Solid Hardwood & Custom Hardwood Flooring
Quality hardwood floors are a great addition to any home. Solid hardwoods and custom hardwood flooring both provide numerous benefits. There are many options to choose from, as hardwood can be manufactured from trees such as Canadian Maple, Oak, Cherry, and many others. If you’re unsure what type of wood would be ideal for your floor and/or stairs, consult the experts at The Floor Shop.
Solid Hardwoods
It’s important to note that a solid hardwood can only be installed at or above ground level. It can be sanded and refinished if needed over time. This type of flooring can be manufactured in various widths and thickness. Typical industry widths include 2-¼-inch and 3 ¼-inch. For thickness, industry standard ¾”, but can include 9/16-inch and 5/16-inch.
Benefits
There are many benefits to solid hardwood
- It is resistant to scratching and highly durable.
- It’s easy to clean and maintain.
- Unlike carpet, you won’t have to worry about mildew, dust, odor, etc.
- It provides a lot of value to a home.
- There is a lot of versatility in the design, as there are many colours and types available.
- It’s a suitable form of flooring for individuals with allergies and respiratory problems.
The drawback of having this type of flooring installed is that it does not handle moisture well. This is why it shouldn’t be used in bathrooms or below ground level.
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Custom Hardwood Flooring
There are many ways in which hardwood flooring can be customized. Engineered wood flooring, for instance, consists of multiple layers that are glued together. Since only the top layer is visible, it is made of the highest quality wood. The other layers are made of less-costly wood, such as plywood. It’s a multi-ply structure that allows for greater stability, making it ideal for areas where solid hardwood can’t be installed.
Custom wood can be stained, recoated, re-sanded, and modified in various ways, depending on the species and manufacturer.
For commercial buildings, acrylics can be injected into wood flooring to make it very hard and durable. Although rare, this method can also be used in high traffic areas of residences.
Choosing the Right Hardwood Floor
No matter how large or small your requirements are, there is a solution. Consider using solid hardwood flooring in dry areas that aren’t exposed to any moisture. If you need a new floor installed over top of concrete, engineered flooring is ideal, as it ensures structural integrity.
As for the species, maple and ash are always popular choices for light wood flooring. For medium woods, you might want to consider hickory or oak. Walnut and mahogany are ideal dark woods that make a room appear stately.
There is also the finish to consider. Numerous finishes are available for both solid and engineered wood flooring, and can be applied either at the factory or on-site. If it’s unfinished, the installer will have to sand the wood and apply it right there in your home. While this may take longer than installing pre-finished flooring, it allows for more customization. This is the recommended option if you require a specific colour that matches the walls and furniture.
