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How to Choose Hardwood Flooring by Cleo Gib
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How to Choose Hardwood Flooring |
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Home Improvement
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One of the most beautiful ways that you can add value to your home is to install or refinish hardwood flooring. Hardwood floors are always a top item on a homebuyer's wish list. Hardwood floors are such a desired part of a home because they look beautiful, classy, and can last for generations. There are so many options on the market for hardwoods that it is wise to know a little bit about hardwood flooring in Long Island, NY, before you head out to choose a new floor. You will want to know what the difference is between engineered hardwood and solid hardwood. You may also want to know what different finishes are available and what trending styles are currently. This article will explore all these topics so that you are prepared to go out and choose the right flooring for your home. Engineered and Solid Hardwoods The main difference between engineered hardwood floors and solid hardwood floors is simple. The planks of a solid hardwood floor are made up of one solid piece of wood. Engineered hardwood has a bottom layer, a core of layered plywood sheets that have been glued and pressed together, and a top layer of hardwood. The top layer of engineered hardwood is still 100% real solid wood, so do not confuse engineered hardwood with something like laminate, which is made up of wood materials with a plastic top layer which has been printed to look like real wood. Engineered hardwoods are often slightly less expensive than solid hardwood, but that is not always the case. Engineered hardwoods are more versatile than solid hardwoods and can be installed in below-grade rooms like basements. Engineered hardwood can be refinished, but only several times during its life span. This is one of the greatest advantages to solid hardwood floors. Solid hardwood can be refinished almost endlessly, unless such extensive damage has been sustained that the floor needs replacing entirely. Finishing a Hardwood Floor Hardwood floors come in pre-finished options or unfinished options which are installed and finished on site. Engineered hardwoods generally come pre-finished, and solid hardwoods also often come pre-finished. This means that the stain and or seal and protected covering have all been applied to the planks before they are installed in your home. Pre-finished floors will all have bevelled edges, which means that they do not lie perfectly flat. Many people prefer this look, but it is certainly a matter of personal taste. If you choose a solid hardwood floor that is unfinished, it will need to be sanded and finished on site. There are different materials that are used to seal and finish a floor. The traditional product is wax. Wax permeates the wood and seals it to protect it from moisture. However, wax does not create a hard layer on top of the wood so it will leave your floor exposed to dents and dinks from shoes, furniture, pets, and items that may be dropped on the floor. Wax finished floors generally have to be refinished every few years. Water based and oil based polyurethane are currently the most common options. Polyurethane creates a much harder top layer that protects the wood from damage. Current Trends Hardwood floors are always trending, but styles and finishes of the wood change in popularity with fluctuating trends. The handscraped look is currently popular. Handscraped planks look older and more antique. Distressed, handscraped, and weathered looking wood are all popular options. As far as colors go, grey, dark woods, and very pale finishes are all popular. Between engineered and solid hardwood flooring in Long Island, NY, there are hundreds of options to choose from. The most important thing is that you like the look of the flooring you choose and are confident in your choice.
Related Articles -
hardwood, flooring, long, island, ny,
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