Wood - The
Basics
Wood flooring is
available in a number of different species, such as,
maple, red oak, ash and others. Species are often
organized by the manufacturer into Product Lines, such
as; Lincoln Plank, Nantucket Strip, Maple Plank, etc.
These Product Lines are available in a variety of
colours, like natural, gunstock, spice etc. There
are also many profiles, such as; beveled edge or square
edge, many thicknesses like 1/2" or 3/4", many widths,
and many lengths.
- natural,
warm, authentic
colour
- simple, yet
decorative for any room in your
home
- rugged,
yet charming
- durable,
yet easy to care
for
- beauty
you never tire of
- adds
real value to your
home
- go
green!
Real wood
floor with a polyurethane finish wearlayer are hard and
non-porous, so dirt and dust have a hard time sticking to
them. When vacuuming a wood floor, always use the
attachment for hard floors, not the beater bar. An
occasional wipe with a factory-recommended wood cleaner
is recommended. Because of their durable finish,
you do not need to wax or polish polyurethane-finished
floors. this applies to both factory-finished and
job-site finished polyurethane protected
floors.
Hardness +
Quality +
Wear Resistance + Stain Resistance
= Durability
In answer
to the question " Which are the most durable woods?", the
most important strength or rating a floor can exhibit is
hardness. Without a hard surface the floor will
dent, gouge, and scratch even with the best finish.
Hardwood floor urethane finishes can always be recoated
at any time to add improved wear resistance. As a
general rule, it's always best to invest in quality
products.
How Long Will A Wood Floor
Last?
Some floors
still in use today date back to Renaissance Europe.
For instance, the wood floors at the Palace of Versailles
are exceptionally well preserved. The stone
stairways leading into the Palace, however, have become
deeply worn over time. Proper installation and care
of a wood floor will return a lifetime of beauty that you
will never tire of. For maximum durability, you may
want to select a durable species of wood. Be sure
when comparison shopping your wood flooring selection
that you inspect the same grade. There can be
significant differences hidden to the eye between first
quality and second quality.
Are
factory urethane finishes best?
Wood floors
come unfinished or factory-finished. We recommend
factory-finished floors because they carry a wear
warranty and appear to be more resistant than job-site
finished floors.
Today's new
tough polyurethane finishes and engineered wood floors
can go anywhere in your home except a full bathroom (with
tub or shower).
Solid
Timber -- Approved for: on or
above ground level installations only
Engineered
Plank --
Approved for all grade levels and over radiant-heated concrete
slabs.
- select a
brand name you can
trust
- request
a copy of the manufacturer's
warranty
- ask
about the installation
warranty
- if you
choose to comparison shop, be sure to have the
manufacturer's Item Number for your floor so you can
compare apples to
apples
- makes
sure your installed prices includes molding, glue,
labour, and all flooring
materials
- always
check references
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