Del Mar Engineered Flooring
The air has felt crisp these last few mornings in MN. A little indication that fall is right around the corner and the perfect time to start planning for fall projects. Flooring is one of the biggest interior fall projects we see. In fact, September, October and November are the busiest months for flooring sales across the board. Hardwood floors have long been popular with homeowners, they add value to the home, look beautiful and are generally easy to maintain. Thinking of putting down hardwood flooring? Here are some things to consider beforehand.
Solid or engineered?
Installing hardwood flooring on the upper level of your home is much different than installing in a basement. Solid flooring – full, thick solid wood planks can be used on grade or above grade (on the ground level or any level above) however, anything below that (below grade) requires engineered planks. Engineered flooring is a thin layer of real wood that is applied to a plywood core. This adds stability to the plank. Moisture coming up through the ground on the basement level is not likely to affect engineered flooring but may cause problems in a solid plank. If you enjoy an extra wide plank, say anything over 5″, engineered flooring is the way to go. The stability of the engineered design will reduce the amount of expansion and contraction (i.e. gapping) on the floor.
You’ll also want to consider what type of subfloor you have. The most common type of subfloors are: concrete, particle board and plywood. If you have a concrete subfloor, engineered flooring is going to be your best bet. While it is possible to still install a solid wood floor over concrete, it is a bit more involved. You can either add a layer of plywood on top of the concrete, which will add expense or you can glue the planks to the concrete. A glue application can be undesirable because there is some permanency to it, making it difficult to remove in the future. Plywood is the most common type of subfloor and is easy to work with. You can install either engineered or solid hardwood over plywood. If your subfloor is particleboard, essentially a cheaper version of plywood, you’ll want to replace it with new plywood, at which point you can either install solid or engineered flooring.
What are your living habits?
Do you have kids, or a dog or both? Do you entertain often? Are you an empty nester who travels frequently? The level of traffic your hardwood floor will endure will help you determine what type of wood and texture best suites your lifestyle. Harder woods such as oak, maple and hickory are best for high traffic areas. Adding a texture such as wire brushing or a rough sawn face also work well in high traffic areas and are less likely to show wear.
What’s your home’s style?
You may love the look of a rough-sawn barnwood floor but it may not mesh well with your contemporary style. You’ll want to consider your furnishings, cabinetry, lighting and trim when selecting your hardwood flooring. The key is to make sure nothing clashes.
Antique Oak rough sawn, solid wood flooring, lends a rustic touch to this otherwise modern kitchen.