Wednesday, July 8, 2015

5 Considerations for Purchasing Hardwood Floors

Hardwood floors bring a beauty to a room that cannot be contested by any other flooring. The warmth it affords, along with the stylish appearance, and durability are what makes it stand apart. When choosing hardwood floors for your home, the first place to start is by visiting the best hardwood flooring dealer in Madison. We would love to walk through the process and show you some beautiful samples in our showroom! Hardwood floors are an investment that will last you an extremely long time, and when chosen properly will never be a regret. Here are 5 things to consider before you start your flooring remodel to make sure you make a good purchase.

Types of Wood Flooring

There are two primary types of wood that you'll see - solid hardwood and engineered hardwood. Solid wood flooring is made from solid wood logs that are joined together with tongue and groove. Solid wood can be purchased in pre-finished or un-finished planks and they will range in thickness. Engineered wood flooring consists of multiple layers of plywood and composite materials and then topped with hardwood. While both types of floors are wonderful, they are ideal for different parts of the home. Hardwood floors will expand and contract with weather changes, so the best place to use them is on the ground floor or above grade. Whereas engineered wood flooring is more stable because of the layers, and can be installed on many levels of the home such as your bathrooms and basements.

Wood Species for Your Home

With many different types of wood on the market, you'll need to know the differences. The harder the wood the more durable it will be. When putting wood in a high traffic area, you will want to be sure that you are selecting a harder wood. Red and White Oak set the benchmark for hardness in the U.S. and are very popular for domestic wood floors. There are many other popular choices of hard wood such as Hickory and Maple. Though Walnut is a softer wood, it is also just as popular. Many other exotic woods are top sellers as well; you will find Brazilian Cherry, Brazilian Koa and Cumaru are some of the hardest species available. The harder the wood, the better it will be for the those high-traffic areas in your home.


Grain, Color and Style

Wood flooring comes in so many colors, styles, species and finishes that it will be pretty easy for you find something that will fit the style of your home. From a rustic country home to a modern and classy cottage there are styles that will fit your home and taste. We have many beautiful selections in stock and our staff would love to help you find the best wood floor in Madison. There are many different widths varying from 2-1/4" to 3-1/4", the plank width can make a big difference in the final look of your home.

Finishing Touch

The finish is the determining factor in the look of your wood floors. The same wood species will look entirely different with a clear gloss versus a wire scraped, distressed or hand scraped finish. There are also many different gloss finishes that can change the look of your wood. Some wood comes with one to three coats of sealant, while others have up to eight. The number of coats will determine how glossy it looks. With pre-finished hardwood, the urethane finish is applied under factory controlled conditions using multiple thin coats. The urethane is instantly cured, first with UV lighting and then a ceramic based material. It is mixed into the urethane which in turn makes the water-based urethane much more rugged and abrasion resistant. The result is a floor that will hold it’s original beauty longer than a job-sanded-on-site application.

Installation

Wood floors are generally installed by nailing, stapling or gluing the planks to a sub-floor. There is also a new variety of "click" engineered flooring that can be installed easily and "floated" above the sub-floor. Installation can be intimidating and sometimes an expensive proposition, but don't let it scare you. Whether you are hiring someone to install your floors, or you are an adventurous DIYer, the joy you will get from this beautiful flooring can't compare.

Hardwood flooring is such a wonderful investment for you and your home. Upgrading the flooring in your home can offer the biggest return for your home value. When looking for the best flooring dealer in Madison, we are the place to come! We have a wide variety of flooring, not just hardwood, and can help you find the best flooring for your home. We would love for you to stop by and check out the great selection we have. Let us help you create the home of your dreams with just one change!

For all your flooring needs, contact the BEST flooring company in Madison, WI


1017 Applegate Rd., Suite 200
Madison, WI 53713
Phone: 608-442-1200



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