I "Wood" If I Could

Shopping for new Hardwood floors today can be very confusing and overwhelming.  If you look through a newspaper you can see ads for Hardwood ranging from $3.00 a square foot to $25.00 a square foot.  What is the difference?  Why is their such a price gap?  You may also see a lot of oak advertised, but are their other options that may better meet your needs.  Not to mention, WHO is going top help you sort through all of this.  In this article I will help you understand the differences in Hardwoods and make you aware of your options.  It will also show you that if you are confused, you are not alone and there is a company out there that can help!

Hardwood floors have long been desired for their beauty, warmth and durability.  Less than a generation ago, hardwood floors had to be installed when a home was constructed or during a major renovation.  It used to be the case that hardwood could not be installed on a slab or in the basement.  Today, a beautiful hardwood floor is within everyone's reach.

For years hardwood has been sand a finish ¾" solid oak, a rich grain seen in many homes.  Solid hardwoods had many disadvantages:  They could not be installed in basements or areas with a lot of moisture and they were very expensive, especially if you wanted anything other than oak.  The solid structure of each plank made the floors very susceptible to expansion and contraction with changes in temperature.  I can remember seeing the wood in my friends homes buckling and twisting; truly a shame for such a nice product.

Unfortunately some companies have gone to selling very thin pieces of solid hardwood to reduce the price.  Probably some of that $3.00 wood you've seen in stores or newspapers.  The price is a dream, but the product is a nightmare.  Thin wood will really buckle and twist when exposed to moisture and sunlight.  If you have ever seen a board outside on a hot summer day curl in the sunlight, you know what I mean. 

 The real kicker happens when you get to the store.  "Yes ma'am, you can have the hardwood at $3.00. Oh, by the way, would you like to have the wood delivered, the glue that holds the floor together, the installers to put it down, the transitions and quarter round to finish it off, and your old floor removed and hauled away?"  I find it cruel that as a consumer, you may get excited when you see the price only to have your hopes dashed when you actually get the final price. 

Okay, so high quality solid hardwood is expensive and can't be installed where I want and thin solid wood is a waste of money where does that leave you?  It leaves you looking at a superior product, new multi-layer, cross grain constructed hardwoods.

Multi-layer, cross grain constructed hardwoods are made by taking multiple layers of hardwood and fusing them together at 90⁰ angles to create a stronger, more stable hardwood.  This type of hardwood is structurally superior to solid wood.  It is more stable and does not expand and contract like solid wood allowing this wood to be used anywhere in the home!  This is particularly attractive with exotic hardwoods which, by nature, are softer and more likely to bend, bow and twist with changes in temperature.  It is also far less expensive than high quality solid wood.

Beware though, quality does range in Multi-layer, cross grain constructed hardwoods. Better quality hardwoods use only North American hardwood for the interior layers.  North American hardwood is superior because the growing season is slower, causing the grains to be much tighter.  Lesser quality engineered hardwood is made with cheaper hardwoods from Central and South America, where the wood grows faster in the warmer climates, resulting in grains that are loose and more likely to warp.  In addition, some lesser quality engineered hardwood is made with three layers of hardwood, versus the five layers found in better quality flooring.  As is true with any type of hardwood, lesser quality woods are not milled as accurately which means the planks will not fit together well.  This causes wither more product to be purchased to complete the floor or an unsightly floor with more gaps between planks.

The finish on the wood is also very important.  Hardwood finishes serve three primary functions: preserve the wood's beauty and color, protect the floor from water, dirt and wear, and allow for easy cleaning.  High quality finishes have aluminum oxide (the second hardest material to diamonds) in the finish to prevent scratching, Teflon to allow for easier cleaning (much like the Teflon you might find on kitchenware that's prevents food from sticking), and layering process to smooth out the woods natural grain which normally would collect dirt and urethane to make an overall solid finish.  Lesser quality finishes do not have special characteristics or worse may only be stains which do not protect the wood from scratching or denting at all.  The final piece to a good finish is that it provides moisture protection to the natural wood plank.

Solid wood is typically sold unfinished: once the floor is installed, it must be sanded and stained.  Sanding can be a challenging process, creates a significant mess and requires a great deal of preparation and clean up.  More significantly, it is difficult to apply the finish uniformly.  Most importantly, superior finishes, such as urethanes infused with aluminum oxide and Teflon for superior durability and scratch resistance, can NOT be applied to unfinished hardwood in the home.

Installation is also very important to the overall performance of the floor.  Lower quality or more unstable woods must be glued or nailed down in order to hold the board in place because the wood is so unstable.  Unfortunately, any imperfections in the floor (subfloor) the wood will be laid on will greatly increase the price of the project as they will have to be corrected before the wood can be laid.  Higher quality woods can be glued together instead of down to the floor, a process called "floating the floor".  This has many advantages including minimizing the costly expense of fixing the subfloor, as well as allowing the wood to be installed over a moisture barrier to protect the wood from water.

Let's recap.  The best choice for discerning homeowners is high quality multi-layer, cross grain constructed hardwoods.  They provide the ultimate in stability, allow the floor to be installed over a moisture barrier, have spectacular finishes that include aluminum oxide and Teflon all at a cost that is less than traditional hardwood.   But let's get to the point, how will they look?!

Multi-layer, cross grain constructed hardwoods offer the widest variety of choice in the industry, all at the most affordable prices.  Choose from traditional, exotic or rustic looks, whatever fits your personal styel and décor.

Traditional hardwoods include oak, maple, and hickory.  Oak carries more prominent grains while hickory is finer and can have a darker stain.  Of course, maple is the best choice for a truly blonde hardwood.  If you are a fan of wood architecture, traditional woods are for you.

Exotic refers to hardwoods that come from countries other than the US, such as Brazilian Cherry and South America Mahogany.  The name "Exotic" comes from the fact that the wood has a "foreign" look, with unusual eye-catching colors and grains.  It is typically a very rich, deep consistent color that is striking to the eye, perfect for the New Yorker in you.

Rustic Hardwoods are hardwoods that are "distressed" during the manufacturing process to give them an aged, antiqued or hand-milled look.  You can achieve the look of a hand milled floor from centuries ago, or a floor that has been walked for centuries.  Each plank is carefully hand scraped, wire brushed or distressed to give it a unique old world look.  These floors are great look for more rustic or country style homes or for those who like the feeling and warmth of simpler times.

At the end of the day, a hardwood product that will meet your needs for style, performance and budget is out there all you need is a good company to help you select the right product and install it professionally.  Simply Floored can help!  We bring the store to your home.  Why take home a few samples when you can choose from over 2,300 samples in your own lighting & decor? We offer quality flooring in every category from Hardwood, Carpet, Tile, Laminate & Vinyl.  In conjunction we offer personalized attention every step of the way.  A Design Consultant helps you select the right flooring and our dedicated team makes sure your job gets done right, including installation by experienced professionals.