When you shopping for hardwood flooring, there are variety of features, benefits, and styles that make a difference in choosing the “right” wood flooring. Let’s review them one by one:
1: What is the lifestyle?
Wood flooring can fit most lifestyles; however, there are some species that might not be the ideal option for certain lifestyles. Each wood species is rated for its hardness in a hardness chart called Janka, stablished by Austrian wood researcher, Gabriel Janka, in 1906. The Janka chart offers a good indication of the performance of certain woods in terms of indentation. For example, if you have a busy family or perhaps large pets, American Walnut might not be the ideal flooring.
2: Can you maintain wood flooring?
Wood flooring will perform well if the relative humidity and temperature are kept within a narrow range. As a hygroscopic material, wood will gain or lose moisture according to its environment. Most wood flooring (especially the solid wood flooring), will shrink during a period of low humidity, causing gaps between the boards which is also known as seasonal gapping. These gaps will disappear once humidity returns. In order to avoid issues like this, maintain a temperature of 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit and a relative humidity of 30 to 50 percent.
Wood flooring also must be kept away from being exposed to a direct sunlight. Direct sunlight might increase the surface temperature of the wood flooring, causing the finish to become irreversibly damaged. So, remember, window covering is needed if you have wood flooring.
3: What is your home décor?
Home décor could offer a significant help when selection wood flooring and species type, as the wood flooring can bring everything together. Typically, a traditional home will likely look best with wood flooring with a smooth surface. A home with a modern design would complement a clear-grade wood flooring, and a casual home with rustic design will match flooring with heavy texture and character grade.
4: Can you handle the installation process?
Wood flooring could be installed in different methods, but you will most likely to be unable to access the room where the flooring is being installed for days per perhaps weeks until the installation process is completed. If the flooring is being installed by the full spread installation method, you might want to make sure that you and your family are not bothered by the adhesive odor. Although most adhesives products are highly regulated, they may have an odor that might bother some members of the household.
