All About Hardwood Floors

Vertical-strand bamboo
Price: about $3.90 per sq. ft.
Highlight: This grass, which reaches maturity in about six years, is an eco-friendly alternative to slow-growing trees.

Woven-strand bamboo
Price: about $4 per sq. ft.
Highlight: Weaving the strips together creates a flooring as hard as hickory.

Engineered tamarind
Price: about $4.10 per sq. ft.
Highlight: Get the look of teak for about the same price as bamboo.

Engineered black walnut
Price: about $4.70 per sq. ft.
Highlight: This naturally dark wood has been popular since Victorian times.

Engineered red oak
Price: about $3.20 per sq. ft.
Highlight: A classic, tough hardwood, just 3⁄8 inch thick.