This is a very popular type of wood for hardwood flooring but it should be chosen with care. The reason is that not all oak hardwood flooring is created alike. You need to make sure that the oak wood will be appropriate for the room you are putting it in and that it will meet your aesthetic taste. When they are properly cared for and of high quality, they will last a long time. There are a number of types of oak that can be used in hardwood flooring. The two most popular oak woods are white oak and red oak. Oak can vary from a deep brown to an almost white color so you need to consider the shade of flooring that you want. Finishes are another thing to consider. The finishes can include a distracted finish to give the floor an antique look or it can be glossy to matte. When you visit a flooring store there will be samples of all types and finishes to help you make your decision as to which flooring you like.

Before making the final decision you need to decide if you want engineered or solid oak hardwood flooring. The difference between the two is that engineered oak flooring is made with veneer. It is then layered onto a base. Engineered flooring does not wear as well as the solid floor plus engineered floors contract and expand less. With solid oak flooring, it is made from plank or solid strips of wood. There is also a variety of floor widths to look at and consider including narrow strips to planks. You can also get it in parquet, which is flooring that made of several pieces of wood that fit together like a puzzle.

Check to see if the hardwood flooring has a warranty, what it covers, and how long it lasts. The longer warranties are often found with floors that are prefinished and the unfinished ones have a shorter warranty. Most homeowners will hire a company to put down their hardwood flooring so be sure to hire a reputable company. You should check to see if they offer any warranties or guarantees if something goes wrong on the job, which if it is their fault they will be responsible for taking care of the problem.

A very important issue with oak hardwood flooring is the installation method. If the homeowner decides to install the flooring themselves may find that they prefer a floating floor, which is a floor that will not have to be glued or failed to the subfloor of the room. Many professional installers may decide to nail, staple, or glue the oak hardwood flooring to the subfloor, which can be hard to do.

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HOME IMPROVEMENT CONTRACTOR: Hardwood Flooring Installation

Hardwood flooring, sure many home renovations include new flooring. Are you interested in having hardwood installed in your raised level, addition or complete home renovation? Let's talk

New Construction & Your Hardwood Installation

Many home improvement contractor's are now installing hardwood flooring on their jobs. This is certainly true when it comes to building your new raised level on your home. In almost all of new raised level packages, hardwood flooring installations seems to be almost mandatory with the homeowners. A common wood of choice homeowners choose is usually a new # 1 red oak or select grade on the entire upstairs less the bathrooms and laundry areas. Your contractor will then treat the flooring with polyurethane and a final buff coat and within 3 days the flooring is ready to walk on. Remember, that was the new top floor or even a new addition area. Everything is new so it a simple procedure for the install. Let's go to the first floor and talk about your hardwood flooring installation in the existing renovated area.

Home Improvement Contractor: Hardwood & Your Home Renovation

Many complete home renovations include both a new raised level in addition to a completely revised first floor plan with a first floor extension. The existing first floor usually always has the original hardwood flooring. Your home improvement contractor will remove several walls during the home renovation. Your Home Improvement Contractor will then be left with a decision. How will he be able to repair and install hardwood on the first floor. Remember, the original walls were removed. On the floor will be 4 1/2 "wide gaps from where the walls used to lie. If a twenty foot wall was removed then there would be a 20 'x 4 1/2" gap in the floor. There are 2 choices. The first is to remove ALL the hardwood flooring through the first floor. Then reinstall the new. If you are not worried about the budget and or the numbers work out, then this option is fine. The second choice is to feather the old hardwood in with the new hardwood flooring. Your Home Improvement Contractor will use a staggering or weaving process. He will remove the nearest pieces and fill with new hardwood accordingly. When ready, he will sand the entire floor as well as the weaved areas all together. When completed, your first floor will look absolutely brand new. The positive here is that you were able to salvage the existing hardwood so saving you a good deal of money.

If you are interested in installing hardwood flooring in your renovation project, ask your Home Improvement Contractor for his opinions.

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With the myriad of flooring types available, shoppers tend to lean toward those that are most popular at the time. Unfortunately, this practice can cause a consumer to miss out on some great flooring options.

One of these hidden gems is cork flooring. Imagine a floor covering that is attractive, comfortable, environmentally friendly, durable and affordable. When most people think of cork, they think of a wine bottle or a cork board, and due to this lack of consumer awareness, this product is commonly overlooked. In order to appreciate this material, you really need to understand its unique characteristics.

Origin

Cork is actually the bark of the cork oak tree found in the Mediterranean. Portugal is the largest supplier with over 30% of the world's cork trees and 70% of the world's cork production. Every nine years the bark is harvested by hand with the average tree yielding about 4,000 corks.

The bark is honeycomb in nature, containing 90% air that can be compressed to 40% and then quickly returning to its original shape. This feature creates a natural shock absorber.

Benefits

Due to its air like composition, walking on cork is like walking on air. Its comfortable walking surface is perfect for kitchens where you are standing for lengthy periods of time.

Cork has a natural beauty with a rich, varying grain, similar to wood. It also comes in many different patterns and tile sizes from various manufacturers.

The same feature that makes the floor comfortable creates a natural noise reducer. It's extremely quiet to walk on and reduces the impact if an object is dropped on its surface. It's insulating effect make cork a great choice in a bathroom over radiant floor heating or even installed over cold concrete floors.

Cork is an environmentally friendly product in many ways. Since the bark from the tree grows back nine years after harvest, it's a reusable and sustainable product. It also contains suberin, a substance that is resistant to insects, mold and protects cork from rotting when exposed to moisture. Suberin is naturally fire resistant and cork does not release any toxic gases when it burns.

The durability of cork makes it a perfect choice for virtually any room in the house, including those high traffic areas. It has been successfully used in churches and other public buildings since 1898.

Disadvantages

Due to its resilience, heavy furniture can dent the flooring, so it's important to use castors or furniture pads under table legs. Just as with wood, an excess of water can damage the finish. It should not be used where you have problems with moisture or flooding.

Costs

The cost of cork flooring compares to high-end laminate or hardwood and runs approximately $ 4 to 6 $ per square foot.

Maintenance

Cork floors are extremely easy to maintain with regular sweeping or vacuuming. Damp mop the floor monthly with a mild detergent and very little water and avoid using abrasive or ammonia-based cleaning products.

The flooring requires up to five coats of urethane sealer, which will last several years. A dulling floor can be refreshed with another coat.

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