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By Jimmy Sturo

Hardwood floors have always been very popular. Hardwood flooring is also being done in customized patterns like borders, medallions, motifs, hand-distressing, painting, mixed media and stains. With advanced technology, hardwood floors have become very affordable, as well as extremely easy to maintain. Oak has become very popular in the last few years. Cherry, white oak, birch and maple are other popular woods. Hardwood flooring can be categorized as unfinished, pre-finished, acrylic, impregnated, solid and engineered, based on the kind of manufacturing process used.

The main aspects to be considered while installing hardwood floors are the general color tone (dark brown, medium brown, light brown, reddish brown, golden brown, natural or other colors); the wood floor type (solid, engineered or floating); where is the floor going to be installed (above ground level, at ground level or below ground level); what the floor will be placed on (over concrete slab, plywood subfloor, oriented strand board, previous vinyl or wood subfloor) and so on. Other important things to be considered are the budget, the kind of room, the traffic and furniture in the room, the style and design of the walls and furniture, etc.

There are many kinds of hardwood species for flooring: red oak, white oak, oak-stained white, walnut, birch, ash, maple, red maple, cherry, pear, plum, bamboo, beech, mahogany, pine, hickory, jarrah, tamarindo, American cherry, teak and many more. The different styles of hard wood floorings are parquet, plank and strip. There are also pre-finished and unfinished hardwood floors available. Hardwood floors also depend on the grade, cut, dimensions, pattern and color.

Hardwood floors are relatively very easy to maintain. For proper maintenance, do not use waxes and other scrubs; use throw rugs to prevent dust and grime that may cause scratches; do not wet mop; wipe up spills immediately; put soft fabric or plastic glides under the furniture; do not slide heavy furniture over the wood floor; use a humidifier to avoid wood movement and shrinkage; do not walk with spiked shoes or high heels; and prevent direct exposure to sun as this can increase the oxidation process and cause the floor to age faster.

Wood Flooring provides detailed information about wood flooring, laminate wood flooring, hard wood flooring, engineered wood flooring and more. Wood Flooring is the sister site of How To Clean Marble.
 

By Marcus Peterson

It is no wonder that hardwood floors are preferred by many to complete the construction of their house, office, or other structural establishments. If you will notice, hardwood floors appear in almost all of the edifices that you have set foot into. This is mainly because hardwood floors are naturally laden with characteristics that ensure longevity and aesthetics.

When you look at a hardwood floor, you cannot help but visualize the traces of its history and what forest it came from. A hardwood floor, when installed properly, provides warmth and natural elegance to a room. It is rich in those characteristics provide personality to structure that contains it. Aside from the aesthetic benefits, it can also add value to your home, can last a lifetime with proper care and maintenance, and can be cleaned easily. Furthermore, it is safe for the environment as it is made naturally from wood, and no other highly-destructive elements are added.

There are three basic types of hardwood floors: solid wood floors, engineered wood floors, and laminate wood floors.

Solid wood floors. These can be installed on concrete as long as the floor is on or above ground level. They also come in three basic types: strip flooring, which is installed by nailing to the sub-floor with strips that are usually 2-1/4 inches wide with widths ranging from 1 ½ inches to 3 ¼ inches; 2) plank flooring boards, which can be nailed or screwed to the sub-floor with screw holes that can be covered with wooden plugs; and, 3) parquet flooring, which consists of blocks of wood that are laid in decorative patterns.

Engineered hardwood. This is made of a composite of several layers of different kinds of wood while others are made with various grades of the same wood, stacked and glued together under heat and pressure. Unlike solid wood floorings, engineered wood flooring is less likely to be affected by the changes of humidity and can be mounted above or below ground level.

Wood laminate flooring. This third type is actually a plywood base and with a top layer of veneer. This is usually found in three-ply with a 3/8 inch thickness. It can be sanded and finished three times at the most.

Hardwood provides detailed information on Hardwood, Hardwood Floors, Install Hardwood Flooring, Hardwood Furniture and more. Hardwood is affiliated with Solid Hardwood Floors.
 

By Peter Leigh

Engineered wood flooring has been one of the great innovations in flooring to hit the market. Engineered hardwood is not made from solid wood. It consists of several layers and only the top layer is the actual hardwood that you always dreamed of having for the floors of your home. The layers underneath are specifically designed to give you maximum wear and tear and they give you practical flooring for just about every room of the house. Engineered wood flooring has advantages over solid hardwood that make it very attractive.

For one thing, engineered wood flooring is not as costly as solid hardwood flooring. The other layers of the engineered hardwood flooring are plywood or high density fibreboard. They are molded together under high pressure in a factory setting. Engineered hardwood floors will not expand and contract as solid hardwood does with changes in humidity and temperature. You can install it over just about any type of existing floor and by following special instructions you can install an engineered floor over radiant heat sources.

Engineered wood flooring in one of the most versatile choices that you can make when it comes to flooring in your home. It has many practical applications. You can install it over an existing concrete floor or one made with inferior grade wood. You can glue or nail it down and there are also forms of engineered hardwood floors that are glueless, forming a floating floor. It is an excellent choice in areas where there are drastic changes in temperature and humidity. However, engineered wood does not perform well in rooms of the home where there is an excess of humidity and moisture, such as in bathrooms or mudrooms.

One of the major reasons that many homeowners choose engineered wood flooring is its fantastic price. You have the same look and texture of hardwood, but it seems as if you are getting the hardwood at a wholesale price. Engineered hardwood floors are easy to install and the instructions are clearly printed inside each carton of flooring. You do have to make sure that the subfloor is clean of dust and dirt before you start so that any small pieces of rock won’t work their way up through the flooring.

In the line of engineered wood flooring, you can get various types of wood, stains and finishes. You can also choose prefinished and unfinished hardwood, but if you are looking for an easy project, then it is best to go with prefinished. This way when you have the engineered hardwood flooring installed, you don’t have to bother applying any stain or finish. You can just sit back and enjoy your engineered wood flooring.

To find out more about Wood Flooring visit Peter’s Website Wood Flooring Explained and find out about Laminate Flooring and more, including Exotic Hardwood Floors, Wood Laminate Flooring, Refinishing Hardwood Floors and Bruce Hardwood Flooring.
 

By Neoli Marcos

Tiles, carpet, or laminate? These days, it is not enough to just have floor in your house; you simply have to have the best floor. Why not consider a hardwood floor then?

A hardwood floor is a handsome and durable substitute to carpeted or laminated floor. Due to its warm tones and distinctiveness, wood dramatically changes the appearance and atmosphere of a room.

Exclusive. Your wooden floor will be truly exclusive to you, not only because of the natural grain, which is unique, but also because you have the option of designing your own floor. When you do, you get to choose the exact pattern you would like on your floor. Mixing woods together gives a remarkable effect and endless pattern can be created. Hardwood floors even add more market value to your home so the next time you put up your home for sale, you are confident your home will fetch a good price.

Elegant. For centuries, wood has been used in the home and many of the homes for sale in Australia have opted to use wood to bring warmth and character to every style and décor. Nothing beats a wooden floor when it comes to enduring quality and touch of class it brings to any home. Buyers of real estates and homes for sale will be more than willing to shell out the additional price for the elegance of a wooden floor.

Healthy. Dust, dust mites, fleas and other nastiest can be trapped in carpet pile. Unlike carpets where even the most powerful vacuum cleaner cannot remove all traces of dirt, a wood floor helps end allergy and respiratory problems, precisely because it is easy to clean and free of dust. Also, a real wood floor retains warmth and keeps draughts at bay. This can be added selling point to your real estate property should you want to put your home for sale in the future.

Sensible. The wear and tear of everyday life can take its toll on a carpet, but a hardwearing wood floor will last for years if looked after properly. It requires minimal maintenance to keep it looking good.

Economical. Unlike carpets, wooden floors are durable and will pay for itself in a few year’s time. Furthermore, a wooden floor may not cost any more than a superior carpet, and better still, it will probably even turn out to be the cheaper alternative.

So there, stand your ground when choosing a hardwood floor for your real estate. At the end of the day, you will be glad you did!

Neoli write articles and press releases for http://www.ozfreeonline.com. This piece he made served as an article exclusive for http://realestate.ozfreeonline.com - which offers a comprehensive list of office & commercial real estates, homes for rent or sell and an apartment finder to thousands of properties in Australia.
 

By Doug Bolton

1) Red Oak is not the only choice

If you want your home to look like everyone else’s, this is a great choice. If you want your home to be unique try hickory, cherry, walnut, white oak, maple or many others. Go to flooring retailers or search the Internet and see what is available. If you really want red oak try using wider widths or character grade for variety and uniqueness.

2) 2 1/4 inch is not the only size available

If all you ask your builder for is a hardwood floor – you are going to get a 2 1/4 inch red oak floor. Why? It is the most common, most produced, most stocked, cheapest option available. You can buy sizes in 3” through 12”. You can put down a single width for a uniform look or multiple widths for a more random look. Typical random flooring patterns are 3”-4”-5”, 3”-5”, 4”-5”-6”. Have fun! Make your home unique! The wider the floor the more seasonal separations between the flooring planks can occur.

3) Import Species don’t support jobs in the United States

While there are vast amounts of imported species available, there are fantastic, interesting species of flooring available right here in the United States. Not all countries have managed forests and renewable resources. This is an important time to support our own economy.

4) All flooring is not select (clear) grade

The most common floors are select grade. These floors contain none of woods naturally occurring character marks. Look around your flooring showroom, almost every display is showing clear flooring. There are warm and inviting options. Look at a character grade or other grades. Make sure to see a photo of what the floor looks like, not just one piece.

5) Prefinished flooring is convenient

Have you ever been forced to leave your home for three days while the flooring contractor sands, stains and recoats your floor? If not ask a friend who has had it done. A professional flooring contractor will leave your home spotless, others can leave dust on all your furniture. Today’s factory finished flooring can be installed today and entertained on tonight with very little mess. With prefinished flooring each plank is allowed to move independently with humidity changes in your home. This makes those seasonal separations (cracks) in your floor less noticeable.

6) Colors can be cool – but mother nature is hard to beat

Some species of flooring are so beautiful in their natural color, they do not require any added color. Look up hickory, cherry or walnut flooring on the Internet and you will see what I mean.

7) Prefinish warranties are a gimmick

50 year warranty – WOW! Lifetime warranty – fantastic! Oh really? These are wear-through warranties only. Your floor will loose its “sheen” or luster and require refinishing long before you ever wear through the finish. The best way to make a floor last is to vacuum it often to keep away abrasive material that might scratch your floor. Remember a lower sheen floor shows less wear.

Not all flooring is smooth – texture is popular

Hardwood flooring does not have to be smooth. Many companies are offering hand scraped, distressed and reclaimed flooring. These floors have a classic look and add great value to upscale homes. They do not show much wear or scratches since they have a great deal of character interest to draw attention to different parts of the floor. These floors will be a guaranteed conversation piece with your friends and neighbors and are often the focal point at luxury home tours.

9) In a basement use engineered flooring

Most people use engineered flooring to glue down to concrete or in higher moisture areas. This flooring has a thin layer of hardwood with a cross banded plywood base. This makes the flooring more stable and does not require nailing like a solid hardwood floor.

10) Laminate flooring is not Hardwood flooring

A great steak does not taste the same as a picture of a great steak. If you want the beauty and warmth of hardwood flooring in your home – buy the real thing, not a cheap imitation.

About The Author
Doug Bolton is the owner of Homerwood Hardwood Floors located in the heart of the Pennsylvania hardwood region - Titusville PA. You can learn more by visiting their website at http://www.homerwood.com
 

By Roger Wembley

Be honest, are you one of those people who has more time than money? Me too. When I wanted to put a new hardwood floor in my house I didn’t rush about and just start throwing tens of thousands of dollars at any contractor that offered their services to me. What I needed to do was put in the hours and find out how people go about getting good deals on their new hardwood floor installation.

1) Look for ‘contractor sales’ at places like Home Depot and Lowe’s. This is a great little tip that we’re able to come up with through a little research. The real question is whether these are really ‘contractor’ sales or whether they are closer to ‘extra inventory’ sales which are used to get people into the stores to buy other products. Guess what? Who cares? Discount sales are your friends no matter how they are labeled. The bigger discount you can get on your new hardwood floors, the better. Use these sales to your advantage and call the stores directly to find out when they are being held. In fact, if you are lucky, you might even be able to convince the store workers to tell you when the next sale is.

2) Read up on “discount hardwood floors” on the web. A couple fantastic sites to check out are Google.com and Askthebuilder.com. The first being a very powerful search engine and the second being a sort of massive data warehouse for all things related to home building. There are literally a ton of different data options available for people who are looking for discount hardwood floors. In fact, just because something is discount doesn’t necessarily mean that it is of substandard quality. It just means that you are getting a better deal than anyone else. Discount is your friend when shopping for anything including different parts of your house. Make sure you know all about the discount aspect of hardwood floors.

About The Author
Roger Wembley is author of “The Discount Hardwood Floor Guide.” Grab your copy at http://www.hardwoodfloorworld.com.

By Jimmy Sturo

Wood flooring is a very popular alternative to tiles or concrete flooring. Wood floors have a warm, inviting, exotic look. They are suitable for almost any kind of room: bedroom, living room, libraries, offices, etc. However, they are not preferred for the kitchen, bathrooms and other places where the humidity is higher since wood tends to rot and warp under humid conditions.

Wood flooring is no longer very expensive today. With advanced technology, it has become as affordable as any other kind of flooring. The most affordable kind of wood flooring is the discount wood flooring being offered by many companies worldwide.

These companies offer good quality, high-grade, branded wood flooring at very reasonable prices and discounts, sometimes as high as 70%. Most suppliers also give warranties on discount wood flooring.

Discount wood flooring is available in several varieties like birch, ash, maple, cherry, pear, walnut, plum, oak-stained white, bamboo, red oak, beech, mahogany, etc. They are also being designed with borders, medallions, motifs and other patterns for an interesting as well as customized look. Discount wood flooring is available in both unfinished and pre-finished versions.

There are certain things to be considered while selecting discount wood flooring: the budget, the kind of wood to be used, the style or design, the traffic in the place where the floor would be installed, the color of the walls and the rest of the furniture, the kind of maintenance that is required and so on. Other questions to be considered are how long the installation will take, if the contractor has a license and the warranties and guarantees. Some of the most popular manufacturers of wood flooring are: Armstrong, Pergo, Mannington, Stepco, Wilsonart, Florida Tile, American Olean and Daltile.

Information about discount wood flooring would be available at any of these manufacturers’ offices. The internet is also a very good source for learning more about discount wood floors.

By Peter Leigh

You can buy wholesale hardwood flooring directly from the major manufacturers such as Dupont, Armstrong, Mohawk, Hartco and others. Usually hardwood flooring at a wholesale price is reserved just for wholesalers or for flooring retailers. However, many companies do offer their customers the chance to purchase wholesale hardwood flooring at prices far below the retail price, even though they may not actually be as low as wholesale.

One of the ways you can save money by buying wholesale hardwood flooring is to look at the selection of laminate hardwood flooring. The difference in the price of laminate flooring as compared to solid wood will make it seem as you are buying wholesale wood flooring. With the recent advancements in the manufacture of laminate flooring, it is much harder to tell the difference between laminate and hardwood. You can kill two birds with one stone – you get the flooring you want at a wholesale price and you get the look of hardwood that you always wanted.

Hardwood flooring wholesalers often offer customers the chance to buy hardwood flooring at a wholesale price. These events are usually an annual event when the wholesalers want to clear out their warehouses to make room for more stock. You buy the wholesale hardwood flooring as is, which could include some damaged boards or there may only be a small supply of certain woods or finishes. You do need to make sure that you buy enough hardwood because if you do spoil a few boards or run out before you get the room completed, you may not be able to get the hardwood to finish it.

Even when you are buying wholesale hardwood flooring, the sales staff will help you choose the right color to suit your furniture. If you are not sure how to calculate the amount of hardwood flooring you need, hardwood flooring wholesalers will do this for you and many of them also have delivery service available as well. Wholesale wood flooring sales usually draw large crowds of homeowners who are either building a new home or considering a remodelling project.

Wholesale hardwood flooring is available in all grades of hardwood. This is an excellent way to get the best quality hardwood for your flooring needs at prices you would expect to pay for the lesser quality boards. Even if you plan a flooring project in the future, you can buy the wholesale wood flooring and store it until you are ready to use it. However, hardwood flooring wholesalers will not accept a deposit with this type of sale or agree to keep it in the warehouse until you are ready. You do need to have a place in which to keep your wholesale hardwood flooring.

To find out more about Wood Flooring visit Peter’s Website Wood Flooring Explained and find out about Hardwood Flooring and more, including Exotic Hardwood Floors, Wood Laminate Flooring, Refinishing Hardwood Floors and Bruce Hardwood Flooring.