TYPES OF HARDWOOD FLOOR

Advances in wood flooring mean that you can now have genuine wood flooring anywhere in your home or business. Where you want to put it, however, will determine the type of wood flooring you can use.

UNFINISHED & PREFINISHED

All wood flooring requires a finish. Raw wood with no finish will attract dirt and stains from spills and everyday living, eventually diminishing the appearance and value of your flooring. Finishes can change the color of raw wood and provide a seal that protects your investment for many years.

 

Unfinished Flooring


After installation of your unfinished flooring we will sand and finish the wood on the job site. Expert finishing is key to achieving the look you want and the protection you need. An outstanding finishing job makes the difference between a nice floor and a stunning floor.

Since unfinished flooring is sanded on site, it is more forgiving of slight irregularities in the sub-floor. A custom-sanded hardwood floor is perfectly flat looking, with a tabletop appearance. If you are looking for a specific color or if you need to match existing flooring, the unfinished option may suit your needs.

 

Prefinished Wood Flooring


Prefinished wood flooring comes with the finish already applied at the factory. This type of flooring has become as widely available as unfinished wood flooring. These floors require less time to complete because the sanding and finishing process has already happened. The floors are ready to walk on immediately following the installation.

 

 

Solid Wood Flooring

Solid wood flooring Is exactly what the name says: a solid piece of wood from top to bottom. The thickness of solid wood flooring can vary, but generally ranges from ¾” to 5/16”. One of the many benefits of solid wood flooring is that it can be sanded and refinished many times over many years. Solid wood flooring can be installed above or on grade.

 

Engineered Wood Floors

Engineered wood floors are real wood floors manufactured using multiple layers of different wood veneers. The sub layers can be of the same species, or of different species. The grain of each layer runs in different directions, making the wood very stable. This means that the wood will expand and contract less than solid wood flooring during fluctuations in humidity and temperature. The top layer of engineered wood flooring – the layer you can see -- consists of high-quality wood.

While this type of flooring can be sanded and finished, it cannot be refinished as many times as solid wood flooring. Engineered wood flooring can be installed above, on or below grade.

 

 

SOLID & ENGINEERED

WOOD SPECIES

There are many types of wood
that can be used for hardwood floors, they differ on
colors, grain and hardness.

Oak

White Oak is the state tree of Connecticut, Illinois, and Maryland. Connecticut’s state quarter was minted with a picture and inscription of a famous White Oak tree, The Charter Oak.

 

White Oak is strong, beautiful, rot-resistant, easy-to-work, and economical, representing an exceptional value to woodworkers. It’s no wonder that the wood is so widely used in wood floors.

Maple

In tree form, Hard Maple is usually referred to as Sugar Maple, and is the tree most often tapped for maple syrup.

 

Maple ought to be considered the king of the Acer genus. Its wood is stronger, stiffer, harder, and denser than all of the other species of Maple commercially available.

Walnut

Walnut is one of the medium hardness hardwoods grown in North America and it comes with a distinct color and unique admirable grain.

 

 With a Janka hardness rating of 1010 it is therefore slightly lighter than most of the popular hardwoods which cost you a fortune to own.

Hickory

Lovers of hickory hardwood floors need to remember that there are quite a number of hickories beginning from what may be called genuine hickory to pecan ones.

 

This is the reason why there is such a large variety of colors from the same hickory family. It should also be noted that within each kind of hickory there are different color shades.

Heart Pine

Historic wood from 19th century structures, not just a renewable resource, Antique Reclaimed Heart Pine is a renewed resource. Select grade is a mixture of plain and vertical grains, 90-100% heartwood, chosen for character and warmth.

 

Oil penetrating finish provides a durable and natural appearance that replicates classic, old matte finishes. Easy maintenance and renovation make this an excellent choice for both residential and public spaces.

Wenge

Wenge is an exotic hardwood that originates in Central Africa, primarily in the southern regions of Mozambique and Tanzania in the open forest areas. It can also be found in the swampy forest areas of the Congo. The trees can grow up to 90 feet in height and may have a diameter of up to four feet.

 

In addition to being a popular choice in the flooring industry, wenge wood is also used in the production of various musical instruments as well as some archery bows.

Mohogany

Mahogany flooring its very limited grain and color variation. The characteristic colors include a range that stretches from yellowish to some tinges of a rich orange brown tint and some also have a leaning towards a reddish purplish brown color.

 

There are popular variants of mahogany flooring materials which are equal in strength to other popular flooring materials such as the northern red oak which has a Janka hardness of 2200 when compared to the 1260 of red oak.

Ash

Ash, in its natural state, contains all the rustic features that are characteristic of this species. You can expect colors from bright tan to tannish brown with mineral, sound knots, and a full assortment of grain and texture that make this wood so beautiful. This wood offers great potential for creative design.

 

Hardwood floors and paneling are not only beautiful they are easy to care for. Ash has a very comfortable feel and blends well with most furnishings. Other features include increased stability, durability, and an assortment of sizes make the possibilities endless.

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West Coast Hardwood Floors LLC   Bothell, WA 98021  (425) 599-6781