Buying Hardwood Flooring: What to Know?

Deciding to purchase hardwood flooring for your home is half the battle. The other half is deciding what kind you want and at what price. Hardwood flooring comes in a variety of styles, colors, sizes and price ranges. It’s up to you to do your research, relying on the expert assistance of your flooring provider. Here is a handy guide to follow when buying hardwood flooring.

Settling on a Wood Species

This refers to which type of tree the wood originates from, which can affect elements such as hue, grain, dimensional stability and hardness. Some species have a better workability than others, and are more adaptable to actions like sanding, finishing and nailing, says Home Tips. How hard the wood is will determine how well it will sustain wear and tear over its lifetime. Take a good look at the hardness rating (AKA Janka rating), ranging from 1320 (white ash) to 2820 (Brazilian cherry).

Dimensional Stability

In general, hardwoods are harder than softwoods: makes sense, really. However, they tend to be more difficult to put in and they carry a higher price tag than their softer counterparts. Be sure to consider the dimensional stability of the wood species and how it responds to changes in humidity – a particular area of concern if you live in a varying climate with hot, humid summers and cool dry winters. Mahogany, cherry, teak, and walnut all boast superior dimensional stability. Choose engineered-wood floors over solid wood if dimensional stability is of utmost priority for you.

Grade

The grade of the wood is also a consideration, as this points to the quality of the wood. Things like naturally-occurring marks, variations in the grain and unique characteristics will all affect the rating scale, which was established by the National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA). Clear ratings are given to woods boasting uniformity, while lower ratings will have some imperfections present. However, don’t think that a lower rating means you shouldn’t buy a particular wood. For example, certain rustic woods are well known for their vast imperfections, but many people enjoy this unique quality.

Prefinished or Unfinished?

Most wood flooring sold on the market today, more or less, features a finish or sealant of some kind to protect the wood. This means it is pre-finished and all sanding and finishing have been done prior to installation. Unfinished wood, which is less common but still in demand with historical renovations for example, is sanded on installation for a more uniform look.

Designs

Hardwood flooring is available in a dizzying array of styles, colors and plank sizes. Strip flooring with planks wider than three inches is becoming more common. Choose from a variety of stains, patterns and colors, or try something totally different such as hand-scraped wood floors for a textured, distressed look.

Come to Carpet Heritage for help in selecting just the right hardwood flooring for you.