Hardwood Floors - 7 Tips For
Selecting Perfect Flooring
Tips for Selecting hardwood flooring for
the home
By S.A. Smith
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DESIGN STYLES
With thousands of colors and styles to select from today it can seem like a
daunting task to make the right flooring choice. To narrow the field down it is
recommended that you select a flooring style that complements your overall
interior design style. Nothing will look worse that a glaring clash of styles,
so make sure your new flooring complements your existing (of planned) interior
design.
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SITUATIONAL FACTORS
Almost every install will have physical or functional requirements that will
further narrow down the scope and selection of an appropriate hardwood or
laminate flooring system. Here is a brief summary of factors to consider:
FLOOR TRAFFIC EXPECTATIONS
The quantity and type of traffic you expect on your floors will impact the
flooring material you can choose. Laminates offer high durability, as well as
wood species that have high "hardness rankings" on the Janka scale. Softer woods
are generally not a good selection for high traffic areas.
SUB FLOORING
The quality of any new hardwood flooring installation can only be as good as
the subfloor underneath. For the best outcomes, the subfloor should be dry,
stable, and level.
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Concrete subfloors generally are only acceptable for laminate installations,
but you should be mindful of installing a quality underlayment the provides an
appropriate moisture barrier as well as good sound installation. Poor laminate
installations will sound very hollow when walking on it.
HUMIDITY AND TEMPERATURE
To prevent warping and cupping of floors make sure there is adequate
ventilation and regulated temperatures thought the year. Laminates work best in
areas that experience higher humidity levels.
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INSTALLATION
The time and cost of installation is an often overlooked factor in floor
selection decisions. Glueless click-style floating laminate floor systems can be
a weekend project for experienced do-it-yourselfers, and can save a lot of
installation labor. Other flooring installation methods are generally more
complex and will require professional installation in most cases.
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WARRANTY
Making a successful claim under a flooring warranty often requires that you
can demonstrate the product was installed exactly as per the manufactures
recommendations and that the damage is not a product of wear and tear or poor
workmanship. Hiring a professional installer and dealing with a large brand name
product that has an established track record is your best protection.
If you need more help you can read our full article series on selecting
hardwood floors to create the perfect
hardwood flooring solution to match your interior space.
About the Author - S.A. Smith is a freelance writer, contributor, and editor of the
Laminate Flooring Zone resource site which
offers helpful article, tips, and resources on wood flooring solutions.
For more help on new home construction, see
HomeAdditionPlus.com’s
Home Construction Contractor Bid Sheets.
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Construction Contractor Bid Sheets
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