Home Interior Redesign Interested in renovating your flooring?

Interested in renovating your flooring?

by Debbie Correale

iStock_000009463516SmallAre you considering replacing your flooring this fall?  It is a great time of year for those types of renovations in preparation for the holidays and guests arriving.  The trend in 2014 is darker shades of wood or a reclaimed wood look.  Keep in mind if you have a pet, hair and dust will be seen on darker wood floors.  Let’s explore the different types of hardwood flooring options.

  • Solid Plank – this is considered real wood that usually comes in a thickness of 3/8 to 3/4 of an inch and can be refinished, stained, and sanded offering decades of use.
  • Engineered Wood – or prefabricated wood where the top layer is veneer glued to wood.
  • Reclaimed Wood – recycled wood from old barns or factories; people like it for an aged look and is a solid surface.
  • Porcelain “Wood” – rugged you can spill on it, works well with water damage, but it doesn’t feel like wood and is cold to the touch; whereas, wood offers a warmer feel.

How much hardwood flooring should I order?

According to BuildDirect.com website’s learning center, here is a tip on how to order hardwood flooring:

“How much do I need? Determining what you need is relatively easy. Measure the dimensions of the room in which you’ll be installing the floor and multiply length x width to get the total square footage. Always make sure to order 10% more than you need. This will cover off any boards that come damaged or become damaged during the installation process. It also provides you with some extra in the event you need to make a future repair. If you’re not sure how to calculate your square footage need, you can always ask your dealer for help.” (Source BuildDirect.com.)

Click here for a calculator tool to help you with this task from Lowes.com.

What is the Janka Hardness Test?

While you are looking into hardwood flooring, you will come across the phrase, Janka Hardness Test, which measures the force needed to embed a .444 inch steel ball to half its diameter into a piece of wood.  The higher the number, the harder the wood, for a chart of wood types and their corresponding hardness rating, click here.  The harder the wood, the more durable and able to withstand wear over an extended period of time.

Companies that offer a variety of flooring options:

  • Shaw Floors has a product, EnviroCare, which is an engineered hardwood flooring that has a high-density core which is harder, denser, and greener than regular hardwood.  Click here to read more about this product.
  • Looking for something non-traditional?  Consider wood planks that are cut with a curvy border, click here to view ideas from BoleFloor.com.
  • Looking for a wide-plank flooring options?  Click here for a gallery from Carlisle Wide Plank Floors.
  • Bronze Ultra Strand Bamboo flooring, though not a hardwood, is a sustainable grass that has been manufactured to look like wood with a smooth and rich finish.  Click here to view options from BellaWood.com.
  • Looking for a weathered flooring option?  Click here to read about the Maine Heritage Timber company who specialize in reclaiming old wood.
  • If you’re interested in the look of wood but want something that is durable, consider Porcelain Tile.  Click here to to learn more about Porcelain Tile options from BuildDirect.com or Lowes.com.  Another option that looks like hardwood and is affordable is laminate flooring from Armstrong, click here to view.

If you need help deciding on a color or how to arrange a space, contact Debbie@RedesignRight.com for all your Interior Design and Home Staging service and training needs!

By Debbie Correale, founder and owner of Redesign Right, LLC. You can learn more about her at www.RedesignRight.com. Find her on Facebook.com/RedesignRight, Twitter @RedesignRight, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Houzz and Google+.

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