solid wood floors

A Solid Look at Hardwood Floors

refinishedhardwood.com staff

When installing solid hardwood floors you should be careful to avoid installing them directly onto concrete slabs or below ground level because of moisture problems that may result. The problem with moisture is that it leaves unsightly gaps in the hardwood once it dries (typically during the winter months when heating tends to draw the moisture out of homes). During summer months when humidity and moisture are high you should notice that the wood once again expands, sometimes so much so that the wood planks may buckle or cup. Because of these issues you should also take great care to leave plenty of room for seasonal expansion. For these types of floors, nail down installations tend to work best and regular care, maintenance, and refinishing can prolong the life of your floors. Typical hardwood floor material includes: ash, maple, red oak, and white oak.

There are essentially three types of solid wood floors. Those types are: strip flooring, plank floor, and parquet flooring. Strip flooring varies in thickness between 5/16 and ¾ inches and they come in widths anywhere from 1-½ inches to 2 ¼ inches. Plank flooring is only sold in two thicknesses while the width can be between 3 and 8 inches. Parquet flooring consists of geometrical patterns that are created through the use of wooden slats.

If you would like a truly unique floor, consider hand-scraped hardwood floors. The crafting of these floors is considered by practitioners to be an art form. These floors work fabulously whether you are going for an ultra modern look or a rustic look so they should work in almost any décor. One word of caution, if you wish you to have hand-scraped hardwood floors in your home you should be prepared to pay a pretty penny for them. There are however machine made floors that have the look of hand scraping. These floors offer the look of hand-scraped floors at a more budget friendly price. Either way you will have a very nice floor in your home.

You should check with the manufacturer of your hardwood floors for specific cleaning and care instructions, as not all hardwood floors are created equal. You can use your vacuum over your hardwood floors regularly to help loosen and remove dust, dirt, grit, debris, and any small stones that may risk the finish of your floors. It’s also a good idea to have welcome mats at doors and throw rugs in high traffic areas in order to maximize the life of your hardwood floors. Another great way to protect your hardwood floors is by using furniture coasters on all legs of your furniture. Spills should also be taken care of immediately in order to protect your hardwood floors and keep them looking beautiful for years to come.

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