Hardwood flooring is the only thing that can add elegance to your home. This type of flooring oahu, while not new to home design concepts, is still unmatched in its appeal. Hardwoods are a great option for flooring, whether you’re looking to finish a home or update one that already exists. Choosing the right flooring for your home requires careful consideration as well as the right information.
There are many types of hardwood flooring, as well as a variety of finishes. Making the right decision requires that you understand these options and have a clear idea of the style you want to achieve. The first thing you will need to do is decide what type of wood to use, and then choose the best style for your home.
Types of Wood
Hardwood flooring comes in two main types: engineered and solid. Solid hardwood flooring is made up of a single sheet of wood, which can be cut from a slab of lumber. The advantage is that it offers a large amount of surface material which can be sanded, refinished and reused many times during its lifetime. Solid wood flooring can be negatively affected by extremes of moisture and temperature. It is therefore not suitable for basements. This type of flooring is suitable for almost any part of your house.
Three to ten layers are laminated together in engineered or prefinished floors. These layers are called plies. The top layer on engineered wood is usually thick enough to allow for sanding and refinishing a few times. These plies offer greater stability and resistance against the effects of moisture and temperature. Engineered wood flooring can be installed in finished basements.
Style of Wood
When choosing a hardwood flooring style, you have several choices. First, you should consider the type of wood. You can choose from a wide variety of hardwood species. You can choose between domestic and exotic species. Each species has a unique grain pattern and degree of hardness. You can choose the best hardwood species by viewing different samples.
Color and width are also options for style. The species of wood used and the stain applied will determine the color of your flooring. The wood can be sealed with a clear coating to maintain its natural color. Wood flooring is available in two different widths: plank and strip. Strips are flooring boards that are less than 3 inches wide, while planks have a width of at least 3 inches. The width of hardwoods will depend on two factors: your personal taste and the size of room in which it will be installed. After selecting the style and species, you will need to determine what fits your budget. The cost will vary depending on the species and style, but the quality will determine the final price. Hardwood flooring comes in a variety of grades. The more expensive wood grades will have less knots and imperfections. The color variation between boards is also less common in higher priced flooring.
Specialty options are also available if your budget allows. These include hand-sculpted board and color-washing. The boards are hand-sculpted and have grooves or marks that create a pattern. The term color-washing is used to describe a process of finishing that gives wood a worn, faded look. You can get deeper colored finishes with additional funds. Hardwoods are a great option when choosing flooring for your home. Few other flooring options offer the beauty and durability of hardwood flooring. Understanding the many choices will help you make a choice that you’ll be happy with for years.