Choosing the perfect hardwood flooring can be a daunting task, even for those with experience. To simplify the decision-making process, assessing your preferences regarding key factors that influence homeowners' flooring choices is helpful.When evaluating flooring options, it's essential to consider wood's numerous advantages and aesthetic appeal. Wood floors provide a comfortable and durable surface and offer an affordability that may surprise you. In addition, their unique character and warmth can truly enhance the ambience of every room in your home.
The warmth and natural beauty of hardwood flooring make it a popular choice among homeowners. The customisation possibilities are vast, extending beyond selecting the wood stain shade.One notable advantage of wood flooring is its longevity. Unlike carpet or tile, which may require replacement over time, wood floors can be resanded or refurbished, resulting in cost savings in the long run.
However, it's important to acknowledge that wood floors have drawbacks. They are susceptible to dents and scratches from everyday wear and tear, and mould, water, detergents, and termites can damage them.
If you're contemplating floor replacement or renovation, adhering to these fundamental guidelines will assist you in finding the perfect hardwood flooring solution for your needs.
Options for Hardwood Floors
Choosing the right style and material for your flooring is a significant decision as it can greatly influence your space's overall look and atmosphere. Colour, texture, and design are crucial in creating the desired ambience. However, it's important to consider your family's specific needs and requirements when selecting the flooring material.
With a wide range of options available, it's essential to understand that not all types of wood flooring are suitable for every situation or application. Each material has characteristics and performance attributes that make it more or less ideal for specific environments or usage scenarios. Considering factors such as durability, maintenance, moisture resistance, and traffic levels can help ensure that you choose a flooring material that meets your family's needs and will withstand the demands of your particular space.
Solid Hardwood
Planks, strips, and parquet squares are just some of the many shapes and sizes that solid wood flooring can take.
Nails are the standard method of fastening solid hardwood floors together during installation. One of the advantages of choosing solid hardwood floors is the ability to customise them according to your preferences. Select the wood species, stain colour, and finishes that suit your taste.
Engineered Wood Flooring
Engineered wood flooring has gained popularity and surpassed solid hardwood flooring in sales. It offers an alternative to solid hardwood with its unique construction. Engineered flooring consists of a veneer wood layer on top, a visible and walkable surface, and a plywood layer underneath, which makes up 75% or more of the flooring.
The use of plywood sets engineered wood flooring apart from solid hardwood. The plies in the plywood are arranged perpendicular to each other, providing dimensional strength to the layers of the flooring.
One of the advantages of engineered wood flooring is that it requires less solid wood, resulting in the conservation of trees. Additionally, it is often more affordable compared to solid wood. A well-made engineered wood floor can be expected to last around 25 to 30 years. It is also more manageable for do-it-yourself (DIY) installations. Another benefit is that engineered wood flooring performs well in areas with light moisture, such as basements and bathrooms.
Engineered wood flooring offers more installation options. It can be nailed down, similar to solid hardwood, or installed as floating floors, providing flexibility in installation methods.
Exotic Hardwood
The term "exotic hardwoods" refers to a grouping of wood types that includes trees from all over the world. The grain patterns, colour variations, and other distinguishing features of these hardwoods set them apart. They are well-known for both their durability and the eye-catching designs they feature.
In addition to solid hardwood planks, several exotic hardwoods are also available in engineered wood construction. This accommodates a variety of setup standards and preferences. Bamboo, Amendoim, and Jatoba are just a few examples of exotic hardwood species that exhibit extraordinary functionality and beauty.
Factors to Consider
Best for: Excluding full baths and laundry rooms.
Are pets welcome?
Moderately. Pet owners should trim their pets' nails to prevent them from scratching the floor, clean up spills immediately, and place a mat under water dishes to prevent spills. Because the ground is hard, provide soft mats or pet beds so dogs can relax.
Underlayment
Products for underlayment give the floor a base. Additionally, this layer adds insulation and reduces noise. Under floating floors, cushioned materials like cork and form are ideal. In areas prone to moisture, vinyl- and plastic-lined underlayments work best. Manufacturers provide various options with different features, prices, and benefits.
Finished Off-Site vs. Prefinished
Prefinished hardwood floors are coated with a layer of polyurethane at the factory, providing a finished surface on each board. On the other hand, site-finished hardwood floors are delivered to your home without any finish applied, and the process of sanding, staining, and sealing is carried out after the floor is installed.
Prefinished boards offer a more consistent colour and staining appearance; some even come with an anti-scratch coating. However, with site-finished planks, you can test and select stains and finishes that perfectly complement your interior design. In addition, many flooring experts can provide on-site guidance, helping you choose the most suitable options for your home.
In terms of cost, unfinished boards have a lower price per square foot. However, prefinished boards tend to be more cost-effective overall due to the savings in installation expenses.
Wood Species
Wood species, or the type of wood you want, is another important choice for your next project. You can choose from many different kinds of wood, which can make a difference in your room's appearance. But you shouldn't just look at the wood species' colour or shape. Different types of wood will be useful in different ways.
Some types of wood are tougher than others because they are harder. For example, if you are remodelling an area of your home that gets a lot of foot traffic, you might want to use harder wood.
People in Australia often choose oak. It can last long, works well with different stains, and has a nice natural grain. Also, most manufacturers make it easy to find oak wood flooring. Both red oak and white oak are great woods to use around the house.
Walnut is easier to work with than oak and has a rich, warm sound. Oak is often easier than hickory or maple. You can also choose from options like Bamboo, Brazilian Cherry, Ash, and Mahogany, which are less common.
Reclaimed hardwood can be bought by homeowners at salvage lumber yards. This is much cheaper, but you might have to look through some worn-out pieces. But if you can find some great pieces, reclaimed wood flooring can give your home a unique touch.
Wood Types: Grain and Color
Wood flooring has many different styles and colours, like grains and light and dark colours.
Grain
The grain is made by how the wood flooring is cut and sliced. Therefore, the wood grain on your floor is like its own fingerprint. Because no two are the same, this gives your home a unique look. Flat, straight, and curly are the most common types of wood grain.
Colour
There are a lot of different colours of wood flooring to choose from. Some popular colours are beige and grey tones, wood that looks like it came from the forest, and dark charcoal or black stains.
Look for wood colours that go with the style of your home and the way you live. For example, darker wood floors will show scrapes and scuffs more easily, while lighter floors will hide wear and tear better.
Remember that putting stains on-site will change the wood's natural colours. Most floor teams will help you choose stains that will give you the desired colours.
Finishing Options
How you clean your hardwood floors depends on the finish. Order prefinished or unfinished wood floors.
Prefinished hardwood floors come pre-stained and top-coated. This method lets you visualise your floors from the start. Samples can be viewed in your home to see how they match your decor. Prefinished wood floors save time.
Site-finished floors arrive in your home unfinished. After installation, your contractor will finish. This method customises wood floor sheen and stain. It can help you match new planks to your home's flooring.
Site-finished floors are usually smoother. After nailing, floors are usually sanded and stained. Finally, one layer seals the entire floor. Site finishes require a reliable contractor. Find a professional with the skills and tools to achieve your goal.
Wood flooring finishes vary. Most are polyurethane or oil-finished.
- Oil finishes can appear soft and natural and can penetrate the wood. However, your flooring may be more vulnerable to stains and scratches with this finish. Although it's easier to maintain and cover scratches, it might need attention more frequently.
- Polyurethane coats the wood's surface with a tough top layer that increases its resistance to abrasion. But it can be challenging to fix your floors if a plank is harmed or there are scratches. A board might need to be changed, or the floor might need to be refinished.
Finishes are available in clear gloss or with a more distinctive or worn effect. Think about wood that has been wire brushed, hand-scraped, or distressed. The hues of stains range from pale honey blonde to darker charcoal.
Plank Width
The hardwood floor plank width can greatly affect your finished floor design. Depending on the width, you can give a room a larger or smaller appearance.
Wider wood planks will give your home a rustic, contemporary, upscale appearance. In addition, there will be fewer seams the wider the planks are. Five to twelve inches are the width range for wide plank flooring.
More narrow flooring planks can add a clean, modern look and work well in smaller spaces. Between three and 4.75 inches are considered standard plank widths.
Hardness
Choosing the hardest wood species is good for busy households with children and pets. While softer species like pine frequently have scratches, harder species like red oak can withstand wear and tear.
Location, subfloor, and prefered installation technique will influence the decision between engineered and solid hardwood. If you're still unsure, remember that solid hardwood can be repeatedly sanded and refinished after being scratched by a dog's claws or dented by a child's toy. Regardless of your decision, preventive maintenance and regular cleaning can keep your floors looking great for years.
Installation
The kind of wood product, the width, and the thickness of your planks will all affect which installation technique is best for your hardwood flooring. If you decide to do it yourself, your flooring materials may come with specific installation instructions. Getting the necessary tools, such as a drill, pry bar, saw, and pneumatic flooring nailer.
For the typical homeowner, installing hardwood flooring can be quite difficult. Since real wood floors require a significant financial outlay, installing them properly the first time is crucial. A lot of contractors can also dispose of your old floors properly. Because they have the knowledge and tools necessary to complete the task, professional flooring companies are frequently chosen by people who need assistance.
Often, underlayment is necessary for installing hardwood floors. In that case, it's wise to start putting planks up against the longest wall first. Installing engineered floors directly over concrete, an insulation mat, or radiant heating is frequently possible.
Choose Whether to Install the Hardwood Yourself or Hire a Professional
Even though doing it yourself can save you money, it's important to be prepared, especially if you need more experience installing hardwood floors. Installing a floor that looks stunning and functions flawlessly requires a lot of time, expertise, and precision. The added expense is worthwhile for a professional installer's assurance.
Consider an engineered hardwood product with a floating installation option if you plan to do the installation yourself; these are much more user-friendly. Getting a pro? Ask your retailer to put you in touch with a highly regarded one.
Conclusion
Wood flooring is a popular option because of its particular character and warmth, as well as its comfort, durability, and affordability. Dents and scrapes from normal use are one downside, as is the fact that mildew, water, detergents, and termites can all cause permanent damage. It's crucial to think about your family's lifestyle and habits when choosing a flooring style and material. There is a wide variety of sizes and forms to choose from when shopping for solid wood flooring. There are many factors to consider when installing hardwood flooring, including the species of wood, the grain and colour, the finishing options, the plank width and hardness, the location, the subfloor, and the prefered installation technique.
The ability to alter the look of solid hardwood flooring makes it the most popular option. Sales of engineered wood flooring have recently overtaken those of solid hardwood flooring. Hardwoods from far-flung locations are collectively known as "exotic hardwoods." Wood species, grain and colour, finishing options, plank width, hardness, location, subfloor, and prefered installation technique are all things to think about when deciding between engineered and solid hardwood, with the exception of full bathrooms and laundry rooms.
Content Summary
- Choosing the perfect hardwood flooring can be a daunting task.
- Assessing your preferences is helpful in simplifying the decision-making process.
- Wood floors provide a comfortable and durable surface.
- Hardwood flooring enhances the ambience of every room in your home.
- Wood floors can be resanded or refurbished, resulting in cost savings.
- Wood floors are susceptible to dents, scratches, and damage from moisture and termites.
- Consider factors such as durability, maintenance, moisture resistance, and traffic levels when choosing a flooring material.
- Solid hardwood flooring offers customisation options and can be fastened with nails.
- Engineered wood flooring is a popular alternative to solid hardwood.
- Engineered wood flooring requires less solid wood and is more affordable.
- Exotic hardwoods offer unique designs and durability.
- Consider pets' needs when choosing hardwood flooring.
- Underlayment provides a base, insulation, and noise reduction for hardwood floors.
- Prefinished hardwood floors offer a consistent appearance, while site-finished floors allow for customisation.
- Different wood species have different appearances and durability.
- Oak, walnut, and bamboo are common choices for wood flooring.
- Reclaimed hardwood can provide a unique touch to your home at a lower cost.
- Wood flooring comes in different grain patterns and colours.
- Consider the cleaning and maintenance requirements based on the finish of the hardwood floors.
- Polyurethane and oil finishes offer different characteristics and maintenance needs.
- Wood plank width can affect the appearance of a room.
- Hardness of wood species should be considered for durability.
- Installation technique depends on the type, width, and thickness of the wood planks.
- Hiring a professional for hardwood floor installation ensures a flawless result.
- Underlayment is often necessary for installing hardwood floors.
- Consider whether to install hardwood yourself or hire a professional.
- Engineered hardwood with floating installation is user-friendly for DIY installation.
- Seek recommendations for a reputable professional installer.
- Consider the cost-effectiveness and long-term benefits of different hardwood flooring options.
- Regular maintenance and preventive measures can keep hardwood floors looking great for years.
Frequently Asked Questions
One of the benefits of hardwood floors is that they can be repaired and refinished. Hardwood floors get scraped, scratched, scuffed, dented and damaged – especially in high-traffic areas. However, wood flooring can often be sanded, smoothed and refinished. It is rarely necessary to replace a wood floor.
A good rule of thumb is that more delicate pieces of furniture go well with lighter floors, while heavier pieces match better with dark wood. This will help you preserve balance in the room so that everything can shine within the space.
Prime-grade or AB-grade wood flooring is the highest quality hardwood flooring that you can find. The wood in this grade has been carefully selected and features a minimal amount of natural defects like knots, sapwood, and grain irregularities.
Red oak is the most common wood flooring option today. Its warm tones range from creamy pink and golden red to rusty brown. It also is known for having visible graining and colour variations from plank to plank.
Darker floors are better suited for larger rooms and open floor plans. Another seemingly unrelated factor to consider is how often you clean your floors. Light hardwood flooring can hide small flaws, dirt, and debris, but anything larger will be very noticeable.
