You may have a couple of woodworking projects in mind, such a building a hutch, perhaps laying flooring in your home. The first question that comes to mind is what is the right kind of wood for the particular job? This question becomes easier to answer once you understand a bit about the unique characteristics and qualities of each hardwood.
Hardwood is lumber that comes from hardwood trees, which are those that have a broad leaf, or produce nuts. In North American, the most popular hardwoods are cherry, maple, walnut, oak and hickory. The climate in North America is conducive for the production of these strong wood trees. The entire group of these trees, taken as a whole, are called "hardwood" trees.
Even though all hardwood is not the same, the lumber industry has taken steps to standardize wood by designating different strengths and grades so that the consumer can know which is the best hardwood for the woodworking project he is contemplating.
The hardest of all hardwoods are pecan and hickory. The strength of hardwood is determined by PSI, which is how much pressure it takes to dent the wood, measured in pounds. For hickory and pecan, it takes 1,820 pounds. The "softest" of the hardwoods is aspen, which takes as little as 350 pounds to mar the wood. The commonly used woods are in the middle, in terms of pounds of pressure, such as maple (1,450), white oak (1,360) and cherry (950 pounds). These measurements are important since they will indicate which hardwoods are best for which project. For flooring, you would want a harder wood than you would need for furniture.
Depending upon the temperature and moisture content of its surroundings, hardwood expands and contracts as an adaptation to its environment. To keep this change in texture to a minimum, hardwoods are dried in a kiln oven to remove a great deal of its moisture content. This will stabilize the amount of expansion and contraction so that it retains its original shape as closely as possible.
The manufacturers of good hardwood take the character of the wood into account when they specify what the wood should be used for. An example of this concept is that Windsor-brand plywood is used as an under flooring and for outside wall bases. Siegal, Lowes, Carter and Dunn, Carter, Lowes and Siegel lumber all carry lumber suited for whatever job you want to do. If you shop on line, you will see that seller such as Lumber Liquidators carry a large stock of hardwood lumber to be used primarily for flooring applications.
You have to decide carefully about the kind of lumber you are going to use for each project, and especially about how you want the finished product to look. Even though the variation in how strong or durable different hardwoods are, the finished appearance can differ greatly and so you have to decide whether you prefer the rough look of white oak or the softer finish of maple. Since hardwoods are usually stained to any color you may like, it is the grain that will decide what the end product will look like.
Hard wood has been the flooring choice for a long time and for good reason. It's not only aesthetically beautiful but it's also durable and matches a wide range of decors. Because of this, installing a wood floor will increase the value of your home. Here is an overview on the types of wood flooring and their installation.
Wood flooring comes in a variety of types from a fine grain bamboo to rich mahogany. They also come in a variety of finishes and stains or they can be purchased unfinished so you can choose the stain and amount of luster. Pre-finished floors are more popular since they are easier to install but they are more expensive.
There are also a variety of styles which will not only determine the appearance of your flooring but also the ease of installation. Plank style flooring is faster to install than most other styles. The pieces are wide and resemble strips of wood laid side-by-side. There is also a strip style of wooden flooring which is smaller than plank and therefore helps the room look larger. Parquet flooring is the most decorative but requires the most work. The pieces are either nailed or glued to the subfloor in a geometric pattern to resemble a tile floor. Solid flooring is a custom made floor and is not usually for the do-it-yourself handyman.
Instructions for installing a wood floor can be found for free on the internet or for sale at most home improvement stores. Here is a basic overview of wood floor installation.
Properly measure out the room you will be installing the flooring. Give yourself an additional 5 to 10 percent for waste. Remove the baseboards and any trim from the and set them aside so you can reinstall them after the floor is in place. Make sure the subfloor is level; use asphalt tiles to level out any uneven areas. Lay special subfloor paper before installing the wood flooring to prevent squeaking.
Layout your wood flooring pieces starting in the center and working out. You will need a power saw to shape corners and edges. Make sure your seams are staggered. If you're nailing, make sure the nails go through the subfloor and into the joists.
Once you're done installing the floor you'll need to sand and finish the floor. Make sure you sand it evenly so don't sand too long in one place. Sanders can be rented from a home improvement store. Finish the floor with a varnish, wax or polyurethane. Ensure the finish is completely dry before walking on it or placing furniture on it.
Maintenance of your floor depends on the finish so follow the manufactures recommendation. Don't allow water to pool as this can seep in and damage the wood.
Both Vince J. Paxton & Peter Mason 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.
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