The city of Atlanta is steeped in tradition, from its storied history right on down to its rich Southern architecture. Plantation shutters, columned front porches, and beautiful landscaping are all design elements that exude the sense of class and tradition that Southern home design is known for, but when it comes to flooring, wooden flooring in Atlanta is the first place homeowners in the ATL ought to turn.
Atlanta Wood Flooring Costs
Before we get to some tips for choosing the right wood flooring in Atlanta, let's start by pinning down what it's going to cost you. Here at ServiceMagic.com we've made a commitment to tracking final costs and timelines of wood floor installations in Atlanta that begin as contractor referrals on our website. Based on that information, we can tell you that an average Atlanta wooden flooring installation runs about $4,300, though we've seen jobs that ran as high as $11,000, and others that cost as little as $1,200. Your choice of wood and plank design, as well as the square footage of the area to be installed, are likely to be the two single biggest players in determining what your specific Atlanta wooden flooring costs are going to be.
Atlanta Wood Flooring Choices
Atlanta wood flooring is not a one-size-fits-all proposition. In fact, it's just the opposite. You'll be deciding between different styles of wood flooring, different species of wood, different flooring designs, and various finishes. Let's take a quick look at what you'll have to choose from.
Styles of Wood Flooring in Atlanta—Solid wood flooring in Atlanta is the cream of the crop, or you can opt for engineered flooring that consists of a plywood base topped with a real wood veneer. Engineered lines are less expensive initially, though they can't be refinished as many times over the course of their lifetime.
Types of Wood—Choosing the right species of wood is easier said than done. There are literally hundreds of options choose from, including traditional hardwoods like oak and maple, less expensive softwoods like pine, and very expensive exotic or luxury woods like southern chestnut, mahogany, purpleheart, and cypress.
Atlanta Wood Flooring Designs—Hand scraped, parquet, wide plank, and distressed wooden flooring in Atlanta are just a few examples of how far you can take wood flooring design. Even if you stick to a more traditional look, you'll still need to choose between narrower or wider plank widths.
Atlanta Wood Flooring Finishes—Finally, there is the finish. Oil-modified, water-based, and cured urethanes are probably the most popular, though varnish, penetrating sealers, paste wax, shellac, and lacquers are all options as well.
As you can see, choosing the right wood flooring in Atlanta isn't easy. Your budget and personal tastes will go a long way in helping you narrow it down, though considering the fact that each product, wood, style, and finish comes with its own list of pros and cons, it's a smart Atlanta homeowner who seeks out the expertise of a professional in wood flooring and installation to aid them in finding the perfect match.
Finding a Quality Atlanta Wood Flooring Contractor
Hiring a good contractor to perform your wood flooring installation is just as important as choosing the right materials, especially in the state of Georgia where contractors aren't required by the state to obtain any licensing before going into business. Always get multiple bids on an Atlanta wood flooring installation (we recommend three, just to be safe), and be sure to check references and samples of previous work before you sign any papers. Finally, don't go into this project blind. As the section on choosing wood flooring implies, there's a lot more to selecting good wood flooring than just walking into the showroom and going with your gut. By doing some research ahead of time to help narrow down your choices, you'll be that much further along in your search for the perfect Atlanta wood flooring when you contact a pro. 
Matt Goering, formerly a carpenter and house painter, is a freelance writer for the home improvement industry who has published over 600 articles.
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