Designing With Hardwood Floors

Hardwood floors are suited to both casual and formal environments; they feel at home with modern or traditional and will compliment the decor of both minimalist and eclectic designs. Hardwood can be classic, rock, jazz, country, or hip hop. Today's State-of-the-art technology coupled with an almost limitless choice of stains, finishes, styles and designs makes hardwood flooring one of the most practical and versatile floor coverings available. Their beauty is enduring and like a fine wine, they mature with age.

Nature provides the inspiration when designing with hardwood floors. The abundance of natural hardwood species provides a plethora of wood grain structures, each unique and each matching a particular décor. Oak woods contain a lot of growth ring patterns and knots, and are best suited to traditional and rustic decors. However, adding a high gloss finish can make them elegant enough for any formal dining room. Woods such as Maple, Walnut and Birch contain very little graining and lend themselves well to contemporary and modern designs.

The aesthetic appeal of hardwood is also influenced to a large extent by mineral streaking, the presence of knots and shade and color variation. These features are also used in the classification of hardwoods.

Clear ? This grade of hardwood is free of defects though it may have minor imperfections. Flooring in this category tends to be very consistent with little mineral streaking and knots, also making it the most expensive grade. Select ? This grade is almost clear, but contains more natural characteristics such as knots and color variations.

Common grades (No. 1 and No. 2) have more markings than either clear or select and are often chosen because of these natural features and the character they bring to a room.

No.1 Common has a variegated appearance, light and dark colors, knots, flags and worm holes. No.2 Common is rustic in appearance and will show all wood characteristics of the species. These grades have always been the least expensive, but the recent revival of the antique rustic look has resulted in prices skyrocketing.

Performance is a very important aspect when selecting a hardwood floor. Some hardwood species are less porous than others, making them harder and less susceptible to staining. The Janka Hardness Test provides the relative hardness of numerous wood species used in flooring. This rating should only be used as a general guide, as the hardness is also affected by growth region.

Plank construction and finish are also important factors when determining the durability of any wood floor. Plank construction comes in two forms, solid and engineered. Factors such as type of existing subfloor and relative air humidity will determine which floor is best suited to your needs.

Great advancements in finish technology have resulted in floors that are less susceptible to scratching, denting, fading, and are easier to maintain. The addition of Aluminum Oxide to the surface finish has added a measure of performance resulting in a hardwood floor that, maintained properly, should never have to be replaced.

This flooring article was written by Barry H. Get more tips and techniques at: Flooring information

In The News:


pen paper and inkwell


cat break through


Remodeling Online

Remodeling PlansMaking remodeling plans for a house helps you to... Read More

Building A Pair Of Heavy Duty Saw Horses

Start out by measuring and cutting all your stock according... Read More

Chimney Cap Checklist: Four Quick Ways to Evaluate Your Existing Chimney Cap

While you are cleaning leaves out of your home's gutters,... Read More

Interior Design For Bargain Hunters

Interior design for bargain hunters is the new fashionable item... Read More

Modern Rugs Add Color, Texture, Interest and Space Definition To Your Room

Modern Design is sleek, stark, and spacious with angular and... Read More

Planning For a New Deck

Part of the fun of a new deck is the... Read More

Add Sizzle to Your Surroundings

Is your home décor lacking that extra something that spells... Read More

Tearing Down the House

Last year, we bought this big ol' 1887 house. We... Read More

Single Pane Window Glass Repair in an Aluminum Frame

Let's suppose you still have those old aluminum single pane... Read More

Roller Blinds

What is behind the popularity of roller blinds. Is it... Read More

Why Laminate Flooring is the Perfect Choice for Families

If you've ever had carpets or vinyl flooring you've probably... Read More

Baking Soda for Cleaning

Baking soda is a common, inexpensive household item that can... Read More

Solar Energy Advantages Disadvantages

Many of us know that solar energy is a good... Read More

Window Dressing from the Outside Looking In

Window coverings are important to the overall look and feel... Read More

Planning Permission Tips UK - Off Road Car Parking - What Value - Do You Need to Apply for Planning

Isn't it a shame that for most folk, taking a... Read More

Top Ten Air Purifier Questions

1. Do I really need an air purifier in my... Read More

Expansion for Heat Absorption

In the refrigeration cycle, the refrigerant must undergo a change... Read More

Selling Houses: Payback of Window Treatments

If you're planning to show your home mainly during daylight... Read More

The Solar Energy Industry Grew 67% Last Year: Are You Making the Best Decision for Your Future?

Are you considering using renewable energy resources to heat water... Read More

Buying The Right Comforter For Your Bed

Putting the right comforter on your bed can make the... Read More

Home Automation Enhances Your Lifestyle and Saves Money - Exciting Home Automation Applications

Wouldn't it be nice to have your home take care... Read More

Choosing A New Floor

Is it time to give that tired kitchen floor a... Read More

Three Types of Lighting for Room Remodeling

When remodeling a room, choosing the correct lighting is one... Read More

Kitchen Remodeling Costs

It is important to prepare a budget for your kitchen... Read More

Removing Old Aluminum Windows

This week we are going to talk about the process... Read More

Chester Conservatory Build Process

1. The site of the proposed conservatory.2. Construction work begins.... Read More

Flooring: Installing Ceramic Tile

Ceramic Tile brings a texture, richness and color to a... Read More

10 Things You Can Do Now To Prepare For Hurricane Season

The 2005 hurricane season is right around the corner and... Read More

Area Rug Buyers Guide

When you begin decorating your home there are some important... Read More

Simple Way to Get More Heat from Your Fireplace

For some people, a fireplace might as well be a... Read More

Kitchen Design ? No Need to Do It Alone

You can't opt out of the process altogether, though, because... Read More

Duct Cleaning - Proper Principals and Practices

As a qualified duct cleaning contractor I have discovered that... Read More

Refrigerators Electric Consumption - Lower It In 15 Minutes

I recently had a customer ask for my advise about... Read More