Since I am in the middle of a replacing my floors, I am thrilled to be able to share the following article with you. The previous owners of our home installed beautiful wood floors before we bought the house, but after a short time, these floors weren’t so beautiful anymore. They took the “cheap” route and this proves the old saying “You get what you pay for.” As a homeowner that is replacing floors with intentions of personally living in this house for many years to come, this article is quite helpful. It explains why our wood flooring didn’t wear as well as we had expected and also why our floors weren’t able to be refinished. If you are even considering hardwood flooring, make sure you read this article.
Things you may not know about Hardwood Floors
Hardwood floors can give your home a distinguished look, and if you’re thinking about beautifying your home with this regal flooring option, take a look at this brief guide to hardwood floors. If you’re looking for some fast facts about hardwood flooring, look no further.
Hardwood Floor FAQs
- Cost: depending on wood thickness, species, and grade, hardwood flooring averages from around $1.50 to $8.00 per square foot.
- Longevity: Hardwood flooring is a very durable flooring choice, and oftentimes, hardwood flooring is designed to last for up to 50 years.
- Where: Hardwood floors can be used just about anywhere, although it not not advisable that they be placed anywhere there is extreme humidity or it is extremely arid. This can be mitigated by how it’s made and how it’s installed (floating with a vapor barrier on the sub flooring).
- Cleaning: Hardwood floors can be easily cleaned with a damp material, dried and then waxed (use what the manufacturer recommends for regular cleanings).
What to Know Before You Buy
If you want to choose the right wood floor, ask yourself these questions and narrow your search:
Where are you going to place your new hardwood flooring?
If you want to use wood for your entryway or kitchen, choose a hardwood such as oak or hickory to handle heavily-used areas; pine is too soft. Areas that receive light use such as your bedroom and home office can be constructed with softer woods like black cherry or black walnut. An engineered wood floor is a good choice for basements because it is very durable. Keep in mind that water can warp wood, making it a questionable flooring choice in bathrooms (many people make it work with strategic use of rugs).
Hardwood Basics
The thicker the board, the more it can be refinished, and three-quarter inch planks can typically be refinished 10 times. Thinner boards are topped with a factory coating so that they shouldn’t require frequent refinishing. Sometimes, smaller pieces are used to make small rooms look bigger. The harder the wood, the less you will have to worry about indentions and scuffing.
Hardwood Cuts
- Flat-sawn boards: These hardwood boards are cut with the growth ring facing parallel to the surface, leaving a distinctive flame-like grain pattern.
- Quartersawn boards: The boards are, in general, more expensive than flat-sawn boards and because of their straight grain. Growth rings perpendicular to the face.
Hardwood Grading
Hardwood flooring is categorized by different grades, which denote differences in the number of defects, such as knots and color variations. The fewer the amount of defects, the more expensive the wood in general.
When done correctly, hardwood floors are beautiful, long lasting and add to the value of your home. Hopefully this will help answer some questions you may have had or at least provide some insight before making your flooring purchase. Enjoy!
Bio –
This guest post is contributed courtesy of MacDonald Hardwoods in Denver, CO. MacDonald Hardwoods features many different hardwood floor types, including bamboo, oak, hickory, and exotic hardwood flooring.