. Acclimation | Real wood acclimates to your home's humidity before install — a step cheap installers skip. |
| 4. Professional install & finish | Our crew installs (and site-finishes if chosen), then cleans up. |
Neither is universally better — it depends on where it goes. Use solid on or above ground level where you want the longest life and the most refinishes. Use engineered over concrete, in basements, or in humid spaces, and for very wide planks, because its plywood core is more stable.
Engineered hardwood can — its cross-layered core handles the moisture and movement. Solid hardwood should not; it needs to be on or above grade. We check your subfloor and moisture before recommending either.
On the Janka hardness scale, hickory (~1,820) is the hardest common domestic wood, followed by maple and white oak. Harder species resist dents better, but finish quality and a matte sheen also make a big difference in how a floor wears.
Solid hardwood can usually be sanded and refinished many times over its life. Engineered can be refinished a limited number of times depending on how thick its real-wood veneer is. We can often refinish your existing floors instead of replacing them.
Dust-mop or vacuum on the bare-floor setting, and clean with a barely-damp microfiber and a wood-specific cleaner. Never wet-mop or steam-mop hardwood — standing water and steam damage the wood and finish.
Some seasonal movement is normal. Keeping indoor humidity around 35–55% year-round, acclimating the wood before install, and choosing engineered in high-moisture areas all keep it to a minimum. Proper installation is the biggest factor.
Free in-home estimates across the Jackson metro. We'll bring samples to you, or visit our showroom at 1138 Weems Street, Pearl, MS.
Book a Free In-Home Estimate Call (601) 790-1030