By Sirena Van Schaik

It always seems like every day we are being bombarded with more facts.  We learn about what we are eating, what is happening in the world and what is good for us.  We digest facts about the cars we drive, the coffee we drink and the homes that we live in and sometimes those facts can become a little overwhelming.

But when it comes to choosing the flooring for your home, it is important to know the facts about your choices.  Your floors, after all, are something that you will be living with for the next 20 or 30 years so it makes sense to understand everything you can about them.

When it comes to hardwood flooring, there are a few facts about them that you should take into consideration before purchasing.

Cost:

Looking at the cost of some hardwood can be pretty overwhelming, especially if you are comparing those prices with laminate.  Hardwood is the more expensive option but it is well worth spending the few extra dollars for.

Life span:

This is the main reason why hardwood is the better choice when it comes to cost.  Hardwood should last a lifetime if it is properly cared for and installed.  Most laminates and other floors have a life span of about 20 years, which can be very impressive but the manufacturers of hardwood often guarantee that their floors will last for the life of the house, if not longer.

Versatility:

This may seem like a strange word to apply to hardwood but it is a fitting one indeed.  Hardwood is a very versatile flooring that can go anywhere.  It comes in a variety of shades, patterns and grains please see our list at the end of this article. 

Not only is hardwood multi-functional, it can be installed in a variety of ways such as glued, floating, nailed and you can also produce a parquet floor with it.

Durable:

While hardwood may not be as durable as some types of flooring, it has gone a long way from the scratch weary floors of yesteryears.  Now a days, hardwood can stand a lot of abuse and ill treatment.  Sure you can’t run across them in stilettos, but they can handle being in high traffic areas such as front hallways, kitchens and family rooms.

Air Quality:

Maybe your hardwood floor isn’t going to help your total air quality but they are much better for keeping down allergens that are normally trapped in carpet.  For this reason, many manufactures claim that hardwood is the hypo-allergenic choice that makes sense. 

Regardless, hardwood floors are easier to keep clean and you will never have to worry about allergens in your carpets again.

The Different Types of Hardwood Flooring:

No matter what you are looking for in your flooring, hardwood can probably accommodate it.  It can be found in almost every color, pattern and style.  It will fit any space and it will provide home owners with a stylish floor. 

Before you purchase your hardwood, it is important to look into the different kinds of hardwood flooring.  Ask your dealer about the qualities of each hardwood and discuss what will work best in your home.  For your convenience we have listed the hardwoods that are available.

·         Teak

·         Lacewood

·         Morado

·         Red Oak

·         White Oak

·         Bamboo

·         Yellow Poplar

·         Aromatic Red Cedar

·         Purpleheart

·         Butternut

·         White Ash

·         Australian Cypress

·         Beech

·         Walnut

·         Fir/Larch

·         Cherry

·         Zebrawood

·         Padauk

·         Hickory

·         Bubinga

·         Yellow Birch

·         Mesquite

·         Black Walnut

·         Southern Yellow Pine

·         Hard Maple

·         Merbau

·         Basswood

·         Jatoba

·         Mahogany

·         Spanish Cedar

·         Soft Maple

·         Alder

·         Antique Heart Pine

By Sirena Van Schaik

So, you have decided that you want to go with hardwood flooring. Sure there are other less expensive options out there but those options just don’t have the same type of effect that the hardwood does.  I completely understand and I am with you on this.  Hardwood flooring is amazing and there are so many varieties to choose from, anyone can find exactly what they are looking for.

But what exactly are you looking for?  That answer really depends on where the flooring is going and what your design expectations are.  Before you choose flooring, think about your needs, the colors that you are working with and the space that you are using. 

What effect are you trying for?  Are you looking for a light and airy feel or are you looking for something traditional?  Believe it or not, the end result you want to create will greatly affect the type of hardwood that you choice. 

Below, I have outlined some of the many different types of hardwood that is available and hopefully, by the end of this article, you will have some idea as to what you are looking for.

Reclaimed Wood:

 Let’s start with reclaimed wood.  If you aren’t sure what exactly this is, just think about all those old buildings that are being torn down.  There are tons of old wood in barns, old homes, and even equipment from old farms. Things like old wagons, and wooden barrels.  There are literally a hundred different places where companies can salvage the lumber and they are now offering it to homeowners for hardwood flooring. 

 The main benefit of using reclaimed wood is the fact that the floor will be completely unique, since the wood is coming from multiple buildings and equipment, the end result is something completely different from anything else.  Even two reclaimed wood floors will be different than each other.  

 Despite that benefit, there is less of a chance of a uniformed color coming through but each piece of wood will have its own markings, very distinctive when added to a floor.  Another detractor for the reclaimed wood is the fact that it can be very expensive and it is often challenging to use. 

 Still, that hasn’t stopped many home owners from going a little green and reusing some wonderful old and reclaimed lumber.

American Walnut:

 Also known as Black Walnut, this is a fairly common hardwood that has been used for centuries in homes.  It has a wonderful color that is a deep purple and it has a very even grain. 

 The main benefit of American Walnut, besides its beauty, is the fact that it holds stains very well.  This provides home owners with more options.  The detractor of this hardwood is the fact that it is not the best for high traffic areas since it is typically softer than other hardwoods available.

Oak:

 If you want to go with flooring that is tried and true, then oak is the way to go.  It is one of the most popular flooring around and it can be found in many different finishes.  There are two main types of oak flooring; the white oak flooring has a lighter color, while the red oak has a pink tone. 

 The benefits of oak flooring reside in two major facts.  One, it is ideal for heavy traffic areas in a home, that means the family room will do fine with an oak flooring or the hallway to the door.  Two, it is one of the easiest hardwood flooring when it comes to instillation.

 On the opposite side, oak is not the best flooring for any room that has a lot of moisture, such as a bathroom or even the kitchen, since it will blacken when exposed to a lot of moisture.

Mahogany:

 When it comes to hardwood flooring, I am a big fan of Mahogany.  The red and gold flecks in the wood and the beautiful finishes make it an excellent choice for any homeowner that is looking for something that is aesthetically pleasing while still being very functional.

 It does well in almost any space, including high traffic areas, and can be used in rooms that have a lot of moisture, like the bathroom.  The only problem with Mahogany is the expense.  It is one of the more expensive hardwoods available.

Cherry:

 Cherry is another favorite of mine and it is a floor that seems to have its own personality. The reddish tone found in Cherry flooring deepens as the floor ages, making it more beautiful with age.  It is very durable and can be used in any area regardless of traffic level or moisture. 

 The major problem with cherry flooring is the splitting that can be common in other hardwood flooring.  It can also be one of the more difficult floors to install.

 And there are still some types of hardwood, although there are still many others types of hardwood and flooring that you can add to your home.  The best advice is to really look at the different flooring offered and really weigh the pros and cons of each one.

By Sirena Van Schaik

When you finally put in a hardwood floor, you can finally sit back and enjoy the warm beauty that glows from underfoot.  There is something almost breathtaking about a finished hardwood floor but it can be completely overwhelming when you stop and think about how you should care for your new home investment.

Let’s face it, you can’t ask people to not walk on your floor and you definitely can’t leave all the furniture out of the room, although that would probably seem like the best solution to the scuff problem.  Instead, you should get ready to care for your floors right from the start. 

Surprisingly, hardwood floors really don’t need too much extra care and most of the overall care comes in with the set up of your furniture instead of on a regular basis.

The Do’s of Hardwood Flooring:

There are several do’s when it comes to caring for your hardwood flooring and I have outlined them below.

• Do use felt contacts and floor pads for your furniture to ensure that it won’t scratch the hardwood.

• Do sweep your floor regularly with brooms that have soft, fine bristles.  Hard bristles may gouge your floors.

• Do dust mop your floors on a regular basis.  You can do this by having a soft head mop, about 12 to 18 inches in width, and a special dust mop cleaner.  Simply spray the mop head and dust the hardwood.  No water is necessary.

• Do mop with a solution of a neutral pH cleaner and water whenever your floor needs it.  Only wash with a damp mop, never swamp a hardwood floor. 

• Do choose cleaners that are designed for hardwood floors.

• Do use floor mats at any entrance to keep dirt from being tracked across your hardwood floors.

• Do wipe up any water or liquid that has spilled on your floor as soon as you see it.  Moisture can damage your hardwood flooring very quickly.

The Don’ts of Hardwood Flooring:

With every do, there is a don’t and obviously some of them have been identified in the do’s section of this article but it is still important to look at a few don’ts that we haven’t gone over yet.

• Don’t drag furniture when you move it.  This will cause serious damage to your hardwood floors.

• Don’t use hard and abrasive cleaners on your hardwood floors.  Also avoid using any high oil soaps and cleaners.

• Don’t use a vacuum with a rotating brush.  The best type of vacuum to use to remove debris is a canister vacuum with floor attachments.

• Don’t let dirt and grime build up on your hardwood floors.  Dirt works as an abrasive and will begin to cut, dent, scratch and dull your hardwood.

• Don’t let water collect on your hardwood flooring.  Make sure you clean it up immediately.  Also, keep dog dishes on a mat, and make sure you dry their paws off when they come inside during the winter or on a rainy day.

• Don’t expose your hardwood to long periods of direct sunlight.  Sunshine will cause fading and discolouring to occur in your hardwood flooring.

If you are aware of all the do’s and don’ts of caring for your hardwood floors, you should have beautiful floors for the life of your home.  You shouldn’t have to refinish your flooring or repair any significant problems with your flooring. 

Following a regular cleaning regime with your hardwood is very simple and you will find that you spend only half the time caring for your hardwood that you would caring for a carpet.