subject: All About Hardwood Flooring Edges [print this page] If you have been shopping for new hardwood flooring you have probably realized that you have many choices to make. What species of wood, what finish, and of course what board size. There are several different standard hardwood board sizes available but they all fall into two basic categories - strips (narrower boards) and planks (wider boards). Which size you opt for can change the way the finished floor looks completely. Usually strips work well in smaller rooms as they can give them a larger appearance while wide planks work better in larger spaces.
You will also find that hardwood boards come with different edge styles as well. Different edges can also change the way a finished floor looks. Here is a basic explanation of the hardwood board edges that are the most popular:
Square Edges - If a hardwood board has square edges the edges of all the boards are quite literally designed to meet squarely which creates a neat uniform smooth surface that blends together almost seamlessly. Square edges boards usually work very well to lend a very contemporary air to the room in which they are installed.
Eased Edges - Eased edges are created when the edges of each plank or strip are beveled just a small amount. Some hardwood boards that are labeled as eased edge have been beveled along the length of the entire plank as well as at the ends to create a rather different look when the floor is laid. Eased edges are often used to camouflage slight imperfections in the planks themselves as well.
Beveled Edges - If you want to create a room that has a more informal, even perhaps "country" feel to it then hardwood boards with beveled edges are just the ticket for you. These boards display a groove that is far more distinctive and noticeable. Some people shy away from bevel edged boards because they think they might be harder to take care of once the flooring has been installed, fearing that dust and dirt will become trapped in the grooves. This however is not the case these days as the urethane finishes applied at the factory seal them up completely.
