Choosing flooring involves balancing aesthetics with long-term durability and maintenance. :
: It is critical to leave new flooring in the room where it will be installed for up to a month to let it adjust to the home's humidity before nailing it down.
: Examine semi-finalists for knots, sapwood, stains, and "snipe" (gouges from a planer).
: Hardwood is often sold using the "x/4" system for thickness (e.g., 4/4 is one inch thick) and graded as "Select" or "Common" based on quality.