Guide For Selecting Hardwood Flooring Styles For Your Home by Manuel Lopez
Traditionally hardwood floors were only installed when a home was being built or during a major restoration. Options were restricted to local species and standard installations. Today, a beautiful hardwood floor is within everyone's reach.
The appearance of a hardwood floor depends on the local species of wood from which it is made. Every species has its own identifying grain pattern, similar to a fingerprint. For example, Oak's distinct grain is noticeably different from the delicate grain of Maple. Determining the right species of hardwood floor depends on what you are looking for in terms of color, style, grain and overall fashion.
Traditional Hardwoods:
Traditional hardwoods include oak, maple and hickory. Each has a unique grain and coloring, creating a different look and feel.
1. Oak has prominent grain lines and a traditional look that makes it the most popular hardwood, accounting for almost 90% of the market.
2. Maple has lighter grain lines, tends to be more whitish in color and doesn't take stain as well as oak (so it looks good with a clear coat or light stain).
3. Hickory features tighter grains which look better with darker stains.
Exotic Hardwoods:
Exotic refers to hardwoods that come from countries other than the US, such as Brazilian Cherry and South America Mahogany. The name "Exotic" comes from the fact that the wood has a "foreign" look, with unusual eye-catching colors and grains.
Rustic Hardwoods:
This refers to hardwoods that are "distressed" during the manufacturing process to give them an aged, antiqued or hand-milled look. Hardwoods can be distressed with metal chains or a wire brush to give it the look of old, reclaimed wood that has been walked on for centuries. Or it can be hand scraped to create the look of old fashioned, hand milled wood.
These woods have the same performance characteristics as traditional hardwood: but they are put through a time consuming, labor intensive process to give them the distinctive look of aged, reclaimed wood. Not surprisingly, they are relatively expensive.
To get a good understanding of the different styles available, Homeowners would benefit greatly by choosing a flooring company that has a good selection of wood styles. Homeowners should expect to have the choice to select among hundreds of different styles of hardwood flooring.
Homeowners should insist on a flooring company that can provide a design consultant that can actually visit the home to present and compare hardwood floor samples to determine whether or not a particular style complements the home.
Home Partners Atlanta, together with Simply Floored, is dedicated to bringing added value to your home. Simply Floored sells and installs hardwood flooring for homeowners throughout the Atlanta area. They are currently offering 3-year no interest financing. Visit them on the web at Hardwood Floors Atlanta GA or by phone at 678-535-0895.
Article Source: ArticleSnatch Free Article Directory
Traditionally hardwood floors were only installed when a home was being built or during a major restoration. Options were restricted to local species and standard installations. Today, a beautiful hardwood floor is within everyone's reach.
The appearance of a hardwood floor depends on the local species of wood from which it is made. Every species has its own identifying grain pattern, similar to a fingerprint. For example, Oak's distinct grain is noticeably different from the delicate grain of Maple. Determining the right species of hardwood floor depends on what you are looking for in terms of color, style, grain and overall fashion.
Traditional Hardwoods:
Traditional hardwoods include oak, maple and hickory. Each has a unique grain and coloring, creating a different look and feel.
1. Oak has prominent grain lines and a traditional look that makes it the most popular hardwood, accounting for almost 90% of the market.
2. Maple has lighter grain lines, tends to be more whitish in color and doesn't take stain as well as oak (so it looks good with a clear coat or light stain).
3. Hickory features tighter grains which look better with darker stains.
Exotic Hardwoods:
Exotic refers to hardwoods that come from countries other than the US, such as Brazilian Cherry and South America Mahogany. The name "Exotic" comes from the fact that the wood has a "foreign" look, with unusual eye-catching colors and grains.
Rustic Hardwoods:
This refers to hardwoods that are "distressed" during the manufacturing process to give them an aged, antiqued or hand-milled look. Hardwoods can be distressed with metal chains or a wire brush to give it the look of old, reclaimed wood that has been walked on for centuries. Or it can be hand scraped to create the look of old fashioned, hand milled wood.
These woods have the same performance characteristics as traditional hardwood: but they are put through a time consuming, labor intensive process to give them the distinctive look of aged, reclaimed wood. Not surprisingly, they are relatively expensive.
To get a good understanding of the different styles available, Homeowners would benefit greatly by choosing a flooring company that has a good selection of wood styles. Homeowners should expect to have the choice to select among hundreds of different styles of hardwood flooring.
Homeowners should insist on a flooring company that can provide a design consultant that can actually visit the home to present and compare hardwood floor samples to determine whether or not a particular style complements the home.
Home Partners Atlanta, together with Simply Floored, is dedicated to bringing added value to your home. Simply Floored sells and installs hardwood flooring for homeowners throughout the Atlanta area. They are currently offering 3-year no interest financing. Visit them on the web at Hardwood Floors Atlanta GA or by phone at 678-535-0895.
Article Source: ArticleSnatch Free Article Directory