Manufacturers
Ancestral Oiled Hardwood | Anderson | Armstrong | Barefoot Flooring | Bruce | BSL | Eco-Cork | Green River | Kahrs | Lauzon Hardwood | Mirage | Mohawk | Mohawk Hardwood | MooseWood | Somerset Hardwood Flooring | Teragren | Trillium | Virginia Vintage | Wicanders Cork
Buying Tips for Hardwood Flooring
Natural Floors For Natural Beauty
Hardwood floors add natural beauty and value to your home and are an investment. Shopping for hardwood floors leads to several options that may have you wondering what choice will be the best quality and what will be the best value. Come on in to our showroom where you can see, touch and take home wood samples from any of our manufacturers to help you find the perfect floor. We are happy to answer any questions you may have!
Factory Finish vs. Custom Sand & Finish on Site
You should feel comfortable with either choice. However, factory finishing offers many nice advantages. Factory finished flooring is inspected for defects at the mill so you receive first choice every time. On-site finishing depends on the quality of the workmanship that day.
Factory finished flooring usually installs more quickly and without the dust and odors that are involved with on-site finishing. However, even though factory finished flooring comes in a variety of colors, on-site finishing allows for closer color match with existing woodwork or cabinets.
Both factory finishes and on-site finishes are available in either high gloss or matte. Both types have exciting new finishes developed with space age technology. These finishes are not like grandma’s old wood floors because they require no waxing.
Engineered products install where no solid hardwood dares to go
Prior to the development of engineered hardwood flooring, hardwood products could not be installed on slab or in your basement without a special subfloor system. Now you can enjoy real hardwood flooring in those areas without all that fuss and expense. A special cross-ply construction eliminates the problem of expansion and contraction usually associated with solid hardwood.
Don’t become overly concerned with thinner or thicker top wood layers associated with engineered products because it’s the finish you are walking on. Generally speaking you won’t need to re-sand and finish these products; just re-coat them unless you need to change the color.
Special considerations when selecting hardwood flooring
Direct sunlight can affect the color of hardwood stains, therefore closing curtains or shades during peak periods will reduce damage. Area rugs left in place for extended periods of time may expose a shading difference once they are removed from the remainder of the floor.
Large pets with sharp toenails can also damage even the best finishes.
