When embarking upon a home renovation project, homeowners are faced with an endless list of decisions to make. Selecting which flooring to use is one of the most important decisions on the list. Of all the flooring options on the market, one reigns supreme: Hardwood.
Hardwood flooring is an excellent option for many homeowners; Hardwood flooring is durable, long-lasting, and hypoallergenic. Hardwoods can also be sanded and refinished multiple times, which allows homeowners to refresh and transform the interior of their homes. With the proper maintenance and care, hardwood flooring can last a lifetime.
There are many factors to consider when selecting hardwood flooring.
Narrowing down the available options on the market can be tough. How do you choose which one is right for you? Read on for tips on how to select the correct hardwood flooring for your home renovation project.
Wood Species
Once you’ve decided to install hardwood flooring in your home renovation project, the most important step is selecting the correct wood species. Wood species vary greatly in their durability and hardness, and selecting a species that properly suits your needs is of the utmost importance. The Janka Hardness scale ranks woods from most to least hard, and is a great resource to consider when comparing species. Busy households with lots of foot traffic, kids, and furry friends should consider harder woods and avoid softer species that dent and scratch easily.
Species like hickory and maple are extremely hard and rank high on the Janka scale. Oak is also quite hard, and a very popular option in North America due to its widespread availability. Walnut is softer than oak and harder than pine. Woven bamboo is one of the hardest flooring materials on the market. Bamboo is also an eco-friendly and sustainable option.
There are also many exotic species to consider, such as Brazilian Cherry, Acacia, Tigerwood, and Patagonian Rosewood. Exotic species usually rank high on the Janka scale, and have striking grain patterns that could add a luxurious “wow-factor” to your renovation project.
Undertones vary greatly among wood species. Cherry, mahogany, hickory, and walnut have warm undertones, while ash, maple, poplar, and pine have cool undertones. Staining your hardwood floors could add depth and accentuate the natural beauty of the wood. When selecting a stain color, it’s best to start with a wood species that has a similar undertone to the color you’re trying to achieve. For best results, aim to enhance the natural color of the wood rather than changing it completely.
Plank Width
Once you’ve selected the wood species that will work best for your home renovation project, it’s time to make another critical decision: Plank width. The plank width you select will rely entirely on your design style and personal preference. Planks that are two-to-three inches wide are considered “narrow.” Planks that are four-to-six inches are considered “wide.” In the past, narrow planks were popular. However, many people are now installing wide planks in their homes. If you’ve chosen an exotic wood species or a species with an interesting grain pattern, consider installing wide planks to showcase the grain. Narrow planks can skew traditional or modern, depending on the grain, stain, and finish.
Finish
There are two basic categories that most hardwood flooring finishes fall into: Urethane or oil. Urethane creates a plastic-like protective barrier over the hardwood flooring. It is abrasion-resistant and creates a glossy sheen. Lots of foot traffic will cause urethane to lose its luster over time, but the finish can be sanded and reapplied. Typically, hardwood flooring finished with urethane needs to be refinished every 10-15 years.
Oiled hardwoods have a more soft, natural, matte appearance, but oil finishes are far less protective than urethane. Oil finishes may also require more frequent maintenance than urethane finishes, but the maintenance is less complicated; Small touch-ups and spot treatments can be administered on an as-needed basis, while urethane finishes generally require buffing, recoating, or even the replacement of planks.
In Sum
Choosing the correct hardwood flooring for your home renovation project can be a complicated process, but with a little research and some patience, you will be able to select the hardwood flooring option that will suit your performance needs and personal design aesthetic.
Thinking of installing hardwood floors in your home? Cameron the Sandman is the hardwood flooring company to call! Our hardwood flooring services are known and preferred throughout the metro Detroit area due to our quality work and product. In addition to wood floor installation, we offer refinishing services as well as wood floor restoration and wood floor sales of every species of wood.
Customize your home with different widths, thickness and patterns that is unique to your design preference. Your wood floor installation will do more than impress! Call and speak to a sales associate about wood flooring for your home today.