There are several species, colors
and grain variations to consider. Other than the walls, the floor
represents the largest expanse of color or pattern in a room. Your floor
should complement the fabrics, furnishings and accessories already present in
the space, as well as enhancing the unique personality of the room as a whole.
The most popular color : red oak natural, maple natural running second, but
with today's eclectic decoration styles, anything goes.
Darker colors - Formal or traditional interiors,
Lighter colors - country, casual and contemporary
settings.
There are many choices when selecting the
right floor for the rooms in your home. There are several many species, colors
and grain variations to consider. See
Wood Floor Species, Grades &
Cuts
Which rooms can I
install a hardwood floor in my home?
Any room except a full bath. With
the variety of products available and a choice of installation options,
hardwood flooring can now be installed in any room of the home. The only
consideration is whether the floor will be
installed
on-, above- or below-grade. For example, because of potential moisture problems, solid hardwood is not
recommended for installations below grade, such as in a basement.
Engineered products, which are inherently dimensionally stable, are better
choices for this type of area. All types
of hardwood can be installed on- or above-grade.
Does wood flooring go well
with most design styles?
Yes. In a recent survey commissioned by the
NWFA, more than three-quarters of interior designers find that wood flooring
works well with many decorating styles. "It's the most versatile floor
covering there is," says one designer. "Wood goes with contemporary
and traditional and everything in between." Designers rated natural
materials as superior to man-made materials in beauty, prestige, style,
maintenance, and durability.
A variety of woods and finishes are available
to complement the decor and style of any room. Oak and maple are the most popular woods, but some
homeowners are investing in exotics such as Brazilian cherry and Purpleheart.
Engineered floor
versus a solid hardwood product?
Engineered products, available in
Planks, Strips are manufactured of hardwood using a cross-directional
laminated construction (3 to 5 layers), with a top layer of premium hardwood.
This construction counteracts the natural tendency of wood to expand and
contract with seasonal changes in temperature and humidity, making engineered
products inherently dimensionally stable. Solid products, available in Planks,
Strips or Parquet, are manufactured from a solid piece of wood.
What Is there an
advantage engineered products over solid products?
Yes. In general, engineered
products can be installed in any room in the home, whether
on-grade,
below-grade or above-grade. Engineered products can be nailed down,
glued-down or stapled down, depending upon the situation. Engineered product,
can be glued down, stapled down or some can be “floated” over most
subfloors without the use of nails or adhesives, making it ideal for
remodeling. Solid products are not recommended for below grade
installations and must be nailed down or glued down.( See installation procedures )
Should I use a
prefinished versus unfinished?
Most hardwood flooring
sold today is prefinished. Factory finished with several coats of UV-cured
polyurethane are applied. These factory finishes are tough and durable.
Installing a prefinished floor eliminates the time, the dust and the odors
associated with the on-site sanding and finishing of an unfinished product. A
prefinished floor can be installed in a day. An unfinished flooring
installation may require twice as much time for the same area.
What about
installing wood in high traffic areas like kitchens?
The urethane finishes
on most new wood floors stand up to water and traffic, bringing wood flooring
into bathrooms, kitchens, and other higher-stress areas. These finishes resist
wear and stains better than other finishes and require no stripping, no
buffing and no waxing. High traffic areas
include exterior doorways, hallways, mud rooms, and the areas in front of the
sink, stove and refrigerator. To protect the floor just inside exterior
doorways, use walk-off mats or small rugs to catch tracked-in dirt and grime.
Place small rugs or mats at other high traffic locations. Watch for grit or
pebbles that might be brought in on waffle soles of athletic shoes and collect
these with a hand-held cordless vac. This should be done a regular basis.
Is there a
difference between square-edge and eased-edge designs?
Yes. With a square edge, the sides
of each plank or strip are square. An eased edge, more commonly known as a
beveled or micro-beveled edge, features a slight angle on the top edge of the
plank or strip. An eased edge can help mask slight subfloor imperfections, and
can be felt if walking on the floor in bare feet.
Which
installation method is best?
The method used for your hardwood
installation will depend upon the type of product you have chosen, where the
flooring will be installed and the type of subfloor. Nail down, glue down
& floating are the three type of installation. For instance, if you are
remodeling your kitchen, some products can be “floated” over most
subfloors, including vinyl or ceramic tile, eliminating the mess and cost of
tearing up the existing floor and installing a subfloor. Engineered products,
which are dimensionally stable, are ideal for basements and can be nailed,
glued or stapled down. Your flooring retailer or contractor can help you to
determine the best method for your situation.
See Installation
methods & details.
Which types of
hardwood floors are best for in-floor radiant heating systems and are some
wood species better for radiant systems than other?
Engineered hardwood floors--in
planks, strips are the best floors to use with radiant heating systems. These
floors are manufactured of hardwood using a three-ply or five-ply laminated
construction, making them inherently dimensionally stable. This means they are
less susceptible to changes in temperature and humidity. Of the engineered
flooring options, with a floating installation as the best choice,
because it can be "floated" over the subfloor, without the use of
nails or adhesives for a permanent installation.
It is important to note that when installing any hardwood floor over a radiant
heating system, the maximum temperature of the subfloor should never exceed 80º
(F). For the correct water temperature inside the heating pipes, refer to your
manufacturer's guidelines.
Oak is an ideal
species for in-floor radiant systems. We also
recommend ash
and merbau. We do not recommend that you use maple or
pecan for an in-floor radiant heat system. If you have a question about your
species choice see Radiant Heat & Wood Floors.
Are hardwood floors
hard to maintain? Can I damp-mop my floor?
No. A hardwood floor finished at
the factory features three to seven layers of a UV-cured polyurethane. This
finish gives the floor a tough, durable and smooth no-wax surface that is both
luxurious and easy-care. See
Maintenance and Do's & Don'ts for your wood floor. DO NOT damp
mop - Water and wood do not mix. Therefore, we suggest
that you use the maintenance products and procedures recommended by the
manufacturer of your floor. Maintenance kits can be purchased from your
retailer or contractor.
See these related pages: