Types:
Solid
Flooring
Solid wood flooring is made out of a single, solid
piece of wood. It is available in unfinished and prefinished.
Solid wood flooring CAN be installed on concrete by first
installing plywood as a subfloor.
Engineered Flooring
Bonding layers of veneer and lumber with an adhesive
produces engineered wood flooring. Engineered flooring is
REAL wood flooring. The top layer (or wear layer) is the amount
of real wood that can be sanded and finished. It is available
in prefinished and unfinished. These products are more dimensionally
stable and are ideal for gluedown installation directly over
concrete or floating installation, including basements and
humid climates.
Finish:
Prefinished
Flooring
Prefinished flooring is exactly that - it is already finished
and ready to install. The greatest benefits with installing
a prefinished wood floor are the ease of installation and
the fact that you can begin living on your beautiful new wood
floor soon after it is installed because it does not need
to be sanded and finished.
Prefinished
hardwood flooring comes in a variety of species,
colors and finishes. Wear warranties on these products can
range from 5 to 50 years.
Unfinished
Flooring
Unfinished flooring is a product that must be sanded
and finished after installation. With unfinished wood
floors the species and color
are almost limitless. Unfinished hardwood is available in,
but not limited to: Red Oak, White Oak, American Cherry, Black
Walnut, Hickory, Brazilian Cherry, Brazilian Walnut, Hard
Maple, Ash, Australian Cypress, Beech and Heart Pine. Available
widths range in size from 1½" to 9", depending
upon the species, type and
availability. Unfinished flooring allows you to choose a custom
stain color, the type
of finish and the sheen
level.
Styles:
 Strip
Flooring
Available in widths of less than 3", this style
creates a linear effect in a room and is considered more traditional.
 Plank
Plank flooring comes in widths of 3”
and up. Its wider widths create a more casual look.
 Parquet
Parquet is comprised of geometrical patterns
composed of individual wood slats held in place by mechanical
fastening or an adhesive. Parquet comes in everything from
simple designs to very complex patterns.
Customizing:
 Borders
A border is just that - it outlines a room
or area. Many times it is as simple as using another species
or color of flooring to contrast the main area. They can also
be more complex and include actual designs.
 Medallions
Medallions are design elements placed in the
center of the floor, many times in a foyer. They are typically
made up of several species of wood and can be very elaborate.
They come is several shapes, including round and oval.
 Distressed
Distressed floors are available in many prefinished
lines, as well as unfinished, and create a unique look. Distressing
can be as intense as having actual chisel marks, to a wirebrushing
or just "hand-sculpted."
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