TO MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR YOUR HARDWOOD FLOORING
WHAT TYPE OF HOME DO YOU LIVE IN?
The type of residence will significantly influence the flooring type and installation method you need. In a single-family home, the subfloor will dictate the type of floor you can install. In a condominium, your condo owner’s agreement usually has rules regarding soundproofing which have to be considered. In a basement, an engineered floor will be your preferred option.
HOW MANY PEOPLE LIVE IN YOUR HOME?
The more people there are, the greater the traffic and the more durable your finish needs to be. If you have young children or pets, choose a textured hardwood floor or one with character and color variation. Matte finishes also tend to minimize the appearance of dents and scratches.
WHAT KIND OF FURNITURE IS IN THE ROOM, AND WHAT STYLE OF DÉCOR?
Is there already wood in the room? Are there a lot of furnishings, or just a few? What shades are they? In a new home, the ambiance you’re looking for will largely influence your choice of color, wood species, grade, finish, board width, and direction.
WHAT TYPE OF FLOORING IS RIGHT FOR YOUR ROOM?
The right type of flooring for you depends on the room where it will be installed. Various floor types are available according to your needs: Engineered wood, Lock engineered wood, engineered wood Trubalance and solid wood. See a dealer for advice on choosing a floor.
WHAT ROOMS ARE YOU PLANNING TO FLOOR?
Sketch out the rooms where you want to install your hardwood floor. Indicate the areas of the rooms and make note of stairways, closets, and any obstacles that will require special fitting. Find out what kind of subfloor you have and in what direction the joists run. Remember that engineered flooring is the best choice for basements.
What is the best hardwood floor for my room?
To ensure you select the best hardwood flooring that matches your lifestyle, budget and home design, take time to compare different hardwood floor types. Talk with an expert at your local Carpet One Floor & Home store to learn more about which type of hardwood flooring would best work in your space.
When choosing the best hardwood flooring for your room, you have the option to choose between standard hardwood flooring and engineered hardwood.
Traditional or solid hardwood flooring consists of single strips of wood. The biggest benefit to solid hardwood is that it can easily be customized, sanded, and re-stained to change finishes as your styles change.
Engineered hardwood planks come in many colors and wood types, just like solid wood. However, engineered hardwood is made by laminating 3-5 strips together, with grains running at different angles. Engineered Hardwood is more structurally sound so it can be installed in areas where solid wood flooring might not be an option, for example, moist basements. Engineered Hardwood is also typically less expensive and tends to be more water-resistant compared to traditional solid wood floors.
The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Best Hardwood Flooring for Your Home
There are different types of flooring from hardwood, stone, vinyl to carpet and terrazzo. Hardwood is considered a high-quality option for its characteristics. It is durable and resistant to dust and debris. It can also last a lifetime if properly maintained. All hardwood is not created equal and choosing the best flooring is not a matter of colour preferences or aesthetics alone. Hardwood allows plenty of scope for creativity with different finishes, textures, and hardness ratings for the chosen flooring. Natural wood is versatile and perfect for every room in your home, except for basement and bathroom.
Origin of hardwood flooring
Way before the discovery of the New World, the Royals were the first to enjoy wooden flooring. Back then, the procedure of acquiring hardwood was time-consuming and laborious. They were hand-scraped and sanded. Wooden flooring became increasingly common during the Colonial Era. During 1800-1945, wood flooring was widely used and came from local species of trees. They were assembled in the simplest manner. However, after World War II, hardwood flooring experienced a decline in demand as cheaper flooring alternatives were introduced. The demand for hardwood flooring has revived in recent times for its sophistication and timeless appeal.
Making of solid hardwood floorboards
The trees are cut into logs and depending on the quality, their usage is determined. The planks are made from single wood piece and levelled first. Tongue and groove edges are cut using respective machines. Logs with tight grain and fewer knots are used for cutting out planks for flooring. There are different varieties of cutting methods that create different grain patterns. The logs are cut into three main patterns- rift sawn, quarterly sawn, and plain sawn. The final product can have different types of finish or can be left unfinished as well which has a different appeal.
Types of finishes
Hardwood flooring can be pre-finished, or site finished. There are different types of finish for hardwood and each finish has certain benefits and characteristics. From oil penetrates, oil-like hybrids, to site finished polyurethane and prefinished UV cured urethane finish, the choices are varied.
Oil penetrates imparts a soft, matte and natural look to the wood planks. While it is comparatively more prone to scratches, the scratches on such floorboards are less noticeable. Soft oil finish is easier to maintain, and you can touch up the problematic areas on a spot-by-spot.
Flooring Buying Guide
Installing a new floor is one of the more expensive home improvement projects you’ll undertake. With so many choices—hardwood, laminate, engineered wood, vinyl, tile—where do you begin?
Budget is certain to factor into your decision. But you should also consider how much foot traffic, sunlight, and wear and tear your flooring will endure
For example, some engineered woods, along with a few solid wood types of flooring, aren’t as resistant to moisture as vinyl or laminate flooring—a serious drawback in a bathroom or busy kitchen. Porcelain tile would be a better choice for durability, but it can be expensive and requires labor-intensive installation
How We Test Flooring
We test wear resistance by subjecting a 6×6-inch sample of each flooring material to an abrasion machine fitted with a fine sandpaper disc, and assessing each sample for signs of visible wear after each cycle of sanding.
Types of Flooring
Most flooring falls into one of the following six types. The type you choose will depend on your needs and budget—not to mention your personal style and aesthetic.
Buyer’s Guide to Hardwood Floors
Hardwood floors are beautiful, durable, and easy to clean. These benefits come at a higher price than other hard-surface flooring options, but the longevity and style of wood flooring can be worth it.
Hardwood floors come in a range of styles and species. There are strips, planks, and parquet styles, and colors ranging from gray to deep red, depending on the species and stain you choose. Since there are so many options, there’s something out there to suit almost any space and taste.
Solid hardwood vs. engineered hardwood
When you’re shopping, you’ll need to choose between solid and engineered hardwood.
Traditional hardwood flooring, or solid hardwood, comes in planks of solid wood. Solid hardwood floors can be refinished multiple times. While more costly than engineered hardwood, being able to refinish the floor will make it last longer
Engineered hardwood has a layer of hardwood on top of other materials that are designed to restrict the natural expansion and contraction of the wood. Engineered hardwood looks great and has a lower price than solid hardwood, but it can’t always be refinished like solid hardwood can, depending on the thickness of the top hardwood layer.