How About Hardwood?

By Renee Houston Zemanski

This handcrafted hickory floor from Anderson 's Virginia Vintage collection combines the beauty of wide-plank, antique flooring with the convenience of modern day.

Looking to install hardwood flooring? You're not alone. Hardwood has become the flooring of choice for many homeowners. There are so many options it can make your head spin. Do you want factory-finished or unfinished? Engineered wood or hardwood? What species of wood? How durable is each type? What color? What style? High-gloss or matte?

The options you choose are a matter of personal preference and practicality. Each type of hardwood flooring has its advantages and disadvantages. One major advantage of installing factory-finished floors is that they can be installed in as little as one day, without dust or odors. Installing unfinished hardwood and then finishing a floor in your home can take up to a week and you have to live with the dust, fumes, and drying time—which aren't necessarily a problem if you haven't moved in yet.

With an unfinished hardwood floor, you can customize your floor's color and shine if you can't find exactly the look you want in a factory-finished product. You can also sand and refinish most hardwoods up to eight times, except that most factory-finished floors can't be refinished. But they are remarkably durable because they are covered with at least four coats of ultraviolet-cured urethane resin. According to the Hardwood Information Center , a service of the Hardwood Manufacturers Association, some of the newer factory-applied polyurethane finishes contain aluminum oxide and may be guaranteed for up to 25 years.

Engineered hardwoods are made of several layers of different woods, or different grades of the same wood, stacked and glued together under heat and pressure. This type of flooring is best for basements, or any rooms that are below grade, because of their ability to withstand a certain amount of moisture. Many engineered-wood floors can be sanded once or twice. Less expensive engineered woods have very thin top layers and cannot be sanded or refinished.

If you choose to install unfinished wood flooring, you have to have your floors finished in your home. In this case, it's wise to choose a professional with good references to apply the stain and finish. A variety of tough finishes can be applied; however, polyurethane continues to be the most popular. You also have a choice of what type of sheen you want your floor to have. Don't think that an elegant, glossy surface is going to withstand a bevy of boys and a deluge of dogs trooping in and out of your front foyer. High-gloss finishes are pretty, but they tend to show every scratch—a lesson learned in my previous home. A matte-finish floor shows less wear. While all hardwood floors are durable, some dent and scuff more easily than others. If you like the distressed look, you probably won't have a problem with a softer wood. It's not recommended to install hardwood flooring in any area that will be subject to excessive moisture—such as below-grade basements or even bathrooms—another lesson learned from my home. If you want to install something other than carpet, consider installing laminate or engineered woods or some type of tile in these areas.

New “Old” Trends

Wide-plank, engineered hardwood floor from Anderson 's Virginia Vintage collection is welcoming and nostalgic.

While there are myriad types, styles, and colors of hardwood floors on the market, Don Finkell, CEO of Anderson Hardwood Floors, says that he's seen a general trend toward natural material and historic illusion flooring—surfaces that are made to look like they are 100 years old. To meet the growing demand for the weathered, antique look, the company developed Virginia Hand-Scraped floors. Anderson experts studied the patina of older homes to capture the unique look of older floors, all the way down to the wear patterns and crackled paint that give them character.

“It's the look of long ago with today's modern conveniences—you don't have to wax, just damp mop and go,” says Finkell.

Wide planks are becoming much more popular, too. But if you have a waterfront house, you might be wise to opt for engineered-plank floors, since the wider hardwood planks tend to cup when moisture and humidity settle in.

Ancient History

Many local folks don't have to purchase 100-year-old–looking floors because they have them right under their feet (or carpet). With minor repairs, this hardwood flooring can be restored to its original beauty.

There are many advantages to restoring original wood floors. Many older hardwood floors offer higher quality hardwoods, such as old-growth and quarter-sawn material, than you could buy today. The look of an aged floor can be mimicked, yet knowing that those worn spots are authentic adds charm and character to your home.

When pulling up that lovely wall-to-wall, lime-green shag, you may discover carpet padding that has been attached with hundreds of staples or with adhesive. More than likely, carpet tack strip will also have to be removed. Unfortunately, you may find some other surprises under your carpeting—after years and years, you may find pet stains or other similar stains in the hardwood floor. In these cases, the stains cannot be removed and replacement becomes necessary. You can use wood from unseen areas such as closets to ensure a perfectly aged match.

If you have old but salvageable hardwood throughout your home except in one area, Finkell suggests installing something such as wide planks that would work well with the existing wood. Create a unique look in that one room, but keep at least one unifying element—maybe match the color. Before attempting to do it yourself, you may want to call in an expert on historic renovation to advise you about what works and what doesn't on old floors. No one can match finishes exactly, but an experienced professional with a good eye can get very close. For best results, consider refinishing the old floor with the same finish and sheen as the new one.

Maintain the Beauty

Unfortunately, you still have to clean your floors. Fortunately, if you have new hardwood flooring, it's an easy job. Remember that water is wood's number-one enemy. Wipe up any spills immediately with a soft, dry cloth. Sweep floors regularly with a broom, dust mop, or canister vacuum with special hardwood floor attachments. Do not use a vacuum with beater bars. They can dent your floor's finish. There are several hardwood floor cleaners on the market; select the one that works best for you.

Never wax floors that have a polyurethane finish. If you have older, oil-treated floors, care for them with liquid paste wax only. Varnished floors (not the same as urethane-treated ones) also require waxing.

The sun's ultraviolet rays can burn and age your wood flooring. Prolonged exposure to sunlight will change the color of virtually any wood floor, regardless of the stain or finish. Newer water-based urethane finishes seem to slow color changes more effectively than oil-based urethane finishes. Some finishes even feature sunscreens to help block the penetration of ultraviolet rays.

For additional protection from the sun, consider installing curtains or blinds that limit exposure. Windows also can be fitted with a type of UV film, but it can be costly.

Whatever look you decide you want in your home, know that hardwood floors are a good investment and are easy to maintain. The Hardwood Information Center 's Web site, www.hardwoodinfo.com, provides more information about hardwood floors, including installation tips.

Fake It: The Lowdown on Laminates

Laminate is the logical choice if you are on a budget or you want to install a wood look in a moisture-prone area. While hardwood is often thought to be a better and richer choice, there are many advantages to laminate flooring. Not only can laminate flooring be installed above or below grade, it can also be installed over virtually any other flooring surface. Laminate's scratch-resistant and fade-resistant surface makes it a practical choice for many.

Constructed of several layers that are laminated together for stability and strength, laminate flooring has on its surface a high-quality photograph of hardwood.

Laminates are a durable and affordable option, typically costing half as much as traditional hardwood flooring. Laminate flooring is also easy to install, so you save money on the installation, too. Most people can install lock-in-place laminate themselves. There are still some laminates that are installed with glue, but the majority of manufacturers have gone glueless.

A couple words of wisdom in case you decide to install laminate: Although laminate flooring can be installed over concrete, wood, vinyl tile, linoleum, or tile, make sure that surface is flat, dry, and smooth. Allow your laminate flooring to acclimate to the room where it will be installed for as long as possible (min. 48 hours). Always use underlayment under your laminate floor for soundproofing.

Considerations

Shopping for a hardwood floor? Here are some things to consider:

Style If you want a traditional or formal look, it's best to go with oak or hickory. Dark finishes are also considered more traditional. You can best attain a country or casual look by installing distressed hardwood, wide plank, or pine. For a more modern look, try a light maple or bamboo.

Longevity Can the floor be refinished and, if so, about how many times? Pre-finished floors or engineered floors can be refinished once, if at all. Some floors that are installed unfinished and then stained can be sanded and refinished up to eight times. Polyurethane finishes typically last 15 to 20 years.

Durability Hardwood floors are remarkably durable. Think professional basketball courts and gymnasium floors. Consider woods on the harder side of the Janka hardness scale if you have children and pets.

Cost Factory-finished flooring typically costs more to buy but tends to be cheaper to install because there is no onsite finishing expense. Labor costs vary regionally, but experts say the total prices (including installation) of comparable floors (factory-finished or unfinished) often are pretty close. Hardwood floors will last a lifetime and you can't get any more cost-effective than that.

Sustainability. If you are an environmentally conscious homeowner, you will be pleased to know that most American hardwoods are sustainable, renewable, and eco-friendly.

The Hardwood Information Center , www.hardwoodinfo.com, a service of the Hardwood Manufacturers Association, has more information about hardwood floors, including installation tips.

Contributing Home and Style editor Renee Houston Zemanski has hardwood covering her entire first floor, which her husband lovingly installed himself, piece by piece. They recently replaced their family room carpet with an engineered hardwood floor to withstand the stampede of boys and animals that enter and exit all day long.