Solid Hardwood Flooring It's easy to see why solid hardwood floors are such a popular choice, with their classy gleam and natural-looking appeal. Additionally, wood lasts a long time, and it isn't incredibly difficult to maintain with the proper protective measures. Hardwood flooring can be installed in longstrip, planks or parquet-style patterns, and it is typically available in different lengths, widths and thicknesses. There are also many ways you can finish your hardwood floor to eliminate the old inconvenience of waxing and buffing. Common finishes include aluminum oxide, polyurethane, UV-cured urethane, acrylic-urethane and ceramic finish. The biggest problem homeowners have with solid wood floors is the wood's tendency to react to moisture and temperature changes. Depending on the existing moisture level in the air, solid hardwood plank flooring can contract or distort, creating gaps or buckling in the wood. Fortunately, a knowledgeable flooring contractor or home remodeler should be able to prevent wood distortion by creating the appropriate expansion gap during installation, and by ensuring wood is properly treated and prepared.