Hardwood flooring is simply unmatched in terms of beauty, durability, and timeliness in modern homes. A hardwood floor installation adds value to your home, a warmth to your indoor spaces, and an authenticity that can’t be replicated by manufactured flooring types. My Affordable Floors is your local expert in hardwood floor installation in Milwaukee, Racine and Chicago, and we would enjoy the opportunity to beautify your home with hardwood flooring.
There are many questions to ask before you go ahead with your hardwood floor installation, and My Affordable Floors can answer them all. One of the most common questions is regarding the species of wood that are available for use as hardwood flooring. The following information is designed to help you make your decision and choose the perfect species of wood for your home.
Domestic hardwood flooring wood species like Red Oak, White Oak, Maple and more have long been used for hardwood flooring in homes across the United States. These domestic species are perfect for traditional settings or for complementing existing cabinets or furniture. Natural Red Oak is still one of the most sought after wood species, due to its hardness, beautiful grain pattern, and durability. For this reason, the hardness of any wood species are usually compared to the Janka hardness rating of Red Oak. With some exceptions, domestic wood species, unless stained a particular color, have a tendency to have lighter color tones. My Affordable Floors installs many styles of domestic wood species, including solid, engineered, click-locking, handscraped, character grade, distressed, natural and stained.
Even the best wood flooring will react to the presence of moisture. In the dry winter heating months, moisture leaves the wood causing the floor to contract, which can leave unsightly gaps between each plank. In the summer months, when the humidity is higher, the wood will absorb excess moisture and expand, eliminating the gaps. Too much moisture may cause the wood planks to cup, or buckle, distorting their appearance and ruining the smoothness of your floor. This is why it is important to properly acclimate wood materials to the home when installing a wood floor, and to leave the proper expansion gap around the perimeter and at all fixed objects. It is also important to keep the home’s relative humidity level at between 30 – 50% or what the manufacturer recommends. Doing this will help minimize any movement within the wood flooring later.
At My Affordable Floors, our 20 plus years of experience means we know the right way to install every hardwood flooring species, in every type of home to fit every lifestyle. We draw on our deep experience and skill to ensure that you get the right floor for your home, and have the knowledge necessary to get the most out of your investment.
Call Today for a Free Estimate!
My Affordable Floors is your hardwood flooring expert in Milwaukee, Racine and Chicago! Call us today at 262-653-1120 for a free, no-obligation estimate, or fill out our contact form to schedule a free, in-home visit.
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