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 Talia A.

Flooring is the most important aspect that people consider before constructing a house. Several homeowners opt for marble floors or tiles, but this trend keeps up for few years. Some people follow the latest trend and opt for hardwood floors and laminate floors. This is the latest ongoing trend and many people are going for it. The fashion of marble and tile floors will keep for a short period, as the wear and tear power of these floors is very less. This is the reason why numerous people are opting for hardwood floors, these days. Hardwood floors are the best options to retain quality of floors for years.

Hardwood Flooring

Hardwood floors are a quite expensive deal, but there is a guarantee of longevity. Another advantage of using hardwood floors is that it increases the value of property. One should take care of these floors in order to retain the quality and life of the floor. Hardwood flooring is the best option for any room in the house but it is not recommended for bathroom as it can not hold water. It can be installed depending upon the choice and type of hardwood floors. There are several types and styles available in the market that people can choose.

Wood Species

Maple and oak are mainly used in the manufacturing of hardwood floors. Other options include fir, beach, walnut, cinnamon, cherry, pine and birch. Each and every floor has its own benefits and disadvantages, so it is recommended that customers should consult any flooring professional prior to making investment.

Treatment

Hardwood floors can be of two types which include finished and unfinished. Unfinished type involves the finishing and sanding of the floor after the installation, while in case of finished floors there is no need for any type of treatment.

Adds up the Value of Property

Hardwood flooring not just beautify the interior of the home, but it is completely environment friendly as well. These floors are recyclable which is an added advantage for the home owners. Hardwood flooring is widely used from centuries and is now becoming a part of the latest fashion. After its installation, the owner does not need to worry for the refinishing of floors. These also add value to the property and facilitates if the owner wishes to sell the home. The greatest thing about the floor is that it suits the taste of all the people having different life styles.

Online Alternatives

There are numerous websites that are offering hardwood floors at very reasonable prices. Several websites are providing great discounts to the people who purchase the hardwood floors online. One can choose the designs and styles online as there is a huge list of designs and styles are mentioned there. So, hardwood flooring is the best option in order to enjoy longevity of the floors. One just needs to select any of the floor type and design, and add them into the wish list.

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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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