Hardwood Flooring Installation in Indianapolis, IN
Reardon's Flooring is a trusted source for hardwood flooring in Indianapolis, installing solid and engineered hardwood in oak, maple, walnut, and hickory for homeowners and businesses throughout the area. Whether you're refinishing one room or installing hardwood through your entire home, our crew inspects the subfloor, acclimates the wood to your home's humidity, and installs each plank with the same attention to detail on every job.
We also refinish hardwood that's dull or scratched but structurally sound, restoring the original look without a full replacement. Call (317) 781-8280 or request a free hardwood flooring estimate to get started.
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Summary
Reardon’s Flooring installs solid and engineered hardwood flooring in Indianapolis, IN, offering oak, maple, walnut, and hickory with proper acclimation, subfloor prep, and expert installation. The team also provides hardwood floor refinishing and free, written estimates for every Indianapolis hardwood project.
Key Takeaways
- Reardon’s Flooring installs solid and engineered hardwood in oak, maple, walnut, and hickory throughout Indianapolis, IN.
- Hickory rates highest on the Janka hardness scale (~1,820 lbf), making it the top choice for high-traffic households with kids or pets.
- Solid hardwood can be refinished multiple times; engineered hardwood handles humidity and basements better but refinishes fewer times.
- Hardwood flooring cost depends on species, plank width, grade, and construction type, not just square footage.
- Reardon’s Flooring offers hardwood floor refinishing as an alternative to full replacement when boards are structurally sound.
- Reardon’s Flooring provides free, written estimates and serves Indianapolis and surrounding cities including Carmel, Fishers, Greenwood, and Avon.
Hardwood Flooring Species We Carry in Indianapolis, IN
Reardon's Flooring stocks oak, maple, walnut, and hickory, along with other species and finishes on request.
- Oak is the most common hardwood species, prized for a strong, visible grain and a hardness that meets the classification standards the National Wood Flooring Association publishes for domestic species. It's a dependable choice for most rooms in a home.
- Maple runs lighter in color with a subtler, more uniform grain than oak. It's a common pick for homeowners after a brighter, more contemporary look.
- Walnut is a darker, softer species prized for its rich color and figure. It reads as a more formal, statement-making floor, and it's better suited to lower-traffic rooms than harder species.
- Hickory is the hardest of the four species Reardon's Flooring carries, with high color contrast between heartwood and sapwood. It holds up well in high-traffic households with kids or pets.
Species affects both the finished look of a room and how the floor holds up over time. Hardness is measured using the Janka scale, the industry standard for how much force it takes to press a steel ball halfway into a piece of wood, giving actual numbers behind what “durable” means for each species. The table below breaks down how oak, maple, walnut, and hickory compare.
Species | Janka Hardness (lbf) | Color & Grain | Best For |
Oak | ~1,290 to 1,360 | Warm tones, strong visible grain | Most rooms; resists dents well |
Maple | ~1,450 | Light, subtle grain | Brighter, contemporary interiors |
Walnut | ~1,010 | Dark, rich figure | Formal rooms, lower-traffic spaces |
Hickory | ~1,820 | High color contrast, bold grain | High-traffic households, kids and pets |
Higher Janka numbers mean better resistance to dents from dropped items, furniture, and pet nails, which is why hickory is the species we recommend most often for busy households with kids or pets, while walnut’s lower rating is part of why it reads better in formal, lower-traffic rooms.
Solid hardwood is a single piece of wood the full thickness of the board. Engineered hardwood is a real wood veneer bonded over layers of plywood or high-density fiberboard. Both have a genuine wood surface; the construction underneath is what differs.
Solid hardwood can be sanded and refinished multiple times over its life, since its wear layer runs the full thickness of the board. Engineered hardwood has a thinner wear layer, which means fewer refinishes over its lifespan, but it handles humidity swings better and can go over concrete slabs or in below-grade spaces where solid hardwood isn't recommended.
Solid Hardwood vs. Engineered Hardwood: Which Fits Your Project
The right construction depends on where the floor is going and how it will be maintained over time. Here's how solid and engineered hardwood compare.
Feature | Solid Hardwood | Engineered Hardwood |
Construction | One piece of wood, full board thickness | Wood veneer over a plywood or HDF core |
Refinishing | Multiple times over its life | Fewer times, thinner wear layer |
Moisture tolerance | Lower; not for basements or concrete slabs | Higher; suited to basements and slab foundations |
Installation | Nailed or glued to a wood subfloor | Nailed, glued, or floated over wood or concrete |
Hardwood can often be refinished rather than replaced, but some damage goes deeper than a sand and coat can fix. Here’s what points to a bigger problem.
- Deep scratches, gouges, or dents that go past the finish: damage that's reached bare wood rather than just the surface coating.
- Cupping, crowning, or buckling boards: signs of moisture getting under or into the floor, often from a leak or high humidity.
- Gaps between boards that have widened noticeably over the years: a normal effect of a house settling and humidity cycles, but worth addressing once it's visible from across the room.
- Water staining or discoloration: typically from a past leak or flood that reached the boards or the subfloor beneath them.
- A floor that's already at its final refinish: once a solid floor's wear layer is sanded down close to the tongue and groove, another refinish risks damaging the boards.
- A plank width, species, or finish that no longer fits a remodel: common when a kitchen or living room update leaves the existing floor looking out of place.
Scratches, dullness, or minor gaps in an otherwise solid floor are usually a refinishing job rather than a full replacement.
Hardwood vs. Other Flooring: Which Fits Your Room?
Hardwood isn’t the right fit for every space, and comparing it honestly against other materials helps you land on the right floor before you order anything.
Factor | Hardwood | Luxury Vinyl | Laminate | Carpet |
Moisture resistance | Poor to moderate, depends on construction | Excellent, waterproof options available | Moderate, water-resistant options available | Poor, not recommended for bathrooms |
Refinishing | Solid can be refinished multiple times | Not refinishable, replace when worn | Not refinishable, replace when worn | Not applicable |
Resale value | Consistently high | Moderate | Moderate | Lower than hardwood |
Maintenance | Sweeping, occasional refinishing | Sweeping, damp mop | Sweeping, damp mop | Vacuuming, periodic deep clean |
Best rooms | Living rooms, dining rooms, hallways | Kitchens, bathrooms, entryways, basements | Bedrooms, living rooms | Bedrooms, basements |
If you’re weighing hardwood against a different material, our luxury vinyl flooring, laminate flooring, and carpet pages cover the rest of what we stock, all under one roof at our Indianapolis showroom. See the full flooring services list for a room-by-room breakdown.
Benefits of Hardwood Flooring in Indianapolis, IN
Hardwood brings more to a home than good looks. Here’s what it offers that other flooring materials don’t match as well.
- Long-term durability: Solid hardwood can be sanded and refinished multiple times, giving it a longer usable life than many other flooring materials.
- Resale value: Hardwood is consistently one of the flooring upgrades buyers look for, which can support your home’s value at resale.
- Doesn’t trap dust and dander the way carpet does: A hard, sealed surface is easier to keep clean of allergens than carpet fiber, which matters for households with allergy sensitivities.
- Wide range of species and finishes: Oak, maple, walnut, and hickory in different stains and plank widths let you match the floor to your home’s style.
- Easy to clean: Sweeping, vacuuming without a beater bar, and occasional damp mopping keep hardwood looking its best.
- Timeless style: Hardwood doesn’t go out of fashion the way some trend-driven materials do, which protects your investment over time.
- Pairs well with Indianapolis’s older and newer housing stock alike: Solid hardwood suits historic homes, while engineered hardwood handles humidity in newer construction and basements.
Hardwood Floor Refinishing in Indianapolis, IN
Not every scratched or dull hardwood floor needs to be torn out and replaced. If the boards are structurally sound, refinishing restores the original look at a fraction of the cost of new flooring.
The process starts with sanding down the existing finish and any surface damage, exposing fresh wood underneath. From there, you can keep the existing stain color or choose a new one before we apply a protective topcoat. Solid hardwood can typically be refinished multiple times over its lifespan, since each sanding only removes a thin layer of the wood surface; engineered hardwood has a thinner wear layer and can usually handle fewer refinishing cycles before the veneer runs out.
Refinishing is the right call when the wood itself is in good shape, just dulled by years of foot traffic, light scratches, or a faded finish. It's not a fix for boards with deep water damage, structural movement, or rot, those issues point to repair or replacement instead, which our flooring repair team can assess.
What Affects Hardwood Flooring Cost in Indianapolis, IN
Hardwood pricing depends on species, plank width, and grade before square footage even enters the picture. Oak and maple typically cost less than walnut or hickory, and wider planks or higher grades, meaning fewer knots and less color variation, cost more per square foot than narrower, lower-grade boards.
Solid versus engineered construction affects price too, along with installation methods: nail-down, glue-down, or floating. Room prep, including subfloor leveling, moisture testing, and removing old flooring, adds labor time beyond the material cost. Reardon's Flooring provides written estimates covering material and labor before any order is placed, so you know the full cost up front.
Commercial Hardwood Flooring in Indianapolis
Reardon’s Flooring also installs hardwood flooring for offices, retail spaces, and other commercial properties that want the look of real wood with a construction built for daily foot traffic. Commercial hardwood jobs are measured and scheduled around business hours to limit disruption. See our commercial flooring page for the full range of commercial materials we install.
Hardwood Flooring Care & Maintenance
Proper care keeps hardwood looking new and protects the investment for decades. Here’s what to do between refinishing jobs.
- Sweep or vacuum regularly: Use a soft-bristle attachment or vacuum without a beater bar, since a beater bar can scratch the finish.
- Wipe up spills immediately: Standing water or liquid can seep into seams and cause warping or discoloration if left too long.
- Use hardwood-safe cleaning products: Avoid steam mops, wax-based cleaners, and anything with excess water, since these can damage the finish over time.
- Add felt pads under furniture legs: This prevents scratches and dents from chairs, tables, and other furniture that gets moved or shifted.
- Control indoor humidity: Keeping humidity relatively stable year-round reduces the gapping and swelling that comes with Indianapolis’s seasonal humidity swings.
- Trim pet nails regularly: Long nails can scratch hardwood surfaces over time, especially on softer species like walnuts.
- Refinish when the surface dulls. Sanding and recoating restores the original look without needing to replace the boards themselves.
Our Hardwood Flooring Installation Process
Hardwood installation involves more than laying boards down. Here’s what each step from Reardon’s Flooring actually includes.
- Free in-home consultation: We walk through your space, talk through species, finish, and plank style options, and answer questions about budget and traffic.
- Professional measurement: We measure every room accurately to order the right amount of material and minimize waste.
- Subfloor inspection and prep: We check condition and moisture levels, leveling or repairing the subfloor before any hardwood goes down.
- Acclimation: Boards sit in the room to adjust to its humidity and temperature before installation, which helps prevent gapping or buckling later.
- Installation. Our crew lays and secures each board with attention to pattern, spacing, and transitions between rooms.
- On-site finishing (if applicable): Site-finished floors are sanded and coated after installation for a flat, seamless surface across the whole room.
- Final walkthrough: We go over the finished floor together and address anything before we consider the job complete.
Structural subfloor repair can require a permit in Marion County; the City of Indianapolis Department of Business and Neighborhood Services handles residential permitting and can confirm whether your project needs one.
Why Choose Reardon’s Flooring for Hardwood Flooring Installation in Indianapolis, IN
A hardwood floor is only as good as the installer behind it. Here’s what sets Reardon’s Flooring apart.
- In-house installation team: The same crew that measures your space and recommends species also installs and finishes the floor, with nothing handed off to a subcontractor.
- Wide species selection: Oak, maple, walnut, and hickory in solid and engineered construction, so you’re not limited to a narrow catalog.
- Honest replacement vs. repair guidance: We’ll point you toward refinishing or subfloor repair instead of a full replacement when that’s the better call for your floor, not just the bigger job.
- Refinishing as an option, not just replacement: We’ll recommend a sand-and-recoat when the wood is structurally sound, even when it isn’t the higher-ticket option.
- Free, written estimates: Material and labor costs are itemized before you commit, with no surprise charges added after the fact.
Read more about the business on our About page or check out real customer reviews on our Google Business Profile to see why homeowners and businesses trust Reardon’s Flooring for their hardwood flooring needs.
Proudly Serving Indianapolis, IN and Surrounding Communities with Expert Hardwood Flooring Services
Reardon’s Flooring is based in Indianapolis, IN and installs solid and engineered hardwood in oak, maple, walnut, and hickory, plus hardwood refinishing, for homeowners and businesses across Central Indiana. Our local crew understands the seasonal humidity swings and subfloor conditions that affect hardwood in this region, and we bring that knowledge to every acclimation, installation, and refinishing job we complete.
We are proud to provide hardwood flooring installation in Fishers, IN, Mooresville, IN, Carmel, IN, Avon, IN, Plainfield, IN, Greenwood, IN, Martinsville, IN, Zionsville, IN, Westfield, IN, Noblesville, IN, Southport, IN, and Beech Grove, IN. For a full view of our coverage, see our service area page.
Schedule Your Free Hardwood Flooring Estimate in Indianapolis, IN Today
Thinking about new hardwood or wondering if your current floor just needs a refinish? Tell us about your space and we’ll walk you through oak, maple, walnut, and hickory in solid or engineered construction, matched to your home’s humidity and daily traffic. We’ll also inspect your subfloor and give you a written price before any material is ordered.
Call us at (317) 781-8280 to get started or request a free quote to get a written estimate before you commit to a species or a budget.
Reardon’s Flooring
Address: 5563 S Belmont Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46217, United States
Phone: (317) 781-8280
Google Maps: Find Us Here
Business Hours:
Monday: 8:00 AM To 1:00 PM
Tuesday: 8:00 AM To 4:00 PM
Wednesday: 8 AM To 4:00 PM
Thursday: 8:00 AM To 4:00 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM To 4:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM To 2:00 PM
Sunday: Closed
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Hardwood flooring installation cost in Indianapolis depends on species, plank width, grade, and whether the floor is solid or engineered. Reardon's Flooring provides a written estimate covering material and labor before you order.
Solid hardwood is a single piece of wood that can be refinished multiple times but isn't recommended for basements or concrete slabs. Engineered hardwood is a real wood veneer over a plywood or HDF core, with fewer refinishes but better moisture tolerance for below-grade installs.
Solid hardwood generally isn't recommended below grade due to moisture exposure. Engineered hardwood handles humidity better and is a more realistic option for basement spaces.
Prefinished boards arrive sanded and coated, so installation moves faster. Site-finished floors are sanded and coated after the boards are installed, producing a flat, seamless surface across the room.
Surface wear like scratches and a faded finish usually points to refinishing. Deep water damage, warping, or rot usually means repair or replacement is the better call.
Proper acclimation before installation and stable indoor humidity year-round reduce the risk of gapping or warping that comes with seasonal humidity swings in this region.
Sometimes, depending on the condition of the current floor and subfloor. We'll inspect both during your estimate to recommend installing over it or removing it first.