subject: The Deep And Mysterious Wood - Walnut Flooring [print this page] Walnut floors adds a sense of mystery and depth to any room. As you consider which type of hardwood flooring is best for your living space or office space, be sure to consider what a walnut floor can do for you. This wood has all of the character that you could want in a wood and more and you will be amazed at how beautiful it looks once it is installed.
Walnut offers the home owner a wood grain pattern that is absolutely amazing. This pattern is all natural, yet it looks so defined. There are flame like swirls in the wood that give it an amazing appearance once the whole floor is installed.
How much of the swirls are shown will depend greatly on the length and width of the boards that are used to create the flooring. The boards that are wide will show off these characteristics and when long pieces of the wood are used, the uncut wood really stands out.
The colour of the flooring will depend greatly on the grade of walnut that is used. The Prime Grade has a more continuous look and pattern, while the Nature Grade has spots of blonde sap in the wood that gives it a more colourful appearance. The Prime grade will have less wood knots as well. The choice in grade is completely up to the person that is making the purchase as there are benefits to the look of each grade.
One thing that is consistent regardless of the grade is that this type of flooring is strong and very durable. With walnut you have to watch to make sure that nothing is placed on or dragged across the floor that will cause a scratch. For example, a woman wearing a pair of high heals that has no grip on the end of the heel may accidentally add a small indentation.
Once the natural wood flooring is laid out and placed according to the plan, it will be time to finish it off. If you have an extra coating of oil placed on the wood you will help to protect it from such mishaps as the heel with no rubber grip. The extra coat of oil also brings out the grain better when the floors are buffed and waxed.
Another interesting fact about walnut flooring is that it is sensitive to light. When a floor is exposed to daylight for a period of years, the colours will begin to lighten. This can enhance the look but if you are in love with the deep look of the original flooring then you may decide to invest in some UV protection that you can apply to your windows. This will slow down the fading process for the walnut flooring.
It can be said that anyone that has invested in having walnut flooring added to their home or office should be very proud of the outcome. The strength and beauty that comes from these floors can add both style and value to the home or office.
