Important Questions to Ask When Buying Hardwood Flooring

Important Questions to Ask When Buying Hardwood Flooring

Today, there are many hardwood flooring options to choose from, right from species to durability to cost. To make the process of buying hardwood flooring a little easier, here are the top questions you should ask yourself.

1. Which Wood Species Should I Buy? Different types of wood give different looks to a room. Depending on what look you want, you should consider the following:  Lighter woods like maple and ash make a room appear more open and airy.  Medium woods like oak and hickory make a room appear warm and cozy.  Dark woods like mahogany and walnut make a room look more stately and refined.

The Janka scale is an indicator of how hard and durable different hardwood varieties are, so you can get a good estimate for how likely the hardwood is to sustain damages and wear.

2. Should A Person Invest In A Solid Or Engineered Floor?

Solid hardwood floors are essentially a solid piece of wood from top to bottom, as opposed to engineered hardwood floors that are manufactured with different layers of wood veneer. Solid hardwood floors allow for multiple sanding and refinishing, while engineered floors can’t do it that many times.

Solid hardwood floors expand and contract more than engineered ones do in fluctuating humidity and temperature. Engineered floors can be used more ubiquitously, while solid ones are more limited in their range of use.

3. Should One Get A Factory Finished One Or A Site Finished One? Each type has its own benefits, depending on the kind of personal preference and customization you want to achieve.

With job site finished hardwood floors, you can choose your finish, and be in direct control of factors like maintenance and sheen. You are free to customize with this finish, at the cost of dust and noise from the sanding, and waiting for the finish to dry.

In factory finished hardwood floors, the freedom of customization is lost, but it has the advantage of not filling your house with dust and noise.

4. Is It Worth It To Pay For Professional Installation?

Unlike some other flooring, hardwood floor installation requires years of experience, especially for working with the materials used in attaching them. It is best to leave it to a professional. Without their help, there might be issues in measurement, attachment, and evenness.

5. Should The Cost Affect My Decision?

On a low budget, you may not have a choice but to choose affordable hardwood floors in Orange County. However, it is an investment for a very important part of your home, so the cost should not affect your decision more than it if it completely beyond your wallet.

Go to the nearest leading flooring store like Flooring Discount Center for Flooring in Orange County area to talk to experts about other aspects of hardwood flooring, so that you make an informed and satisfactory decision.

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