?             GENERAL WOOD FLOORING INFORMATION



GENERAL WOOD FLOORING INFORMATION

Wood flooring is beautiful, timeless and natural. When buying a floor from Floor Variety, you can rest assured that your floor was processed in an environmentally conscientious and efficient manner. NMH performs the entire process from the forest to your home (harvesting, milling, kiln drying, flooring manufacturing), ensuring you the best Quality control

FACTS ABOUT YOUR FLOOR SOLUTION HARDWOODS FLOORING

Wood flooring is very sensitive to its environment, expanding or contracting according to the relative humidity of the room it is in. Narrow width floors show the least amount of movement, whereas wider width flooring will show the most movement. In order to keep your wood floor as stable as possible, the relative humidity of the house should ideally stay at 50%. If the relative humidity drops below 50%, the floor will shrink, causing cracks between each board in the floor. This is not a milling defect, but rather the result of low relative humidity. Over a period of time the wood floor will correct itself and expand to fit together tightly again if the relative humidity returns to and stays constant at 50%.

Cupping, or “washboard,” is another problem that can occur from unregulated humidity. The cause of this is moisture imbalance throughout the thickness of the wood. Cupping occurs only if the moisture is greater underneath the flooring than on top. To correct cupping, find the source of the moisture and eliminate it. Given time, the floor should correct itself once the relative humidity is stabilized. If the damage done was extensive, the floor might need to be re-sanded and refinished after the relative humidity is stabilized. Expansion, or buckling, is also a result of high humidity and may cause the flooring to push tight against vertical surfaces. To relieve, allow up to 3/4″ expansion space along walls.

To get the best wear out of your flooring finish, sweep and vacuum the floor regularly. Do not use strong soaps when mopping. Other preventative measures to keep from excessive wear is to put felt pads on the bottom of all furniture and make sure dog toenails are clipped. Vacuum all area rugs and the floor space underneath the rugs frequently.

All woods will darken during the six to twelve months after installation. Flooring under area rugs and furniture will not change at the same rate as the exposed flooring as long as it is covered. Moving rugs and furniture will correct any variations. All wood dents. High heels, dropped heavy objects, pointed furniture legs and the unprotected rolling of appliances can dent or gouge your floor.

SUGGESTIONS FOR INSTALLATION

1. Flooring should be installed on grade or above. Do not install below grade.

2. To avoid damage, make sure the floor is installed after all other construction is completed.

3. Before installation, check the moisture content of the sub-floor. The moisture of the sub-floor should be within 2% of the moisture content of the flooring to be installed.

4. A moisture barrier should be applied between concrete and the sub-floor.

5. Make sure the sub-floor is clean, flat and dry. Sand all areas that are not smooth and nail any loose boards. It is recommended that flooring acclimate to the environment of where it will be installed for approximately two weeks prior to installation.



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Installing wood flooring not only increases the value of your home, but it also adds to the beauty and warmth of any home. Contrary to a slate or stone flooring, wood flooring creates a warm and inviting feeling to your home. There are a variety of choices available in hard woods and other types. The wood you choose should depend on your décor and personal preference. Wood flooring is appropriate for almost every room, excluding the kitchen and bathroom due to the moisture in these rooms. Learn how to install wood flooring from a professional if you prefer to install it yourself. It is important to install it correctly to ensure it is long lasting. Otherwise, it would be best to hire a professional skilled in flooring.

Hardwood is one of the most popular choices in wood flooring and there are several types of hardwoods from which to choose. Oak, cherry, hickory, maple and walnut are some of the more common hardwoods installed, and are all able to be stained to a variety of different shades and tones. However, some hardwoods such as walnut and cherry have such a beautiful, rich tone in their natural state that you might consider leaving them in their natural color rather than staining the wood.

Once you have chosen the type of wood to install, you must consider your finishing options. Pre-finished wood is already stained and protected with a clear coating and is a good option when time is limited. It is generally more expensive, but as mentioned, it can save a significant amount of time. Another option is to finish the wood after the floor is installed. You must sand, stain and urethane the floor and the floor must be sanded after each coat. The more coats of urethane applied, the better protected the surface will be. This finishing method takes several days to complete, as suspected since the floors must dry between coats. You can also choose a distressed or reclaimed flooring finish. The floors do not have a smooth texture, but they are beautiful and have a unique finish. A benefit is that this flooring will hide scratches much better than urethane floors.

Besides hardwood flooring, you can also choose laminate flooring which resemble hardwood but are less expensive. A good quality laminate often resembles hardwood so closely that it is difficult to tell that it is not real hardwood. Armstrong flooring, for example, make quality laminates.

Regardless of the type of wood flooring you install, the care is the same. Proper care will ensure your flooring lasts. Be sure to sweep or vacuum the floor regularly. Dirt will wear away the surface and leave scratches on the floor, which are easily noticeable on the urethane floors. It is a good idea to use mats at the door entrances. Also, use a dry mop when mopping is needed. Too much water can damage the floor, such as warping to the surface, molding or damage to the backing due to water trapped under the floor.

 



Lately, interior decor colors have been bright, vivid and fun. Think tropical fruits and icy blues or green (the new neutral, believe it or not). You have only to look at upholstery and other fabrics to see today’s color trends. What has this to do with wood floors? Just about everything, because wood –– any wood floor –– has its own unique color and wood colors need to be included in the overall design scheme of a room. Wood colors are grouped broadly in yellows, reds and browns. Think of these tones as a decorator would, as cools, warms and neutrals. With a warm Brazilian Cherry or perhaps a Mexican Rosewood, you might consider a décor rich in warm cabernets and paprika’s. If you already have a decor in mind, think in the reverse. What wood color will go with your new decor? To “cool down” a room, you might opt for an exotic hardwood with a hint of blue, like angelim, or amber or yellow from Brazilian Eucalyptus. For a dramatic statement, think wenge from Africa with its intriguing grains and black-coffee finish.

The color you select may change a bit, depending on the texture of your floor. Hardwood Flooring with normal shades of light-to-dark will take on a lighter or darker tone in some areas as each strip is set in place. You may prefer this kind of visual interest versus a tailored, uniform color flow. Two other techniques can affect the color tone in your room as the light changes. They are installation techniques like herringbone and parquetry and different surfaces like the handscraped look –– and certainly gloss level. Hints for home designers, if you’re redoing one room, give serious consideration to the impact your wood floor’s color will have on adjoining rooms and hallways. If you’re doing a large area (living room, dining area and the hall) or the whole house, and as much as you may like a host of different hardwoods, resist the urge to mix them. Keeping to the same or similar woods presents a consistent design look. There’s lots to know about color palettes of today’s wood flooring. Click to our website let us show you the possibilities.