Choosing The Best Hardwood Floor
With over fifty species of wood to choose from, determining which one is best can seem like a daunting task. The easiest way is to decide first what look you want.
Other than the type or species of wood, three other factors determine the appearance and cost; grade, cut, and finish. The grade is determined by color, differences in grain, and the presenge of imperfections such as knots, wormholes and saw marks. There is no universal grading system because each type of wood has different standards for ideal color and grain uniformity. As a rule, wood is more expensive if it has more consistent color and grain. For informal rooms, some prefer the inconsistency and interest gained by such flaws as knots. Most wood for flooring is plain-sawn. Quarter-sawn and rift-sawn boards generally have a denser, straighter grain. Boards that are purchased unfinished are usually less ex-pensive. Today you are more likely to find pre-finished boards. Many have as many as six coats of finish, compared to site-finished floors with two or three coats. Because pre-finishing has been done in a controlled environment, the products come with longer warranties. Other advantages to pre-finished flooring are there will be no sanding dust or finishing fumes during their installation.
Hardwood is being installed in every room in the house today, even in the more humid environments of the kitchen and bath. It is highly recommended that you put a throw rug by sinks and tubs to prevent excess water from damaging the floor. Also wipe up any spilled water quickly. Wood floors are not as ideal in bathrooms where showers are taken daily, especially by children, because there is often too much water on the floor and too much variance in the temperature and humidity.
To help you decide which wood is best for your home or business, here are the pros and cons of the five most popular types.
Red Oak is the most common wood sold. It has a coarse, even and sometimes rippled grain. The color is a very subdued pink. It looks good in traditional interiors and is more refined than pine. Oak is a hardwood that resists splitting during installation. It stains well and holds up to heavy traffic. Because is can cup or turn dark, it is not the best choice for kitchens and baths.
Pine offers lots of character for a lower price that oak. It has a more distinct grain pattern that ranges from swirls to stripes. The colors vary between tans, browns and yellow. Some customers choose pine for its black sap stains and clear or pink knots. Because it is easy to nail and resists splitting, it is less expensive to install than other species. Because pine is not as hard as oak, it is not suitable for damp or high-traffic areas.
Brazilian Cherry is salmon colored and has a medium spaced grain pattern that darkens with age, especially with sun exposure. As a wood used in many fine furnishings and cabinets, it is perfect in formal settings. Cherry is more than twice as hard as oak and is moisture resistant, so it will hold up in kitchens, baths, hallways and entryways. Because it is so hard, it splits more often during installation, making it advisable to order ten percent extra to allow for waste.
Australian Cypress has a wavy, busy grain pattern. It comes in both brown and cream hues. The dark knots that often mark cypress give it a rustic look, ideal for traditional designs. Because it is slightly harder than oak and handles humidity well, it is fine to install in busy, humid areas. Because the knots weaken the wood, causing splitting during installation, order an extra ten percent. Like cherry, cypress can be difficult to stain.
Bamboo is technically a woody grass. The only pattern is the square burl pattern from the nodes along its shoots. The color is a yellowish blond. Because of its uniformity, it is best used in sleek, contemporary interiors. It is a perfect choice for the ecology minded customer because bamboo shoots grow very fast compared to trees. It is hardwearing and water resistant. Because sanding is difficult, it is nearly always factory finished.
Terry Gates
View all articles by Terry Gates
|
|
096 Framed real chinchilla blanket in blue throw rug bedspread $22,550.00 |
|
|
568 Framed Chinchilla fur blanket real fur rug throw $16,300.00 |
|
|
Waterway Green/Blue Cotton Chenille Braided Area Throw Rug 200 $7,879.50 |
|
|
Full Skin SILVER INDIGO FOX BEDSPREAD Rug Throw Beauty $6,800.00 |
|
|
FABULOUS Demi Buff LUNARAINE BROWN MINK BEDSPREAD THROW BLANKET RUG NEW!! $6,800.00 |
|
|
NEW CRYSTAL FOX BLANKET Rug Throw Comfortor 60″ x 80″ Beverly Hills QUality $4,850.00 |
|
|
Thorndike Mills Tan/Green/Mauve Wool Cloth Braided Area Throw Rug #35 $4,695.00 |
|
|
Thorndike Mills Brown Accent Wool Cloth Braided Area Throw Rug #32 $4,695.00 |
|
|
Thorndike Mills Minuteman Mauve/Sage Wool Cloth Braided Area Throw Rug #59 $4,695.00 |
|
|
Thorndike Mills Beacon Hill Wool Cloth Braided Area Accent Throw Rug Blue (#33) $4,695.00 |
|
|
Thorndike Mills Beacon Hill Wool Cloth Braided Area Accent Throw Rug Green (#34) $4,695.00 |
|
|
385 Australian possum real fur throw – brown 190 x 175 cm blanket rug bedspread $4,500.00 |
|
|
387 Possum Fur Blanket – fur rug – fur throw – real fur blanket $3,760.00 |
|
|
Thorndike Mills Tan/Green/Mauve Wool Cloth Braided Area Throw Rug #35 $3,600.00 |
|
|
Thorndike Mills Brown Accent Wool Cloth Braided Area Throw Rug #32 $3,600.00 |
|
|
Thorndike Mills Minuteman Mauve/Sage Wool Cloth Braided Area Throw Rug #59 $3,600.00 |
|
|
Thorndike Mills Beacon Hill Wool Cloth Braided Area Accent Throw Rug Blue (#33) $3,600.00 |
|
|
Thorndike Mills Beacon Hill Wool Cloth Braided Area Accent Throw Rug Green (#34) $3,600.00 |
|
|
Thorndike Mills Green Plaid Acrylic Cloth Braided Area Throw Rug #504 $3,501.00 |
|
|
Thorndike Mills Acrylic Cloth Braided Area Accent Throw Rug Gray/Black(#500) $3,501.00 |
|
|
Thorndike Mills Acrylic Cloth Braided Area Accent Throw Rug Red Multi (#501) $3,501.00 |
|
|
Thorndike Mills Acrylic Cloth Braided Area Accent Throw Rug Blue Multi (#502) $3,501.00 |
|
|
Thorndike Mills Acrylic Cloth Braided Area Accent Throw Rug Gray Plaid (#503) $3,501.00 |
|
|
Thorndike Mills Acrylic Cloth Braided Area Accent Throw Rug Brown Multi (#505) $3,501.00 |
|
|
788-Rex Rabbit Fur Blanket real fur throw fur rug $3,430.00 |
|
|
789 Real Rex Rabbit Fur Blanket fur throw fur rug $3,430.00 |
|
|
Thorndike Mills Tan/Green/Mauve Wool Cloth Braided Area Throw Rug #35 $3,400.00 |
|
|
Thorndike Mills Brown Accent Wool Cloth Braided Area Throw Rug #32 $3,400.00 |
|
|
Thorndike Mills Minuteman Mauve/Sage Wool Cloth Braided Area Throw Rug #59 $3,400.00 |
|
|
Thorndike Mills Beacon Hill Wool Cloth Braided Area Accent Throw Rug Blue (#33) $3,400.00 |
|
|
Thorndike Mills Beacon Hill Wool Cloth Braided Area Accent Throw Rug Green (#34) $3,400.00 |
|
|
920 Rex rabbit patch blanket throw rug bedspread real fur $3,300.00 |
|
|
#10170 Authentic African Giraffe Throw Rug Taxidermy |Zebra|Safari| $2,995.00 |
|
|
511 Scandanavian silver fox sides fur blanket real fur throw genuine fur rug $2,630.00 |
|
|
512 SAGA Fox Sides Fur Blanket – real fur rug – genuine fox fur throw $2,590.00 |
|
|
792 Silver fox sides fur blanket in purple – real genuine fur rug fur throw fox $2,515.00 |
|
|
Thorndike Mills Tan/Green/Mauve Wool Cloth Braided Area Throw Rug #35 $2,600.00 |
|
|
Thorndike Mills Brown Accent Wool Cloth Braided Area Throw Rug #32 $2,600.00 |
|
|
Thorndike Mills Minuteman Mauve/Sage Wool Cloth Braided Area Throw Rug #59 $2,600.00 |
|
|
Thorndike Mills Beacon Hill Wool Cloth Braided Area Accent Throw Rug Blue (#33) $2,600.00 |
|
|
Thorndike Mills Beacon Hill Wool Cloth Braided Area Accent Throw Rug Green (#34) $2,600.00 |
|
|
619 Fur blanket shadow fox sides – real fur throw – genuine fur rug – fox rug $2,510.00 |
|
|
Thorndike Mills Green Plaid Acrylic Cloth Braided Area Throw Rug #504 $2,592.00 |
|
|
Thorndike Mills Acrylic Cloth Braided Area Accent Throw Rug Gray/Black(#500) $2,592.00 |
|
|
Thorndike Mills Acrylic Cloth Braided Area Accent Throw Rug Red Multi (#501) $2,592.00 |
|
|
Thorndike Mills Acrylic Cloth Braided Area Accent Throw Rug Blue Multi (#502) $2,592.00 |
|
|
Thorndike Mills Acrylic Cloth Braided Area Accent Throw Rug Gray Plaid (#503) $2,592.00 |
|
|
Thorndike Mills Acrylic Cloth Braided Area Accent Throw Rug Brown Multi (#505) $2,592.00 |
|
|
131 Black fox sides blanket fur rug fur throw – real geniune fur – fox blanket $2,500.00 |
|
|
609-SAGA Shadow Fox Sides Fur Blanket fur rug real throw $2,500.00 |
|
|
509 Blue frost fox sides fur blanket – real fur rug – genuine fox fur throw $2,450.00 |
|
|
Thorndike Mills Green Plaid Acrylic Cloth Braided Area Throw Rug #504 $2,374.00 |
|
|
Thorndike Mills Acrylic Cloth Braided Area Accent Throw Rug Gray/Black(#500) $2,374.00 |
|
|
Thorndike Mills Acrylic Cloth Braided Area Accent Throw Rug Red Multi (#501) $2,374.00 |
|
|
Thorndike Mills Acrylic Cloth Braided Area Accent Throw Rug Blue Multi (#502) $2,374.00 |
|
|
Thorndike Mills Acrylic Cloth Braided Area Accent Throw Rug Gray Plaid (#503) $2,374.00 |
|
|
Thorndike Mills Acrylic Cloth Braided Area Accent Throw Rug Brown Multi (#505) $2,374.00 |
|
|
Capel Manchester Braided Area Throw Rug/Brown Hues#700 $2,332.80 |
|
|
Capel Prairie Braided/Area Throw Rug Beige/Brown #600 $2,332.80 |
|
|
Red Persian Tribal design throw rug 77×129 $2,300.00 |
|
|
Autumn Wheat Braided Area Throw Rug #71 $2,268.00 |
|
|
Thorndike Mills Pioneer Valley ll Buckskin Braided Area Throw Rug #74 $2,268.00 |
|
|
Thorndike Mills Beantown Boston Garden Green Braided Area Throw Rug #20 $2,268.00 |
|
|
Thorndike Mills Tan/Green/Mauve Wool Cloth Braided Area Throw Rug #35 $2,250.00 |
|
|
Thorndike Mills Brown Accent Wool Cloth Braided Area Throw Rug #32 $2,250.00 |
|
|
Thorndike Mills Minuteman Mauve/Sage Wool Cloth Braided Area Throw Rug #59 $2,250.00 |
|
|
Thorndike Mills Beacon Hill Wool Cloth Braided Area Accent Throw Rug Blue (#33) $2,250.00 |
|
|
Thorndike Mills Beacon Hill Wool Cloth Braided Area Accent Throw Rug Green (#34) $2,250.00 |
|
|
New Coyote Fur Plate Throw Blanket Bedspread Rug $2,198.00 |
|
|
Capel Portland Wool Country Braided/Area Throw Rug/Coal #300 $2,227.50 |
|
|
Thorndike Mills Williamsburg Blue/Dark Blue Braided Area Throw Rug #83 $2,041.20 |
|
|
New Coyote Fur Blanket Throw Bedspread Rug Plate $1,950.00 |
|
|
New Coyote Fur Plate Throw Blanket Bedspread Rug $1,950.00 |
|
|
New Coyote Fur Plate Throw Blanket Bedspread Rug $1,950.00 |
|
|
New Coyote Fur Plate Throw Blanket Bedspread Rug $1,950.00 |
|
|
New Coyote Fur Plate Throw Blanket Bedspread Rug $1,950.00 |
|
|
New Coyote Fur Plate Throw Blanket Bedspread Rug $1,950.00 |
|
|
Capel Portland Wool Country Braided/Area Throw Rug/Brown #700 $1,974.60 |
|
|
Capel Portland Wool Country Braided/Area Throw Rug/Coal #300 $1,974.60 |
|
|
Large Angora Skin Rugs/Throw $1,800.00 |
|
|
Beaver Fur Rug Throw Blanket $1,899.00 |
|
|
Capel Manchester Braided Area Throw Rug/Brown Hues#700 $1,913.40 |
|
|
Capel Prairie Braided/Area Throw Rug Blue/Yellow #400 $1,913.40 |
|
|
Capel Prairie Wool Braided Area Throw Rug Red/Green/Tan #500 $1,913.40 |
|
|
Thorndike Mills Tan/Green/Mauve Wool Cloth Braided Area Throw Rug #35 $1,895.00 |
|
|
Thorndike Mills Brown Accent Wool Cloth Braided Area Throw Rug #32 $1,895.00 |
|
|
Thorndike Mills Minuteman Mauve/Sage Wool Cloth Braided Area Throw Rug #59 $1,895.00 |
|
|
Thorndike Mills Beacon Hill Wool Cloth Braided Area Accent Throw Rug Blue (#33) $1,895.00 |
|
|
Thorndike Mills Beacon Hill Wool Cloth Braided Area Accent Throw Rug Green (#34) $1,895.00 |
|
|
Thorndike Mills Fudge Brown Earthtone Braided Area Throw Rug #10 $1,890.00 |
|
|
Thorndike Mills Tan/Green/Mauve Wool Cloth Braided Area Throw Rug #35 $1,850.00 |
|
|
Thorndike Mills Brown Accent Wool Cloth Braided Area Throw Rug #32 $1,850.00 |
|
|
Thorndike Mills Minuteman Mauve/Sage Wool Cloth Braided Area Throw Rug #59 $1,850.00 |
|
|
Thorndike Mills Beacon Hill Wool Cloth Braided Area Accent Throw Rug Blue (#33) $1,850.00 |
|
|
Thorndike Mills Beacon Hill Wool Cloth Braided Area Accent Throw Rug Green (#34) $1,850.00 |
|
|
Brand New Coyote Fur Blanket Rug Throw Plate Bedspread $1,798.00 |
|
|
Thorndike Mills Green Plaid Acrylic Cloth Braided Area Throw Rug #504 $1,818.00 |
|
|
Thorndike Mills Acrylic Cloth Braided Area Accent Throw Rug Gray/Black(#500) $1,818.00 |
|
|
Thorndike Mills Acrylic Cloth Braided Area Accent Throw Rug Red Multi (#501) $1,818.00 |
|
|
Thorndike Mills Acrylic Cloth Braided Area Accent Throw Rug Blue Multi (#502) $1,818.00 |
