Hardwood…
What to do? Open a box and look for lots of short pieces, inconsistent board widths, loose knots, warping, checked (cracked) finish, splotchy staining, poor tongue & grove fit, inconsistent color between boxes? Be sure you’re truly getting what you’re paying for.
Want to stay out of jail? Exotic and all other wood floors must now comply with the Lacey Act. Everyone who possesses both exotic hardwood or domestic must have documentation showing its chain of custody back to “seedling” status. (i.e., track where every stick comes from and documenting it.)
Micro-beveled edge, kissed edge, eased edge… feel like you need a straight edge? They’re all styles of the edge of the board. Where they meet one another. You’d be surprised how minor changes here impact the look of your floor once installed.
Rotary peel, quarter sawn and sliced = the 3 ways to cut a log for flooring. Cheapest to best. How long it was dried in the kiln, where was the wood grown, how many layers of finish (is there an aluminum oxide layer for tough wear?) impact price and durability. Pre-finished means you stay in your home while it’s installed!
Handscraped, stained, and antique are beautiful finishes. Wide planks are "in" but increase your risk of cupping/splitting. Want some more things to think about when you’re buying your wood flooring? Try these: Who will you talk to about warranty claims? If installed and you have an issue, who will come look at your floor? Do you have a manufacturer's warranty? An installation warranty? There are warranties for finishes, but not for dents. The Janka scale will tell you which is hardest. Ask to see it.
At Floor Covering Brokers, we'll do a FREE site measure plus you receive our Lifetime Installation Warranty if we do your installation. To learn more about choosing us to be your impishly classical flooring guide, click on About Us.
