If you’re looking for a beautiful way to update your floors, exotic hardwood flooring is a perfect fit. This durable, beautiful material adds a sophisticated component to your home. With the right products and the right design, you can literally transform any room of your home and make it uniquely stunning. Read on for some exotic hardwood flooring design ideas and inspiration that will encourage you to try this flooring in your own home.

Elevate Your Outdoor Space

You might think exotic wood flooring is just for the indoors, but there are outdoor options, too. Ipe Tropical Hardwood Deck Tiles can be installed anywhere, even over rooftop terraces, concrete, and directly onto the ground. The gorgeous ipe wood is extremely dense, so it’s tough enough to handle everything from inclement weather to lots of foot traffic. Each tile features slats for drainage, and they’re gorgeous when installed in an outdoor spa area. With this unique form of tropical wood flooring, you’ll instantly add beauty to your deck, update an old patio, or create a stunning walkway. Each tile slat may vary since this wood species naturally varies in color, which makes it an even better choice if you’re looking for a more organic look outdoors.

Get creative with these wood tiles and lay them in different patterns. You can place them in one uniform direction or try them in varying directions to create a parquet-style floor. If you’re looking for something to add style to your deck but you’re not ready for a brand-new addition, these hardwood deck tiles are an excellent alternative. No glue or screws are needed, and the smooth surface feels wonderful under bare feet.

Warm-up a Cold Home Office

If you work from home, make your space more inviting with some tropical hardwood flooring. The Vanier Brazilian Exotic Collection blends engineered hardwood flooring with the beauty and warmth of exotic South American wood. From Brazilian cherry to oak, walnut, and pecan, you’ll find this flooring in a wide range of inviting finishes. The natural grain and smooth finish give any office space an air of sophistication. The understated semi-gloss acrylic finish is UV-cured to prevent fading so you can enjoy working in an office with plenty of natural light.

This exotic hardwood flooring comes in light, medium, and warm brown tones that work in any style of home. The subtle sheen is beautiful yet strong enough to stand up to foot traffic and the scooting of office chairs. Micro-beveled edges give this flooring a nice clean look that keeps the eyes focused on the beauty of the wood. It can be nailed, glued, stapled, or floated for easy installation and enjoyment indoors in your office, living room, and beyond.

Create a Hygge-Inspired Living Space

While tropical wood flooring is often known for its depth of color, you’ll also find it in lighter tones, too. For example, Jasper Engineered Hardwood Exotic Collection features this beautiful flooring in a clean shade titled “Cathedral White” that makes it easy to create a calming, Hygge-like atmosphere. This creamy white color works wonderfully in any environment, and it makes every room feel crisp and modern. This flooring features a unique vertical pattern that adds instant modernity and uniqueness to the home. The flooring is built with a sturdy plywood core and is twice as dent resistant as conventional wood floors.

Jasper’s line of exotic flooring comes in other finishes, too, and it features eight coats of ceramic-based aluminum oxide finish to provide exceptional scratch and wear-resistance. The textured surface makes each plank of this durable flooring look and feel unique and natural. Installation is easy thanks to the tongue and groove edges. Simply nail, glue, or float them and enjoy these long-lasting floors for years to come. The Cathedral White color gives your space a clean and crisp aesthetic that perfectly sums up the Hygge design style.

Design an Exotic Abode

If you want to recreate the look of a tropical island, be sure to try Vanier Hardwood Brazilian Exotic Collection in the finish Tigerwood Natural. This gorgeous flooring features natural color variations and grains that will give any part of your home a luscious, jungle vibe. With its earthy warmth and bold, vivid colors, you can transform a sunny living space into an island-inspired getaway. Thanks to the smooth surface of this flooring, it’s also stunning in a bedroom, too.

Add some velvet furniture and fun décor to your living room to make this stunning exotic wood flooring stand out. A large potted tropical plant in a corner and a fun, colorful area rug are easy ways to complement this flooring choice. Apply tropical patterned wallpaper to the walls of your living room to round out the exotic theme. Thanks to the easy installation and ultra-rich colors, this tropical wood flooring will be a long-time favorite in your home.

Elegant Herringbone Floors

A classic herringbone pattern lends sophistication and elegance to any home. Try the Mamza Hardwood Exotic Kempas Collection flooring to create your own custom herringbone designs. Crafted from a tropical wood called kempas, this durable exotic hardwood flooring allows you to enjoy the durability of hardwood at an affordable price. It looks stunning when installed in a herringbone design since the species blends from reddish-brown into natural colors that darken over time. Each piece includes an interlocked or spiraled grain pattern that takes classic herringbone to a whole new, exotic level.

You can enjoy herringbone floors in any room, but it’s especially beautiful in an entryway or living room. The straightforward nail down installation of these floors makes it easy to create this pattern with just a nail gun. The UV finish ensures an exceptional surface resistance against scratches and scuffs. Thanks to the rich colors and smooth texture with a satin gloss, these kempas floors are sure to stun. When installing your flooring in a herringbone pattern, be sure to layout and cut each piece in advance for a beautiful outcome.

Exotic Flooring for Busy Homes

You can enjoy the stunning look of exotic wood flooring without worrying about damage thanks to new products like the Lamton Laminate Exotic Collection. These beautiful floors are made of laminate, but they feature hand-scraped surfaces and grain patterns that perfectly mimic exotic hardwood. Rated for residential use, you’ll love the way they look while enjoying an affordable floor that lasts. The easy click-lock system makes the floors easy to connect and adjust, yet they’re perfectly solid and sturdy once the flooring is complete. If you want to enjoy the beauty and splendor of exotic hardwoods but you’re concerned about longevity, this laminate alternative is a great pick. Lamton offers this flooring in your choice of beautiful color so you can create a modern or warm environment that looks high-end and sophisticated. The brand also sells moldings that are carefully selected to be the closest match possible to the floors for a seamless finish. Try this option if you’re in love with the concept of tropical wood floors but don’t want to worry about damage from little paws or feet. It’s a great way to design your home in a beautiful way that’s easy and worry-free.

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Hardwood flooring is an often sought-after flooring, especially for more traditional or historic homes. The natural wood construction makes it easy to sand down and refinish as time goes on. As with many flooring types, hardwood flooring comes in a variety of different grades. The different grades of the floors speak to their characteristics and effect the price point of the product.

Hardwood Flooring Grades

The grade of the hardwood flooring is determined by the features of the planks. The numbers of knots, variation of color tone, and imperfections in each plank all go into determining what grade the flooring will receive. One thing that all flooring grades have in common is that they are well-constructed and designed to last. The hardwood flooring grades include:

• Prime Grade (AB)
• Select Grade (ABC)
• Natural Grade (ABCD)
• Rustic Grade (CD)
• Utility Grade (Cabin)

First-quality hardwood floors are chosen for their lack of imperfections, impeccable milling, and overall uniformity of design. Cabin grade flooring is considered the lowest of all the hardwood flooring grades and includes the pieces that did not make the cut to be a higher grade. It is also commonly referred to as shop grade, rustic grade or tavern grade flooring because of its rustic characteristics. The variations are largely due to the fact that these flooring planks are harvested from the outer edges of the tree, as opposed to the more uniform inside of the tree.

Characteristics of Cabin Grade Hardwood Flooring

Each of the flooring grades offers distinct characteristics. Cabin grade flooring appreciates the natural imperfections that occur in each piece of wood and provide a casual look. With these floors in place, you won’t be afraid to wear shoes in the house or have pets because the light damage that they could cause to the floors will only further enhance the distressed look of the planks.

Perfectly Imperfect

Because hardwood flooring is sourced from a natural product, variations including knots, pinholes, dents and streaks occur. Cabin grade hardwood flooring is characterized by the ample imperfections running throughout each plank. These imperfections may be in the center of the plank or extend to the edges of the planks. The amount of imperfections can vary greatly from one floor to another, resulting in a rustic and worn look once the floor is installed. The natural variations of these plank call attention to the natural beauty of the wood.

Natural Color Variations

The tone of cabin grade flooring can vary greatly from one plank to another. The natural color variations give cabin grade flooring a distinct character, much unlike the uniform look of some higher hardwood flooring grades. The natural color variations make these floors easy to coordinate with many different furniture finishes.

Thickness Variations

In addition to offering color variations, cabin grade flooring also offers slight differences in the thickness. Slight variations during the milling process cause the variations in thickness, which is how many of the planks receive a cabin grade rating. The length of the flooring can also vary from one piece to another. You may find that many of the planks are shorter in length than with first-quality hardwood flooring grades.

Highly Affordable

Cabin grade flooring is the most affordable of all hardwood flooring grades. The low cost of this flooring makes it more accessible for a variety of budgets and can make it a good choice for expansive spaces.

Tips for Installing Cabin-Grade Hardwood Flooring

As with any flooring, there are some tips and tricks to get the best finished look out of your cabin grade hardwood. Mixing up planks and using the right boards in the right places will help to cut back on the waste you have throughout the installation process.

Mix Up Planks

Because the planks can vary so much in appearance from one piece to another, it is important to open multiple boxes of flooring and mix them up during installation. This will help to disperse pieces from different boxes into each area so the whole room has a more cohesive look. Throughout the installation process, make sure to have multiple boxes open to pull from.

Thoughtfully Place Boards

If you run across boards that aren’t ideal for the center of a living room or bedroom, save them for installation in a closet or another inconspicuous place instead of scrapping them all together.

Purchase 20 Percent Extra Flooring

Because it is a lower grade flooring, you are bound to come up with some planks you don’t want to use at all. Purchase an overage of about twenty to twenty-five percent to account for any planks that will be discarded. Make sure to factor this overage in when determining which grade of flooring to purchase

When you want a well-loved and rustic look for your space, choosing cabin grade hardwood flooring makes a great option. It is much less expensive than higher grade hardwood flooring and features numerous natural characteristics. Cabin grade flooring isn’t just a great option for lodges and cabins. It is a suitable choice for any casual living area, including guest bedrooms, family retreats, and game rooms. You can achieve the same rustic look with enhanced durability by opting for luxury vinyl floors.

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Wood flooring has long been considered a luxurious way to bring warmth and timeless style to a space. This traditional flooring option isn’t usually considered an appropriate choice for kitchen design because it is highly susceptible to water damage. Before you count beautiful hardwoods out as a flooring option for your consider, weigh the advantages and disadvantages of the product and check out a few finishing options that help it stand up to the daily wear and tear of this heart of the home.

Wood Flooring in the Kitchen: Advantages

Hardwood flooring is revered as luxurious because of the many benefits it brings to a space. It is lovely to look at, timeless in design, and easy to refinish whenever styles change. Consider all the advantages of using hardwood flooring in your kitchen when deciding which flooring to install.

Appearance

Solid hardwood floors showcase the natural beauty of wood grain and make any room appear warmer and more elegant. Hardwood flooring can be purchase prefinished or unfinished and come in a wide range of different hues, making it easy to find a finish that coordinates with any kitchen design. If you have an open-concept home, running the same flooring from the front door throughout the living areas and kitchen can help make the space appear more expansive and cohesive.

Durability

Hardwood is considered a generally durable product. The thick and solid construction of the planks make it easy to sand them down and refinish them whenever they start to show signs of wear. Using pads under stool legs and dining chair legs will help to prevent scratches, dents, and dings on wood flooring in the kitchen. In particularly high-traffic areas, such as just inside a sliding glass door or under a dining table, area rugs can also provide an added layer of protection.

Warm Underfoot

When it comes to the level of hardness, hardwood flooring falls somewhere in between ceramic tile and linoleum. The warmth and softness makes it comfortable to walk on. Choose a finish with yellow undertones and it will provide visual warmth as well.

Refinishing Options

When deciding to use hardwood flooring in the kitchen, it is essential to finish the floors with a highly durable polyurethane designed to hold up to light spills and splatters. The same oil finishes you use for hardwood floors in a living room just aren’t strong enough for kitchen use. Instead, opt for a polyurethane designed to keep spills from penetrating the wood, reducing the chance of water damage and food stains. A polyurethane makes the floor easy to wipe up as well.

Wood Flooring in the Kitchen: Disadvantages

As with any type of flooring, there are drawbacks to choosing hardwood floors for a kitchen. Before selecting any flooring, make sure to consider the daily use of the space. How many people are in the household? Hos frequently and to what extent do you cook? Weigh all the pros and the cons of the product to see if it makes a suitable choice for your home.

Not Water Resistant

It is no secret that water and wood don’t mix. Prolonged exposure to moisture can cause hardwood flooring to swell, warp or even split. If there is ever a leak from the dishwasher or sink that goes unattended, a section of flooring may require repair or even replacement. Do not wet mop hardwood floors, as too much moisture can seep in through the joints and seams of the flooring.

Regular Maintenance

If you do choose to feature hardwood flooring in the kitchen, some daily maintenance will help them hold up. First, make sure to wipe up any water spills from melting ice or sink splashes immediately. Sitting water is the worst enemy of hardwood flooring. Protect them from grease or light splatters at both the stove and the sink by adding padded orthopedic mats in the areas you frequently stand to work.

Because the kitchen is one of the most-used rooms in the home, expect to need to refinish the floors somewhat regularly. Fortunately, hardwood floors can be sanded and refinished in the course of their lifetime.

Expense

Hardwood flooring is one of the more costly flooring options in any room of the home. It is often more expensive than ceramic tile or luxury vinyl flooring, both of which make popular kitchen options.

Alternative Options

You can enjoy the look of hardwood floors in your kitchen without any of the drawbacks by choosing wood-look ceramic tile or luxury vinyl wood planks instead. Both ceramic tile and luxury vinyl come in designs that offer the look of wood but they provide the added benefit of being completely waterproof. Cork and linoleum floors are also good choices for kitchens. Cork is naturally antimicrobial and linoleum is one of the most affordable of all of the kitchen flooring options.

Choosing the Right Hardwood Flooring for Your Kitchen

If you have decided on hardwood flooring for the kitchen, there are a couple of ways you can ensure the new floors will look great for many years to come. If you are choosing new hardwood floors, look for a wood species with a higher hardness scale rating. The stronger the wood species, the more resistant it will be to the daily traffic and moisture a kitchen sees.

Fir and pine are soft, making them a poor choice for kitchen floors. Brazilian walnut and Patagonian Rosewood are two of the hardest and most durable Consider the finish of the cabinets and dining room furniture and choose a finish that complements the existing colors and tones in the space. With so many different wood species and finishes available, it is easy to find just the right one for any home.

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Hardwood flooring is an elegant and timeless choice for any style of home. Before committing to any hardwood flooring product, order a couple of samples and test them in your home to ensure a great pairing. The flooring is the foundation for any room design and will be a focal point of the décor for many years to come. Make sure the product selected is the best material for your space by taking the time to test the hardwood flooring samples that arrive at your door.

You aren’t committing to the samples themselves. Go ahead and order a wide range of options, even in finishes that you might not initially think you want. Getting the products into the space may make you fall in love with a color that will surprise you.

Test Hardwood Flooring Samples Before You Commit

How It Looks in the Space

Natural and artificial lighting can look very different on the same flooring sample. Place a flooring sample in the space and look at it in a variety of lights at various times of the day. The same flooring you love first thing in the morning may not be your favorite when the sun goes down and the artificial lighting in the home is the only thing illuminating the hardwood.

The different areas of the room receive different amounts of light. Move the sample from one room to another and look at it in multiple locations to make sure you like the finish and design in all types of lighting. Take note of how the flooring looks against your wall color, cabinetry, trim, and existing furniture.

What Does it Feel Like?

Hardwood flooring needs to feel comfortable under foot. Some products are smoother than others. Run your hands and feet over the flooring samples to make sure the material feels as good as it looks. Hardwood flooring with beveled edges will feel differently than hardwood flooring with a straight edge. Look for one that isn’t so slick that you’ll slip in socks or so rugged that you won’t be comfortable in bare feet.

Consider Durability

The flooring you choose needs to hold up to daily life. Shoes, furniture, and all the people in your home will pass over the floors. Make sure the product you choose is designed to hold up to even the highest-traffic areas of the home by testing their durability. Take various sharp or pointy objects and drag them over the flooring simple to see how badly the floors get marked up.

Scratches aren’t the only ways that floors show signs of wear. Try staining them with coffee, oils, and other cooking essentials to see how well they wipe up. Make sure to clean up the mess with the same cleaning products you would typically apply to the floors to see how the products affect the finish of the floors.

Compare Wood Variations

Both the species of the wood and the surface texture alter the way the finished flooring looks in a space. Some of the most common flooring textures include:

• Smooth: Smooth hardwood provides a sophisticated look
• Hand-Scraped: These boards are distressed by hand and come in a variety of different looks, from barely distressed to truly rugged.
• Distressed: When you’re worried about signs of wear showing, distressed hardwood floors make a great option because they are already beautifully imperfect.
• Antique: Traditional or rustic homes deserve the old-world charm that antique-finish hardwood floors bring to a space.
• Wire-Brushed: Infuse rugged style into a space with wire-brushed flooring designed to conceal scratches by providing a scratched-up look in the first place.

The species of wood also alters the appearance of the product. White ash, beech, birch, black cherry, hickory, maple, and oak are a few of the most popular domestic hardwood flooring options. For something more exotic, opt for bamboo, Brazilian cherry, cork, spotted gum, mahogany, wenge, or teak. Some types of hardwood flooring are even sustainable, making them an environmentally friendly addition to the design of your home.

Compare Different Grades of Flooring

Hardwood flooring comes in a variety of different grades. When selecting flooring samples to test at home, make sure to test products from different grades to see how they vary. The various grades of hardwood flooring include:

• Clear Grade: These boards provide the fewest knots and color variations from board to board.
• Select & Better: Minimal pinholes are featured on these almost uniform hardwood boards.
• #1 Common: This grade features the occasional knot and subtle color variations from one plank to another.
• #2 Common: These high-character boards offer color variations that showcase pinholes and knots for a natural sophistication.
• Cabin Grade: These hardwood floors boast a loved-over-time appearance with a rough, natural look showcasing knots and pinholes without any open holes.
• Shorts: When you’re looking for character, shorts are the way to go. These planks feature pinholes, knots, and plenty of color variation from one piece to the next.

Clear grade flooring provides the fewest variations from one plank to another while shorts offer the most variation from one plank to another. Within the same color family, order samples from a few different grades and see which one provides the best look for your space.

Don’t treat your hardwood flooring samples as though they are precious. Feel free to put them through the paces to see if they are really going to hold up to the rigors of day-to-day life. Once you really see them in the space, it is easier to make a confident decision about which product will be a long-lasting addition to your home. For wet areas of the home where hardwood flooring isn’t an option, consider luxury vinyl flooring. It provides the same look but is completely waterproof, making it ideal for kitchens, bathrooms, and even basements.

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One of the most popular goals in designing a home is creating a peaceful retreat to recharge from our busy schedules. White wood flooring makes any size of room seem bright, inviting and calming, especially when paired with furniture in light and natural color tones as well. If you love the look of white wood floors but have hesitations about how they will actually look from day to day, simply evaluating the pros and cons of this flooring color can help you make that final decision.

As with any type of flooring, there are benefits and drawbacks associated with the color white. As you weigh the pros and cons, make sure to take into consideration the way in which your home actually lives. Children, pets, time spent at home and how often you entertain can all be factors in determining whether this flooring suits the needs of your oasis.

White Wood Flooring Options

One of the most popular white flooring options is white wash wood flooring. The type of natural wood used and the amount of white wash that is wiped off in the finishing process will help dictate the color in the end. Select a wood floor that is completely white for an elegant appearance or one with a more distressed finish that allows brown undertones to show through for a more casual look.

If natural wood breaks the budget, get the same look by browsing the collection of white wood-look tiles or white luxury vinyl planks. These alternatives to hardwood aren’t just less expensive, they can also be used in wet areas of the home, such as kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms.

Pros of White Plank Flooring

• Versatility: White flooring blends in seamlessly with a wide range of home design styles, including modern, country, traditional, industrial, transitional, farmhouse, contemporary and shabby chic.
• Neutral Backdrop: White plank flooring acts as a perfect backdrop for area rugs and furniture of any color, making it easy to change up the look of your space with a fresh coat of paint, a few new furnishings, or by changing out the area rug.
• Clean and Uncluttered: We naturally associate white with a feeling of cleanliness and openness. As such, white plank floors help a space appear uncluttered and clean as soon as you step into the area. This makes it a great choice for homes with a minimalist aesthetic.
• Brighter: White naturally reflects light, maximizing the sunlight and artificial light in the room for a brighter and more cheerful space. Keep the rest of the furnishings light and bright to continue the open look white floors bring to a home.

Cons of White Plank Flooring

• Frequent Cleaning: Sure, white wood floors look clean but it does take some work to keep them that way. Every bit of dirt will show so frequent vacuuming and mopping are necessary when you feature white floors. Considering investing in a robotic vacuum that runs daily to help maintain the look of the flooring. Placing area rugs at entryways and choosing white flooring with a little color variation will help conceal dirt for longer.
• Glare: When a room has a lot of windows and natural light, pay attention to the tone and the finish of the white flooring. Some high-sheen finishes and bright white hues can cause a glare under the light. Select a flooring material with more texture and a slightly warmer shade of white to help reduce this chance.
• Shows Wear: Pristine white flooring does get worn over time and the signs are easy to see. Consider starting with a more distressed finish and the wear and tear will not be as evident. Finishing the floor with a heavy-duty sealant with built-in stain protectant will help prevent damage to the planks as well.

White Wood, Not Just for Your Floors

When you love the look of white wood, but you aren’t ready to commit them to your flooring, consider incorporating them in other ways throughout the home.

• Feature Ceiling: Covering a ceiling in wood plank flooring can help to make a room appear taller and draw the eye up towards special features, such as a tray ceiling or a dramatic lighting fixture.
• Wrap an Island: Make your kitchen island stand out from the rest of your cabinetry by wrapping it in wood planks. The added texture and visual appeal can make an aging island seem brand new again.
• Create a Feature Wall: Open-concepts home can feel boring when the same paint color runs throughout a space. Consider choosing a feature wall and installing wood planks that will direct the eye to the wall and break up the surrounding paint color. Wood planks installed vertically make a room appear taller. Install them horizontally and a room appears wider and more spacious.

Installation

Take on the installation for yourself as a fun weekend project or call in the professionals and relax as they take care of the installation. Make sure to review the recommended installation instructions of the specific material you select to ensure you have all the proper underlayment supplies and tools. White baseboards help complete the look in monochromatic style. Factor in the installation materials or cost of professional installation when selecting a flooring material that will work within your design budget.

With so many different ways to feature white wood flooring in the home, it is easy to find a material and use that will become a focal point of your home décor. Lay it in a single room or use it behind a gallery wall to call attention to your favorite photos. White wood floors aren’t the only way to make a room appear brighter and bigger, white tile flooring can have the same effect in a bathroom or kitchen. Check out all the available material options to select the one that will elevate the design and function of your space.

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The flooring is the foundation for the rest of the room. It needs to be fashionable, easy-to-clean, and durable, especially in high-traffic areas throughout the home. Whether you are laying new floors in a single room or updating the flooring throughout the home, choosing the right product is a crucial first step. Understanding the differences in high-traffic flooring materials can help you determine which flooring option best suits the needs of your space.

First, consider the needs of the space. How many people pass through the room daily? Are children and pets a consideration? Use those initial considerations and the overall style of the space to choose a product that will elevate the design.

High-Traffic Flooring Options for Your Home

Luxury Vinyl

It doesn’t get more high-traffic than commercial buildings, and most luxury vinyl tile and plank products are rated to hold up to commercial use. This makes it a great high-traffic flooring option for a busy home as well. This easy-to-install product is also a great project for the weekend warrior. Vinyl flooring comes in a wide array of different colors and textures, all at a price point that works within most budgets. The cost-effective nature of this material has made it an increasingly popular choice.

This durable option holds up to high-traffic areas without scratching or scuffing. Because it is waterproof, it is ideal for wet areas of the home such as mudrooms and laundry rooms. This makes it possible to run the same luxury vinyl flooring through every room of the house, even the bathroom and kitchen. Even furniture won’t tend to gouge this long-lasting flooring.

Natural Stone

There are few materials as resilient as natural stone. Granite, limestone, and sandstone are a great way to bring the beauty of a natural product into the home. The timeless elegance of natural stone makes it a flooring that will hold up to many years of enjoyment. Of all the flooring options, natural stone is one of the most expensive, depending on which type of stone is selected. It also requires professional installation for durable results.

Some natural floors require a sealant at installation. Review the many different types of sealers available to ensure you select one designed to hold up to high-traffic areas throughout the home. Natural stone is so durable, it is even approved for outdoor and transitional spaces, such as patios, lanais, and even pool decks.

Laminate Flooring

When it comes to affordability and durability, laminate flooring is a long-time favorite among high-traffic flooring options. This material is easy to install, eliminating the need to pay for professional installation. This versatile flooring material gives you the look of wood, tile, and other materials at a fraction of the cost. This man-made material features a layered process and comes in a variety of thicknesses, ranging from about 6 mm up to roughly 15 mm. Review the specific laminate product carefully to select the one that will provide you with the best durability possible.

Engineered & Solid Hardwood

When you’re looking for traditional style, solid hardwood and engineered hardwood provide classic elegance. These products, although beautiful, tend to experience wear and tear in high-traffic areas of the home. If this is the flooring for you, there are a few strategies that will help keep the floors protected on a day-to-day basis. First, choose one of the harder, more durable wood types or engineered wood options. During installation, finish the floors with a protective top-coat.

Finally, take precautions to limit scratches and dents by trimming the nails of any pets and keeping cleats and high heels off the floors and in the entryway or mudroom. A decorative rug near the front door will provide an extra layer of protection while you’re kicking off your shoes. Of course, you can get the look of wood and the durability of tile by choosing wood look tile instead.

Porcelain Tile

For the everyday lifestyle of a busy household, porcelain tile is an excellent haigh-traffic flooring choice. This dense product comes in a range of PEI ratings, with 0 being the weakest and 5 being the strongest. When shopping for porcelain tiles to lay in your high-traffic areas, look for those with a PEI rating of either 4 or 5. Porcelain tile is available in a wide range of textures, colors, and styles, making it easy to find that that perfectly coordinates with the look of your home or business.

With so many different flooring options available, it is easy to find an option that provides both style and durability. Keep it classic with a porcelain tile or utilize today’s technologies by laying luxury vinyl flooring down in the home. Once you’ve determined the right type of product, choose a color and style that speaks to the overall aesthetic of the space. Give any hard flooring an added layer of protection in high-traffic areas by considering an area rug or runner near doorways.

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Tungston Hardwood – Unfinished Oak / SKU: 10095300

Due to its beauty, versatility, and durability, flooring has become a popular choice for the home. If you’re thinking about having hardwood floors installed in your home, you’ll discover two basic alternatives: finished and unfinished. While finished hardwood flooring is more common, there are some circumstances when unfinished hardwood floors are more desirable. Learn more about the advantages of unfinished hardwood flooring to see if it’s the right option for you.

Customization

Perhaps one of the biggest advantages of unfinished hardwood floors over the finished style is that unfinished wood offers many attractive ways you can customize your floors. Since working with unfinished flooring is basically like working with a piece of raw wood, it’s like having a clean slate, and you can do anything you want to it.

If you’re going for a certain style or look in your home, unfinished wood makes it easy to get exactly the appearance you want. When you select unfinished floors, you can customize them with colors and stains that perfectly suit your interior decor. Often, these colors aren’t available in finished floor products, so you’ll get to enjoy a unique look when you opt for unfinished hardwood floors and finish them yourself.

If you’re interested in a one-of-a-kind look for your floor, you can ask the installer about inlays, borders, and other custom features that simply aren’t possible with flooring that’s finished at the factory. Since unfinished hardwood floors are sanded on-site, it’s also possible to customize your floors with different edge profiles. For example, you can ask for a smoother edge that’s easier to keep clean than the micro-beveled edge that comes with most factory-finished floors.

Unfinished flooring also comes in a wider variety of wood species. This is ideal if you’re installing new floors in your dining room and either want something exotic or want them to match the existing floors in your living room. If you’re interested in an uncommon plank size, you might only be able to find it by selecting unfinished hardwood.

Installation Flexibility

Unlike finished hardwood floors, unfinished hardwood floors offer outstanding flexibility during the installation process. You can install the floor at any time you want. You can even wait until everything else in the house is finished before installing the floors. Plus, if you’re trying to make your new floors match existing flooring or other features inside your home, selecting on-site hardwood finishing makes it easier to get that coordination.

If you want the most flexibility possible when installing floors in any area of your home, you need to turn to hardwood. For example, since solid hardwood isn’t recommended for below-grade applications, such as in basements, many homeowners turn to engineered hardwood floors instead. This is because hardwood can handle changes in moisture level and humidity. Of course, finished hardwood flooring only has select stains and colors available. To get the look you really want, you need to choose unfinished hardwood.

Unfinished hardwood has another advantage if keeping your floors clean is a top priority. Since traditional hardwood flooring is finished at the factory, installers don’t apply a sealing agent to the seams between the planks when they put in the floor.

This lack of sealing agent can make it easier for dirt and other debris to get caught in the seams. Open seams are also susceptible to water penetration, which can cause mold to grow beneath the surface and permanently damage your floor. However, when you finish your floors on-site, you can get this sealing agent applied to the entire floor.

The Color Options Are Endless

With unfinished hardwood, you can change the look of the floor by applying a stain finish before you seal the wood. This gives you the opportunity to use colors that you can’t find in finished wood products, and your color options are almost endless. Along with traditional stain colors, you can also combine stains to create a truly distinctive look. You’ll also find an impressive range of finishes available, including matte, semi-gloss, and high-gloss.

When you get finished wood directly from the manufacturer, the stain and finish are already applied, so you can’t change the color if it isn’t what you were expecting. However, since the staining on unfinished hardwood is happening in your home, you can adjust as you go. Did the stain look darker in the store but now that it’s in your home it’s too light? You can easily add another coat or go with an entirely different color on the same floor.

It’s Cheaper Than Finished Hardwood… Usually

Another advantage that unfinished hardwood floors have over finished floors is that they’re usually cheaper. If you’re working with a tight budget, you’ll appreciate these savings. Of course, you do have to keep in mind that while the product itself is typically cheaper, you’ll need to consider installation and finishing costs when you’re calculating your budget for flooring.

Natural Wood Look

Tungston Hardwood – Unfinished Oak / SKU: 10083305

Though you have a large choice of colors, you can also choose to go with no stain at all when you select unfinished hardwood floors. This is an ideal way to go if you’re trying to get a more natural look in your home. In this case, you simply leave the natural wood as it is and then finish it.

You then get to enjoy the simple and pure beauty of the wood without any unnatural colors or stains. When you install unfinished hardwood in your home and finish it after installation, you’ll help preserve the natural characteristics and elegance of the wood.

If you’re considering hardwood flooring for your home and can’t decide between a finished or unfinished style, you now know the several advantages that unfinished floors offer. To enjoy the most control over the appearance of your floors, you may want to select unfinished hardwood floors.

Resources:

https://www.builddirect.com/blog/how-to-choose-an-engineered-wood-floor/

http://sequoia-ltd.com/2015/10/16/the-benefits-of-unfinished-engineered-wood/

https://blog.cityfloorsupply.com/unfinished-vs-prefinished-engineered-hardwood-flooring/

https://www.ambiencehardwoodflooring.co.uk/wood-flooring-guide/advantages-of-unfinished-hardwood-floors/

https://www.bobvila.com/articles/prefinished-or-unfinished-wood-flooring/

https://www.thespruce.com/prefinished-hardwood-floors-pros-and-cons-1314693

The post Why Should You Buy Unfinished Hardwood Flooring? appeared first on Learning Center.

Hardwood floors are a popular choice for many homeowners because of their classic beauty and excellent durability. Despite all their benefits, the main downside to hardwood floors is that they don’t absorb sound very well. Even if your household doesn’t have pets or children, the simple act of walking across the floor in shoes is sometimes enough to disturb other people in the home. However, with the proper soundproofing techniques, you can minimize the amount of noise your hardwood floors make and enjoy them even more.

Types of Noise: Airborne and Impact

If you want to know how to soundproof your gorgeous chestnut hardwood flooring, it first helps to know the different types of noises. You can classify noises into two categories: airborne or impact. Airborne noises, which are also sometimes called ambient noises, are sounds transmitted through the air before they pass through walls, ceilings, or floors. Examples of airborne noises include a radio or television playing, people talking, or a telephone ringing. The best way to deal with airborne noise is to use sound-absorbing material, such as fiber insulation, inside cavities in the floor and ceiling.

Impact noises are caused when one object makes direct contact with another object. Examples can include someone walking or running on the floor or someone dropping an object on the floor. The sound from an impact noise travels differently from airborne because the impact itself creates vibrations in the structure of the home, such as the beams and wood joists that connect the floors, ceilings, and walls.

Because of this difference in the way impact noise travels, reducing this noise is more difficult. The best way to reduce impact noise in a home is to separate the materials that are normally connected to each other. In the floor, this means installing a flexible and durable subfloor beneath the floor covering.

The best way to reduce either type of noise is to do so as close to the source as possible. Therefore, if the hardwood floors are in the upstairs part of your house and you have access to them, you’ll get better results by treating the upstairs floor rather than treating the downstairs ceiling.

Hardwood Floor Underlayment

One way you can soundproof your hardwood floors is by installing the flooring with a resilient underlayment and damping compound. The resilient underlayment separates the construction materials, and the damping compound helps to further disperse sound energy. The damping compound is especially important when dealing with lower frequencies that an underlayment can’t absorb.

When choosing a resilient underlayment, there are several material options available, including fiber, rubber, foam, and cork. One of the best choices for absorbing sound is a shredded rubber mat. It’s heavier than cork or foam, which gives it extra soundproofing abilities.

As long as your subfloor isn’t too thick and is made of a material you can screw into, you can often apply the damping compound directly to the existing subfloor layer. Since the damping compound needs to exist between two hard surfaces to do its job correctly, you must make sure it has a firm layer above it. A cement board is an acceptable choice. However, if the thickness isn’t a concern and you want even more sound isolation, consider a thicker sheet of oriented strand board or medium-density fiberboard.

When you’re ready to install your hardwood floors on top of the underlayment, you want to do so as a floating raft. This means you won’t attach the hardwood floors to the layer underneath with any type of screws, nails, or adhesive. You also want to leave a gap between the edge of the floor and the walls. You can then fill this gap with acoustic sealant. The gap acts as a separator and helps reduce impact noise that carries through the building structure.

Carpets and Rugs

While underlayment is ideal for hardwood floors that haven’t been installed yet, if you already have hardwood floors down and you’re looking to soundproof them, there are several ways to do this. Carpet and pad is the most effective way to reduce noise on your floors. The thicker you can get your carpet and pad, the better they will work at absorbing noise. Carpet and pad will dissipate noise before it even has a chance to enter the structure and carry to other parts of the house.

Of course, installing a carpet and pad means covering your hardwood floors. If you don’t want to give up enjoying the beauty of your hardwood just to cut down on the noise, you have a few other options. Thick area rugs will work to reduce some noise, and they won’t completely cover your floors. You can also use fabric in other spots around your house, such as fabric wall hangings, tapestries, fabric-covered wall panels, and thick drapes, to absorb unwanted airborne sounds.

Before You Build: Do You Have Soundproof Requirements?

Whether you’re considering hardwood floors for an apartment complex or a rental unit in your home, it’s important to note that building codes throughout the United States have certain soundproof requirements between floors. These codes are designed to create a standard of privacy and to make living conditions more comfortable for everyone.

While some building code inspection departments require completed field tests before they’ll issue a certificate of occupancy, others do not. The departments that don’t require field tests typically rely on the specifications and design recommendations from the architect. Purchasing a multi-family unit or renovating your home to create a rental space is a significant investment, and you want to make sure you’re following all the requirements. Take time to understand the regulations and recommendations before you start a project so you don’t waste any time or money doing it incorrectly.

Hardwood floors are easy to maintain and add exceptional style to your home. If you want to enjoy the beauty of your floors and yet control the noise they produce, these tips on how to soundproof your hardwood floors will help.

Resources:

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If you’re thinking about redoing your hardwood floor, you might envision a refreshed look to your kitchen or hallway. You can picture your friends coming to your home for your next party and admiring your new floor, but you may find something standing in the way — you have no idea which type of hardwood flooring to get. With some research on your end, you can save yourself time and money. Let’s explore the features of some popular hardwood flooring types.

Oak Flooring

Jasper Hardwood – European Brushed Oak Collection, available at BuildDirect.com.

Oak has always been a popular choice for hardwood flooring. The color is visually appealing, looks inviting, and has many advantages. You’ll find the wood easier to clean, and it easily blends in with furniture and home interior designs you already have. Plus, oak is a good investment if you’re considering selling your house in the future, since the wood can last for many years.

This type of wood can be prone to scrapes, however, so make sure to place pads on the bottoms of any chairs or furniture that you may move across the floor. Also, oak doesn’t hold mold, which can be beneficial for allergy sufferers.

Maple Flooring

Mazama Hardwood – Handscraped Tropical Collection, available at BuildDirect.com.

Maple is another great choice for hardwood flooring. Many people prefer its light tan look, which blends into home interior spaces. As one of the strongest woods, maple is a top choice for high-traffic areas of a home. The wood doesn’t scuff easily, making it a good choice for homes with children or those with a lot of foot traffic across the floors. Maple requires minimal maintenance, with weekly sweeping and annual applications of wood soap to prolong the life of the floors.

Don’t be confused if you discover several types of maple hardwood flooring available; you can also buy stained or unstained maple. Stained maple has been pretreated with a wood stain and is ready to install. However, some homeowners prefer to stain and seal their hardwood flooring themselves, in which case unstained maple wood is the best choice.

You can also choose to get locking maple, a feature which makes the wood easy to install. You’ll find the pieces snap together quickly to form a tight bond. Finally, you might see engineered maple wood: Small pieces of maple are applied to the top of the wood, and cheaper wood fills out the board design.

Teak Flooring

Choosing teak for your hardwood floors can be a smart choice. You’ll find teak is resistant to pests, as the natural oils found in the wood are undesirable to most insects, including termites. Teak is also a water-resistant wood choice, a bonus if you have young, active children or pets that come indoors soaking wet after walks in the rain. Teak bears an attractive reddish-brown color. However, if left untreated, teak can turn a silver color if exposed to UV rays of sunlight. To prevent discoloration and wear, you can treat the wood with a coating of oil to seal it so that you can enjoy beautiful teak floors for years to come.

Once you discover the differences among the popular hardwood flooring species, you’ll look forward to starting your own renovation. If you like to entertain at home and invite guests over often, consider maple’s strong qualities. If you have children or dogs who often bring water into the house, teak and its water-resistant properties can be a great option for you. For a longer-lasting wood that blends in well with almost all types of décor, try oak for your choice of hardwood.

Interested in other popular types of hardwood flooring or have questions about the species listed here? Share your thoughts in the comments section!

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Mazama Hardwood – Smooth Acacia Collection SKU: 10082297

Your home is a major investment that requires money and time to keep or increase its value. If you’re one of the many homeowners who hopes someday to see a return on your investment, you might wonder what you can do right now to immediately increase your home’s value. One of the fastest and most cost-effective options is to upgrade your floors to hardwood. Let’s take a look at some of the ways that you can invest in your home with hardwood flooring.

Why is Hardwood a Good Investment?

Image via Flickr by brad.coy

Installing hardwood flooring raises the value of your home for a couple of reasons. First, you lower the risk that future buyers will disapprove of your flooring. Consider a home that’s on the market and has carpeting. While many people love the plush feel, carpet can be a major deal breaker if someone thinks the carpet is too dirty, too shaggy, not shaggy enough, or the wrong color. People see carpet through a subjective lens. Many realtors recommend installing hardwood floors to people who want to add value to their home before putting their property on the market.

On the other hand, well-maintained hardwood floors throughout your home have a timeless look that’s less likely to cause a potential buyer to have a strong negative reaction.

In addition to its aesthetic appeal, hardwood floors are a better choice for anyone who has allergies. A buyer who struggles with airborne allergies is likely to prefer hardwood flooring over carpeting, which tends to hold allergens. Making your home habitable to more buyers is always a good thing.

Finally, hardwood floors do not retain odors like carpeting. If your home has had dog accidents, cigarette smoke, mold, or strong kitchen odors inside it, the carpet likely is holding those scents in its fibers. While professional cleaning can help, some odors may still linger. In contrast, hardwood flooring doesn’t typically retain odors in the same way as carpet. When pets plague hardwood floors, you can make some simple cleaning fixes to remedy the problem.

The Best Flooring for the Household

Since hardwood is a more resilient flooring option, many buyers with kids or pets might find hardwood more suitable for their lifestyles. If you have children or pets, you may also find hardwood floors are easier to maintain than carpet, creating fewer hassles for you when you’re ready to sell your house. Instead of fearing permanent stains to the carpet, you can refinish the flooring to make it look like new again.

The time-saving aspect of hardwood floors is another reason flooring appeals to home buyers. It’s quicker to sweep off dirt or pass a damp mop over a floor than pull out the vacuum and clean the carpet. Hardwood floors also tend to outlast carpets by years, and any thrifty home buyer will appreciate flooring made to last.

Finally, hardwood floors are versatile. Homeowners who like to change their interior designs to match current trends can add rugs with the coolest designs. When they’re ready for a change, they can roll up the rug and put a new one over the hardwood floor — a cheaper and faster alternative than changing installed carpet.

How to Choose the Right Hardwood Flooring

Several factors impact which hardwood flooring option is right for your home. Dryer climates are ideal for true hardwood floors, while engineered wood flooring is best suited for environments where humidity is a concern. Homeowners who want a more eco-friendly flooring option can go with sustainably harvested woods that have a nontoxic finish.

Next, choose which species of wood you want. With its textured appearance, acacia is a popular choice. People who like a more formal look opt for darker woods such as walnut. Want a reddish hue? Go for flooring made from ash trees.

Regardless of which hardwood flooring option you choose, the appearance of your home’s floors will remain attractive for years to come, and the value of your home will increase because of it.

Questions about hardwood flooring? Ask us in the comments section below.

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