Timber flooring is a very good choice for any home, as it's durable and works well with any type of décor. You can also paint or stain a timber floor, so if you change that décor, you can change the flooring with it. Note a few questions you might have about timber flooring so you can decide if it's the right choice for your home and discuss your options with a contractor if needed.
1. What's the difference between an engineered hardwood and solid wood?
A solid wood floorboard is made from a piece of lumber that is milled to the right shape and then painted, stained, sealed, or otherwise treated. This type of flooring is usually the most expensive, and it may also expand and contract the most as it absorbs humidity and then dries out. Engineered hardwood means a layer of this real wood that is then applied over other layers of plywood or another type of wood and glue mixture. This gives your home the appearance of solid wood but for much less money, since the lower layers are made of less expensive wood.
2. Why opt for prefinished hardwood floors?
Your contractor may have recommended prefinished hardwood floors versus jobsite finished. The difference is that prefinished hardwood is painted, stained, and sealed before it's installed, whereas jobsite hardwood is sanded and then finished after installation. The prefinished hardwood may be more expensive in some cases, but it means a faster installation and not having to deal with dust and mess from sanding, painting, and sealing the floorboards. Choosing prefinished timber floors can also make it easier to install the floors yourself, if this is your choice.
3. Do wood floors show scratches very easily?
All flooring will show some wear and tear over time, and it's true that you might notice some scratches to your timber floors after some use. However, note that very often the scratches you see are to the finish and not the timber itself. You can often lightly sand down that scratched area and then repaint or stain over it so that the scratch is gone. If the timber itself does get scratched or damaged, you can also sand down the top layer of the timber and then add new sealant along with paint or stain. If the timber flooring is scratched, chipped, cracked, or otherwise damaged too much to be re-sanded, you may also be able to simply replace a few timber boards rather than the entire floor.
If you still have questions about timber flooring for your home, contact a local supplier like Parquetry Flooring Co Pty Ltd.
Share19 May 2016
Welcome to my blog, my name is Kate. My parents lived in a very old home which still had its original flooring. I loved the pattern of the Victorian bathroom floor tiles, the glow of the timber wood, and the smooth ceramic kitchen floor. I would spend many hours sitting on the floors, feeling the surface as I played with my toys. When I bought my own home, the first thing I installed was new flooring to re-create the wonder of my childhood. I have decided to start this blog to pass on my passion for flooring with the rest of the world.
