You already have your heart set on hardwood floors. You have made an excellent decision, and you can enjoy your luxurious, elegant hardwood floors for many years to come. When the floor has been laid properly by a professional, such as hardwood floors Marysville WA, then you will have the peace of mind that the job has been completed with high quality craftsmanship. When your newly laid floors are finished with just the right finish, the shine and depth of personality of your wood floors will delight you every time you look at them.
Hardness of Hardwood Floors
There are many kinds of colors, textures and sized of hardwood to choose from when planning your home’s hardwood floors. First let’s talk about hardness. Wood is gauged for its hardness depending on its strength of resistance when a force is applied. This is done by testing the wood when the force of embedding a 0.444 inch steel ball is applied to the wood. This is called the Janka hardness test, and woods are tested and then assigned a number.
The standard to which all other woods are compared is red oak. It has a hardness of 1290.
A chart of some hardwoods and their hardness values is as follows:
American cherry 950 American walnut 1010 Canadian breza 1200 Yellow birch 1260 Red oak 1290 Hard maple 1450 Sapele 1500 African mahogany 1500 Tigerwood 2160 Cabreuva (Santos Mahogany) 2200 Jatoba (Brazilian Cherry) 2350 Every different type of wood brings a different look to the design of your room. Try out some colors and textures. Learn about the origin, hardness and durability about the different types of wood before you make a decision. Is the wood domestic or exotic species? What kind of humidity does the room usually see? These are all important questions that should be included in the decision-making process. The traffic the room will see is also an important facet of the equation.
You will want to create the perfect ambience in your room. Does the wood personalize the room; will it fit with the décor you have in mind?
The Lacey Act protects against illegal forest practices. This is a consideration that you should keep in mind when choosing your hardwood. Check with the contractor and ensure that he knows about wood practices and where he is sourcing his wood supplies from.
Advantages of hardwood flooring
- Hardwood is a natural floor covering
- It is eco-friendly when sustainable development is practiced
- Requires low maintenance when done properly
- Creates warmth and luxurious feeling in any room
- It lasts for decades, protecting your investment
- Dust allergies are minimized or even eliminated
- Compares favorably in price to other high quality flooring options
- It adds to the value of your home
- It raises the overall look and appeal of your décor
Hardwood can complement any décor; there are numerous looks available in the wide variety of color, pattern and personality of natural hardwood flooring. Whether your look is fabulous contemporary or charming rustic, resolutely urban or down-home country, there is a hardwood floor perfect for your requirements.
The warmth and natural beauty of hardwood is a temptation that is hard to resist. It is a good temptation that you should not resist.
How to Care for your Hardwood Floors
Your hardwood floors deserve to be treated with love and consideration. Please use the cleaning products and tools that have been specifically recommended by your hardwood floor provider. They should be well-versed as to proper care and maintenance procedures for your specific type of hardwood floor.
High traffic areas on your hardwood floor warrant the use of throw rugs or mats. They look fantastic and add a little zing to your floor, while protecting parts of your floor from excess wear and tear. Vacuum them often so that dirt doesn’t filter down through the weave and then scratch the wood floor underneath.
It is a good idea to keep your hardwood floors clean, because dust and other debris tracked in from outside can scratch your beautiful floor. Proper cleaning with an electrostatic dry mop or vacuuming with the proper tools can go a long way to keeping your floor looking luxurious and welcoming. You won’t be washing your hardwood floors with water. Water can seep down through the finish and ruin the wood. Wet spills will have to be removed immediately and the floor dried thoroughly.
High heels can leave marks or little dents on hardwood floors and so can big heavy work boots. Be wise as to what types of shoes are allowed on your hardwood floors.
Furniture should never be dragged across a wood floor, and to prevent accidental scratches, place gliders or furniture pads underneath table or chair legs to protect the finish on your floors. If your hardwood floor installer has instructed you on waxing and buffing, then follow the directions carefully. Make sure you have clear instructions as to how to properly care for your floor. The qualified and experienced professionals at Marysville hardwood floors can tell you exactly what needs to be done to keep your floors looking amazing for many years to come.
An experienced professional is the best way to go when you're thinking of installing hardwood floors in your beautiful home. You don't want to run into any unpleasant surprises when attempting to follow someone's instructions and do it yourself. Like the room isn't square, or you've run out of wood and can't match the color or grain of the wood.
Do it yourself does work really great on some things. But it doesn't work so well on others. Do it yourself fix a broken arm? No. Do it yourself change the transmission in your wife's van? No. Do it yourself install hardwood floors? No.
On the other hand, do it yourself install new bathroom faucet? Maybe. Do it yourself cut your child's hair? Maybe. Do it yourself paint your house? Maybe.
Really it all boils down to the type of person you are and what you can pick up easily. So try a few things, and get some new skills, just don't leap into the deep end.
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