Hardwood Flooring: Natural Beauty That Lasts

Hardwood flooring brings timeless style, warmth, and durability to any home. Its natural grain and rich character make every room feel elevated, while its strength makes it a great choice for families with kids and pets. With so many colors, textures, and wood species available today, it’s easy to find a look that fits your style.

Engineered hardwood

Engineered hardwood gives you the beauty of real wood with added stability. Its layered construction helps it resist changes from Florida’s humidity, making it a smart choice for many homes.

Why homeowners choose it:

Real hardwood surface
More resistant to moisture and temperature changes
Can be installed on any level of the home (including basements)
Great for busy households

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Solid Hardwood

Solid hardwood is made from a single piece of natural wood, offering classic beauty and long‑lasting performance. It can be refinished multiple times, giving it a lifespan that can stretch for decades.

Best features:

100% solid wood
Can be sanded and refinished over time
Ideal for living areas, bedrooms, and spaces above ground level
Offers a traditional, premium hardwood feel

Professional Installation for the Best Results

A quality floor deserves a quality installation. Our team takes care of every detail—from precise measurements to expert cutting and fitting—so your new flooring looks seamless and performs the way it should for years to come.

When you’re ready to explore your options, we’ll walk you through the entire process and help you choose the flooring that fits your home, your lifestyle, and your budget.

Hardwood FAQ

What are the benefits of hardwood flooring?

Hardwood flooring offers timeless style, natural warmth, and long‑lasting durability. Its rich grain and character elevate any room, and it’s strong enough to handle everyday life in homes with kids and pets.

Does Mark’s Floors carry solid hardwood samples?

No. We do not keep solid hardwood samples in our showroom because solid wood is not recommended for Florida’s humidity. The climate can cause solid hardwood to expand, contract, and warp over time.

We can special‑order solid hardwood upon request, but we do not recommend it for installation in Florida homes.

Why doesn’t Mark’s Floors recommend solid hardwood in Florida?

Florida’s high humidity and temperature fluctuations can cause solid hardwood to:

Warp
Cup
Expand and contract
Develop long‑term stability issues

Because of this, solid hardwood is not the best fit for our climate, especially compared to more stable alternatives.

What is the difference between engineered hardwood and solid hardwood?

Engineered hardwood has a real hardwood surface layered over a stable core, while solid hardwood is made from a single piece of natural wood. Both offer beautiful, authentic wood looks, but they perform differently in certain environments.

Is engineered hardwood real wood?

Yes. Engineered hardwood has a genuine hardwood top layer, giving you the same natural beauty as solid wood with added stability and moisture resistance.

What is engineered hardwood, and why is it better for Florida?

Engineered hardwood has a real hardwood surface layered over a stable core. This construction makes it far more resistant to moisture and temperature changes — a major advantage in Florida.

Homeowners choose engineered hardwood because it:

Offers the beauty of real wood
Handles humidity better than solid wood
Works on any level of the home
Performs well in busy households

Can engineered hardwood be refinished?

Many engineered hardwood products can be refinished at least once, depending on the thickness of the real‑wood top layer. However, most engineered hardwoods don’t typically require refinishing the way solid hardwood does.

Because engineered wood is manufactured with a high‑performance factory‑applied finish, it’s far more resistant to scratches, wear, and fading than traditional site‑finished solid wood. This durable finish helps engineered hardwood maintain its appearance for many years without the need for repeated sanding and refinishing.

Solid hardwood can be refinished more times, but its sensitivity to Florida’s humidity makes it a less reliable choice for long‑term performance in our climate.

Is hardwood flooring a good choice for Florida homes?

Engineered hardwood is. It’s designed to handle humidity and temperature changes far better than solid wood. That’s why it’s the hardwood option we recommend for Florida homeowners.

What wood species and styles are available in engineered hardwood?

Engineered hardwood comes in a wide range of:

Species (oak, hickory, maple, walnut, etc.)
Colors and stains
Textures (smooth, wire‑brushed, hand‑scraped)
Plank widths and finishes

You can achieve nearly any look you want.

Do I need professional installation for hardwood flooring?

Yes. Professional installation ensures your hardwood is measured, cut, and fitted correctly so it performs well and looks seamless for years. Our team handles every detail for the best results.

Can Mark’s Floors order solid hardwood if I really want it?

Yes — we can special‑order solid hardwood. However, we will always explain the risks and limitations due to Florida’s humidity so you can make an informed decision.

How do I choose the right hardwood for my home?

We’ll help you compare engineered hardwood options, wood species, colors, and finishes to find the perfect match for your home, lifestyle, and budget — all while keeping Florida’s climate in mind.

Is bamboo flooring a good choice?

Bamboo can look beautiful, but it’s one of the more unpredictable flooring materials. It’s technically a grass, not a hardwood, which makes it more sensitive to moisture, humidity, and everyday wear than many people expect.

Why does bamboo flooring have a reputation for problems?

Bamboo expands and contracts more than most flooring types. In humid climates, this often leads to:

Warping
Cupping
Swelling
Gapping
Delamination

Because of this, bamboo tends to be less stable than hardwood, laminate, or luxury vinyl plank.

Does bamboo handle humidity well?

Not particularly. Bamboo absorbs moisture quickly, which makes it a risky choice in:

Florida
Coastal areas
Homes without consistent climate control
Rooms with high humidity

Even small humidity swings can cause noticeable movement.

Is bamboo flooring durable?

Marketing often claims bamboo is “harder than hardwood,” but real‑world performance varies. Some types dent easily, scratch quickly, or show wear sooner than expected. Quality depends heavily on the manufacturer, and consistency is a common issue.

Does bamboo fade or change color?

Yes. Bamboo is highly sensitive to UV light. Sun exposure can cause:

Yellowing
Lightening
Darkening
Uneven color patches

Homes with large windows or bright rooms often see noticeable color changes.

Can bamboo flooring be refinished?

It can be refinished in some cases, but it’s more difficult than hardwood. Bamboo doesn’t sand evenly, and strand bamboo can gum up sanding equipment. Many refinishers avoid it because results can be unpredictable.

Is bamboo flooring environmentally friendly?

Bamboo grows quickly, which makes it seem eco‑friendly. However, many bamboo floors are manufactured overseas using:

High‑VOC adhesives
Urea‑formaldehyde binders
Inconsistent curing processes

This can lead to off‑gassing and indoor air quality concerns.

How long does bamboo flooring last?

Because of its sensitivity to moisture and wear, bamboo often has a shorter lifespan than hardwood, laminate, or LVP. Many homeowners end up replacing it sooner than expected.

What are better alternatives to bamboo?

If you like the look of bamboo but want better performance, consider: