Hardwood Flooring Buying Guide

Hardwood floors have been a favorite choice for flooring material for centuries. It's easy to maintain and, with the strong, durable finishes available today, it's used more and more throughout the home, including in kitchens and baths. While most people choose hardwood because of its beauty, warmth and elegance, research shows that hardwood floors also add value to your home.

Today, homeowners have more choices than ever before, including the species of wood, the stain color, type (solid or engineered), and style (planks, strips or parquet).

Species

There are more than 50 types of species of wood to choose from, all with different characteristics, such as color, hardness and price. Some of the most common wood species used for flooring are oak, cherry and maple, but there are many other choices, including domestic and exotic species. FindAnyFloor.com has a great guide to the different species of hardwoods along with the characteristics of each.

Wood Grade and Cut

There are several different grades of wood and types of cut to choose from.

Grades represent appearance rather than quality, reflecting color variances, grain pattern and other characteristics of the wood.

• Clear Grade - wood is free of defects, knots and visible markings, and has a consistent color and grain pattern; Clear Grade is usually more expensive and can have limited availability.
• Select Grade - wood is almost clear, containing some natural characteristics and color variations; it's more readily available than Clear Grade and slightly more expensive than Common Grades.
• Number 1 Common Grade - wood has a mix of medium-brown colors and of natural features, such as more movement in the grain pattern and small knots; it's the most frequently used grade in homes because it's readily available and more affordable than Clear or Select Grades.
• Number 2 Common Grade - wood has a more rustic appearance with more color variation, changes in grain pattern and visible knots.

How the wood is cut off the log also affects the appearance of the wood; different types of cuts produce different grain patterns.

• Plain Sawn - the most common and most cost-effective choice of cut; it uses the most lumber from each log being cut from top to bottom, which exposes the annual rings resulting in more grain pattering.
• Quarter Sawn - wood is cut at a 90-degree angle producing a uniform grain pattern; this cut produces fewer and narrower boards than Plain Sawn and is more expensive, however Quarter Sawn wood tends to twist and cup less and wear more evenly.
• Rift Sawn - similar to Quarter Sawn because it has an even-grain pattern, but the cut is made at a 30-degree angle rather than a 90-degree angle yielding the fewest boards per log making it the most expensive type of cut.

Finish

The finish of your hardwood floor not only protects the wood, but enhances the beauty of it. The finish consists of a stain and a top coat, although you can skip the stain and leave the wood its natural color if you prefer.

Stains come in many colors and can even be custom mixed. When choosing a stain color, ask the floor finisher to provide several samples of your floor in the desired color range before making your final selection.

The top coat is either an oil-based or water-based polyurethane finish. Both provide excellent protection, but have their differences. The biggest difference is their appearance - water-based polyurethanes provide a clear finish, while oil-based polyurethanes have a slightly amber color. Water-based finishes dry quickly, so you can apply a second coat in just a few hours, however you'll need to apply more coats than oil-based finishes, which take longer to dry, but require fewer coats. If you have a sensitive nose, stay away from oil-based finishes, they have a much stronger odor than the water-based finishes.

Prefinished or Unfinished
Prefinished or unfinished floors are options to consider when selecting wood floors. Solid hardwood floors are available prefinished or unfinished; engineered wood floors are typically only available prefinished.

Unfinished materials cost less, but require additional labor and material costs for onsite finishing. The time it takes for an unfinished floor to be installed and finished onsite takes longer; however, you have many more choices when it comes to species, stain and plank size. If you're trying to match existing wood floors, unfinished is preferred as it allows you to match the stain, plank size and type of wood of the existing floors.

Prefinished wood floors install much quicker, so it's a better option if you're time constrained. They are more stable and less reactive to humidity and temperature, making them a good choice for kitchens, baths and basements.

Sheen
There are three standard sheens, or the amount of reflection you want your top coat to have - satin, semi gloss and high gloss. The most common sheen is satin because it's easy to maintain and minor scratches are less noticeable. High gloss sheens have a more elegant look, but will show dust, scratches and footprints more.

Solid Hardwood vs. Engineered Hardwood

Solid hardwood flooring consists of individual planks of wood available in various widths and lengths – usually 2" to 5" wide and up to 84" long. Thicknesses range from 5/16 to 3/4". Planks 3/4" thick are the most popular and the longest lasting, but thinner planks cost less.

One of the biggest advantages to solid hardwood is that it can be sanded and refinished numerous times. The thicker the plank, the more sanding and refinishing the floor can endure.

A disadvantage to solid hardwood is that it's more sensitive to changes in moisture and humidity, which causes the wood planks to expand and contract. For this reason, solid wood floors are not recommended for installation below ground level, in any wet areas, or directly over concrete slabs - engineered wood floors would be a better choice for these areas.

Engineered hardwood floors are prefinished wood floors made up of three or more layers of wood veneer glued to a plywood or MDF substrate. The number of layers or plies varies from one manufacturer to another – most use three layers while some use as many as ten. The more layers used translates to more durability and a higher price. However, you don't want the number of wear layers to be thicker than the substrate, which is what gives the engineered wood its stability; the substrate should be at least equal to or greater than the thickness of the veneer layers.

Engineered hardwood flooring is available in planks of various widths and lengths - usually 2 1/4" to 7" wide and 12" to 60" long. Thicknesses range from 1/4" to 9/16".

Because engineered hardwood flooring is less affected by environmental changes, such as moisture and temperature, it's a great choice for kitchens, baths and basements. It's also ideal for installation over concrete and radiant heating systems.

The finish on engineered hardwood is very durable; it can withstand plenty of wear and tear and still look great after years of use. If necessary, engineered hardwood can be refinished, but only a limited number of times before destroying the top layer.

Design Options

There are additional features to add to the overall look of your hardwood flooring, such as plank size and shape, type of cut, borders and inlays, decorative pegs, and distressed finishes.

Plank Sizes and Shapes

• Strip Wood Floors - the most common wood floor; consists of 2 1/4" strips of uniform-width planks at random lengths.
• Plank Wood Floors - wider than strip wood - usually 3" or wider - and comes in consistent or random widths and lengths.
• Herringbone Wood Floors - planks or strips laid out in a herringbone pattern.
• Parquet Wood Floors - squares of wood strips laid out in a pattern; patterns can be simple to complex, and can be made up of one or more species of wood.

Borders and Inlays

• Room borders with Mitered or overlap corners (no inlay) - the most basic border; consists of 2 - 5 rows of identical strip or plank material laid to follow the border of the room. In the corners, strips are either mitered or overlap.
• Simple accent wood strips (single or double) - strips of contrasting wood inserted along the room's border.
• Decorative borders - designs made up of multiple woods and feature more complex designs, such as a greek key or leaf designs.
• Medallions - usually circular or square inlays that feature intricate designs made up of multiple woods.

Decorative Pegs

• Decorative Pegs - wood floors from centuries ago were originally installed with wood pegs; now considered a decorative feature rather than functional, wood pegs provide an old-world feel.

Distressed Finishes

• Hand scraped finishes - project an antiqued, old-world feel by creating an uneven surface that looks worn by time.
• Floors with knots - utilizing woods and their natural knots projects a rustic feel.
• Wire brushed floors - creates a rustic look by opening the grain resulting in a more textured finish.

If you desire an old-world feel, consider using random-sized planks with a hand-scraped finish and decorative pegs. If you want a more contemporary look, consider consistently-sized planks with a smooth, straight grain finish. For more formal looks, add decorative borders and medallions.

Installation Types

There are three general methods for installing hardwood floors:

• Nail or Staple Installation - uses specialized nail or staple guns to secure the wood strips or planks to the subfloor; both solid and engineered hardwood can be installed with this method.
• Glue Down Installation - uses adhesives to glues the flooring to either a wood or cement subfloor.
• Floating Installation - does not secure the boards to a subfloor, but rests them on cushioned underlayment; a tongue and groove joint is milled into the boards allowing them to be connected or clicked together without glue. Typically, floating installation is used for engineered hardwood flooring only.

Costs and Maintenance

Pricing for hardwood flooring varies widely depending on the species you choose, the plank widths, the finish, and any special design features you decide upon. Also, depending on where you location, labor costs for installation will differ. While some hardwood flooring material can be found for under $3 per square foot, most are $4 to $8 per square foot uninstalled. Exotic woods and flooring with special finishes can be $12 per square foot and higher.

Proper maintenance of your hardwood flooring will ensure a beautiful and long-lasting floor. Cleaning, as well as damage prevention, is important to protect your investment.

• Wipe up spills immediately.
• Use area rugs at entry points to your home to trap grit and small pebbles that could scratch your floors; also use rugs in areas where there is water, such as ing the kitchen and bathroom.
• Use felt furniture pads on the bottom of chair legs and other small furniture that can be moved to prevent scratches.
• Use drapes and shades to protect the floors from the sun (minimize fading).

Cleaning your Hardwood Floors

• Sweep, vacuum or dust mop often to prevent build up of dirt and grime, which can damage the floor's finish.
• Consult manufacturers on what types of cleaning solutions to use. Cleaning solutions vary depending on the installation and finish of the hardwood floor; if you have floors that are finished onsite, consult with your installer for recommendations on cleaning solutions to use.
• Don't use ammonia, oil soap or wax to clean your floors; they will dull the finish and may affect the ability to re-coat your floors at a later date.

Popular Brands

www.andersonfloors.com -- Anderson Hardwood Floors
www.authenticpinefloors.com -- Authentic Pines Floors
www.awardfloors.com -- Award Hardwood Floors
www.bamullican.com -- B.A. Mullican
www.bnswood.co.th -- BNS Wood Industry Co., Ltd
www.boa-franc.com -- Boa-Franc, Inc. (Mirage)
www.boen.com -- Boen Hardwood Floors, Inc
www.broad-axebeam.com -- Broad-Axe Beam Co
www.bruce.com -- Bruce® Hardwood Floors
www.chickasawflooring.com -- Chickasaw Hardwood Flooring
www.decorativeflooring.com -- Decorative Flooring Online
www.firebird-ind.com -- Firebird Industries, LTD
www.gammapar.com -- Gammapar
www.harris-tarkett.com -- Harris Tarkett
www.hartcoflooring.com -- Hartco® Hardwood Flooring
www.heartwoodpine.com -- Heartwood Pine Flooring
www.homerwood.com -- HomerWood Corporation
www.br111.com -- Indusparquet Brazilian Hardwood
www.paloheimo.com -- Lamella Hardwood
www.vmall.net/launstein -- Launstein Hardwood
www.kahrs.com -- Kahrs International, Inc
www.kahrs.com -- Linnea Hardwood Floors
www.kentuckywood.com -- Kentucky Wood Floors, Inc
www.mannington.com/ffa/ffa_floors.asp?FT=W -- Mannington Wood Floors
www.mercierdurable.com -- Mercier
www.nordstar.net -- Nordstar Hardwood Flooring
www.robbins.com -- Robbins Premium Hardwood Flooring
www.superiorfloor.com -- Superior Floor Company, Inc
www.torlys.com -- Torlys
www.vintagelumber.com -- Vintage Lumber
www.zickgraf.com -- Zickgraf Hardwood Co

(Check out an extensive brand list at FloorMall.com)