About Hardwood Flooring in Atlanta

Hardwood Flooring in Atlanta

At Flooring Atlanta, we carry thousands of hardwood flooring products across our four showroom locations, including solid and engineered options in multiple species, widths, and finishes. Every recommendation is based on what works best in your space. We have been helping Atlanta homeowners choose and install hardwood flooring for over 19 years, with more than 30,000 installations completed across the region.

Whether you are upgrading a single room or installing hardwood throughout your entire home, we handle the full process from product selection to professional installation.

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Solid vs. Engineered Hardwood

Solid Hardwood

Solid hardwood is milled from a single piece of wood, typically 3/4 inch thick. It can be sanded and refinished multiple times over its lifespan, which makes it a true long-term investment. Solid hardwood is best installed over plywood subfloors on the main level or upper floors of your home. It is not recommended for basements or areas below grade because of moisture exposure.

Best for: Living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms, and open floor plans on the main level or above.

Engineered Hardwood

Engineered hardwood is built from multiple layers of wood bonded together, with a real hardwood veneer on top. This layered construction gives it greater dimensional stability, which means it handles humidity and temperature swings better than solid hardwood. This is especially important in Atlanta, where summer humidity can cause solid wood to expand and contract. Engineered hardwood can be installed over concrete slabs, plywood, and in some cases below grade.

Best for: Homes with concrete slabs, basements, kitchens, wider plank styles, and areas where humidity fluctuates.

Hardwood Species

The species of wood you choose affects the look, durability, and hardness of your floor. The Janka hardness rating measures how resistant a wood species is to dents and wear. A higher number means a harder floor.

White Oak

The most popular hardwood species in the U.S. right now. White oak has a classic grain pattern, warm tones, and strong durability. It takes stain well and is available in a wide range of finishes from natural to dark espresso. White oak is a safe, versatile choice for almost any room.

Janka rating: 1,360 | Best for: Living rooms, kitchens, open floor plans

Red Oak

A traditional favorite with a slightly more pronounced grain pattern than white oak. Red oak has warm, reddish undertones and is widely available at a range of price points. It is slightly softer than white oak but still holds up well in most residential settings.

Janka rating: 1,290 | Best for: Bedrooms, dining rooms, hallways

Hickory

One of the hardest domestic hardwood species available. Hickory has bold grain variation and natural character that gives each plank a unique look. It is an excellent choice for high-traffic areas and homes with active households.

Janka rating: 1,820 | Best for: High-traffic areas, family rooms, entryways

Maple

Maple has a smooth, even grain with a clean, modern appearance. It is harder than oak and takes lighter stains well, making it popular for contemporary interiors. Maple shows less grain variation than oak or hickory.

Janka rating: 1,450 | Best for: Modern interiors, bedrooms, offices

Pecan

Pecan is in the hickory family and shares its durability, with warm tones and natural color variation that range from light cream to dark brown within the same plank. It creates a rich, organic look.

Janka rating: 1,820 | Best for: Living rooms, dining rooms, open concepts

Exotic Species (Brazilian Cherry, Acacia, Tigerwood)

Exotic hardwoods offer dramatic color, unique grain patterns, and extreme hardness. Brazilian Cherry (Janka 2,350) and Tigerwood (Janka 1,850) are among the hardest options available. These species make a statement but come at a higher price point.

Best for: Accent rooms, formal living spaces, homeowners who want a distinctive look

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Hardwood Brands We Carry

We work with trusted manufacturers that produce hardwood built for real homes. Here are some of the brands you will find across our four showrooms:

• Shaw — A leader in innovation with high-performance engineered and solid collections. Featuring the Repel Splash-Proof technology and the Exquisite hardwood series, Shaw offers a massive variety of species like maple, hickory, and oak. It is our go-to recommendation for active households that need durability without sacrificing style.
• Mohawk — Renowned for the TecWood and RevWood lines, Mohawk provides versatile hardwood solutions that balance luxury with moisture resistance. Their collections range from the classic UltraWood to wide-plank oak and hickory finishes. This is a top choice for homeowners looking for consistent quality and eco-friendly manufacturing.
• Summerset — Specializing in artisanal, handcrafted aesthetics, Summerset offers premium engineered flooring with thick wear layers and sophisticated finishes. Their collections focus on wire-brushed textures and trendy, muted palettes that highlight the natural grain of the wood. Ideal for achieving a high-end, custom-built look in any room.
• Mannington — Engineered hardwood built for stability in Georgia’s climate. Hand-scraped textures and rich stain options across the Handcrafted, Latitude, and Maison collections.
• Anderson Tuftex — Premium hickory and oak collections with natural character and long-term durability. A strong choice for homeowners who want a lived-in, organic look.
• DH Floors — Solid and engineered options including the Colonial Collection and Pacific Pecan line. A quality option for homeowners looking for character-grade hardwood with natural variation.

 

How to Choose the Right Hardwood

Know your subfloor

Your subfloor determines which type of hardwood you can install. Solid hardwood requires a plywood subfloor and should only go on the main level or above. Engineered hardwood works over plywood, concrete, and in some cases below grade. If you have a concrete slab, engineered is the way to go. Our team will check your subfloor conditions during the free in-home measurement.

Factor in Atlanta’s humidity

Atlanta summers bring high humidity, and winters dry the air out. This seasonal swing causes wood to expand and contract. Engineered hardwood handles these changes better than solid because of its layered construction. If you are set on solid hardwood, proper acclimation before installation is critical. Our installers follow manufacturer acclimation guidelines for every project.

Match the species to your lifestyle

If you have kids, pets, or heavy foot traffic, choose a harder species like hickory (Janka 1,820) or maple (Janka 1,450). If you want a classic, versatile look that works with any design style, white oak (Janka 1,360) is the safest choice. Softer species like red oak are better suited for bedrooms and lower-traffic rooms.

Choose your finish

• Pre-finished hardwood comes with the finish already applied at the factory. It is ready to walk on immediately after installation and offers a consistent, durable surface.
• Site-finished hardwood is sanded and finished on-site after installation. This gives you a completely seamless look with no micro-bevels between planks, and you can choose your exact stain color. Our sand-and-finish crews specialize in this work.
• Wire-brushed and hand-scraped textures are popular for homeowners who want a natural, lived-in look that also hides minor scratches and wear.

Understanding Plank Width

Wider planks (5 inches and above) are a modern trend that creates an open, spacious feel, while narrower planks (2-1/4 to 3-1/4 inches) provide a more traditional aesthetic. In Atlanta’s humid climate, any plank 5 inches or wider requires both a nail-down and glue installation to prevent cupping. Because solid wood reacts erratically to moisture, engineered wood is the more stable and superior choice for wide-plank installations in Atlanta.

Hardwood Care and Maintenance

• Sweep or vacuum regularly. Use a soft-bristle broom or a vacuum with a hard-floor setting. Grit and dirt are the biggest causes of scratches over time.
• Clean with a hardwood-specific cleaner. Avoid vinegar, water-based solutions, and steam mops. These can dull the finish and damage the wood over time. Use a manufacturer-recommended hardwood cleaner.
• Wipe up spills quickly. Hardwood is not waterproof. Standing water can cause warping, staining, and finish damage. Blot spills immediately.
• Use furniture pads. Place felt pads under all furniture legs to prevent scratches and dents, especially on chairs that move frequently.
• Control humidity. Keep indoor humidity between 35% and 55% year-round. Use a humidifier in winter and a dehumidifier or AC in summer. This is especially important in Atlanta.
• Refinish when needed. Solid hardwood can be refinished multiple times. Engineered hardwood can typically be refinished 1-2 times depending on the veneer thickness. Refinishing restores the surface and extends the life of your floor by decades.

Sand & Finish Services

Most solid hardwood and many engineered hardwood floors can be sanded down and refinished to look brand new. At Flooring Atlanta, our in-house sand-and-finish crews handle the full process start to finish across Metro Atlanta.

What Sand & Finish Includes

• Full sanding: We sand your existing floors down to bare wood, removing the old finish, surface scratches, light stains, and minor dents.
• Repair and board replacement: Damaged or rotted boards can be replaced and blended into the existing floor before staining.
• Custom stain color: Choose your stain from a wide range of samples. Stain is applied on-site so the color looks consistent across every plank.
• Protective finish: A new sealer is applied in multiple coats. Choose from matte, satin, semi-gloss, or gloss sheen.
• Custom stair treads: Our crews can build and finish custom stair treads on-site for a seamless look from floors to stairs.

When to Consider Refinishing

• Visible scratches, gouges, or worn finish in high-traffic areas.
• You want to change the stain color without replacing the floor.
• You are updating other parts of the home and want the floors to match a new design direction.
• Solid hardwood that has not been refinished in 10 to 15 years.
• Engineered hardwood with a veneer thick enough to refinish (typically 3mm or more).

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