HARDWOOD
THINGS TO CONSIDER
WOOD TYPES
Solid Hardwood
As the name implies, this type of wood flooring is solid hardwood all the way through, from top to bottom. It’s similar to any other stick of lumber that sawn straight off of the log–no additional materials added. It’s usually just called “hardwood floor.”
Engineered Hardwood
Engineered hardwood flooring is an exciting alternative to solid hardwood flooring. Engineered flooring basically is a sandwich of finish wood and plywood. The finish wood is what you see and walk on. The plywood underneath comprises 80-90% of the floor.
Acrylic-Impregnated Wood
Instead of just applying the color on the finishing touch of the floor, or using the first veneer engineered floor for this purpose, acrylic-impregnated ones are impregnated with color. This means that the sealant and color are infused through the floor strips and planks, giving them a more thorough vibe, which is not only better looking, but also longer lasting.
STYLES
Strip Flooring
The flooring comes in strips with widths that range from 1 1/2″ through 2 1/2″ and thicknesses of 5/16″ through 3/4″. Strip flooring creates a traditional look, and can produce an illusion that a room is larger than it is.
Plank Flooring
Plank flooring also comes in strips, but they are wider, usually from 3″ through 8″. Plank flooring can be used to create a more rustic or earthy look as well as a historical appearance with antique applications.
LOOK
Handscraped Flooring
Handscraped hardwood floors have become one of the most sought after looks in flooring today. Replicating the look of reclaimed wood or of centuries of lived-on wear, handscraped hardwood floors beam with character and charm while boasting today’s most enduring urethane finishes.
Wire Brushed Floors
Wire brushed floors imitate the lived-on charm of handscraped hardwood floors with a less obvious level of distress applied to the faux wear markings. These floors, too, offer the enduring beauty of today’s innovations in urethane finishes.
PREFINISHED vs. UNFINISHED WOOD
Prefinished hardwood is done in the factory, and it is already finished when it is installed in your home. Unfinished hardwood is hardwood that you buy “raw”, and the finishing process is done after it is installed in your home. Here are some things to consider:
- Pricing
Prefinished hardwood is cheaper, since unfinished hardwood requires you to pay more expenses such as labor and finishing materials. Also, prefinished hardwood will save you from other “costs” such as time and effort.
- Installation Ease
If you’re in a hurry, prefinished hardwood is the one to choose. Unfinished hardwood requires that you wait at least a week for the finishing process to be done. Also, finishing a hardwood floor can become a dusty experience, unless dust containment systems are used.
- Installation or Upgrade?
For new installations, prefinished hardwood may be the one to choose. For upgrades, since you may need to match the color of the existing hardwood floor, unfinished hardwood is the better choice.
- Placement
In heavy-traffic areas such as the kitchen or the family room, prefinished hardwood may be a better choice since it is more durable and requires less maintenance. For places such as the dining room, living room, home office or bedroom, where it is important that the furnishings match the floor, unfinished hardwood is better since it will give you more choices and chances for a matching color.
- Humidity
Very humid rooms require engineered prefinished hardwood floors, since these have finishes that can withstand humidity changes better.
- Versatility
When you’re looking for something specific such as a particular size or a particular cut, unfinished hardwood will give you more choices in terms of cuts and sizes. It is also easier to point out the particular color or type of finish that you need with unfinished hardwood.
- Durability
Prefinished hardwood is generally more suitable if a low-maintenance type of hardwood floor is what you’re looking for. Prefinished hardwood has a tough factory finish that can withstand abuse better than a custom-made finish.
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