Learning about hard wood lumber can help you know which is the best selection of hard wood when you want to put down a new floor anywhere in your home. Hard wood is a beautiful addition to your home and it will add value and elegance, no matter what your individual style. Different hardwood lumber has different unique properties. Learn about them to make your home more beautiful.
Hardwood comes from trees that grow nuts. These trees have broad leaves and commonly hickory, walnut, maple, cherry, or oak is used in the US and Canada. This is because the weather is perfect for growing this selection of trees. Since the wood that is made from these trees is very durable, they get the nick name "hard wood."
Some hard wood is different from others. The industry is working on making classifications for quality and consistency so you know which is stronger and of higher quality. This can help you to know which type of wood is right for the job you have at hand.
Hard wood is classified by how many pounds of pressure it would take to damage the floor. So the lightest weight of the hard wood, Aspen, takes about 350 pounds of weight on the surface to cause damages. On the other end of the spectrum there is pecan and hickory which takes about 1,800 pounds of pressure before damage is caused. Maple and oak are mid-range in strength, cherry is mid-range, but slightly less than these other two. The harder woods are great for , while something lighter weight might be perfect for creating furniture.
Hard wood will react to the environment depending on the humidity in the air and the relative temperature. It can expand or contract and this can change the floor. If the wood goes into a kiln to be dried this can minimize the process and help keep the wood closer to its original form.
Many companies will note how the wood may change and adapt this to what it will be used for and how the design will unfold. Some wood is used as sub-flooring and others are used as wall paneling. Different brands do different things with their wood. If you look online you can get an idea of what sort of hard wood floor selection you can find.
Make sure you take into account many different things when you are purchasing your wood. You will want choose based on strength, price, and type of wood. You can choose also based on the style that you want and the color as well. You should pick what suits your home and your personal style. If you go with hardwood flooring, you will not be disappointed.
Cost Of Hard Wood
Here are just a few of the many types of hardwood flooring that are available today:
- Plank. This is a wide strip of wood, between 3 to 6 inches wide. It easier and faster to install than other types, and suits a certain look like colonial.
- Strips. Smaller strips of wood (about 3 inches wide) serve to make a room appear larger.
- Solid. This is one large piece of wood to cover the entire floor. Usually custom made and very durable.
- Parquet. These are squares of wood about the size of tiles. They can be either glued down or nailed down and are laid in different patterns to create interesting designs.
Hardwood floors are available finished or unfinished. Finished floors have the finish put on at the factory. This makes them easier to install, but it also makes them more expensive. Many people, however, feel the time saved on staining and sanding may be well worth the extra cost.
An unfinished floor is laid down and then the wood is stained, sanded and varnished. Since a number of coatings are required, and each coating must be dried and sanded by floor sander, this takes at least a few days.
IF you are ordering wood flooring for your home, one of the most critical steps is to measure properly. You must make sure the sub floor is perfectly level, or you must place asphalt tiles to level it sufficiently. For a finished, professional look, remove the moldings and baseboards before installation. The boards should be installed starting from the center and working your way out. Using a saw, cut the planks or strips to fit corners. Seams should be staggered as each piece is laid. Whether you are laying hardwood, bamboo, cork or pergo flooring, these steps should be taken.
Hardwood floors should be nailed to the dub floor and into the joists so prevent he floor from moving. This will prevent the floor from squeaking.
The floor has to be sanded after it has been laid. You can rent a floor sander at a rental center or a home improvement store. Be careful to sand evenly by keeping the sander moving; otherwise you may have unevenness.
Take proper care of you hardwood floors by following the manufacturer's directions. If the floor has a urethane finish, sweep it frequently to remove dust and debris that can cause scratches. Spills should be wiped with a damp towel, not soaked with a mop since excess water can damage the floor.
If your floors are waxed, you will have to wax and buff the floor periodically to maintain the shine. Use area rugs and mats to protect your floors. Also consider putting pads on the feet of your furniture to prevent scratches to the wood.
Both Leroy Calstard & Leroy K. Calstard are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Leroy Calstard has sinced written about articles on various topics from Camping, Gardening and Home Renovation Ideas. Leroy Calstard pens almost entirely for , an online site about lumber types and lumber prices. His. Leroy Calstard's top article generates over 135000 views. to your Favourites.
Leroy K. Calstard has sinced written about articles on various topics from Home Management, Travel and Leisure and Home Management. Leroy Calstard is writing especially for http://www.insidewoodworking.com , a web page about parquet flooring . His writings on hard wood flooring are found on
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