Yes, but almost always as engineered hardwood glued down with a moisture-vapor-retarding adhesive, not solid hardwood nailed directly to the slab — solid wood is too reactive to humidity and slab moisture in this climate without extensive, costly climate controls.

Hickory is the hardest common domestic species, rated around 1,820 on the Janka scale, well above oak (roughly 1,290-1,360) or maple (roughly 1,450). It won't make the floor dent-proof, but it holds up noticeably better under an active household.

It depends entirely on the veneer thickness on top of the core. Thin veneers (around 1-2mm) generally can't be sanded and refinished at all without cutting through to the core; thicker veneers (3mm+) can typically handle one to two light refinishing passes over the floor's life.

It means letting the wood adjust to your home's actual indoor humidity and temperature before it's installed, so it isn't still expanding or contracting after the floor goes down. Skipping or rushing it is one of the more common causes of gapping or buckling in the months after installation — it's worth the wait.

Prefinished is faster to install, more durable out of the box, and has no on-site dust or odor. Site-finished gives you a perfectly seamless, flush surface and full control over stain color, but takes longer and involves real dust during sanding. Most homeowners choose prefinished for convenience and site-finished when an exact custom stain match matters.

Glue-down is generally the stronger choice over slab in Florida because the adhesive itself acts as an additional moisture-vapor-retarding layer between the concrete and the wood. Floating is faster and less expensive but relies more heavily on the underlayment alone to manage slab moisture.

Textured finishes hide everyday scuffs, light scratches, and foot traffic wear noticeably better than a smooth, glossy surface, since the texture itself breaks up light reflection. It's a practical choice as much as an aesthetic one for high-traffic households.

Moisture is almost always the culprit — either installing solid hardwood directly over a slab without adequate protection, skipping acclimation, or a slow, undetected leak sitting under the flooring. Engineered construction, proper acclimation, and a correctly installed vapor-managing adhesive address all three.