The timeless elegance of a wood floor automatically adds value and beauty to any room. Proven to stand up over time with proper care, this type of floor is relatively easy to maintain and comes in many styles, colors, and textures. When in the market for hardwood floors Utah homeowners in Salt Lake City should keep these guidelines in mind.
Hardwood flooring is categorized as either solid or engineered. These two types are manufactured differently from each other, engineered wood is assembled with a hardwood top layer affixed to underlying layers of plywood, while solid wood is that which is cut directly from milled lumber. Both types are durable and can be sanded and refinished, however engineered wood has the added advantage of being resistant to moisture, making it ideal for washrooms or basements.
Many species of trees are used to produce top quality solid and engineered flooring. Birch and maple flooring are light in color with darker grain lines, they have a smooth texture and are a good choice to add a contemporary look to a room or make it appear larger. Bamboo flooring is sold as wood although it is actually a grass, because of its superior hardness and durability, it can be light brown or reddish in tone.
Country-style cottages and informal rooms are nicely accented with the "softwood" types of flooring cut from evergreen trees such as pine, fir, and hemlock. Rooms that receive heavy foot-traffic are best served with the hearty ash wood flooring, somewhat lighter than oak in color but superior in durability.
Oak is a commonly selected choice of flooring for many homes and it has a traditional elegance to it that can set off any room it's used in. A brownish wood, oak can have either white or red undertones to it. Walnut wood is a rich brown, that often lightens with age, and cherry wood has a reddish-brown color that gets deeper over the years.
Standard wood flooring planks are laid end to end, however there are some designs which break from this tradition yet still provide the same beauty and grace associated with a hardwood floor. Parquet flooring consists of tiles made from strips of wood placed in such a pattern to form squares with alternating line designs. Another option is the engineered cork tile, which features a thin layer of cork oak wood attached to several other layers to form a moisture-resistant cushiony surface.
The width of the flooring boards also influences the overall appearance of the wood floor, as does the texture, which is sometimes available in varieties such as wire-brushed or distressed. It's best to select wood that has a defect rate of less than 50 percent, or it may be necessary to buy more. The grade is determined by how many irregularities or character marks the wood has, that which has more is termed cabin or millwood, while that which has less is select or clear.
A polyurethane finish usually comes with the flooring to protect it and make it shiny. Semi-gloss and satin finishes provides the greatest shine, while matte finishes are more subdued and are best suited to areas that will be walked across more frequently.
Hardwood flooring is categorized as either solid or engineered. These two types are manufactured differently from each other, engineered wood is assembled with a hardwood top layer affixed to underlying layers of plywood, while solid wood is that which is cut directly from milled lumber. Both types are durable and can be sanded and refinished, however engineered wood has the added advantage of being resistant to moisture, making it ideal for washrooms or basements.
Many species of trees are used to produce top quality solid and engineered flooring. Birch and maple flooring are light in color with darker grain lines, they have a smooth texture and are a good choice to add a contemporary look to a room or make it appear larger. Bamboo flooring is sold as wood although it is actually a grass, because of its superior hardness and durability, it can be light brown or reddish in tone.
Country-style cottages and informal rooms are nicely accented with the "softwood" types of flooring cut from evergreen trees such as pine, fir, and hemlock. Rooms that receive heavy foot-traffic are best served with the hearty ash wood flooring, somewhat lighter than oak in color but superior in durability.
Oak is a commonly selected choice of flooring for many homes and it has a traditional elegance to it that can set off any room it's used in. A brownish wood, oak can have either white or red undertones to it. Walnut wood is a rich brown, that often lightens with age, and cherry wood has a reddish-brown color that gets deeper over the years.
Standard wood flooring planks are laid end to end, however there are some designs which break from this tradition yet still provide the same beauty and grace associated with a hardwood floor. Parquet flooring consists of tiles made from strips of wood placed in such a pattern to form squares with alternating line designs. Another option is the engineered cork tile, which features a thin layer of cork oak wood attached to several other layers to form a moisture-resistant cushiony surface.
The width of the flooring boards also influences the overall appearance of the wood floor, as does the texture, which is sometimes available in varieties such as wire-brushed or distressed. It's best to select wood that has a defect rate of less than 50 percent, or it may be necessary to buy more. The grade is determined by how many irregularities or character marks the wood has, that which has more is termed cabin or millwood, while that which has less is select or clear.
A polyurethane finish usually comes with the flooring to protect it and make it shiny. Semi-gloss and satin finishes provides the greatest shine, while matte finishes are more subdued and are best suited to areas that will be walked across more frequently.
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Nice article on hardwood flooring. I get information on types of hardwood flooring. I read on solid and engineered types and later one is more attractive for me. I will consult with an expert for hardwood flooring in Utah with engineered type wood and hope it will be the best one for my bedroom and dining. Thanks again.
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