Carlisle Wide Plank Floors All About Wood: White Oak
Introduction to Wide Plank White Oak Hardwood Floors with Chris Sy
Neal’s Wood Flooring
Flooring adds the finishing touch to your home.
Wood Floors Add A Touch Of Class
When you determine the style and material for your flooring, it is important to consider the areas to be floored, type of subfloor, your preference for pre-finished or unfinished flooring and stain color. The state-of-the-art technology coupled with an almost limitless choice of stains, finishes, styles and designs makes hardwood flooring one of the most practical and versatile floor coverings available. So if you want a home that is beautiful, if you want a home that stops people in their tracks when they walk in, then you need to put down exotic hardwood flooring.
The exotic hardwood flooring will give you that stopping power that you desire and crave. Hardwood flooring has an inverse relation with the moisture inherent in the wood and is independent of the engineering. Low hardness is chestnut, douglas fir, and north american cherry while hardwood from brazilian walnut, caribbean cherry and bloodwood is extremely hard.
Hopefully you can buy one of the popular types of flooring. As the cost of vinyl flooring and carpeting become lower the wooden floors were reserved for high-end applications. The ratio has changed slightly and now with a good quality engineered flooring it can be refinished two or three times depending on the subfloor’s smoothness and the experience of refinisher.
Laminate floors are ideal for those who want the style and look of hard wood floors but cannot afford the price. These floors are built with a core, sandwiched between a hardwood finish layer on the top and soft wood ply below.
Wood floors on the other hand is not so much more expensive but need to be installed in the rooms. Actually the entire house can now have wood floors but it is always a good idea to leave the bathroom aside. Except for the cost, another drawback of wood floors is that they can be easily gouged and scratched. But, there are century old homes that still have the original wood floors.
Wood floors have great value in several ways as they need no replacement over even a long time and their installment in a house can bring about an enhancement in the value of the house. This in turn will seriously affect the resell value of your home and make your home a health hazard to its occupants. Of course the appeal lies not only in its aesthetic value of its representation of real hardwood, but also due to its incredible durability and ease of maintenance. A good looking floor will add a lot of value to a home.
If you are interested in design a personally customized floor is easy to create by combining a choice of colors, colored chips, and even glitter options. You have dozens of colors to choose from. The darker colors are often found in formal or traditional interiors while lighter shades go well with a casual and contemporary set-up. Draw attention to your floors with dramatic coverings or soften the feel of the room with soft colors on the floor.
Before Learning How To Install Wood Flooring
Installing wood flooring not only increases the value of your home, but it also adds to the beauty and warmth of any home. Contrary to a slate or stone flooring, wood flooring creates a warm and inviting feeling to your home. There are a variety of choices available in hard woods and other types. The wood you choose should depend on your décor and personal preference. Wood flooring is appropriate for almost every room, excluding the kitchen and bathroom due to the moisture in these rooms. Learn how to install wood flooring from a professional if you prefer to install it yourself. It is important to install it correctly to ensure it is long lasting. Otherwise, it would be best to hire a professional skilled in flooring.
Hardwood is one of the most popular choices in wood flooring and there are several types of hardwoods from which to choose. Oak, cherry, hickory, maple and walnut are some of the more common hardwoods installed, and are all able to be stained to a variety of different shades and tones. However, some hardwoods such as walnut and cherry have such a beautiful, rich tone in their natural state that you might consider leaving them in their natural color rather than staining the wood.
Once you have chosen the type of wood to install, you must consider your finishing options. Pre-finished wood is already stained and protected with a clear coating and is a good option when time is limited. It is generally more expensive, but as mentioned, it can save a significant amount of time. Another option is to finish the wood after the floor is installed. You must sand, stain and urethane the floor and the floor must be sanded after each coat. The more coats of urethane applied, the better protected the surface will be. This finishing method takes several days to complete, as suspected since the floors must dry between coats. You can also choose a distressed or reclaimed flooring finish. The floors do not have a smooth texture, but they are beautiful and have a unique finish. A benefit is that this flooring will hide scratches much better than urethane floors.
Besides hardwood flooring, you can also choose laminate flooring which resemble hardwood but are less expensive. A good quality laminate often resembles hardwood so closely that it is difficult to tell that it is not real hardwood. Armstrong flooring, for example, make quality laminates.
Regardless of the type of wood flooring you install, the care is the same. Proper care will ensure your flooring lasts. Be sure to sweep or vacuum the floor regularly. Dirt will wear away the surface and leave scratches on the floor, which are easily noticeable on the urethane floors. It is a good idea to use mats at the door entrances. Also, use a dry mop when mopping is needed. Too much water can damage the floor, such as warping to the surface, molding or damage to the backing due to water trapped under the floor.
CWF Hardwood Floor Project Carolina Wood Floors
600 sf transformation from carpet & vinyl to oak hardwood flooring, finished on-site, natural color, moisture cure urethane. Mullican 2 1/4″ select grade white oak, Lenmar ambering MCU used for continuity with existing 15yr old same style adjoining still in A-1 shape. Bona Dust containment system worked well to keep dust down to minimum. After several failed attempts to export video I was able to convert VideoSpin format & upload to YouTube. Mucho thanks to the 3 seasoned installation crews at Carolina Wood Floors, Winston-Salem NC. A 3rd urethane coat was applied after shooting video. Results look great with super-hard gloss finish.
Learn How To Install Wood Flooring
If you want to increase the value of your house then try installing wood flooring. Wood floor is a more popular option than stone floors or slate floors. Wood has a depth and a warm feeling that will make your house feel cozy all year long.
You can find a large range of flooring in a variety of woods. You can choose the kind of wood you want to install in your home based on your taste and the look and feel of your home. Installing wood flooring can be a great asset to your home. Learning how to install wood flooring or hiring someone to do it for you is an investment you won’t regret. Wood flooring may not be right for a bathroom or kitchen because of the moisture levels.
Hardwood floors are a very classic choice in flooring. You can choose from wide selection of hardwoods. Try oak, cherry, hickory, maple, walnut or bellawood. You can find these in a natural color or in a stained look. You should think about leaving the wood its own color because some woods have a lovely finish that does not need to be stained. Cherry and walnut are two such examples.
Looking into the options you have for a finish when you have finished choosing the material. You can also buy wood that has been finished already which will make your job a whole lot easier. Usually it is stained and comes with a clear coating on it. This can be more pricey, but often it is worth it for the time it will save you.
You can also put the flooring down and then finish it afterwards. You will have to do the sanding, staining, and put urethane on the floor. After each coat you will have to sand it. This can take a few days to complete this whole process. You more separate coats of urethane you use the better off your surface will be.
You might also want to try reclaimed flooring. This means that it does not have a smooth texture, but they are still very attractive and don’t look like any other finish. You will also not have to see scratches on them like you will in urethane flooring.
You can also choose other things besides hardwood floors. Laminate flooring is also a good option for you. You can get these to look like real hardwood floors, but they are generally cheaper. You can hardly tell the difference between hard wood floors and laminate flooring. You can also look into a wide selection of bamboo or cork flooring that can give your home a great look.
Caring for your wood floors will ensure that they last longer and you can practice different things to protect your flooring no matter what kind you are using. Whether it is hardwood, laminate, or any other type of flooring then you’ll use most of the same kind of techniques.
You’ll want to sweep and vacuum your floor on a regular basis to keep the dirty and dust down. You’ll also want to wipe off the floor too to get rid of marks.
NOFMA The Wood Flooring Manufacturers Association
NOFMA representative Timm Locke helps Weekend Makeover viewers understand wood floors and how their organization helps standardize the industry.
Do you Want Pergo Wood Flooring?
Many people love the look of hardwood flooring, but cringe at the expense and maintenance they require. One of the great alternative products on the market is Pergo wood flooring. Pergo has made their wood flooring products reasonable priced and easy to maintain. Another advantage to using Pergo wood flooring is that you can, quite easily install it yourself.
What is Pergo Wood Flooring Actually Made of?
Pergo has a unique way of making their flooring. It is actually a three piece flooring. The top layer is made from a melamine laminate that is very durable because it is considered high pressured. This gives you the nice decorative look of wood flooring. That is then bonded to a wood core. The wood core is uniquely made so that it does not contract and expand too much and it is very highly moisture resistant. Then they add a backing to it for extra stability.
Preparation is Key to Installing Your Pergo Wood Floors
When you are getting ready to begin it is important to have everything you will need on hand. You will of course need the flooring, and the underlay. The underlay will help with moisture control and also gives you a barrier between the new floor and the old floor. This is very helpful in eliminating that echo sound you sometimes get from wood flooring. The tools you will need are a chop saw, a pull bar, measuring tape, and a mallet. One note, Pergo wood flooring is very hard so make sure that you have a good carbide blade in your chop saw, and the higher the tooth count on the blade, the smoother the cut.
Plan and Begin laying Your Flooring
Now that you have everything you need, you are ready to begin. The first thing you need to do is remove everything from the room. If you are going over vinyl or linoleum you do not need to remove it, Pergo is only 9mm thick so you can easily go right over it. If you had carpet you will need to remove it and all the carpet tacks. Then sweep the floor and make sure all debris is removed. Make sure that you remove all base boards and door casing, this will allow you to make less cuts.
Then determine which way you want to run the floor. That means when you are looking at the room do you want the flooring to run horizontal or vertical? Trying to run the flooring diagonally is a great look but you should only try it if you pretty handy and have a lot of patience because it will require a lot of miter cuts.
Now you are ready to lay the underlay. This should lie side by side, do not overlap it. Start in the center of the room. Pergo has made their wood flooring easy to use, it has a pre-glued tongue and groove system and it literally just snaps together, you can use a mallet just to tap the ends to make sure that the seam is tight. From the center of the room snap together your next piece on the short sides and continue all the way across the floor. For your next row do not line it up with the first piece perfectly, offset it. Otherwise, you will get a seam line and a noticeable repeated pattern. When you get to the edges and they are up against an object, a pull bar comes in handy so that you can still keep the seams tight.
Pergo Wood Flooring is Easy to Select
Along with the fact that the average home owner can install the Pergo wood flooring, they offer a wide variety of looks to choose from. In fact, on their web site you can actually see how your flooring will look in your room. They give you a place to create a virtual room. You can add the type and color of the cabinetry in the room and the wall color. Once you have those in place you can choose any of their floor styles and you can see exactly what your room will look like. This is a great way to get an actual picture in your mind of what the room will look like when it is completed.
Remember when you begin your installation to get everything together first. This will make the entire job go much smoother. If you happen to run into trouble during your installation go back to the home improvement store where you purchased it, they will have professionals on hand that can give you the advice you need to finish your project.
Wood Floor Maintenance & Cleaning Tips
The elegance, versatility and natural beauty of wood flooring has made it one of the most popular choices for todayâs home owners and with good reason! In addition to the aesthetic trends, wood flooring reduces allergens, dust and other debris associated with carpets without the âcoldâ feel of tile. An added benefit is that wood flooring fits with any décor both today and tomorrow!
It should come as no surprise that wood is one of the most popular trends among homeowners but despite the popularity, few people know how to properly clean and maintain wood floors. Itâs easy once you know how. Keep reading to learn how to clean and maintain your wood floors with these simple tips.
Daily Maintenance
The ease of day-to -day cleaning and maintenance is one of the reasons behind the popularity of wood flooring; a quick sweep with a soft broom or vacuuming with protective bristle attachment takes only minutes to keep your floors looking great.
Avoid using wet mops or over-waxing; not only is it messy but both can dull the shine of your floors or even cause discoloration.
Never use vinyl or tile floor care products on wood flooring. It can damage the finish of many wood floors.
Preventative Maintenance
To keep your wood floors looking their best what you donât do is often as important as what you do! Especially if you live in areas prone to sand or dust like Austin, take time to purchase a few door mats or small area rugs to reduce grit and dirt from being tracked into the home. Not only will it keep your home cleaner but it will help avoid scratching wood floors.
Other preventative measures that are easy to implement include wiping up spills before they stain; using a humidifier during those dry spells , lifting – rather than dragging – heavy furniture, and not allowing cleats or other impact prone shoes into the house.
Professional Cleaning & Maintenance
From time to time it is natural for wood floors to become a bit dull, scratched or just in need of a quick refresh to leave them looking new again. Once upon the time it was a major ordeal to have wood floors refinished but fortunately, those days are gone! Today, wood floor cleaning is as simple as having your carpets cleaned â in fact, one of the nationâs fastest growing chains, Kiwi Services, can handle Austin carpets and Austin wood floor cleaning needs with just one call.
Professional wood floor cleaning is advised for any of the following conditions or situations:
⢠Dull finish
⢠Cloudy due to built-up wax
⢠Cuts, holes or stains
⢠Scratches or heel marks
⢠Noise when walking
⢠Other problems
The wood floor care specialist will evaluate your floors to determine exactly what is needed then clean and wax the floors restoring them back to the beauty, shine and natural warmth associated with wood floors. Avoid the hassle, mess and costly mistakes by having your Austin wood floors professionally serviced by a reputable nationwide company like Kiwi Services at the same time that you have the carpets cleaned. Thereâs no need to schedule separate visits or risk trying to do it yourself and ruin a major investment like the look of your home when the alternatives is so easy and cost effective.
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