Frequently Asked Questions
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Is Hardwood flooring a durable flooring solution
Hardwood flooring is considered a “lifetime” product when purchased in a quality engineered platform or a solid platform. Both floors may be re-coated forever and both may be “sanded & finished” typically 3-4 times in its life. Hardwood flooring will perform in any area or space, but care should be taken if installed in a “wet” environment such as a full time bathroom. These areas require proper ventilation to keep the hardwood from over exposure to excessive amounts of moisture. Most flooring products will scratch, even stone and concrete, but the advantage to hardwood is its ability to be repaired and restored back to its original condition once wear is showing.
Pre-finished vs On-site Finish
Pre-finished hardwood has become the preference with most consumers in recent years. There are many reasons for this change. Pre-finished offers a convenient time factor as once it’s installed it is ready to use. There is no wait or cure time, unless you are doing a full spread adhesive installation. You have a multitude of options for finished texture as well as color. There are a few advantages to an on-site finish that cannot be replicated in a pre-finished floor such as a “piano smooth” finish that is achieved with sanding. Also some specific custom applications will be achieved more easily with an on-site finish.
Solid or Engineered
A lot of people ask is engineered hardwood “real hardwood?” Well the short answer is yes! The difference is the platform that makes up the engineered product. Engineered hardwood has some advantages over solid hardwood. The “plywood” structure of engineered hardwood provides for a more stable product that enables wider products, longer lengths, and direct installation over concrete substrates. A large majority of manufacturers of engineered hardwood provide a top wear layer that is as equal to that of a solid product and allows for full sanding and finishing in the future. All hardwood flooring, whether solid or engineered, may be re-coated throughout its lifetime.
Water base or Oil base finish
Water base finish has been around now for more than 50 years but has made great advancements over the past decade and is more widely used than most people realize. Both water and oil provide a beautiful topcoat when applied correctly. Both products perform well and the argument of which is better will continue for sometime. Some of the advantages of water base urethane is its low VOC’s, quick dry and cure times, low odor in comparison to oil, and the ability to keep color in tact.