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Solid Hardwood Flooring

by Bogdan Klejn 2007-10-10 - Planning & Design

Solid hardwood floors bring warmth and charm to their surroundings and have been the floor of choice for centuries. The most popular hardwoods chosen for flooring are white oak, red oak, maple and ash and come in solid pieces of either pre-finished or unfinished wood and in a range of widths and thicknesses. However, generally speaking solid wood floors can be sanded back and refinished over generations and even centuries so that they always look beautiful and inviting.

These woods flooring come in three grades which do not refer to quality but to appearance. The first grade (clear) is for wood without defects. The second grade (select) is for timber with only minor differences in color and minimal imperfections. The third (common) refers to timber that has variations in color. The cost of solid wood flooring is directly related to these grades and the hardwood species chosen.

Despite their elegance and durable qualities, solid wood floors are not without their problems. They expand and contract with changes in humidity. Therefore, it is important that installers leave an extension gap between the floor and the wall to compensate for the movement in the wood. It is also essential that the wood has been acclimated before being laid down. As well as being sensitive to humidity, solid harwood floors are also affected by moisture. Because of this, it is not advisable to install them below ground level or to lay them on a concrete slab; they must be nailed down. It is important to ask a lot of questions of potential installers to get a good idea of their skills and approach. Talk to a range of different suppliers and installers in order to get a sense of their approach and commitment to quality.

Nevertheless, if you live in a humid environment or your flooring is likely to be exposed to moisture on a regular basis, perhaps you should consider engineered wood flooring instead of installing a solid wood floor. The reason for this is that engineered wood flooring is made to handle both humidity and moisture without expanding or contracting. It can also be laid on concrete slabs.

If you have an environment suited to solid wood flooring, you are in a wonderful position to enjoy natural beauty in your own home. Hardwood flooring is a healthy, easier to care for alternative to carpeting and can be freshened up over generations. No wonder it is the flooring of choice for countless people across the globe.

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ARTICLE TAGS:

• Wood Flooring Overview - by Bogdan Klejn 2007-10-14
• Solid Hardwood Flooring - by Bogdan Klejn 2007-10-10
• Wood flooring - by Bogdan Klejn 2007-10-08
• All About Engineered Wood Floors - by Bogdan Klejn 2007-10-07