Choosing A New Hardwood Floor For Your Home
Posted on: 1 June 2023
A beautiful and lasting hardwood floor installation can elevate the aesthetics of any home, but it requires careful consideration and planning. From choosing the right wood cut to understanding the significance of the Janka hardness scale, there are many aspects of hardwood flooring that you will want to learn about.
What Are The Different Types Of Hardwood Flooring Cuts?
Hardwood flooring cuts are essential in determining your floors' overall appearance, stability, and characteristics. Plain-sawn produces wider boards with variations in grain patterns that result from growth rings seen on the face of each panel. These floors have a classic look with more prominent graining that adds character.
Quarter-sawn lumber is cut at an angle so that growth rings on the face are almost perpendicular to the board's surface. This cutting method results in narrower boards with straighter grains and increased stability compared to plain sawn-cut floors.
What Is The Janka Hardness Scale, And Why Does It Matter?
The Janka hardness scale measures wood species' resistance against denting and wear. This is an essential factor when choosing hardwood flooring for your home. A higher number indicates stronger wood, while a lower number suggests softer species.
Your choice should depend on factors like foot traffic levels, the presence of pets or children, desired aesthetics, and maintenance preferences. For example, if you have heavy foot traffic or pets at home, opt for hardwood species with higher Janka ratings, like Brazilian cherry or hickory.
How Do I Choose The Right Color Stain For My Hardwood Floors?
Some of the most common stain colors include natural, light, and dark shades such as golden oak, walnut, and ebony. Your choice of stain will drastically influence the appearance of your hardwood floors.
While personal preferences play a vital role in choosing the right stain color for your hardwood floors, it is crucial to consider other factors like room size, existing furniture or interiors, and future decor plans. Lighter stains can make small rooms appear more spacious, while darker tones add depth and coziness.
What Are The Major Differences Between Prefinished And Unfinished Hardwood Floors?
Prefinished options are complete flooring boards that come sanded, stained, and finished with multiple layers of protective coating from the factory. Prefinished hardwood floors have a consistent finish throughout and require less installation time as they do not need any on-site finishing processes.
Unfinished flooring boards arrive at your home without any sanding or finishing done on them. This means you have more control over customization, like color matching with existing floors or choosing unique finishes specific to your taste or preferences. However, unfinished hardwood floor installations involve extra labor costs for sanding and applying multiple layers of sealant on-site.
Reach out to a hardwood flooring installation service provider to learn more.
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