It's so important to be an informed consumer whenever you're making a purchase for your home. The reality is that the products and materials you use when making upgrades to your property will impact the value of your home for years to come. What's more, every choice you make during a renovation project could either have very negative or very positive consequences regarding your day-to-day life in your home. This is why it's so important to know which questions to ask if you're in the process of picking out new wood flooring. Flooring plays a big role in defining your home. You'll need to know exactly what type of product you're committing to before you sign on the dotted line. How can you know which questions to ask when buying wood flooring? Take a look at the top questions to ask when shopping around for new wood floors for your home. 

Do You Need Solid Wood or Engineered Wood Flooring? 
Wood flooring covers many different categories. There are so many different options to choose from. One of the first things you'll need to do is narrow down the type of wood flooring you want. Some people are only interested in solid wood floors. Other people are excited to explore the options that are offered by engineered styles of wood flooring. 

Which Wood Species Do You Want? 
There are dozens of wood species to choose from when picking out new wood flooring. The list of options available out there includes both domestic and imported styles. This is an area of the decision-making process where your lifestyle will really come into play. People with a high amount of foot traffic in their homes may want to go with heartier options that can stand up to wear and tear. Someone who lives in a home without pets or children may be inclined to go for a softer style of wood that is more ornamental. In addition, factors like the climate where you live and the design of your home will also determine which wood species is ideal for you. Be sure to pay close attention to where you're sourcing your wood from when purchasing floors from retailers. This is especially true for wood products that are internationally sourced. There are very strict international environmental guidelines regarding how wood flooring is sourced that must be followed. 

Should Your Flooring Be Finished at Home or in the Factory? 
Some people prefer factory-finished floors. This means that all of the final touches and coatings have been applied before flooring arrives at your home. This is a good option for anyone who prefers a quick installation without much dust or disruption. Other people prefer extra customization. Those people can opt to have site-finished flooring. This means that final touches are applied at the point of installation. While this option provides more customization, it also means a more complex installation process. It could also mean dealing with extra dust and fumes in your home during the installation process. 

How Much Flooring Do You Need? 
It's so important to have an accurate measurement done when determining how much flooring you will need to order ahead of your installation. You can either measure on your own or bring someone in to complete a measurement. However, it is important to know that you should never order flooring based on the exact measurements you come up with. It is necessary to purchase at least 10 percent more flooring than what you need based on your measurements. This extra flooring will provide a buffer for any pieces that are damaged upon arrival or any mistakes that are made during the installation process. In addition, having a few extra pieces of wood flooring stored in your home can be extremely useful if a piece of wood flooring ever becomes damaged in the future. 

How Long Will Installation Take? 
It's important to have a realistic expectation when it comes to how long the process of installing new floors will take. Any installer will be able to give you an estimate if you choose to have your floors professionally installed. You should also inquire about how long the entire process will take when you factor in things like ordering, processing, shipping, scheduling and the actual installation. You may have to put a little bit of extra work into coming up with a timeline if you plan to install wood flooring on your own. The actual amount of time it will take to install your new floors will depend on the size of the space you're updating, the type of wood you're using and the tools you're using to complete the job.