Benefits of Wood Floors

Ease of Maintenance

Maintenance of today’s wood floors is easy! New technology in stains and finishes call for regular cleaning that takes little more than sweeping and/or vacuuming, with occasional use of a wood floor cleaning product.

Compare this to carpeting, which requires professional cleaning several times a year. Over the life of your hardwood floor, the difference in maintenance costs could save you thousands of dollars.

Ecology and Health

Wood floors are ecologically friendly. Since it is a natural resource, wood is both renewable and recyclable. Many of yesteryear’s old wood ships , warehouses, barns, and other structures often find a second life in wood flooring. And, because wood does not collect dust and other allergens, many leading health associations agree that wood floors are the perfect choice for a healthy home.

Affordable

Today’s wood floors are affordable. Over time, wood floors maintain their value. When other flooring options are looking tired and worn out, wood floors will still look beautiful and timeless. Hardwood Floors have significantly lower maintenance costs than carpeting, which requires expensive professional cleaning several times a year. When you consider your total cost over the life of your floor, wood flooring can be your most economical option. The increase in your home's resale value is a bonus.

Variety

Wood floors have come a long way in the past few years. Today, there are more styles, colors and species of wood flooring available than ever before. Whether you’re looking for traditional Oak, rustic Pine, exotic Wenge or trendy Bamboo, you’re sure to find a color and style to fit your décor.

Flooring Guide

Grades

The appearance of the wood determines its "grade." All grades are equally strong and serviceable, but each affords you a different look.

• Clear
  Clear wood is free of defects, though it may have minor imperfections.
  
  
• Select
  Select wood is almost clear, but contains some natural characteristics such as knots and color variations.
  
  
• Common
  Common wood (No. 1 and No. 2) has more natural characteristics such as knots and color variations than either clear or select grades, and often is chosen because of these natural features and the character they bring to a room. No. 1 Common has a variegated appearance, light and dark colors, knots, flags and wormholes. No 2 Common is rustic in appearance and emphasizes all wood characteristics of the species.
  
  
• First
  First grade wood has the best appearance, natural color variations and limited character marks.
  
  
• Second
  Second grade wood is variegated in appearance with varying sound wood characteristics of species.
  
  
• Third
  Third grade wood is rustic in appearance allowing all wood characteristics of the species.
  

Cuts

The angle at which a board is cut determines how the finished product looks. Wood flooring is either plainsawn, quartersawn or riftsawn.

• Plainsawn
  Plainsawn (also called flat sawn) is the most common cut. It produces the maximum yield and therefore costs less. Plain-sawn lumber has varying grain orientations. The grain can run parallel, diagonal or perpendicular to the face of the board. This variation can cause un-even drying which makes the board more likely to warp (cup, twist, and bow). The board will also shrink somewhat in thickness as well as width. A plainsawn floorboard contains more variation than the other two cuts because grain patterns resulting from the growth rings are more obvious.
  
  
• Quartersawn
  Quarter sawing produces flooring with annual growth rings running almost straight along the face of the board. Quartersawn flooring materials tend to remain flat despite changes in moisture content and are less likely to shrink. Quarter-sawn flooring also has superior ability to hold paints and stains. This process costs more because quarter sawing requires more time and skill to cut and it yields less board footage from each log.
  
  
• Riftsawn
  Riftsawn is similar to quartersawing, but the cut is made at a slightly different angle.