David Podar, owner of Advanced Hardwood Flooring Inc. in Park Ridge, Ill., opened his shop in 1993. He says he chose the name because he loved working with water-based finishes, which weren’t so well-known at the time.

“The water-based finishes are the green finishes, and they’re more durable than the oil-based finishes,” Podar says. “I like to do every job perfectly and make it turn out like I did it for my own family. We pay attention to getting details right.”

We asked Podar to give his insight on the installation and maintenance of hardwood floors.

What do I need to know about installing and caring for a hardwood floor?

Podar: There are three main technologies on the market: Solid, engineered and glueless engineered, also called floating hardwood.

Solid hardwood is the most popular. They last forever and can be sanded half a dozen times. When you purchase a solid hardwood floor, you purchase the hardwood once in your life. It's less costly to repair. However, they're not as stable to moisture changes. Engineered hardwoods are much more stable in those circumstances.

Engineered hardwood is sold prefinished as a board glued together from several sheets. They're great for high-humidity areas. They cross the sheets in different directions to make it more stable. They can't be sanded as many times as a solid floor, but they usually have a 15, 25 or 30-year warranty.

Floating hardwood locks together. It's very easy to install; it doesn't need to be glued down or nailed down. It also has the advantage of being movable. It can be removed and reinstalled a few times. We usually recommend it when people have a concrete subfloor.

When hiring a contractor, you should find someone who specializes in all three types, so they can make the best recommendations.

We ask our clients questions to help recommend the best type of floor. How many people live there? How many pets do you have? How much traffic is in the house? This affects the gloss level we recommend.

High gloss is more aesthetically pleasing, but it shows scratches and imperfections more clearly. Low gloss will minimize the appearance of scratches.

If you as a customer supply the materials yourself, it's very important that you know your supplier, where the wood is coming from and how they care for it. Hardwood needs to be stored in a controlled, stable climate.

Your floor will last longer if you keep a constant humidity level in the home. Leave the A/C running when you go on vacation, and in winter, make sure the humidifier is working properly.

We recommend using floor cleaners made specifically for hardwoods. Lots of floor cleaners are made for a vinyl or ceramic floor. Some contain wax or other chemicals that will create a bonding issue with new finishes. That can cause problems if you want to apply another coat of finish later on.