Hardwood Flooring
Tradition, a sense of permanence, and a lasting legacy that crosses generations are the key benefits for which hardwood flooring is most associated as a key building material. For centuries, and across many cultures, hardwood flooring has been a proven architectural mainstay.
Hardwood flooring is known to be among the most varied range of building materials there is, offering:
- choices of species/color
- cut
- stain
- width
- grade
Many other factors all go into a selection of products which are designed to raise the decorative standards in any interior. But along with the visual effects which are delivered by hardwood flooring, there are a great many other factors to take a look at when buying hardwood floors.
Hardwood Flooring Species
To find out whether or not your choice in flooring will stand up to the amount of foot traffic and other forms of abrasion you expect, it’s best to consult the Janka hardness scale to see where your favourite choice in hardwood flooring falls.
Here are some popular choices with their advantages in hardwood flooring to take a look at:
- Maple – harder than oak, abrasion-resistant
- Cherry– very easily worked, attractive grain patterns, wide tonal spectrum
- Alder – Rustic choice that takes on seasoned appearance
- Birch– Natural golden tonal range, very suitable for staining.
- Kempas – dark, rich color, close-grain patterns, accepts stain very well
- Asian Mahogany – pronounced grain pattern, very affordable for a great level of performance
How to Choose a Hardwood Species
A balance to consider is that of hardness versus workability. If it is important to install a hardwood which is very hard – like Canadian maple or Brazilian Cherry – than it must be expected that it will take extra effort when it comes to sawing and nailing.
By the same token, if one is looking for a hardwood species which is easily sawn and nailed – like alder or fir floors – than the greater chance of indentation or scratches must be taken into account.
Many buyers tend to place a balanced importance on both hardness and workability. Although, sometimes color or grain pattern makes the decision of which species of hardwood to choose an easy one.
The Term “Hardwood” – Not What You Might Think
The term “hardwood” is generally defined as whether or not a species loses its leaves on a seasonal basis. Often, a softwood species which do not lose their leaves – like fir floors and pine floors, for instance - are of comparable hardness or even harder than certain varieties of hardwood. So, the terms “hardwood” and “softwood” don’t necessarily reflect how hard or soft a species of wood actually is.
Pre-finished and Unfinished Hardwood Flooring
When you’re a property owner, or a construction project manager on a tight timeline, pre-finished hardwood flooring is a popular choice:
- no mess as caused by sanding
- no waiting for stain to dry which requires at least a day
- no enforced time away from a property due to fumes.
However, many installers favor unfinished hardwood flooring because of:
- a more uniform seal when the finish is self-applied.
- a more moisture-proof floor as the finish not only seals each hardwood flooring plank, but also the minute spaces between the planks
- installations are more easily guaranteed as a result.
Because moisture is the number one enemy of solid hardwood floors, the process of self-finishing is often worth the trouble in certain cases.
Surface Treatments for Hardwood Flooring
When choosing flooring, hardwood flooring appeals to all five senses. For a choice in look, hardwood flooring sets the standard for all imitators. Two popular examples of hardwood flooring surface treatments are:
- Hand scraped hardwood flooring. A very popular effect, otherwise known as “distressed” floors that is created by means of working the surface of each plank to create a seasoned, texturally contoured surface
- Brushed hardwood flooring. A more recent effect which is the result of removing the softer materials in between the wood grain through the use of a wire brush treatment. This accentuates the grain pattern, further supplemented by an additional staining process.
Stained Hardwood Flooring
For greater flexibility for color choices, stained hardwood floors are the ideal answer for many, allowing the color of one species to be added to the strength of another. This allows for all kinds of design possibilities without necessarily sacrificing any practical concerns. Also, stains can be added to a species to bring out the subtleties in the color spectrum and grain patterns.
Exotic Species of Hardwood Flooring
Rising in popularity are new choices in exotic hardwood flooring. These species are often available at a lower price than many domestic varieties. They lend a comparable visual effect and durability of many domestic species. Some are more expensive, yet make up the difference by being significantly harder and more durable over a long period of time. Also, the vibrant color spectrums of kempas, jatoba, ipe, and many other exotics make them highly sought after for all kinds of high-end installations.
Other choices in exotics raise the bar in terms of both look and durability. Even though hardwood flooring is looked upon as a traditional choice, new developments and new choices in species are being introduced regularly to contribute to a widening range of selections for hardwood flooring.