Mar 29 2010
Deciding On Hardwood Flooring For Your Home
Many people love the look of a hardwood floor. Choosing hardwood flooring can be an overwhelming task. They will make your home worth more. They always seem to be in style. They last a very long time. There are so many styles and types to select from.
What species of wood shall you use? How about using cherry wood? Perhaps you rather have ash? Maybe you want an exotic wood like Brazilian cypress. You will find a very long list of choices. These floors will come in two construction types.
Solid wood
Solid wood is made from one piece of wood. It is usually nailed to a sub floor. You can get three types of solid wood flooring. There are strip, plank, parquet types.
Strip flooring: It is made of strips of wood. It only has three widths available. They are 2 1/4 inch, 2 inch, and 1 1/2 inches. You can get many thicknesses of this wood. It comes as thin as 5/16 inch and as wide as 3/4 inch. Some people feel that strip flooring may not be easy to install.
Plank flooring: Plank flooring has been used for many years. It is still in many older homes. This type of floor will usually require contractor installation. The planks are cut for the custom fit. Planks may be three inches or more wide. They are either 1/2 or 3/4 inch thick.
Parquet: This type of flooring is made up of many pieces to form a pattern. It can be thought of as a mosaic. It is rather expensive but very durable. Old parquet flooring may be discovered in an older home. Often times, the owner will refinish it and use it.
Engineered
Engineered flooring is made in layers similar to plywood. There may be softwoods in the layers. You may also find plastic laminate. The top layer will be made of hardwood. The structure of engineered floors makes them very strong. They resist humidity well, also. They are more suitable flooring material than laminate. Laminate flooring contains no wood.
Price
It is not simple to estimate cost of hardwood floors. Many people will use ten dollars a square foot for a good estimate. It would be seven dollars per square foot, if you do the work yourself. To get a better estimate talk to a professional. They can go over the particulars with you.
Final thoughts
Hardwood flooring is beautiful and durable. Installation will take some skill. Check with a professional to figure cost and which materials to use.
Learn more on large flooring samples and flooring samples.
Comments Off
