Logs are cut in three different ways—plain-sawn, rift-sawn, and quarter-sawn—which yield three different grain patterns. Plain-sawn produces traditional wood grain, with undulating patterns known as cathedrals. Rift-sawn boards, by comparison, feature a long, linear, consistent grain, without cathedrals.
In most cases, hardwood flooring is sold as plain-sawn, or as rift- and quarter-sawn mixed together. However, it is possible to source exclusively rift-sawn wood or quarter-sawn wood, if desired. In a more rustic property, we might use plain sawn; in the city, we might use quarter sawn to add a bit of life. Although there was a time when it seemed that almost all hardwood flooring was installed in two- to three-inch strips, many people now use wider planks.
Pastrana cautions that nail or glue installations can be challenging even for homeowners with plenty of DIY experience. Solid hardwood flooring needs time to acclimate to the climate of the room. Gather all the tools listed in the instructions and make sure the subfloor is clean, dry, and flat.
If you are installing over an existing floor, make sure doors are still able to open and close and appliances are flush with countertops. Pastrana says to lay floor pieces parallel to the longest wall in the room. Boxes or bundles can differ slightly in color. Homeowners evaluating new flooring owe it to themselves to consider the benefits and beauty of wood. Wood floors are comfortable, durable and surprisingly affordable, and nothing quite compares to the character and warmth they bring to every room in the house.
While there is a myriad of choices available, not every type of wood flooring is suitable for every application. If you are shopping for a wood floor, here are five things to keep in mind. There are primarily two types of wood flooring products—solid hardwood and engineered hardwood.
Solid wood flooring is milled from solid wood logs and is joined with a traditional tongue and groove along both the long and short edges. Engineered wood flooring is comprised of multiple layers of plywood and composite material, and topped with a layer of solid hardwood. There are many different types of woods used in flooring, but some are harder and therefore more durable than others.
Top-selling exotic woods such as Brazilian Cherry, Brazilian Koa, and Cumaru are among the hardest species available. If you have a country-style interior, wide plank floors with highly defined wood grains and a distressed appearance will be a good fit.
Tile is also relatively expensive and more difficult to install. Replacing cracked tiles can be a challenge. Sampling Is Smart Before you buy, get samples of your top flooring choices.
Compare for Consistency Manufacturers try to match solid and engineered wood flooring for color and grain. On the flip side, laminate floorboards within a given package may have an identical pattern that the eye can pick up if installed too close together. To reduce repetition, shuffle boards from multiple packages when installing. Divide an irregularly shaped room into smaller rectangles, calculate the square footage of each rectangle, and then add them together.
Then buy 7 to 10 percent extra to allow for mistakes, bad samples, and waste. Consider buying an extra box of flooring, in addition to the 7 to 10 percent extra, for future repairs or additions. Know Your Traffic Patterns Common high-traffic areas are entryways to rooms and to the house itself. Consider very resilient flooring for family rooms and other lounge areas that pets and kids frequent. Our top products performed best in simulated foot-traffic tests.
For less busy areas, consider one of the top engineered wood or bamboo floors, for their natural veneer and easy installation. Preparing to Install Flooring Before installing wood or laminate flooring, unpack it and let it sit for one to three days in the space where it will be installed so that its temperature and moisture content will find equilibrium with the levels in the room.
This is a critical step to prevent buckling or unsightly gaps between boards. For wood flooring, certification by the Forest Stewardship Council and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative offers some assurance that your flooring comes from responsibly managed forests—a plus for the planet.
Check packaging for product and manufacturer certification. They buy directly from manufacturers and often sell flooring below list price. Our flooring ratings indicate those types. But any floor that needs to be glued, stapled, or nailed is better left to professionals.
Pull up carpet and remove the tack boards. Bang protruding nails or staples down into the subfloor, and vacuum up any dirt or dust. For more helpful information see our flooring ratings. We respect your privacy. All email addresses you provide will be used just for sending this story. Sign In. Become a Member. Remember Me. Forgot username or password? Not a member? Need further assistance? Please call Member Services at Sign in or Become a Member. Flooring Buying Guide Last updated: February 23, Find the Best Flooring for Your Home We test, evaluate, and compare the latest flooring to help you beautify your home.
How We Test Flooring We test wear resistance by subjecting a 6x6-inch sample of each flooring material to an abrasion machine fitted with a fine sandpaper disc, and assessing each sample for signs of visible wear after each cycle of sanding.
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