630-774-7611
630-774-7611
Prefinished hardwood is sanded and finished in a factory, and comes in both solid wood and engineered varieties. This type of hardwood typically has seven to nine coats of finish, including aluminum oxide, which gives it a finer finish than what can be done in home and manually. Prefinished hardwoods are UV cured, which allows them to have virtually no debris or particulates in the finish. Most of these types of hardwood have 25 year wear warranties.
This is simply raw, unfinished wood of any type that is milled into tongue and groove form. In most cases, this is solid wood, but can also come in engineered varieties. Finished on site hardwood is exactly that, “finished on site”. The wood is installed raw and sanded on site. Then, it is finished with up to three coats with many options. These types of floors require more upkeep, with refinishing every 5-10 years depending on the amount of wear. The time between refinishes can be extended by getting the floors screened and coated. Finishing options primarily include oil-based polyurethane, water-based finishes.
Solid hardwood floors are made of pieces of solid wood, usually ¾” thick, and are available in many widths. Solid hardwood floors are less dimensionally stable and because of this, are more susceptible to humidity and temperature changes than engineered wood floors. Solid wood floors are generally only installed above grade over approved wooden subfloors and must be either nailed, stapled, or glued down. Solid wood floors can generally be sanded and refinished several times.
Engineered hardwoods are composed of layers of wood, glued together on the bottom, and a veneer of finished hardwood on the top. Because they’re made of real woods, they require the same care and maintenance as real wood products do. Because of their cross-ply construction, engineered floors are more dimensionally stable than solid wood. These floors can be installed on any level of a home, and even on top of radiant heat because of the reduction in expansion/contraction of the planks normally caused by variations in humidity and moisture. Most engineered floors can be glued or stapled down, or floated over many different types of subfloors, including wood, dry concrete slabs, and a few types of existing flooring. They are available in plank and longstrip format, and come in a variety of widths, thicknesses, colors and species. Some types of engineered floors can be refinished, but some cannot.
Wood is a natural product that features natural variation in color and knots that reflects the tree’s age and history. Hardwood flooring is classified into “Grades” in order to help the consumer more easily choose the flooring type they prefer.
When choosing the right type of finish for your wood floors, consider your lifestyle and maintenance preferences. All wood floors will require routine maintenance, such as sweeping or dust mopping, to keep them looking beautiful and new, but different wood flooring finishes will have a big impact on how you care for your floor long-term, as well as how your floor will look in the years to come.
Surface finishes are durable, water-resistant, and require minimal maintenance.They remain on the surface of the wood to form a protective coating. There are several types of surface finishes available:
Wax finishes soak into the wood and harden to form a protective penetrating seal, which will appear low luster and amber in color. They will dry in a variable amount of time depending on the type of wax used and the job-site conditions. Wax finishes are durable, but will show spots from water and other contaminates.
Acrylic impregnated finishes are injected into the wood to create a super-hard, extremely durable floor. Acrylic impregnated finishes rarely are used in residential applications. They most often are used in very high traffic areas in commercial settings such as malls and restaurants.
UV cured finishes are waterborne finishes that are cured using ultraviolet light. The cure time is instantaneous. Multiple sheen levels are available to suit your taste.
Penetrating and hardening oils are usually made of tung oils, linseed oils, or other natural oils, along with blends of additional additives that can assist in drying and hardness.
Talk to your installer regarding which type of finish best suits your needs and style.
The beauty and allure of tile flooring lasts a very long time when it is maintained properly. Much like hardwood, tile has a timeless appeal, especially when earth tones are used.
Tile is also one of the best surfaces to install over a radiant floor heating system. As these types of systems become more popular in American homes, it makes sense that tile will grow in demand. We offer many different types of tile and stone options that come from a variety of manufacturers.
Carpet continues to be classically timeless and sometimes the best choice for a particular room. . You can choose from thousands of carpet colors and styles. That means your ultimate choice will reflect how you want to personalize your living space. Carpet can be a neutral foundation, or it can be a focal point with vibrant colors and stronger bolder patterns and textures. We offer both Mohawk and Shaw.
Vinyl flooring comes in a variety of looks from natural stone or wood looks, to patterned designs. A great combination of beauty and function,vinyl is a durable and easy-to-cleanfloor type that can be installed anywhere in the home.
Laminate is a multi-layer synthetic flooring product fused together with a lamination process. Laminate flooring simulates wood (or sometimes stone) with a photographic applique layer under a clear protective layer.
A floating floor is a floor that does not need to be nailed or glued to the subfloor. The term floating floor refers to the installation method, but is often used synonymously with laminate flooring but is applied now to other coverings such as floating tile systems and vinyl flooring.