learn more about hardwood flooring
Want to learn more about caring and maintaining your hardwood flooring? Check it out here.
hardwood Construction:
Solid hardwood flooring refers to hardwood flooring made from one solid piece of lumber. Solid hardwood is available in a variety of sizes and species ranging from pine to Brazilian cherry. In order to make hardwood floors fit your home, it is available with many finishes that include different gloss levels and surface treatments like hand scraping.
- Since hardwood floors are a product of nature, they are more susceptible to extreme temperature changes and moisture can cause solid hardwood to shrink and expand during colder or dryer seasons.
- Solid hardwood has some limitations in regards to where it can be installed. For example, 5/16" thin profile solid wood can be installed directly over concrete --3/4" cannot since the concrete subfloor would not be flexible with the shifting of the floor.
- All solid hardwood can be sanded and refinished if needed (required every 15-20 years).
- All urethane coated floors can be recoated as needed to renew the surface of the floor. This is more economical than sanding and refinishing.
Engineered hardwood flooring is real wood flooring, but is more stable than solid wood and is less susceptible to shrinking and expanding with changes in temperatures and humidity. The durability of engineered hardwood is increased by constructing the floor through the use of multiple wood layers.
- Engineered hardwood is great for rooms like basements, kitchens, and bathrooms where small amounts of moisture may be present.
- It is possible to install engineered hardwood over concrete or below-grade in basements.
- Some engineered wood floors can be refinished one to three times, however, engineered floors with a top layer thinner than 1/10" can not be refinished, but recoated instead to renew the hardwood surface.
Species, Styles, & Colors
Today's Hardwood Flooring is available in approximately fifty different species of both domestic and exotic woods. Colors range from the natural wood tone thru the red and brown tones. When specie and color are combined with the width and surface finish you can create your design dream.
Species: While Oak is the most common specie used in wood flooring, many other species domestic an exotic species of wood are used today which rand from Pine to Walnut and Maple to Brazilian Cherry. Click here to see a photo chart of some of the available species.
Styles: Styles of hardwood flooring refer to: Width of the Boards (typically 2-1/4" to 10"), Surface texture (smooth or hand scraped), and Edge Profile (smooth or beveled).
Colors: Hardwood flooring can be finished using a variety of colors from white to the darkest brown and even black. The color combined with natural characteristics of the specie produce a look to go with any decor.
Grades & Cuts
Hardwood flooring is graded to produce a consistent appearance. Grading provides certain aesthetic qualities which are considered when selecting the best hardwood flooring for the design you are creating. The Cut of the hardwood flooring refers to the angle at which the wood is cut. This will also determine the overall look of the hardwood flooring you are selecting.
Grades: Appearance of your Hardwood Floor
Common Grade: Contains more natural characteristics such as small worm holes, knots, and mineral streaks than the other grades. Common grade is more rustic in appearance and produces more of a "natural wood look".
Select Grade: May contain some small knots and color variations. Select grade is much more uniform than a common grade.
Clear Grade: Is very uniform and only contains minor imperfections. Clear Grade is the most uniform. Some species of wood may also be graded as follows:
First Grade: Will provide natural color variations and only minor imperfections in the wood.
Second Grade: Will contain natural wood characteristics, color variation and minor knots.
Third Grade: Is the most rustic of the grades and will contain all natural wood characteristics of that specie of wood Cuts: Angle at which the hardwood floor is cut at.
Plain Sawn: The most common as well as the least expensive cut. The grain direction of this cut will vary widely from board to board and will provide the most variation in appearance. Plain sawn will also expand and contract the most of all cuts due to the grain direction.
Quarter Sawn: This cut will produce a board with primarily vertical grain. This will not only provide a different aesthetic look of the finish product but is also more stable than a plain sawn board. Quarter sawn hardwood flooring will expand and contract less as well as reduce the possibility of cupping and twisting. Overall, a much more stable cut of wood flooring. Quarter Sawn wood flooring is the most expensive cut of wood flooring.
Rift Sawn: Very similar to the Quarter Sawn cut. Rift Sawn hardwood flooring will provide many of the same advantages as Quarter Sawn but is less expensive due to higher yield of material during the cutting process. Rift Sawn cut will not have as much vertical grain material as Quarter Sawn and is also less expensive.
Click Here to see a chart of Grades & Cuts
Hardwood Floor Finishes
Field Finished Hardwood Floors:
Water-Based Urethane: This is a clear, non-yellowing finish. Water based products have no harmful fumes and contain low VOC's. These finishes dry faster and have less environmental impact than solvent based finishes. Like Oil-Modified Polyurethane, this is a surface finish which can have a stain or sealer applied over bare wood and followed by multiple finish coats. This product is also available in Satin, Semi-Gloss, or a Gloss Sheen.
Unlike Oil Modified Polyurethane and other solvent based finishes, Water-Based Urethane will not yellow or "amber" as it ages.
Oil-Modified Polyurethane: Solvent based surface finish which typically has a sealer or stain applied over bare wood and then has multiple finish coats applied. This finish will yellow or "amber" as it ages. This finish is available in Satin, Semi-Gloss, or a Gloss Sheen.
Penetrating Finish and Tung Oil: Solvent based finish which soaks into the grain of the wood and penetrates the pores. This finish can have a stain applied and typically produces a low sheen. Some penetrating finishes can be maintained with solvent based waxes which are buffed into the floor. Typically a low sheen finish which is very durable.
Prefinished Hardwood Floors
Polyurethane: A type of finish used on hardwood to protect it from damage. Polyurethane finishes do not require waxing.
Aluminum Oxide: This product is added to the finish to create a very durable, superior resistance to prevent surface wear-through.
Acrylic Impregnation: Liquid acrylic (and stain) injected throughout the surface layer of wood to fortify the fibers for added durability.
our hardwood flooring credentials
Quality of installation is as important as the product chosen to insure the desired look, proper performance, and longevity of your chosen floor covering. Dalene Flooring is the only Armstrong Elite Flooring Dealer in Connecticut which ensures our sales and installation staff is properly trained in today’s wood floor covering.
Dalene Flooring is also a member of NWFA (National Wood Flooring Association) as well as MFMA (Maple Floor Manufacturers Association).
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