Category Archives: Hardwood

There are several ways that you can make your new hardwood floor look aged. Aged floors have become very trendy recently. You can see that with the trend towards live edge floors, hand scraped wood, reclaimed wood and more. One of the ways you might distress the wood is by brushing it. Essentially, the wood is brushed with a wire brush to scrape away some of the wood and create irregular blemishes. When applied to a complete floor, it can look great.

Wire Brushed Floor

Once your floor has been installed, but before it has been finished, you can brush the floor with a stiff-bristled wire brush. It can be brushed by you or it can be brushed at a factory. If it’s brushed by a machine, the brushing will look somewhat uniform. That will slightly negate the authentic feel of the wood. It will make it look more modern and not antique. If you want a great antique feel, you need to brush it by hand. Brush it with different lengths and pressures as you go over the entire floor. That will create the authentic look.

Then you need to choose the right finish for your wire brushed floor.

Choose the Right Finish

A wire brushed floor look antique and distressed because of the scratches that the wire brush creates in the wood. If you choose a high gloss wood finish, it will likely reflect too much light and make the scratches stand out too much. If the scratches stand out like that, they’ll look inauthentic. However, if you choose a matte finish, the scratches will blend and make the floor look somewhat cloudy. You need something that draws attention to the scratches without making them stand out too much. A satin or a semi-gloss are often a great choice for finishes for wire brushed floors.

If you want the wood to grow darker and richer over time, we should consider using oil or wax instead of sealing it with polyurethane. Oil and wax will darken the wood as they age.

Choose the Right Stain

If you’re looking for an authentic, antique feel, you don’t’ want to choose a stain that is too dark. Most antique home hardwood floors were not stained; therefore, anything that is a noticeable stain will look inauthentic. Something warm is a great choice. A warm color such as a deep amber will help your floor look great while also accentuating the wire brushing.

If you’ve been looking for a hardwood floor, especially reclaimed or distressed hardwood flooring, you’ve likely noticed that certain floors are billed as “hand scraped” wood. It’s obviously something that has to do with aged wood floors, but what does it mean?

What Does It Mean

Before sandpaper was invented, wood had to be smoothed by hand. This was done with a draw knife. A draw knife is a knife with blade and handles on either side of it. The crafter of the floor grips both hands and pulls the knife across the surface of the wood. This is the scraping. Ideally, it scrapes away the rough surface of the wood, creating a smooth surface. However, it does not create a uniformly smooth surface. There will be scrapes of different depths and lengths. That creates the look of antique hardwood flooring. If you’re looking for new flooring that looks antique, hand scraped is a way to go. It’s a subtle touch that makes the floor look aged.

Authenticity

Hand scraped wood flooring can lend authenticity to your faux aged hardwood floor. However, it needs to be genuinely scraped by hand. There are also floors that are scraped by machines. While they mimic hand scraped wood somewhat, they’re too uniform. The charm of a hand scraped wooden floor is the unpredictability. Each draw of the knife is a different lethn and pressure. That creates irregularity in the wood. That’s not something that can be mimicked by machines. Make sure you buy a hand scraped wooden floor that’s actually scraped by hand.

The floor can be scraped by the person installing the floor, by you, or it can be scraped at the factory. Typically, the only wood that can be hand scraped is solid plank hardwood. Solid plank is the only wood thick enough to withstand the scraping process.

If you choose to scrap the wood yourself, you should make sure you practice in an unnoticeable spot or with extra wood. Also, you should make sure you buy an actual draw knife. The design of the knife is important to getting the right look. If you choose machine scraped wood, it can look great too.

You should make sure you look at the different types of scraping and make sure the matching pieces are installed as far away from each other as possible. That’s the best way to mimic an authentic floor with a machine processed floor.

Mold is a problem for all kinds of floors, but it is a particularly difficult problem for hardwood floors. Because the floors have a subfloor beneath them and the wood itself is porous, it can absorb and trap moisture. When moisture is trapped in dark spaces, it becomes a magnet for mold. Mold spores are always present in microscopic amounts and when they find fertile breeding ground, they begin to multiply rapidly. Mold can occur in old homes as well as new homes. It’s important that you remove it as soon as possible when you spot it. It can lead to breathing problems, illnesses, and just generally ruin the aesthetics of your floor. Here is how to tackle the problem.

Step 1: Get the Right Equipment

Mold spores are very tiny; therefore, you need to wear clothes you are prepared to throw away or to have dry cleaned. A run through a normal washing machine won’t be enough to get all of the mold spores. Also, you need to be wearing rubber gloves and goggles. Finally, you need a respirator. A standard dust mask will not work to trap mold spores.

Seal the room with the mold as well as you can. That means using plastic sheeting and duct tape to seal around cracks and windows. If you have a ventilation fan that points to the outside, that would be a great addition as well.

Step 2: Remove the Mold

The most efficient way to remove mold from your hardwood floors is by physically removing it. You can purchase a scraper at a local hardware store or use a sander. A sander is faster, but you have to be extra careful as that can put mold spores in the air. Double check your seals around doors and windows.

Sand or scrape away the mold and seal it in a trash bag.

Step 3: Discarding the Mold

You do not want to take the discarded mold through your house if at all possible. Even a few spores of mold can spread to the rest of the house. If at all possible, throw the mold out of the nearest door or window. If that’s not possible, be sure to double bag it.

Step 4: Treating the Floor

You need to also get to the root cause of the mold. If you know where the moisture came from, then you simply need to sand the floor and refinish it. If you do not know where the moisture came from, you need to get in touch with specialists before you refinish the floor. Otherwise, you’ll have the same problem again.

Hardwood floors can last decades if they are well maintained. In fact, hardwood floors in some parts of the country were installed before the Civil War. These were largely made from the heartwood of old growth trees. That is some of the densest and hardest wood that you can find. If you want a hardwood floor that you won’t have to replace for a very long time, you should consider the hardness of the different exotic flooring materials. That hardness is rated on the Janka scale.

1 – Patagonian Rosewood – 3840 on the Janka Scale

Patagonian rosewood is a very rare wood that is sourced from Argentina. Rosewoods are so named for their beautiful, rich coloring. They’re prized for everything from small chess pieces to entire floors. It is the hardest wood commonly used for flooring. It is also rich with many oils that will help to repel pests and resist moisture. It responds well to a semi-gloss polyurethane. This floor will last you for a very long time.

2 – Brazilian Walnut – 3680 on the Janka Scale

A Brazilian walnut floor is sourced from walnut trees in Brazil, as the name indicates. It is a very hard wood that resists scratching. It is typically a deep brown color with strong grain that manifests in long lines. You cannot go wrong with Brazilian walnut.

3 – Brazilian Ebony – 3585 on the Janka Scale

Ebony is not as dark as many people might think; many people associate it with actual black wood. Brazilian ebony is not black; instead, it is a rich chocolate color with dark grain throughout. The grain swirls in very exotic patterns that are not replicated by any other wood. If you choose Brazilian ebony, it will be hard enough to resist pets’ claws and attractive enough to draw people’s attention.

4 – Cumaru – 3540 on the Janka Scale

Cumaru comes in the standard variety as well as red cumaru. Often called “Brazilian teak,” it is a very dense wood with a very tight grain. If you’re looking for the seamless, modern floor, cumaru or red cumaru would be an exceptional choice.

5 – Brazilian Pecan – 3540 on the Janka Scale

A species of hickory, the Brazilian pecan variety, is almost twice as hard as domestic hickory. Brazilian pecan is also probably the most visually striking of the different very hard hardwoods. It is known for the huge color differences that can arise even within the same plank of wood.

Any of these five woods would last a very long time even in high traffic areas or with pets. The differences are largely aesthetic and economic.

Oak flooring is one of the most popular wood choices in the United States and for good reason. Oak is durable, easy to work with and easy to obtain. American oak fits into two categories- red oak and white oak. Both of these choices are popular and durable. Oak is great because it can be stained and the oil content of the wood doesn’t interfere with the finish. White oak is denser than red oak and has a higher janka rating. Both are grown in many states in the US as well as south central canada.

White Oak and Red oak have different color and graining patterns. White oak has a tighter graining pattern and it is darker than red oak. White oak can have some pinkish hues but it is generally more brown/gray in color. Red oak has a more prominent grain and it more linear and open than the graining pattern of white oak. Red oak has some brown hues but also has a pinkish/red to it.

Another commonly used oak is a European oak. European oak is commonly used in Germany, England and France – when installing hardwood floors. It can also be called english oak or French Oak. The janka rating of european oak is the same as white oak. The geographical difference changes the look of the wood and it has different color, graining and hues than american oaks. The grain pattern is generally softer and waiver. European oaks have a darker color with a warm brown town.

The milling of European oak is also different and it is sought after because of the longer lengths and wider planks. These trees grow differently and the sapwood is wider and thicker than the heartwood. THe sapwood is where you get clearer wood so the wider sapwood allows you to get pieces that are clearer at wider widths.

European oak is processed differently than American oak. The wood is live-sawn which means the log of the tree is cut right through from the front to the back. The live-sawn process allows the different cuts of hardwood to be incorporated in this type of cut. THe flooring will have the natural graining showing through and creates a very stable floor. American oak is cut with three different sawing methods- rift, quartered, and plain

European oak or French oak is a beautiful option and has a unique look. The wide planks are very popular and french oak is growing in popularity for good reason.

Hardwood flooring is not invincible but there are some choices that will work better with dogs than others. There are lot of hardwood flooring products on the market these days and you may be curious if one is better choice for pet owners than others. We will go over all the different flooring choices and help you understand the benefits and drawbacks of each.

Site Finished and Prefinished Hardwood Flooring-

Prefinished floors and site finished hardwood are both durable solid wood. Some prefinished hardwood flooring includes an aluminum oxide finish which is very durable and can be more durable than a site finished coating. Aluminum oxide finish include flecks of aluminum oxide which helps to create a very strong wear layer. Also prefinished flooring is likely UV finished. UV finished products can be added on site but not all companies offer it. UV coats are fully cured immediately which is a big benefit. Prefinished flooring has a slight edge over site finished flooring in the scratching department.

Color- THe color of the hardwood may not prevent scratching but it may be able to help hide it. Lighter wood with more grain patterns like oak can help camouflage scratching and some dents which is something pet owners should pay attention to. The surface texture of the wood is also something to consider. A hand scraped floor can be great for hiding scratches because the surface is already textured and it will be less noticable.

When looking at engineered wood you may want to look for acrylic impregnated engineered hardwood flooring. This wear layer can help increase the durability on engineered products making it a great option for pet owners. The pores of the wear layer are injected with acrylic finish to help strengthen the wear layer. These engineered products have less room for movement which helps with dents and scratching. Engineered products can be a great choice for pet owners.

The species of hardwood you choose can also help with scratch resistance. Some hardwood flooring materials are harder than others because of the type of wood they are. American cherry is considered a softwood species while brazilian walnut is an incredibly hard wood. The Janka Hardness rating is used to rank wood species on their relative hardness. Both exotic and domestic woods are tested. Maple and hickory are both great options because they are light in color and have a higher hardness level then some other woods.

In the end there are a lot of options for hardwood flooring in pet friendly homes. Keeping your dog’s nails short, reserving play time for outside and keeping water dishes off the floor are all steps that can help protect your floor from your dog and keep it beautiful for years to come.

If you are are planning a hardwood update to your home you may be thinking about some of the details like the orientation of the floor. The direction your hardwood flooring is installed relies on a few factors. While you may see hardwood flooring running in all different directions in a showroom or commercial space there are some factors that have to be taken into consideration within your home.

The factors that affect the installation direction of hardwood flooring include the installation method, visual aesthetics and the structural integrity. A contractor is a great resource for choosing the best direction for installation based on these factors.

The subfloor is something that must be considered for the direction of the flooring as well as the method of installation. Concrete subfloors require different installation methods than a plywood subfloor. Concrete floors have little effect on the direction of installation for your flooring. If the flooring will be installed over plywood there is more to consider. First the flooring will probably be installed with the nail down method. Then the floor joists will be considered the flooring will likely run perpendicular to the floor joist. There are exceptions and was around this but this is the general rule of thumb.

When choosing the direction based on visual aesthetics there are more factors to consider. The general rule is to run the planks into the front entry way to create a sense of openness and flow to the home. Hallways should have the planks running with the hallway. Directional changes with the home should be avoided because they affect the flow of the space. If you want to define a space you can alter the direction of the flooring to create the feeling of a divide, this technique is used in some dining spaces or studies. Depending on the design of a home an angled installation can even be utilized. It is all dependent on the look you want.

While structural integrity should be considered first the orientation of the wood becomes a big design element. Flooring can really change a space and talking with your contractor

Regardless of what flooring specifies of wood you have it is important to remember that wood is an organic product and is affected by the water present in the wood at any given time. The fibers within the food are constantly changing because of the solidity, flexibility and tension of the fibers.

The conditions in your home are constantly changing and can have an affect on the wood in your home. The outdoor temperature, the HVAC system in your home and the tightness of your home can all affect your wood. Changes are commonly seen in hardwood flooring during the winter because of the heating system. The wood loses moisture during the winter which causes it to contract and create gaps.

Acclimating the hardwood is a big part of preventing gapping. Allowing the hardwood to match the ambient humidity and temperatures of your home before installation is vital. If there is a difference between the moisture content in the sub-floor and the flooring is is more likely to cause shrinking and gapping or even buckling in some situations. The duration of the acclimation process varies based on the season, air tightness of your home and the local weather.

In home humidity factors are also a big element in gapping. The humidity of your home is most likely to cause expansion and contraction in your hardwood. Keeping the temperature and humidity constant can best decrease the risk of gapping. A humidifier is a great way to keep the moisture level in your home higher during the drier months.

Gapping is not the end of the world but by acclimation and humidity control you can keep your gapping to a minimum.

Hardwood floor care is not complicated but there is a lot of conflicting advice out there. Hardwood is an investment and caring for it properly extends its life span and beauty. These three easy tips will keep your floor in good shape for years to come.

1- Clean the Floors Regularly
Hardwood flooring is pretty easy to maintain but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t need regular cleaning and care. You will need a few cleaning tools and regular maintenance to keep your floors looking good and help extend the lifespan of your flooring.

You will want to keep the indoor environment stable to best protect your flooring, the indoor temperature should be between 60-80 degrees and the relative humidity should be between 30-50% all year. The floors should be cleaned regularly to remove debris. Sweeping, vacuuming or dust mopping are all options for regularly cleaning your floors. When needed you will want to clean your hardwood with an approved floor cleaner. The manufacture of the finish or pre-finished wood may have suggested a specific cleaner that works best with their product. Remember to never wet-mop your floors. Wet-mopping can damage the floors finish and cause wood to cup.

2- Protect the Floor Against Pets
Hardwood is great option for homes with pets but there are some measures you will want to take to protect the floor. Keeping your dogs nails trimmed is a vital step to preventing scratching on the floor. Also keeping dog water bowls of the wood or on a mat to protect the floor is important as well.

3- Prevent rug backing from scratching or discoloring the floor with a floor protector
When adding rugs to your home you will want to choose rugs with a natural backing instead of a synthetic backing. Synthetic backings can damage and discolor wood flooring. There are floor pads you can purchase that create a barrier between synthetic backing rugs and the floor if you cannot find a rug with a natural backing.

Similar to the backing of a rug you will want to added non-abrasive felt-backed pads or floor protectors under furniture. Rubber or plastic backed products can trap moisture and discolor the floor.

These three simple maintenance tips can protect your floor and help increase the longevity of your investment.

While hardwood flooring is durable it can scratch. Pets, animals and other factors can cause scratches. There are some options that can help treat scratches and repair small imperfections without a drastic measures like refinishing the floor. *Please note: some “scratches” are not scratches and are depressions in the wood and can only be fixed with a refinish of the floor.

Surface scratches-

Very light scratches can be repaired with a good cleaningproduct. If you have a prefinished floor you will need to ensure that the products are compatible with your floor. Next you will thoroughly clean the area  with a micro-fiber towel. This will get any dirt out of the scratch and possibly make it not visible from a standing position.

Deep Narrow Scratches-

If the scratch has penetrated the stain and finish layer and is exposing bare wood you can likely make the scratch look better. A stain pen or stain product can help conceal the different color of the natural wood. This technique wont conceal the dip or imperfection from the scratch but will make it less noticeable.

Wider scratches or gouges can be difficult to cover without professional help. A patch can help make the gouge less noticeable. This process will require more products like wood filler, sandpaper, and finish product. This process will not be flawless but can help to make a wide gouge from a distance.

If a scratch cant be fixed with these options a professional can help. A buff and coat is an option for a surface scratches and doesn’t take much time. A refinish will remove deeper scratches, dents and other imperfections.