Hardwood flooring is a classic and beautiful addition to your home. Its distinctive grains and swirling burnished figures add a rich character never goes out of style.
If you’re thinking about installing this lovely upgrade to your home or business, here is a guide to the different styles as well as a few things to keep in mind:
Strip Flooring
Probably the most traditional choice for wood flooring, it comes in strips with widths that range from 1 1/2″ through 2 1/2″ and thicknesses of 5/16″ through 3/4″. One of the benefits of this style is that it came made a room look larger than it really is.
Plank Flooring
Plank flooring also comes in strips, but because they are wider, usually from 3″ through 8″, it usually creates a more rustic or earthy look. This is a great choice for antique applications because the wider plank often lends a more historical appearance.
Monument Hickory Scraped Floor by Shaw
Handscraped Flooring
With the farmhouse style of reclaimed wood becoming more and more popular, hand-scraped hardwood floors have quickly become one of the most sought-after looks in flooring today. They simply beam with character and charm while boasting today’s most enduring urethane finishes.
Shaw Estate Hickory Floor in Alspice
Wire Brushed Floors
Wire brushed floors are a more subtle version of hand-scraped flooring. They provide a lived-on charm with a less obvious level of distress. These floors, too, offer the enduring beauty of today’s innovations in urethane finishes.
Explore a Wide Array of Looks with Hardwood
Hardwood flooring comes in a variety of species that each has its own unique look and texture. With choices including beech, cherry, hickory, maple, oak, pecan, walnut or exotic imports, you’ll probably want to decide on the species of wood you prefer early on in your home design process.
Some of these species may be more suited to your project than others, so be sure to talk through your needs and desire when you come in for your free consultation! Our educated staff will be able to help you find the perfect match for your situation.
Understand Product Variations
Because wood is a natural material, it is inevitable that there will be some variation in the grain and coloring of the wood, contributing to wood’s endless appeal.
The finish you choose will also affect the variation and appearance of your hardwood floor. How shiny the wood appears varies according to a gloss level: matte (low), satin (medium) or gloss (high). Generally speaking, a matte finish helps to maintain your floor’s appearance in high traffic areas and deemphasizes the natural variation in the wood, while high gloss finishes will add elegance and grandeur to a formal space.
Choose Your Ending
Most hardwood flooring comes with a choice of edge that will affect the look of your floor. The strips (or planks) can have square or beveled edges. Squared edges are typically smooth and flat along the surface, visually connecting your floor into one piece. Beveled edges, ranging from micro to full, offer a groove that visually separates the strips and focuses your eyes along the grain.
What Next?
To hear more what options are available and to see samples, come visit our showroom! At Unique Carpet and Floor, we are proud to offer free consultations where we can talk with you about the unique goals and desires for your project and help you find that product that best meets your specific needs.