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Hardwood Flooring
Hardwood Flooring Advantage
Hardwood flooring is used as an interior decorator. Whether it’s a residential interior, or an office one, hardwood flooring adds an aesthetic appearance, as well as structural strength. For these reasons, it remains to be a classic choice. Since many cultures and civilizations have used this as a traditional one and have done so for centuries. But,beyond those of tradition that make hardwood flooring a practical and decorative choice.
Types of Hardwood Flooring
There are two different types of hardwood flooring available in market, They are
1. Pre-finished Hardwood Flooring
For pre-finished hardwood flooring, the obvious advantage is that of convenience. No sanding is required for these types of hardwood floors, and therefore it is less time consuming. Hence less time must be allowed for the finish on your hardwood flooring to dry, a period which can take a half a day to longer, depending on the kind of finish you use.
2. Unfinished Hardwood Flooring
Unfinished hardwood flooring is one of the most advantage of a more uniform seal. This is the reason why many professionals offer this type of flooring to clients. It is easier to make sure that the gaps between the flooring boards are sealed when finish is applied on the whole surface of the flooring, and not on a board-by-board basis. This means extra protection against moisture.
Popular Species of Hardwood Flooring- Red and White Oak – These species are naturally pale in color, with hints of pink running through the Red Oak. Both are known for their utility across all kinds of applications. White Oak is known to be slightly harder than red oak, although red oak in turn is slightly easier to saw and nail.
- Hard Maple – Harder still than oak, the uniform texture of maple as well as its naturally abrasion-resistant surface makes it an excellent choice for hardwood flooring.
Hardwood flooring “Do's” and “Don’ts”
Do's:
- Choose a good type of hardwood which will withstand the type of foot traffic in the room it is installed.
- Hire a skilled labour if you have little or no experience in installing a hardwood floor.
- In the case of an unfinished hardwood flooring option, consult with contractors or manufacturer about which finish or stain is most appropriate for your choice of hardwood flooring.
- Choose an appropriate damp proofing material to rest between subfloor and hardwood flooring in order for protection.
- Allow your hardwood flooring to “acclimate” before you install it. This means opening the boxes of flooring to expose it to the temperature of the area where it is to be installed. Being a natural material, hardwood flooring expands and contracts according to climate.
- Use vacuum cleaners to keep your new hardwood flooring clear of dirt and dust.
Don’t:
- Don't install hardwood flooring in an area that is subjected to excessive moisture. This also means avoiding an installation “below grade” (in a basement for instance) or in bathrooms.
- Don't use wax-based cleaners or detergents or acids that will dull the finish of the flooring.
- Don't use steel wool or any other abrasives/scrubs to clean. It may scratch the wood resulting in reduction in smoothness of the surface.
- Don't use excessive water when cleaning.
- Don't walk on your floor with athletic spikes or high-heels.
- Don't install hardwood flooring over radiant heat. For this, it is best to consider engineered hardwood flooring which is designed to allow for the temperature variations resulting from radiant heat.
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