Hardwood floors suit both casual and formal settings; they feel at home with modern or traditional and will complement the decor of both minimalist and eclectic designs. Hardwood can be classical, rock, jazz, country, or hip hop. Today’s cutting-edge technology, coupled with an almost limitless variety of stains, finishes, styles and designs, makes hardwood flooring one of the most practical and versatile floor coverings available. Their beauty is enduring and like a fine wine, they mature with age.
Nature provides the inspiration when designing with hardwood floors. The abundance of natural hardwood species provides a plethora of wood grain structures, each unique and each matching a particular décor. Oak woods contain many knots and growth ring patterns, and are best suited for traditional and rustic décor. However, adding a high-gloss finish can make them elegant enough for any formal dining room. Woods such as maple, walnut and birch contain very few grains and lend themselves well to contemporary and modern designs.
The aesthetic appeal of hardwood is also greatly influenced by mineral streaks, the presence of knots, and the variation in shades and colors. These characteristics are also used in the classification of hardwoods.
Clear – This grade of hardwood is flawless, although it may have minor blemishes. Floors in this category tend to be very consistent with few mineral streaks and knots, which also makes them the most expensive grade.
Select – This grade is almost transparent, but contains more natural characteristics, such as knots and color variations.
The common grades (No. 1 and No. 2) have more markings than Clear or Select and are often chosen because of these natural characteristics and the character they bring to a room.
No.1 Common has a variegated appearance, light and dark colors, knots, flags, and wormholes. No.2 Common has a tough appearance and will display all the wood characteristics of the species. These grades have always been the least expensive, but the recent revival of the old rustic look has caused prices to skyrocket.
Performance is a very important aspect when selecting a hardwood floor. Some hardwood species are less porous than others, making them harder and less susceptible to staining. The Janka hardness test provides the relative hardness of numerous species of wood used in flooring. This rating should only be used as a general guide, as hardness is also affected by growth region.
Plank construction and finish are also important factors in determining the durability of any hardwood floor. Plank construction comes in two forms, solid and engineered. Factors such as the type of existing subfloor and the relative humidity of the air will determine which floor is best suited for your needs.
Great advances in finishing technology have resulted in floors that are less susceptible to scratching, denting, fading, and are easier to maintain. The addition of aluminum oxide to the surface finish has added a measure of performance resulting in a hardwood floor that, properly maintained, should never need to be replaced.