You can't just use any wood. Just because they call it hardwood doesn't mean it's really hard..LOL.
Wood is meant to get beat up, that is what gives it charm. If you put to much finish on it, it IS going to scratch and wear down. Don't used stained wood either, use natural color. You wont have to refinish them for many many years, if at all.
I highly recommend Bamboo floors, it is beautiful, and hard as nails, you will never get a scratch in that stuff. I wish we had gotten that. My sister and her hubby got enough to do their whole house (3k sq ft) from costco, it happened to be on sale and they got it cheap.
And I do not recommend laminated wood. We spent 5 grand on the living, dining, den and hall and I loved it at first. Doesn't scratch at all! BUT, it gets a tiny bit of liquid on it and curls!!!!! They didn't install the trim right and if you don't do that right the warranty on the stuff is void!!!
The carpet in my bedrooms are ruined from the dogs peeing on it and my sons is ruined cus he is just an idiot painting in his room with spray paint...grrrrrr... I will never ever have carpet in a house again. I cannot even put down area or throw rugs because the dogs will immediately pee on it. I don't understand it.
by the way, I DO train my dogs but then my husband and son don't! They will just leave the sliding glass door open all day, umm guys, ITS COLD OUT! lol..men They are supposed to be teaching them to use the bell. I do it and then those 2 undo it. And then dh gripes cus they go in the house.
Stone flooring is not as easy to replace in a house so I personally wouldn't get it. But of course it's personal preference. Wood lasts forever and never goes out of style
you just have to spend the extra money to get really good wood.
And then there is reclaimed wood, I think this is a great way to recycle and get some great wood. And also some is distressed which I happen to like the look of.