Expectations are extremely important with large purchase items
like flooring. This is especially true with hardwood floors. There is no
question that a new hardwood floor will add a dimension of beauty and
warmth to your home. Many consumers don't know that wood flooring has
some unique characteristics that make it not the perfect choice for
everyone. This article is by no means meant to discourage you from
buying a hardwood floor, but you do need to take into consideration
these four little known facts about hardwood floors before making a
purchase:
1)
Wood Floors are Guaranteed to Scratch
There are
various finishes that manufacturers put on wood flooring to make them
more scratch resistant. The most popular finish these days is Aluminum
Oxide. Wood flooring also typically comes with a wear warranty from 5 to
50 years in length. Wear warranties, however, usually only guarantee
that a wood's veneer won't wear completely through. There are no
anti-scratch warranties in the wood flooring business. All wood floors,
no matter the finish treatment or quality of the wood, will be
susceptible to surface scratching. With that being said, make sure you
prepare your home for a wood floor before the installation. It's a good
idea to use furniture protectors, floor mats, and area rugs to guard
your wood floors from scratches. Also, you might want to consider
installing tile in your entry ways, since it's the area where the
heaviest traffic usually occurs. If there are large pets or children in
the house, you may want to consider looking at a laminate floor, which
is much more resistant to scratches.
2)
Wood Floors are Guaranteed to Indent
Wood
floors are by no means a soft product, but they may be susceptible to
denting from heavy use or drops. No wood flooring is dent-proof, but
different species of wood do have different degrees of hardness. The
Janka Test is used to measure the hardness of a species of wood. Using
this test, wood species are given a score based upon the force required
to embed a steel ball into the wood. It is said that the higher the
score, the better the species of wood is at withstanding denting and
wear. Northern Red Oak, the most common species of wood used in
flooring, is the standard to which all other species are measured
against. It has a score of 1290. There are species of wood that score
over 3000 on this test, and while they may wear better with everyday
use, they still will probably dent if something heavy like a hammer or
can of food is dropped on the wood. If you are really concerned with
your floors ability to withstand indentations, you do have other
options. There are "wood-look" high-pressure laminate and porcelain
products that are much more resistant to pressure and wear. In addition,
a distressed or hand scraped wood floor will do a better job at hiding
dents and other wear on your floor.
3)
Wood Floors are Guaranteed to Age
Aging
with most floor coverings typically relates to how a floor loses its
luster over time due to wear and tear on the floor. If I were to say,
"Your carpet has aged", you would think it was time to get new carpet.
However, one of most unique attributes of wood flooring is its ability
to actually look better with age. Wood floors already come with a lot of
natural character and beauty. With proper maintenance, normal use and
traffic should just increase the beautiful character of your wood floor.
A real wood floor can also be refinished to restore its original luster
and shine. This is something that can't be done on wood-look products
like laminate, vinyl and porcelain.
These are all nice attributes,
but what I really want to touch on in this section is the
photo-sensitivity of wood flooring. Wood tends to change color over time
when exposed to sunlight. In fact, some wood floors can take up to a
year and a half to mature into full color. Other floor coverings, on the
other hand, might be vulnerable to fading or discoloring when exposed
to prolonged sunlight. So while sunlight makes other floor coverings
look older overtime, it beautifies wood floors, allowing them to reach
their true color. This is an important attribute for consumers to know,
because a freshly-laid wood floor might not always look like the sample
you saw in the showroom, which has been allowed to reach its full color.
Consumers
also must be conscientious about moving their area rugs and furniture
periodically to avoid discolorations. Exotic hardwoods and hardwoods
with a natural finish on them tend to be the most photosensitive. Most
hardwoods darken and become bolder over time, but some woods like Santos
Mahogany actually get lighter from sunlight. If you are really
concerned about sunlight's affect on your floor, purchase a hardwood
that has been colored with a darker stain or purchase a species like
Northern Red Oak which is a less photosensitive species.
4)
Wood Floors are Guaranteed to be Affected by Moisture
Wood
floors are extremely sensitive to moisture. That includes changes in
surface moisture, subfloor moisture, and humidity. Damages from moisture
related problems can result in wood planks cracking, cupping, or
buckling. It is important to hire an expert installation team that is
familiar with wood and its reaction to moisture. Proper maintenance by
the consumer is equally important. Standing water should be wiped up
immediately, and the wood floor should be kept in a climate-controlled
environment.
One way to combat the effects of moisture on your
floor is to choose an engineered wood floor. Engineered
wood flooring is
a much better choice over a solid, because its construction adds
dimensional stability to the planks. The layers of plywood under the
veneer are laid cross-ways, reducing the wood's ability to expand and
contract along the grains when there is a change in moisture levels.
