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Before buying hard wood flooring don't get caught in the old belief that all hardwood floors are created equal! They are NOT!!! There are many hardwood flooring types, grades, styles, widths, finishes and species and each can affect final cost. If you are considering buying hard wood flooring it is essential that you have a full understanding of each of these, BEWARE the misinformed or uninformed sales clerk, or smooth talking salesperson with little working knowledge. we have seen and gone head to head with these jokers for years and seen many customers unhappy when their eyes opened to what happened.
The old fashioned high maintenance wood floors that our mothers and grandmothers may have had are now a thing of the past! Wood flooring today offers warmth, design versatility, and easy maintenance for almost every area of the home. We even have a large number of consumers today using beautiful wood floors in kitchens
The new technological breakthroughs in finishes, engineered construction, and state of the art installation tools and materials make a hard wood floor a good choice for anyone who wants one. If you want one and your job conditions are suitable it surely can be a choice that will bring years of satisfaction.
As you can see there are many things to consider when looking at hard wood flooring as an option, but we at the flooring professor will guide you through them step by step and you can be sure you have made the right choice and then decide to buy with complete confidence. A quality hard wood flooring project is a sizeable investment and it is crucial that you make the right choice before buying as you will have this floor for a very long time!
Wood floors are unique in that they are what is known as hygroscopic. Therefore, when it is exposed to air it will inherently take on or release moisture until it has the same relative humidity of the room. This is why it is important to understand that the moisture or humidity level in your home will directly affect the performance of your wood flooring.
Some examples of this are if your humidity level is too low or too dry the floor will shrink and cracks will open between the planks. If the moisture is allowed to get too high then the floor will expand or "grow". This is why it is crucial to pay attention to the moisture levels and the expansion gaps at walls during the installation of your flooring.
Pros
- Hard wood flooring can add warmth and beauty to any room
- Today's factory finishes are durable, scratch resistant and easy to clean.
- A SOLID wood floor can last a lifetime with proper care
- Solid hardwood floors will add to the long term value of your home and Enhance resale value.
- Wood floor care today is relatively easy compared to years past.
- wood plank floors are easy on the joints when standing on for extended periods of time compared to some other products.
- Both Solid wood flooring and engineered wood floors of reasonable quality can be sanded and refinished to restore beauty.
- Wood floors offer near endless design options to enhance the beauty of any space.
Cons
- Wood flooring planks can gap over time especially if the climate is not controlled in the building it is installed.
- Wood flooring does not do well if exposed to "Excessive" water/moisture.
- The finish can scratch (although the newer "aluminum oxide" and other finish technologies available today make it very resistant to scratches)
- Some softer wood species (with lower Janka hardness ratings) can indent very easily.
- A QUALITY hardwood floor is NOT inexpensive, and will require a reasonable investment.
We have spent countless combined years in training, on sales floors, and on jobsites to compile all the information you need to make a wise and educated choice when buying hardwood flooring. It is our purpose and commitment to be sure that YOU (the consumer) has a complete understanding of ALL the pros and cons of flooring products BEFORE you buy. We also are committed to helping you with hard wood flooring care and cleaning AFTER you buy!
We are here to share with you the advantages and
disadvantages to owning hard wood flooring . In order to understand how these
differences affect you, we have many innovative techniques to help you along,
from simple and quick lists like the pros and cons shown above, to our in depth
hardwood
flooring buyers guide.
All these tools will help you understand the advantages and disadvantages between wood floors and other types of flooring like ceramic tile, laminate floors, bamboo flooring, cork, vinyl and more! For an even more in depth look at this check out our wood floor reviews page.
With it's growing popularity there are many brands of hard wood flooring available in the market today. It is important to realize that all brands are not created equal. Many times the consumer is most exposed to inferior brands because they may have bigger advertising budgets, but it is our commitment to assist you in an unbiased, well informed, experienced and honest manner to help you make the best choices. Then of course we are here with our revolutionary care and maintenance support after the sale.
We have experienced first hand a shift in knowledge as well as a constant evolvement of new products and technologies. because of this it is very difficult for anyone to stay up to date and in tune with the real information in our industry. Wood floors have become one of the fastest growing product lines in recent years.
There are now readily available well over 20 species of wood flooring available today. We will cover the different properties of each species on an individual basis with you so that you can make an informed decision. Be sure you are familiar (with our help of course) with the pros and cons of each species of hard wood flooring you are considering BEFORE you buy!
Wood floors can be installed in nearly any room of your home. We do not as a rule recommend using them in bathrooms that have a shower. It is also wise to use common sense when considering it's use in other "wet" areas. Otherwise, with the vast array of products available today you can use wood flooring on, above or below grade. be sure to check out our hardwood floor uses section for more information on this subject.
Hardwood floors can also be installed in most cases over radiant heating systems as long as the special installation instructions are followed carefully. Each systems required installation may bring it's own challenges so it is very important to have the heat system installer, the flooring installer and any contractor who may be overseeing your job all closely involved with this process. If everyone works together this is no problem.
There are a variety of wood floor finishes available today and most offer a new level of durability for your hardwood floor. Except for in extremely rare cases wood floor finishes of all types can be renewed, revived, or recoated to restore the beauty and luster to your wood flooring after it becomes tired looking and worn. For a much more in depth look at wood floor finishes visit our wood floor finishes page.
A New hardwood floor is a long term investment in your home and a little extra time and research prior to installation can be priceless. We recommend you fully understand the steps that are necessary to follow in order to ensure that your new hard wood floor will last for years to come. You should be aware of handling, acclimation, installation techniques, and moisture issues.
These issues must be considered prior to, during and after installation. you should also be aware of your role in maintaining a balanced moisture level for peak performance. in our how to install hardwood flooring section you will find much more in depth information on wood flooring installation and handling. Also be sure to register for free and we will assist you in the ongoing care of your floor.
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Have you read Buying Flooring Online
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