The floor in your home takes up a huge chunk of the visible space and it’s wise to make it appealing. Here, you’ll get some tips for choosing wooden flooring.
Choosing the kind of floor to install in your home is an important step but it can be daunting since there are many options to choose from. Nevertheless, most people prefer using wooden flooring due to its elegance and durability. Considering the fact that there are different types of wood, it takes more than the color preference to make a good choice.
Choose between engineered and solid wooden flooring
Previously, wooden floors were made using solid timber but you can now get engineered flooring which is basically made from several layers of plywood and an outer layer of thin hardwood. This design ensures that the floor doesn’t shift when exposed to fluctuating temperatures. If your house has a subfloor made from concrete or when you want to rework the basement, engineered floors are better in terms of ease of installation. This is because unlike solid timber that must be fixed on several layers of plywood and pose the problem of interfering with doors, you can fix engineered flooring on the concrete. At the same time, it can be installed on soundproofing materials as well as rooms with radiant heat.
Nevertheless, you should take your time when choosing which engineered flooring to use since some options come with a thinner outer layer that can restrict sanding and refinishing options. But at the same time, some options can have a thick layer that can withstand several sanding if the need arises. Nevertheless, some people feel that solid wooden flooring is more quiet and natural.
Decide if you want prefinished or site-finish wood
You can buy the wood planks with a face that is still raw and have a professional apply the finishes after completing the installation. On the other hand, you can also purchase a prefinished product which means that both the stain and top coat is already done. When you choose the latter, you will clearly understand what you are purchasing because the sample you choose is an exact replica of the ultimate product. At the same time, it takes less time to install prefinished flooring since it is already a finished product.
When you settle for a site-finish, you are betting on your contractor to do an excellent job when applying the finishes. Nevertheless, you are getting a chance to customize your floor which is great for creative designers. Basically, you can determine the stains and sheen used. In addition, your floors will be smoother because sanding takes place after nailing and the finishing is uniform.
There are several finishing products you can choose from but they are either polyurethane or oil based. When the oil products are applied, it penetrates the wood making it appear and feel soft, natural and matte. Nevertheless, oil finishes make the wooden flooring more vulnerable to wear and tear. On the contrary, polyurethane finish makes the floor quite resistant to damage since it adds a hard top coat. If you have children in the house, this can be a good option for you.