HardWood Floor

By Susan Atkins

Hardwood flooring comes in both unfinished and pre-finished materials. These products are made from solid wood, which gives you three-quarters of an inch of wood that can be sanded and refinished if necessary in the future. Pre-finished flooring has an extremely durable finish already applied at the factory, which not only saves time and labor, but can also provide a better finish than you could apply yourself. Other wood flooring products include those made from press board laminated to a thin layer of wood, but although this product is inexpensive, it just will not wear as well as solid wood flooring.

Wood flooring comes in standard grades, which vary according to visual appearance and price. Clear grade is of the highest quality, with the wood containing very few knots and very little variation in overall coloring. Select grade flooring varies a bit more in color and has a few more knots, but is still considered a fine flooring product. Common grade flooring contains more of the natural variations and imperfections of the wood, but can still be used in less formal rooms to create a beautiful hardwood floor.

Floor boards should be laid perpendicular instead of parallel in relationship to the floor joists. It is also important to measure carefully so that an accurate base line can be determined, in order to keep the first rows of wood flooring straight. Standard tongue and groove wood flooring is installed by nailing the flooring board directly through the tongue, and then sliding the next piece over the nailed tongue. Although the process can be completed by hand, there are pneumatic tools that can be rented that can make this job much easier. These tools can quickly and easily drive the staples or nails at the perfect angle, making it easier to do a good installation without missing the tongue or damaging the floor boards. However, it is generally necessary to hand-nail the first row or two of because you will not be able to get close enough using the pneumatic tool. The boards will be installed in a staggered fashion, with the end joints being offset by at least sixteen inches as the rows of flooring boards are installed. Spacers are used between the wall and the flooring planks to allow room for expansion, and the last row of flooring will need to be cut to size and face nailed into place.

Since hardwood floors are becoming an increasingly popular, it may be a good DIY project to attempt. Although some people think that a hardwood floor installation might be difficult, in actuality it can be a relatively easy project, as long as you have some experience with basic carpentry work. You'll not only end up with a beautiful floor, but save yourself a lot of money too.

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By Dola Raheem.

There are many things to consider when choosing the right Unfinished Hardwood Flooring for your home. From Solid to engineered, and dramatic to moderate grains, A few tidbits to get you started include some small but important differences between types of Unfinished Hardwood Flooring. An engineered floor can withstand humidity better than a solid floor, even though the solid floor is built from one piece of wood and has a better potential of lasting in a longer time period. The next item to decide is the type of wood. Oak and Cherry are among the most popular, but many consumers are now going with more exotic woods such as bamboo, teak and Brazilian Cherry. Choosing the wood is important since the longevity of each type of wood can make a difference in when the flooring will need to be replaced. Another important quality is to find out which type of wood is best suitable for your climate since wood expands in weather and humidity.

One of the great things about choosing Unfinished Hardwood Flooring, is the adventure of creating the look that best suites your home and personality, and even other wood in the home. a pre-finished floor can be much faster to the end result, but in the end you are limited to the styles and colors available. For the more adventurous, sanding and finishing the wood yourself can be quite satisfying. The most important thing to remember in finishing the wood yourself is to make sure it is sealed.

If, the decision is made to leave the wood unfinished, extra care is needed to make sure the floor is properly maintained. To clean Unfinished Hardwood Flooring, a vacuum, broom, bristle brush, TSP (trisodium phosphate), rags, and the occasional use of a sanding block are some necessary supplies. A word of warning, is that commercial products are usually made for finished floors and can ruin an unfinished floor. Its important also to watch out for oil based products or waxes as these can build up, making it hard to finish the floor later.

Installing Unfinished Hardwood Flooring is pretty simple with the ways the wood is now cut to match ends is much easier than in the past. Just remember to let the wood acclimate to its new environment before installation, and make sure it has the room to expand and contract to avoid splitting and damage. Wood floors add an unsurpassed beauty to any home and can also with the right installation, added overall home value.

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By Jenna Laine

At a time when homeowners are pinching pennies, hardwood floor installation continues to be one of the top trends in home improvement. Why? Because it's guaranteed to bring value to a home, it's seen as classic and transcends through decades, and it's relatively inexpensive.

When it comes to Hardwood Floors, Bruce Hardwoods is considered a leading manufacturer because of quality, aesthetics, and selection. Bruce Hardwoods come in several varieties, with hundreds of styles and color combinations. The most popular woods used include oak, ash, birch, beech, maple, and hickory. With so many different options to choose from, how do you know which is right for your home?

For an elegant, formal setting in your home, darker woods and finishes add a sense of warmth, such as the stunning Dundee Plank by Bruce Hardwood in a cherry or mocha. For everyday use, opt for contemporary maple, or even a combination of maple with oak, such as Bruce Hardwood's Liberty Plank flooring.

If your style is a bit on the retro side, or you want to add some Americana flare to your home, go with American Vintage Walnut from Bruce Hardwoods. If you have kids or pets, the highly durable Bruce Park Avenue Premium Laminate Wood is eight times more resistant to scratches and surface stains than any other wood on the market, and it's backed by a 30-year warranty.

In addition to type of wood used, you will need to select a pattern. The most common patterns are strip and plank, although a popular trend among homeowners is to integrate their own custom designs in the wood.

Talk to a Bruce Hardwoods floor installation specialist to discuss your options. When choosing a color and cut, be sure to request samples, and don't forget to ask about cleaning. Different woods require different cleaning methods, and some floors can only be cleaned professionally. When making a home investment such as this, you don't want any surprises!

Hardwood Floor Experts
Bruce Liberty Plank

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