What You Should Know About Wood Flooring?

Hardwood is the standard flooring in almost any home, it adds warmth, beauty and value to any interior. It lasts far longer than any other flooring and can be sanded and refinished several times to look new again. Wood floors have seen tremendous growth in the past two decades and manufacturers have come a long way introducing new species, styles, colors and even new types that made it more durable, affordable and easier to install.
Here are a few things you need to know prior to purchasing your wood floor.

The Look:
Wood flooring is a product of nature and its inherent beauty stems from the fact that each piece is unique in both grain and color. It's this unique look that gives each species a character that differentiates it from all other species. Looking at a small sample may never give you the complete look of the floor; that's why it's always better to look at a room scene and if possible ask for a few more samples to get as much understanding of the color and grain variations as possible.

The Grade:
Wood floors have three standard grades; Select (clear), #1 common (natural) and #2 Common (rustic). This is a major factor to look for when deciding on a floor since the grade usually defines the look of your floor and in most cases, the entire décor of your home. Here are the main differences between the three grades:

• Select Grade (clear):
  Select grade floors look clean and clear with almost no mineral imperfections and no knots. The planks have the most uniformed look and range in length from 11" up to 88" but could be different from one mill to another.
• #1 Common Grade (natural):
  #1 grade has some character reflecting from the color variations and small knots on each plank. It's widely used for its unique look and strong presence that compliments every other color in the room. The planks range in length between 8" and 72" but could be different from one mill to another.
• #2 Grade (rustic):
  #2 is the most common grade in country homes and cabins. Its strong variations in colors and wide knots make a presence that is hardly ever goes unnoticed. The planks usually range from 8" to 60" but could be different from one mill to the other. Below is an example of the three main grades:

  Select

  #1 Common

  #2 Common

Durability & Hardness:
Wood species differ dramatically when it comes to durability. Depending on your living conditions and how many people live or will reside in your home; you should always consider a floor that will stand the amount of traffic you expect in your house or office. If you have pets for example, an open grain wood species would be your best option. Look for the Janka hardness scale which defines the durability of every species; give as much information about your living condition to the sales rep so they're able to advise you on your best option.
If you're not sure, call us at 1-800-311-4640, we are always happy to help.

Clear Finish VS Stained:
Most wood floors are offered with either clear finish or a color stain. Clear finishes have become extremely popular since what you see is the natural color of the wood species. It is very suitable for wood species that are colorful by natural like Cherry, Mahogany or walnut. Color stains are usually applied over Oak, Ash or Maple from a variety of popular charts offered by every manufacturer. Scratches and dents are usually more visible on a stained floor especially if the stain is relatively darker than the natural color of the wood species.

Color Change over Time:
Most wood species mature and change over time to a darker tone: some more than the others. Exotic woods are a good example of this change. Brazilian Cherry for example changes from a light caramel tone into dark reddish/brown. Don't be alarmed if the floor you choose is lighter than the sample you saw in a showroom, most retail samples have already aged and darkened. If this is a concern, ask for a sample from a box and compare the color before you purchase your floor. You should also know that you can not place area rugs over exotic woods especially right after the installation. The wood underneath the rug will remain light and may never darken enough to match the rest of your floor.

Solid VS Engineered:
Wood floors have come a long way in the past two decades presenting new styles that can be installed in areas where wood could never be installed before. Here's a breakdown of all wood flooring types:

• Solid Hardwood:
  Traditional solid 3/4" hardwood is normally installed on or above grade. It is usually nailed down to a wood sub-floor but is now offered in various thicknesses that may be glued down as well. Solid hardwood floors expand and contract with the change of the atmosphere and react to high levels of moisture so be sure your installer checks the moisture level prior to installation on both the wood and sub-floor.
  
• Engineered Planks:
  Engineered planks are structured with several criss-crossed plies and topped with a solid hardwood wear layer. This process reduces expansion and contraction so the planks can be installed directly over concrete or in places where solid hardwood may not be suitable. Engineered planks can be stapled or glued depending on the sub-floor. While some engineered floors may not be sanded and refinished, several mills have produced engineered floors with top layers ranging from 1/8" to 1/4" than can be sanded and refinished as many time as solid hardwood floors.
  
• Floating Planks:
  Floating floors are a new innovation presented almost a decade ago. The planks simply interlock together creating a floor that is neither nailed nor glued to the subfloor. Floating floors require minimal preparations to the sub-floor and can be installed virtually on any solid surface including hardwood, concrete, ceramic, stone and vinyl; they are the sound choice for radiant heat as well. Depending on the top wear layer, floating floors can also be sanded and refinished in the future; just like solid hardwood floors.
  

Quarter-Sawn VS Plain-Sawn:
Plain-Sawn hardwood is the most straightforward way to cut rectangular-profiled boards out of a round log. Sawmills create plain sawn lumber by making a series of parallel cuts in a log. This system of cutting wood provides excellent yield because it minimizes scrap. The wood grain is comprised of a series of concentric rings beginning in the center. Plain sawn boards have substantially different grain patterns depending on where they were cut out of the log. Most hardwood floors are plain-sawn milled. The expansion and contraction of the wood is horizontal and in turn, the amount of expansion is much higher than quarter-sawn.

Quarter-Sawn boards are created by first cutting a log into quarters and then creating a series of parallel cuts perpendicular to the tree's rings. The yield is not as substantial as in plain-sawn milling but the grain in is relatively consistent, and therefore the end product is stable and often preferred by installers. Quarter-sawn wood may include medullar rays and wavy grain patterns that some people prefer to the figures that are revealed with plain-sawn. The expansion and contraction on quarter-sawn hardwood happens vertically which in turn is minimal. Quarter-sawn hardwood is always sought after especially for installation over radiant heat.

Laminate Floors:
Laminate floors are an economical choice for a durable, cost-effective, scratch-resistant and easy to install flooring. They have become very popular in the past few years. Laminate floors can be installed virtually anywhere and have reached AC4 and AC5 ratings that allows them to be installed in heavy residential or commercial application. Laminate floors are constructed mainly of three layers. The bottom layer is usually made of a formaica sheet. The middle layer is made of high density moisture resistant HDF board. The top layer is simply a picture simulating real wood look and usually coated with an acrylic or Aluminum Oxide finish. Laminate floors come in various shapes and styles and are very suitable for DIY and quick renovations.

Nail Down VS Glue Down:
The method of installation is decided by two main factors; where the floor will be installed and the type of sub-floor it will be installed on. There are three main levels in any building:

• Below Grade (below street level):
  Vinyl and floating floors (including engineered and laminated floors) are your best option for this application when using a moisture barrier underlayment such as QuietWalk. Glue down engineered floors can be installed as well but professional preparation including moisture barriers such as MVP4 must be applied first.
• On Grade (street level):
  The majority of wood floors can be installed on this level but proper test for moisture is still required especially if there's a basement below.
• Above Grade (second floor and above):
  All wood floors can be installed on this level. If you plan to glue down flooring over a concrete slab, please ask your intaller to test the moisture of the concrete as well. When glueing solid hardwood, make sure your installer uses moisture cured urethane adhesive such as Bostik or Titebond.
  

Vernon Floors offers a wide selection of floors for each of the above applications. Please call us at 1-800-311-4640 if you need advice or have any questions about your floor. We're always here to help.

Inspection of Your Floor
Once your flooring order is delivered, spare no effort to inspect and verify that it is the floor you purchased. Open at least one box and examine the finish, grade, width and quality of the planks. Make sure your installer is there to check that there are no milling defects. This step will eliminate all unnecessary faults and ensure your project is running smoothly. If the floor is not acceptable; contact your retailer for proper replacement. Do not take chances and install the floor; most retailers/manufacturers will not honor any claim of visible/milling defects after the floor is already installed. Please note that the maximum defective or unused wood planks in your order should not exceed the 3% set by the industry standards. This is usually accounted for within the additional 10% waste factor.

Scratches & Dents:
There is not a single wood floor that will not dent or scratch, this is a basic FACT you should always be aware of. If someone told you their wood does not scratch or dent, simply turn around and walk away. The beauty about wood floors is that you can always sand and refinish them several times to get a brand new look at a fraction of the cost. However, you can always minimize that effect by following simple procedures: the first thing you need to know is how resistant the wood is to scratching and denting with you living condition. Oak and Brazilian Cherry for example can take heavy household abuse without showing it while American Cherry and pine will show that same abuse immedietly. The second is simple, the more you take care of the floor, the better it will always look.
Here are a few tips that will help:

• Once your floor is installed, make sure it's properly vacuumed.
• Place Felt Pads underneath all your furniture.
• Never drag furniture or sharp objects across the floor.
• Remove any spills immedietly.
• Never use bleech, vinigar or water to clean your floor.
• Always use a recommended cleaning system such as Bonakemi.
• If a deep scratch or dent should occure, call us and we will show you how to fix it.

Warranties:
Flooring warranties usually cover the finish appplied to the surface of the wood. It often means that this finish will not wear through, fade or wear off within the warranty period. No manufacturer has ever offer warranty against scratching, denting, cracking, swelling or any other damage arising from severe household abuse or lack of proffessional installation. Please read the manufacturer warranty in full to understand the terms applied to your pre-finished floor. All warranties are posted on the manufacturer website. Please call or email us for a copy of the warranty offered by any of our brand name flooring manufacturers.

At Vernon Floors, we spare no effort to make sure you are aware of everything you need to know prior to purchasing your floor including hardness, durability, color change, scratch and dent resistance as well as all applicable warranties. Our goal is to make you aware of all the facts; when you're aware, your investment with us will always be sound.