Although picking the ideal hardwood flooring may not seem difficult, it is more challenging than you might imagine. Your flooring choice can affect your home’s durability, style, temperature, and appearance, among other things. Before you find a licensed general contractor, you should know your options.
Most types of hardwood flooring will raise the value of your property, but not all of them will be the ideal match for your lifestyle and budget.
At the start of your floor replacement process, you must be completely aware of your end goal. For that reason, our wood floor installer team put together this manual to help guide you. In this guide, we will go through some of the important questions you need to ask yourself and assist you in choosing the best hardwood flooring.
Do You Want Solid or Engineered Hardwood?
It would be best if you first decided whether to go with solid or manufactured hardwood floors. Solid hardwood floors are made from single pieces of wood with no layers, whereas manufactured wood floors are built with layers of plywood and hardwood.
Classic and timeless, solid hardwood flooring can survive for up to 100 years before there is a need to replace them. On the other hand, engineered hardwoods are exceptionally resistant to nicks, scratches, and different types of cosmetic damage, but their lifespan can be reduced by up to 50%.
Modern homeowners frequently prefer hardwood floor installations because of their stability, toughness, and resistance to warping in moist, humid environments. You might still prefer solid hardwood flooring, though, for its timeless appearance.
Research how the two types of floors might differ in appearance, which is better suitable for your environment, and how much each will cost to buy and install.
Pre-Finished VS. On-Site Finishes
The next consideration is whether to buy pre-finished hardwoods or finish the flooring after installing them.
Pre-finished hardwood boards will be delivered to the building site with the topcoat and stain fully applied. This is practical and makes it simple to guarantee that you receive the desired finish. Install the boards as-is; no color or sealant is required.
Nevertheless, on-site finishing, which enables more personalization in stain and sheen, has certain advantages. If you want a particular look, finishing the hardwoods after they come may be the best option, but it can be more time-consuming.
Types of Finishes
There are several types of finishes to consider, but we advise choosing between two primary groups: polyurethane finishes and oil finishes.
In “natural”-toned rooms, oil finishes give the hardwoods a silky, matte appearance that looks excellent. They are more prone to scratching than polyurethane coatings but are also reasonably easy to fix. Contrarily, polyurethane finishes produce a very robust surface that is resistant to wear and strain unless there is a significant issue. In this case, you will be required to polish and recoat.
Consult a hardwood flooring specialist to determine whether you want pre-finished boards with polyurethane or oil treatments. They can guide you toward the choice that best satisfies your wants, your home’s requirements, and your financial and aesthetic preferences.
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What Type of Wood Will You Use?
Choosing your wood type is another important choice you must make. There are numerous types of wood floors, each with advantages and disadvantages.
Consider cherry, pine, live oak, ebony, or bamboo if you want hardwood flooring that will withstand the test of time (as well as pets, kids, and other potential threats). These are tough types of wood that won’t deteriorate over time.
However, if you are more concerned with saving money upfront, consider using sturdy, inexpensive wood like maple or hickory. These two options are among the most cost-effective, yet they will still give your house the lovely, elegant hardwood feel you want.
When choosing your wood, you must consider the amount of moisture in your environment if, like most of our clients, you reside in a humid environment. Even though no hardwood is truly “waterproof,” some varieties, such as engineered hardwoods, are less susceptible to distortion.
Only decide on a hardwood floor after inspecting the wood and consulting an expert. You want to be sure that you are selecting the best floors for your home and financial situation, not anyone else’s.
What Grain Pattern Do You Like?
When installing hardwood flooring, this is a question that only some homeowners consider asking. Logs are cut in three ways: rift-sawn, plain-sawn, or quarter-sawn. As a result, the appearance of the wood’s grain patterns will vary based on how the logs are cut.
For example, the long, linear grain of rift-sawn boards gives them a reasonably uniform appearance. On the other hand, quarter-sawn boards have a grain that almost looks three-dimensional, but plain-sawn boards feature undulating patterns known as “cathedrals.
Grain is mainly a matter of personal preference and the design of your home. We advise comparing several grains in person to determine what you want and what looks best.
How Wide Will the Wood Planks Be?
The board width can significantly affect the appearance of your hardwood flooring. Thin boards look more modern and cost-effective than wider planks, sometimes seen as more contemporary and expensive-looking.
The standard width of narrow planks is two to three inches. The width of wide planks can span from six inches to a foot. To understand how the rooms differ and what you prefer most, look at a few rooms with both types of boards.
Ask your certified contractor for the cost or estimate once you’ve reviewed the questions above!
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About C&K Roofing
C&K Roofing Inc. & General Contracting is a family-owned and operated flooring contractor serving Maynard, Marlborough, Acton, MA, and surrounding cities. We specialize in residential and commercial roofing and general contracting services such as kitchen remodeling, bathroom remodeling, painting services, drywall installation, and deck installations. We truly believe that for a project to be successful, a lot of teamwork, coordination, and communication is required by all parties involved. This starts with our office, project managers, supervisors, and vendors and trickles down to our loyal customers.
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