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June 27, 2026 · 7 min read · TQF team

Choosing Hardwood Floors: A No-Nonsense Guide for Chicago Homeowners

Start with the Visuals: Color and Width

Most homeowners begin with aesthetics, and for good reason. Color sets the tone of the room, but plank width defines the scale. Currently, the trend in Chicago is moving toward wider planks—7", 9", and even 10"+. Wide planks make a room feel larger and more modern, whereas traditional 2.25" or 3" strips feel more historic.

If you aren't sure how a 9" wide plank will look in your specific layout, use our in-room visualizer. It removes the guesswork by projecting the product into a digital space, allowing you to see the scale of the board relative to the room size before you commit to a specific SKU.

The "Where" Matters: Basements vs. Main Floors

Location dictates the product. In Chicago, the primary enemy is moisture.

If you are flooring a basement, solid hardwood is generally a mistake. Basements face higher relative humidity (RH%) and potential slab moisture. Engineered hardwood is the standard here because the cross-grain plywood base is more flexible and stable. It resists the warping and cupping that occurs when solid wood absorbs moisture from a concrete slab.

For main floors on joists, you have more flexibility, but you still have to account for the Lake Michigan humidity swing. If your HVAC system can't keep your indoor RH% between 35% and 55%, engineered is the safer bet to prevent gaps.

Solid vs. Engineered: The Technical Split

When you walk into our Schiller Park or Bridgeview showrooms, you'll see two main categories:

Solid Hardwood: A single piece of wood from top to bottom. It is the traditional choice and can be sanded and refinished multiple times over decades. However, it is prone to more movement—expanding and contracting significantly with seasonal shifts.

Engineered Hardwood: A layered construction with a real hardwood wear layer on top of a high-density plywood core.

  • Wear Layer: Look for 3mm to 4mm+ wear layers if you want the ability to sand and refinish it.
  • Stability: The layered core cancels out most of the expansion and contraction seen in solid wood.

    • Budgeting and Brand Selection

    Price varies wildly based on species, grade, and construction. We stock a range of brands to hit different price points and style requirements:

  • High-End/Designer: Lauzon, DuChateau, and Coswick offer unique textures and wide-plank specifications.
  • Reliable Standards: Mirage, Kährs, and Mannington provide consistent quality and a wide array of pre-finished colors.
  • Specialty/Niche: RIVA, Bjelin, Stanton, D&M Flooring, and Sheoga.

    • If you prefer a custom look, we offer unfinished options that allow your contractor to apply a specific stain and finish (using professional systems like Bona or Loba) directly in your home.

    The Sample Process

    To ensure the color matches your lighting and furniture, you need physical samples. Our policy is strict: samples are PICKUP ONLY at the Schiller Park or Bridgeview showrooms.

    We do not ship samples. To take a sample home, there is a $50 refundable deposit. Once the sample is returned to either showroom, the deposit is refunded in full. This ensures our inventory remains available for all clients.

    How to Use the TQF Team

    Don't guess on square footage or product compatibility. If you are a residential client without a contractor, we can help you calculate your needs and approximate pricing based on your square footage.

    The most efficient way to get a spec is to bring photos of your current space and a rough measurement of the rooms to the showroom. Our staff can then use the "floor finder" approach to narrow down 1,200+ products to the three or four that actually fit your budget and moisture requirements.

    Visit our Schiller Park or Bridgeview showrooms to see the visualizer in action or call us to get a quote.

    Hardwood notes