A Fair And Balanced Glance At Five Very Critical Wood Floor Concerns
Homeowners usually see the task of selecting hardwood floors as a complicated
, irritating, and sometimes exhausting, experience. It is not as simple as selecting a color. There are various flooring constructions, a variety of wood varieties, and myriad little particulars that can make a massive difference in your floors' presentation. Additionally they may play a role in how long they endure, and how vulnerable they are to damage.
In this article, we will cover five crucial concerns that ought to be addressed before choosing your wood flooring. A few might appear instinctive; you might have by now dealt with them. Others may well come as a surprise.
#1 - Type Of Board Construction
A lot of people think wood flooring are constantly solid. In reality, there are three main types of construction. Solid hardwood floors truly are solid all through the board. They are generally 3/4" thick (though they could be thinner), and offer a high level of durability
The disadvantage is that they're very vunerable to moisture damage (e.g. warping, cupping, etc.).
The second type are engineered boards. They are composed of a wear layer, beneath which lie numerous layers of alternating grain. They could withstand moisture damage better than solids.
Third are acrylic impregnated planks. They are "impregnated" with an acrylic resin that adds to their durability. These planks are less frequent in houses, and frequently found in department stores and other commercial locations that get a high amount of visitors.
#2 - Type Of Wood Species
The variety of hardwood you select for your residence ought to be in line with the design you wish to present, and the foot traffic you anticipate. As an example, Red Oak is a popular choice since it has a light-colored appearance, and can endure wear. American Cherry can also be lightly-colored, although it is a softer wood. What this means is it is more vulnerable to wear and tear.
You will find, obviously, a great many other varieties, which includes Douglas Fir, Hickory, Birch, and Pine
Be certain that you're familiar with their respective characteristics before deciding from among them.
#3 - Various Wood Grades
The Wood Flooring Manufacturers Association (NOMFA) keeps a grading scale by which a wood's appearance is considered. Such properties as its color and any marks on it are taken into consideration.
There are numerous grades, which range from Clear to Shorts. A Clear grade indicates the color is even, and there are few imperfections. A Select And Better grade is nearly as good, but the planks contain more marks and much less color uniformity. A #1 Common Grade (frequently called Exclusive) consists of knots and greater variance in coloring. A #2 Common Grade (Country) consists of more of both. A wood given a Utility grade has significant color variation in addition to dents and chips.
#4 - Unfinished Vs. Prefinished
With prefinished planks, a finish is put on well before they show up at the site of installment (e.g. your home). They are less difficult to install, and need less time to do this. Prefinished hard woods also cause much less chaos and produce a lot fewer toxins.
Unfinished planks, as their name suggests, don't have a finish put on them prior to showing up at the installation site. The finish is applied afterward; the benefit is that you may custom stain the planks to complement the color of the area into which they are to be set up
The drawback is that the installation is difficult and messy, and leaves robust fumes that could possibly endure for several weeks.
#5 - Durability Of The Boards
If your home receives a reasonable degree of foot traffic, even relatively soft hardwoods really should be fine. On the other hand, if certain areas receive substantial traffic, it is essential to think about the wood's firmness factor. This is ranked by the Janka hardness test. It is a measure of simply how much pressure a provided wood species can withstand. The greater the rating, the harder the wood.
For instance, Douglas Fir, one of many soft species, is rated at 660; Red Oak, much harder, is ranked at 1,290; and Lignum vitae, a special type of wood, is ranked at the top of the scale with 4,500.
Your hardwood floors will probably look gorgeous, no matter the choices you make in the five areas above. But each and every of these areas is essential to consider so as to prolong your floors' life, and minimize unneeded damage.
by: Erik Blair
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