All you need to know about Flooring!
We hear all of your questions and we want to make sure you have all the answers you need.
Find below the most Frequently Asked Questions, we hope that helps.
Here are all the answers you need to know about Flooring:
What is Hardwood flooring?
Hardwood flooring is wood that is harvested from trees that grow much slower and consecutively it ends up being a lot denser and more durable than softwood. This means they last longer and require less maintenance. Hardwood is available in myriad species and they are manufactured as either Solid Hardwood – the planks comprise one solid piece of wood sawn from a single timber – as Engineered Hardwood – wherein the planks are made from multiple layers of wood adhered together or as Composite Engineered wood wherein real wood is found on the wearable surface only, the backing and core material could comprise any type of composite material.
What are the different types of hardwood flooring?
Hardwood Flooring comprises myriad varieties that offer a wide range of colours and grain patterns to choose from. The most common being White Oak, Ash, Red Oak, Walnut and Hickory. They also vary in hardness, which is ranked using a scale called the “Janka Hardness Rating”. Oak is in most demand, however, Ash is rapidly gaining popularity since it has a cleaner look and grain design close to walnut while enjoying the hardness of an Oak – giving customers the best of all worlds.
What is the difference between Solid Wood Flooring vs. Engineered Wood flooring?
Solid wood flooring comes in long planks, usually made of a hardwood species. It is milled with tongues and grooves on opposite edges so that the boards interlock when installed. It is always nailed down to the subfloor, a process that requires some skill. Because it is solid wood, this flooring can be sanded down and refinished several times over its life. Solid hardwood can expand or contract uncontrollably during fluctuations in humidity and temperature.
Engineered Hardwood is made up of layers of plywood or wood core that are pressed and glued together with a high-quality wood top layer. The grains of each layer of the core run in different directions, as a result, engineered wood is less likely to have moisture problems or expand and contract uncontrollably. A good-quality engineered wood floor typically lasts 25 to 30 years. It’s both more inexpensive and flexible to design and custom flooring and hence is a popular choice for our designers and builders!
This makes engineered wood a great option in rooms that are subject to moisture like basements, or over concrete slab and radiant heat floor systems. It is more environmentally sound and sustainable to produce, along with increased durability and adding an upscale look to homes and designs.Why is Engineered Hardwood considered to be more durable than Solid Hardwood?
Engineered Hardwood is more durable since it is constructed with multiple layers of wood. The top layer is a veneer of solid wood that is available in a variety of species and finishes. The exact durability of the engineered hardwood is determined by measuring the hardness of the veneer species.
Is Engineered hardwood waterproof?
This is often found to be a common misconception: Engineered hardwood is not water-resistant but not waterproof. Any form of moisture and water by itself is considered to make irreversible damage to the floor, resulting in swelling or warping of the wood. However, the effects of moisture or water on Engineered hardwood have proven to have a much better resistance compared to solid wood. The most important part of the Engineered hardwood is the inner core – which is typically made of wood products like – birch, eucalyptus, spruce, pine to name a few. The goal of having a strong core is to have a final product that is dimensionally stable, through humidity and temperature changes.
What are the right products for proper maintenance of hardwood floors?
Most people understand the basics of “dry” hardwood maintenance, but when it comes to “damp-mopping”, one can easily find themselves overwhelmed by the enormous variety of cleaning products available. According to the National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) you can keep your newly installed, refinished, or relocated hardwood floors in top shape with this Customer care and Maintenance Guide:
Only use zero-residue cleaning products that do not leave behind any film or wax.
Avoid products with buoyant claims – Cleaning products that claim to “rejuvenate”, “shine”, or “polish” can leave behind film or wax that can make it difficult to conduct a screen and recoat without advanced stripping chemicals or a full refinish or replacement of the hardwood floors.
Carefully follow Usage instructions- for dosing, application, and mopping. Pre-mixed solutions provide the greatest control for solution dosing.How do you protect your hardwood floors from furniture scratches?
Hardwood floors are designed to be naturally resistant to damages and scratches from furniture, which is another factor that contributes to its popularity. Nevertheless, it’s always better to take precautions and measures to prevent any damages and scratches on the floor, like using felt pads under furniture to help it glide through the floors with more ease, using area rugs which offer cushioning and protection while leaving most of the beautiful hardwood flooring exposed and intact.
How to select the right Hardwood flooring?
When you’re choosing hardwood flooring you will find yourself asking lots of different questions like which kind of hardwood flooring is better for you? Which finish should you go for and what are their benefits and downsides? What is the installation process? How much is it going to cost you?
The answer is – there is honestly no hard and fast rule which any individual should follow to make a decision about what flooring is going to be a good fit for them. We aim to help you to choose the right products, based on your requirements, your needs, your lifestyle and the designs you have in mind- because we understand that flooring is an investment. Book a consultation with us where we meet you in person, determine how to best meet your needs, put a plan in action and also provide comprehensive aftercare support. Our goal is to ensure that you’re aware of everything necessary to take care of your floor long after it’s installed.
