Hardwood Floors

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Hardwood has a warm and natural look that adds beauty and value to any home. There are several species of wood from which to choose. Each brings its own unique color and characteristics to the floor.

 

Red Oak offers a medium range of color variability from lighter tan tones with pinkish highlights to darker browns. It has a subtle reddish golden patina that is unmatched by any other wood. The Heartwood and Sapwood are similar, with sapwood being lighter in color; most pieces have a reddish tone. Red Oak is the benchmark (average) for hardness ratings with a Janka rating of 1290.

 

Hickory flooring exhibits several different shades of browns and tans. The Heartwood is tan or reddish in color. The Sapwood is white to tan in color. Flooring mills traditionally mix together hickory wood and pecan. The open grain of pecan, which is wavy or irregular, contrasts nicely with the closed rough-textured grain of hickory. Hickory is rated an 1820 on the Janka Hardness Scale.

 

American Cherry consists of two parts, the heartwood and the sapwood. The Heartwood of the cherry tree is the most popular area used as it has the reddish color with which cherry is associated. Heartwood is harder and dense. The Sapwood ranges from a whitish color to a light reddish brown. Sapwood tends to be softer and less durable. Some flooring manufacturer’s steam the wood to bleed the red color of the heartwood into the sapwood. American Cherry has a Janka rating of 950; it is considered a soft wood.

 

Brazilian Cherry is an extremely dense wood and very strong. Brazilian Cherry is rated a 2350 on the Janka Hardness Scale. The sapwood of Brazilian Cherry is gray-white in color. The heartwood tends to be a salmon-red to orange-brown color when fresh, becoming reddish brown with dark streaks when seasoned.

 

Walnut ranges in color from a deep, almost chocolate brown, to a purplish black. The sapwood is whitish to yellowish brown. The heartwood is a coveted light brown to rich chocolate. The sapwood of this valuable tree is often darkened to match the heartwood by steaming or staining to produce the finest flooring. The grain of walnut is mostly straight and open, though some boards may have a grain pattern that is burled or curly. The grain is tightly compacted making it a firm and sturdy wood. It is moderately dense, but very strong with good shock resistance. Walnut is rated a 1010 on the Janka Hardness Scale.

 

Why Choose Wood?

Value and durability. When well maintained, wood flooring will last substantially longer than carpet, vinyl, and laminate flooring, making it less expensive relative to the life of the floor.

 

Hardwood flooring is an investment in your home.

A solid hardwood floor adds strength and stability to the floor system.

One-inch thickness of wood has the same insulating value as 15 inches of concrete.

Wood is durable and long lasting. Occasional sanding and refinishing essentially results in a brand new floor.

Wood floors don’t retain mildew or harbor dust.

90% of real estate agents surveyed said well-maintained floors positively influence a homes salability.

58% said that a house with a hardwood floor will sell for more based on all other conditions being equal.

46% said a house with hardwood will sell faster than one without.

95% of designers surveyed believe hardwood flooring adds value to a home and appreciates in value.

Source: Hardwood Floors NWFA Survey

 

Understanding the Characteristics of Hardwood

Cracks between Boards - Although the wood of your new floor will be fitted together tightly, wood is a natural product and will expand and contract from season-to-season. This may cause some cracks between individual boards in your floor.

Variation - Wood is a natural product; it will vary in color and grain pattern from piece-to-piece. No two boards of a wood floor are the same. The beauty of a wood floor is that it will not have a monotone appearance.

Dents and Scratches - Despite the term “hardwood”, hardwood flooring is not invincible; it will dent and scratch if proper care and maintenance are not applied.

Tabletop Finish - Each piece of flooring is different in grain pattern and will sand differently, making it impossible for a completely flat and even surface.

Dust-Free Finish - Site finish hardwood is sanded and finished in the home. It is virtually impossible to achieve a “dust-free” environment. Inevitably, there will be some dust particles that will fall into the freshly applied urethane. It should wear off with normal use of your floor.

Fading - All wood flooring will gradually change color over time. This will happen more quickly with exposure to direct sunlight. Window coverings are strongly recommended, as well as rotating furniture and area rugs so the floor will age with more consistency.

Moisture - Water will affect the finish on the floor and can damage the wood. The introduction of moisture will cause the wood floor to cup and/or crown.

Stains - Floor stains can blend well with other woodwork, but will not be a perfect match. Darker stain colors tend to be blotchy, making it difficult to achieve an even flow of color.

 

Seasonal climatic changes and normal wear cannot be prevented. Any problems related to the above stated conditions will not be covered under the flooring warranty.

 

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