Hardwood Flooring
A Short History of Hardwood Flooring
Most European houses still lacked a wooden floor as late as 1625. The ground floor of the majority of houses had a beaten earth floor. For people of means, the second floor, if you could afford one, had 2 feet wide oak or elm wooden joists and plank flooring. It wasn’t until the Barouque Era (1625-1714) that only the most affluent and royal homes of the time had wooden floors, starting with the French parquetry and marquetry patterns. Some of the merchant class would imitate this by painting a plank floor with designs, but few of these floors survive today.
Because North America had an abundance of hardwoods, hardwood flooring became more common during the Colonial Era (1607-1780), with the use of the plank floor on the main floor. Americans could finally enjoy the resiliency and warmth of wooden floors.
More parquet patterns were being used by the early 19th century, but only in the richest of homes. Wooden plank floors remained the norm and were treated with paint, and in the better homes laid in a tongue and grove configuration. More average homes would use random width boards simply face nailed to the joists. The benefit of tongue and groove meant the boards could be leveled before they were painted. The floor installer and carpenters of the day would attach a scraper to a 6 foot pole and using his foot as weight, pull ribbons of overwood off the edges of the hardwood flooring boards. A final hand sanding, a good shellacking, and a team of servants to wax and buff the floor made these floors look beautiful.
Things to Consider When Selecting Hardwood Flooring
When considering the purchase of hardwood flooring for your San Diego area home, condo or apartment, there are many things to consider before making the decision about hardwood flooring versus laminate, tile, carpeting or another flooring material. There are more than 50 species of wood with various surface treatments that give each their own distinctive look. There are also a wide variety of hardwood flooring shapes, lengths and sizes to choose from. Some of the most popular choices of hardwood flooring usually come from deciduous trees like Oak, Cherry, Maple, Hickory and Walnut.
Hardwood Flooring Design Considerations
Using a dark hardwood floor and light walls will usually anchor the room, while a light floor in combination with a light wall will brighten the room, making it look larger and more modern. Parquet provides the richness and warmth of wood flooring, but the color of tile. Although oak still accounts for about two-thirds of all installed hardwood flooring in America, it’s losing ground to the new exotic hardwoods that have come on the market in recent years. A wide range of hardwood from other countries, especially Brazil, Australia and Asia, is gaining a foothold and nailing down homeowners’ interests.
Technically, bamboo is in the grass family, but it is considered a wood due to its hardness. Bamboo has become popular with “green” building proponents due to its rapid regrowth, which makes it highly sustainable and environmentally responsible. Cork comes in a range of shades from light to dark and has a familiar grain that’s unlike other woods (it’s actually the bark of a type of oak tree). It’s also very forgiving and has become popular with elderly people due to its cushioning effect. Brazilian cherry is very popular, with a russet or reddish-brown color, and medium to somewhat coarse grain. It’s slightly more stable than red oak, but requires a longer than normal acclimation period and can be more difficult to saw due to its high density.
Hardwood Floor Maintenance Tips
If maintained correctly, hardwood flooring should last forever. Hardwood cleaning should consist of sweeping or vacuuming using a soft broom, applying the recommended cleaner suggested by the manufacturer and using a dry mop with a terry cloth cover. Along with adding beauty to your home, this style of flooring will trap fewer allergens (dust, dust mites, pollen, etc) and leave you with a healthier environment.
Hardwood Refinishing
Refinishing a hardwood floor can be a challenging project for the do-it-yourselfer. The number one item on your tool list for this job is patience. The job requires lots of sanding with heavy tools. The sanders create lots of dust. Take heart though, your hard work will be rewarded with a beautiful “new” floor. If you don’t want to go the do-it-yourself route, Express Floors to Go can refer you to high quality hardwood flooring refinishers in San Diego. Here are a few good articles about hardwood floor refinishing:
How To Refinish Hardwood Floors With Water-Based Finishes
Refinishing Old Wood Floors- Sanding A Wood Floor
National Oak Flooring Manufacturers Association’s Finishing / Refinishing Manual
Hardwood installation
Hardwood flooring can provide beauty and value, virtually anywhere in your home. In areas where they may see water and spills, regular maintenance will keep them looking like new for years – but you might also decide on laminate or another flooring material if water and excess moisture is going to be an issue.
Hardwood floors can be installed above or below grade, on concrete slabs, over plywood subfloors, or over existing wood floors. With concrete, moisture control is essential, but can be managed with a film barrier applied directly over the concrete. Engineered wood subfloors must be screwed or nailed in place prior to installation. Here are some good articles in hardwood flooring installation:
Hardwood Flooring Installation Tips and Techniques
Glue-Down Hardwood Floor Installation – Video
For more information about hardwood flooring in San Diego, visit Express Floors to Go.com at 7636 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., San Diego, 92111; (858)751-0333