Quality hardwood flooring Charlotte NC

Location isn’t as much a consideration in choosing flooring now as it was years ago because of the new and improved wood coatings now being used. Your hardwood flooring Charlotte NC will perform well anywhere in your home or other space, whether heavily traveled or not.

Less expensive types of hardwood flooring are layered, the top layer being finished wood and the sub layers, composites. This factory-produced wood is generally not as thick and solid as plank wood and can show wear over time.

Solid, wide plank flooring is solid wood throughout, with no composites. This type of flooring will last a lifetime, but costs considerably more than layered woods.

When choosing a wood color, you’ll find that there is an amazing array from which to make your selection. Light or natural woods look great when surrounded by an environment such as beaches or forests. Darker woods such as mahogany are well suited for more formal areas.

Installing a Hardwood Floor – It’s An Essential Pre-Purchase Consideration

After choosing the type and color of flooring, you’ll need to consider the method by which it will be installed, wood finishes used, and what will go under the wood. Here are several types of hardwood floor installations to reflect on:

• Floated – This method requires layers of wood to be laid beneath the main wood strips. This type of hardwood installation can be installed over most flat surfaces and is resistant to moisture. Typically a floating floor will incorporate snap-lock tongue and groove joints that simply click into place and vastly speed up the installation process and is the type most often favored by Do-It-Yourselfers.
• Glued – Adhesives are used to secure the wood to a concrete base. If you choose this method, be sure and contract with a reputable installer who uses non-toxic adhesives.
• Nailed or stapled – Wood flooring can be nailed or stapled over a sub-flooring strip. This method has the added advantage of not requiring extra cure time for the chosen finish.

Your new hardwood flooring will be coated with one of two types of finishes to protect its color and durability. One is a surface finish such as oil-based urethane (the most popular) and the other is penetrating sealant.

Surface finishes are tough, resist moisture and are easy to maintain. Penetrating sealers and finishes actually penetrate the wood to form a protective shield. They require special care such as using cleaning products made especially for wax-finished wood floors.

We strongly recommend that you use a certified wood flooring contractor to install your wood floors. Hardwood flooring is a sizable investment and trusting it only to a professional will ensure that the proper tools and correct installation methods have been used.