Hardwood Flooring Basics

Learn about advantages of hardwood flooring information about
prefinished or unfinished hardwood flooring, available surfaces and
stains for solid hardwood floors, popular species, a list of dos and
donts when caring for hardwood floors

Beyond Tradition: the Hardwood Flooring Advantage.

Hardwood flooring is looked upon by many as the flooring option that
lends a sense of permanence to an interior. Whether its a
residential interior, or an office installation, hardwood flooring adds
an air of class, as well as structural strength. For these
reasons, hardwood flooring remains to be a classic choice. It is
a flooring option that has the advantage of tradition behind it; many
cultures and civilizations have used hardwood flooring, and have done
so for centuries. But, there are reasons beyond those of tradition that
make hardwood flooring a practical and decorative choice.

One of the most attractive attributes of hardwood flooring is the range
of options open to you in terms of finish, surface, stain, and species.
All of these aspects play a very important role in determining the look
of your flooring. With all of these choices, hardwood flooring is
known to make for a unique effect in each interior. To this
point, an advantage you will experience will most likely be all of the
gepliments youll get because of your hardwood flooring for years to
gee.

Pre-finished and Unfinished Hardwood Flooring

Hardwood flooring can be purchased in either prefinished or unfinished
varieties and there are distinct advantages in both. For
pre-finished hardwood flooring, the obvious advantage is that of
convenience. No sanding is required for these types of hardwood floors,
and therefore more time is saved on preparation as well a mess; sanding
a hardwood floor involves both. Also, no time must be allowed for
the finish on your hardwood flooring to dry, a period which can take a
half a day to longer, depending on the kind of finish you use.

As far as unfinished hardwood flooring goes, the most gepelling
advantage is that of a more uniform seal. This is the reason why many
professionals offer unfinished hardwood flooring to clients; it is
easier to make sure that all of the minute gaps between the hardwood
flooring boards are sealed when finish is applied on the whole surface
of the flooring, and not on a board-by-board basis. This means
extra protection against moisture, the hardwood floors most dangerous
enemy. In this sense, all of the preparation and mess is worth the
effort.

Hardwood Flooring Surfaces and Stains

The diversity of hardwood flooring extends not only to finish, but also
in the range of surfaces and choices in stain available to the
customer. Some hardwood flooring is planed evenly at the mill,
offering a smooth, refined surface that many consumers have gee to
admire in hardwood flooring. But another variety of hardwood
flooring that is begeing popular with flooring professionals and
homeowners is that of the handscraped hardwood flooring. In this case,
the hardwood plank is actually worked by hand to create a contoured,
seasoned surface that gives the hardwood flooring a more rustic,
lived-in appearance.

The variations in hardwood flooring are further extended by the variety
of stains available as well. Some stains serve to bring out the
natural range of color in a chosen species. Others effectively
change the color altogether, allowing a consumer to enjoy the benefits
offered by one species, while enjoying the color of another.
Hardwood flooring is probably one of the more flexible choices with
regard to appearance and personal taste.

Hardwood Flooring: the Luxury of Choice

Overall, hardwood flooring is not just an option which relies upon
tradition, although hardwood flooring has been relied upon for
centuries because it is such a durable material. What hardwood
flooring offers is the luxury of choice and an ease of integration into
an interior design. Along with the advantages of appearance,
hardwood is and continues to be a choice in flooring that can add
structural strength to a residence or office.

Popular Species of Hardwood Flooring

Red and White Oak
These species are naturally pale in color, with hints of pink running
through the Red Oak. Both are known for their utility across all kinds
of applications. White Oak is known to be slightly harder than
red oak, although red oak in turn is slightly easier to saw and nail.

American Cherry
Used for cabinet making as well as flooring, American Cherry is known
to be an attractive species that is very easy to work with. It is not
as hard as either red or white oak, but offers a greater tonal range of
color that darkens over time to begee even more rich in tone, due to
photosensitivity.

Hard Maple
Harder still than oak, the uniform texture of maple as well as its
naturally abrasion-resistant surface makes it an excellent choice for
hardwood flooring. Early North American settlers relied upon
maple for its hardy nature, and it continues to be popular today.

Brazilian Cherry AKA Jatoba
One of most notable features of this exotic species is its color a
rich, reddish brown that eventually ages into a lustrous
burgundy. Another important as aspect of Jataba is how hard it
is; it is harder than some species of mahogany. So for look as
well as durability, Brazilian Cherry excels.

Hardwood flooring Dos and Donts

Do:

Choose a species of hardwood which will stand up to
the type of foot traffic you expect in the area you wish to have it
installed.

Consult the terms and conditions of your purchase, including warranty information

Hire a professional installer if you have little or
no experience in installing a hardwood floor. Hiring a
professional flooring contractor will spare you the costly mistakes
that often characterize installations by the inexperienced.

In the case of an unfinished hardwood flooring
option, consult with contractors or local retailers about which finish
or stain is most appropriate for your choice of hardwood flooring.

Choose an appropriate moisture barrier to rest
between subfloor and hardwood flooring in order to add another level of
protection.

Expect color variations, as hardwood is a natural
material. This can be to your advantage in terms of design.
Open all boxes to view the tonal range in your particular batch and lay
out the boards accordingly to suit your personal style.

Allow your hardwood flooring to acclimate before
you install it. This means opening the boxes of flooring to
expose it to the temperature of the area where it is to be
installed. Being a natural material, hardwood flooring expands
and contracts according to climate.

Use DRY mops and vacuums to keep your new hardwood flooring clear of dirt and dust

See to your pets clip their nails, buy water
dishes with a wide base to avoid spills, use area rugs or runners in
higher pet traffic areas, and look out for number one (clean up those
accidents as soon as they happen!)

Dont

Install hardwood flooring in an area that will be
subject to excessive moisture. This also means avoiding an installation
below grade (in a basement for instance) or in bathrooms.

Install hardwood flooring in an area that is not
environmentally controlled all year long say, in a cottage or summer
home that is not constantly maintained.

Use wax-based cleaners or harsh detergents that will dull the finish of the hardwood flooring

Use steel wool or any other abrasives to clean a hardwood floor

Use excessive water when cleaning a hardwood floor

Walk on your hardwood flooring with athletic spikes or high-heels

Install hardwood flooring over radiant heat.
For this, it is best to consider engineered hardwood flooring which is
designed to allow for the temperature variations resulting from radiant
heat

Leave damp rugs on the surface of hardwood flooring for an extended period.


For a more geprehensive list of dos and donts, and for more details
in general, its always best to talk to the professionals
directly. Contractors and sales reps that specialize in hardwood
flooring can often serve as excellent resources before, during, and
after your hardwood flooring purchase.

Buy Hardwood Flooring