Variety of styles
Hardwood comes either pre-finished or unfinished, depending on how much the customer wants to control the end product in terms of color and texture. There are four popular styles of hardwood flooring:
- Natural: Also called "solid", this style is truly cut from a piece of hardwood lumber into wood planks, using mostly ash, maple, or red or white oak
- Engineered: This method involves gluing several pieces of hardwood together, making them easily manipulated so that can be offered in a variety of colors, textures, and grains. Engineered hardwood is also very durable
- Longstrip: This style is simply a larger version of the engineered variety, but with larger strips or pieces of hardwood included. The advantage of longstrip gives the appearance more intricate flooring pattern, while in reality an entire section is present on one board
- Exotic: Called exotic because the wood does not originate in North America, this style is mostly the engineered variety and comes in a range of colors and styles
- Handscraped: Also called "sculpted", this variety gives a floor an antique look but in reality it possesses a modern finish. Handscraped wood is available in solid or engineered.
Selecting a location for your floor
Not all hardwood floor varieties are ideal for all levels of a home or commercial building. For instance, solid hardwood does not do well when placed over concrete or below ground level because it can change its characteristics based on environmental conditions such as humidity and moisture. Conversely, engineered hardwood styles can be used over concrete and react more favorably to humidity and moisture, making them a good choice for basements.
Thinking about the "finished" product
One of the best new assets of hardwood flooring is the new finishes available that remove the need for waxing. When choosing a hardwood flooring ask about its finish. Some of the more popular finishes include polyurethane and acrylic-urethane, a chemical that gives hardwood a clear, durable coat and can be put on the wood using water or oil base; or ceramic -- using this finish puts a coat on hardwood that allows for more resistance to wear. Paying attention to the finish -- assuming your floor has a polyurethane finish, hardwood floors should not be waxed, because a sticky film will develop and dirt and dust will stick to the wood's grain.
Tips for buying a wood floor
Before going to the retailer to purchase your hardwood floor, give some thought to the following:
- Compatibility: Will the style, pattern and texture fit with the environment it will be placed into? Remember that darker colors are used for formal settings, while light colors are usually used in casual environments.
- Performance: Will the finish, wood species, and type of floor hold up under the men, women, pets, children, customer and employees who will walk over it every day?
- Cost: After the flooring cost, be sure to consider installation and maintenance costs.
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