Must –Know Shopping Facts

So many available options for “hardwood” flooring, it’s really hard for most consumers to be a knowledgeable consumer.  Here are some facts so that you can shop with confidence.

  • Solid hardwood flooring will provide decades of extraordinary beauty and durable service. Remember, solid hardwood flooring can be refinished as your taste changes or even from excessive wear and tear.
  • U.S. hardwoods are truly sustainable.
  • U.S. hardwoods are a natural, carbon-negative material.
  • When thinking of a particular U.S. hardwood, pay attention to the hardness rating scale, which is referred to as the Janka Scale. For high traffic area, consider Oak, Maple, Cherry or Ash with higher ratings on the hardness scale.

Pre-finished solid hardwood flooring is already sanded and sealed by the manufacturer. It offers quality, quicker installation and immediate gratification. Time and money saved during the installation usually will off-set a higher material cost.

Unfinished solid hardwood flooring must be sanded and sealed right there on-site. You will have more color choices but will also require extensive preparation. Sanding, drying time and sealing will require up to five days to complete.

Engineered flooring consist of a plywood base that is covered with layers of wood, usually 1/16 to 1/8 of an inch, is good to use in bathrooms and basements where light moisture might be a concern. Always comes pre-finished. The top layer is so thin that it cannot be sanded more than a couple of times and requires a professional to do it. The less expensive choices cannot be sanded at all due to the very thin top layer.

Laminate flooring options look like wood, but really is printed paper or vinyl affixed to a wood-chip base fiberboard, covered with a clear layer to absorb daily impact. Biggest problem with this product is it cannot be repaired or sanded when scratches or dings occur.

As you consider your home improvement projects, make choices based on facts, not hype. Choose “green” material, U.S. hardwood for flooring, furniture, moldings, and cabinetry that will last.

  • Here are some interesting facts…….
  • Brazilian Cherry is a tropical wood known as Jatoba and Chilean Cherry is Lenga. Neither is Cherry.
  • Tasmanian Oak and Australian Oak are Eucalyptus.
  • Malaysian Oak is actually Rubber Wood, which is used in a lot of furniture.
  • Bamboo Flooring is called hardwood and it is not. It is a grass grown in tropical regions, glued together under tremendous pressure. It often contains Urea Formaldehyde, which is classified as a probable human carcinogen.

Written by:  BlueCoast agent Janeise Collins