Hardwood Flooring

Durable and elegant, plank floors come in varying lengths of refinished hard wood or engineered boards.

Hardwood floors work anywhere in the home. In areas where they may see water and spills, regular maintenance will keep them looking like new for years.

Hardwood Facts

Hardwood floors are:

• Durable (lasts a lifetime!)
• of great variety [of woods, patterns, stains, and finishes]
• natural
• environmentally friendly
• stylish and eye pleasing
• hypo-allergenic
• affordable and worth every penny
• easy to maintain

Hardwood floors can be installed above or below grade, on concrete slabs, over plywood subfloors, or over existing wood floors. With concrete, moisture control is essential, but can be managed with a film barrier applied directly over the concrete. Engineered wood subfloors must be screwed or nailed in place prior to installation. Some manufacturers recommend proprietary underlayments that are specially suited to installation of their hardwood floors. Once the subfloor is in place, sanded, smoothed, or filled to provide a level, even surface, installation of the boards can begin. Whether you install the floor using a hammer, a specialized board nailer or stapler, face nail the planks, or glue them to one another, the process of laying out the floor and marking for a square installation is the same.

Here are some tips and tricks for installing a hardwood floor:

Most installers begin with the focal point of the room, such as a fireplace, when determining where to begin an installation. Here, border is installed around a bluestone hearth first. Laying decorative borders before the rest of the floor assures that the final installation will be symmetrical.

Before laying the first board, snap a chalk line to use as a reference point. In this installation, a manufacturer's recommended underlayment is installed over the plywood subfloor.

Aligning the first row of boards with the chalk line assures that all subsequent rows will be straight.

Boards are often delivered in random lengths. Before securing the remaining boards to the subfloor, test fit the boards in sections. Test fitting the boards allows you to make sure that all of the points are staggered. As a rule of thumb, joints should be at least 12 inches apart.

Blind nailing tongue-and-groove boards hides the fasteners. Each fastener is driven through one board's tongue, and covered by the next adjacent board. In other installations, nails are driven through the top of the board, a process called face nailing. Boards can also be glued down, and there are even types with adhesive strips on the back of the flooring.

Hardwood Floors: Advantages and Disadvantages

Hardwood flooring is one of the best options out there, and it's tough to make a decent pros and cons list, because there just aren't many cons. Unlike some of the new manmade flooring materials on the market, hardwoods have been proven by the test of time. There are homes that are more than a century home with original hardwood flooring that still looks fabulous. Sure, they'll need to be refinished now and then, but few materials have the proven track record of natural wood.
Advantages

• Hardwood floors are durable and easy to clean.
• They look beautiful, offering a warm and natural effect.
• They match homes of all ages and styles.
• Hardwood floors increase the value of a home.
• They're particularly suitable for living rooms, dens, hallways, and stairs.

Disadvantages

• Hardwoods can be noisy if they're not sound insulated.
• They can be drafty and dusty if placed directly onto joists.
• Hardwood flooring does require periodic maintenance, and it can be scratched (think pet claws) and dented.
• Wood isn't the best choice in rooms that are likely to get wet frequently, like a bathroom or foyer.

The main threats to hardwood floors are dirt, sand, and grit. These abrasive materials act like sandpaper on your floor's finish, which results in dents and scratches, as well as a general dulling over time. Use floor mats or area rugs by your home's entrances. These will help trap dirt and prevent damage. Wipe away spills promptly.

Summary: Hardwood floors are the most popular of all flooring types, for reasons that are all too obvious.  They add a sense of warmth, style and character to any room.  Not only do they look great, but hardwood floors are very hard wearing and often look better with age.  They are easy to keep clean, and with proper care and maintenance, hardwood floors can last for generations.