HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT HARDWOOD FLOORING WOOD SPECIES

If you’re considering picking a hardwood floor for your home odds are you are searching for a durable flooring option. The durability of any wood flooring is dependent upon its hardness.
The harder the flooring is the greater can it withstand scratching and wear related harm.
Nonetheless, regardless of what the name might indicate, not all of hardwood is hard. Some woods are harder than others. How can you determine which one is right for you? Fear not, we have got you covered!

How hard is hardwood really?

The hardness of timber is determined by how much pressure it can withstand. The Janka Hardness Test measures the hardness of different wood species and classifies them from the outcomes. During the testing, a steel ball having an 11.28-millimeter diameter is pressed into the wood to half the ball’s diameter. This makes a circular indention from the timber having an area of 100 square millimeters. The quantity of force spent on the task is measured in pounds-force (lbf) or newtons (N).The more force this process necessitates the stronger is the wood species. Since the testing is completed on the surface of the plank and the force is applied horizontally into the wood’s grain it’s possible to also determine side hardness.
To achieve reliable results the timber employed in the test has been air-dried to some 12% moisture content.
The Janka Hardness test also gives insight regarding how well a particular wood could take on dents and daily wear.

Because of the various features of various wood species, the difference between wood hardnesses is considerable.
Australian Buloke is the strongest wood on the list. With 5060 pound-force, it is well above some of the most well-known exotic woods such as Brazilian Walnut and Bolivian Cherry. It’s almost two times as strong as Red Mahogany and Southern Chestnut and three times more powerful than the ever popular flooring choice of Americans — Hickory.

Testing and collecting data is one thing but successfully implementing the results to your renovation project is another thing. Knowing in advance what to expect from particular wood species can make it easier for you to decide on the right type of flooring for your house.

Maple
1450 lbf
This timber species is native to the northern regions of the US and Canada. Maple hardwood is mostly of a faint white colour which may slightly vary from board to board. The continuity of tone during the board depends upon the caliber of the wood. Maple flooring can contain minimal to a good deal of brownish/black mineral streaks. The higher the quality is the least marks of this kind occur. Maple graining (occasionally straight lines( other occasions curly patterns) is so nice that often times it goes unnoticed. “Birdseye” graining is also characteristic to walnut. Birdseye is a distinctive pattern which resembles tiny eyes and is common in several wood species. Though walnut hardwood is largely known as a very hardwood species, it comprises areas which have thicker structure. This can sometimes lead to uneven color distribution when staining the floor. To avoid blotchiness it’s suggested to use a liquid timber conditioner prior to applying a stain to your maple floor.

What is the perfect hardness your preferred wood species ought to have?
As long as you’re installing a flooring for residential use there’s little chance you would need something from the top of the Janka Hardness listing. Red Oak, White Oak or Maple are some of the most common domestic flooring choices across the North America. The majority of the domestic wood species tend to be of a lighter color unless stained or otherwise distressed.
Exotic woods come normally in more colours and vary from board to board. Their grain pattern is also more unusual and less constant than in the event of wood. This unique look has caused a huge spike in exotic wood floor sales in the previous decade in america. Most exotic timber species are even more difficult and consequently more resilient than standard domestic wood species.

But, hardness isn’t always excellent. Most of us install a hardwood flooring to avoid the problem of installing and removing a new one years later. Solid hardwood floors can be sanded and refinished up to five times. But sanding and refinishing a truly hard hardwood flooring is not all that simple. Because of the strong constructed hardest floors require very precise work and could splinter. This is also the reason why exotic timber species are somewhat more expensive to treat and require a specialist who has expertise in the matter.

Domestic Hardwood Species
Red Oak
1290 lbf
Red Oak is somewhat the classic flooring option. It is so popular that every additional timber is measured against its hardness and durability. The species usually has moderate to thick graining with moderate shade variants. The colour of a Red oak flooring can be anywhere between creamy pinks to light reds all the way to darker tones such as colors of brown. Unlike white oak that has more earthly colored undertones (browns and greys), red oak is known for much more pinkish look.

Hickory
1820 lbf
Hickory is one of the most difficult species of timber that is indigenous to North America. Due to the wonderful number of colour and distinctive graining, it is among the popular forests also.
Coloring for Hickory hardwood floors can vary from creamy whites to medium browns and to darker browns. For the most from the unique grain variant of Hickory it is typical to reduce it in 5″ and broader boards.

Brazilian Cherry

2820 lbf
Brazilian Cherry is a exotic wood species famous for its intense color variations. Also known as Jatoba, it is on the top of this Janka hardness rating. When installed it created a beautiful reddish/brown routine with reddish/blonde highlights and sometimes deep red selections.
Unlike many flooring choices that generally fade when exposed to sunlight, Brazilian Cherry gets richer and darkens with exposure to light. The special graining plays a part in producing an intriguing and inviting environment.

Santos Mahogany

2200 lbf
This timber species is your second-most popular choice among the exotic kind. In comparison to Brazilian Cherry, the most common exotic wood on the current market, the design of this wood stays mostly homogenous through the board. Color version ranges from medium brownish/orange to dark brown. Santos Mahogany hardwood has wavy grain that incorporates an open layout. Exactly like Brazilian Cherry, when exposed to mild Santos Mahogany will end up richer.

Bamboo

Unlike other woods bamboo does not possess a set Janka hardness rating. The hardness of bamboo depends on the harvesting time. Cheaper bamboo has usually been harvested sooner than more expensive bud and is significantly less hard.

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5 Great Bedroom Flooring Options

Assessing Your Bedroom Flooring Options

Five exciting options to add comfort and style.

It is also the location in which you finish your day, start your morning, and then escape to when you have to unwind. That is why comfort issues more than anything else. If you’re thinking about replacing the flooring in the bedroom, you’ve got plenty of options. Investigate the most typical below as you start to organize your redecoration job.

Carpeting

It simply makes sense that you would want to go from the softness of a mattress to the softness of rug. The plush feel and yearlong warmth of carpet make this an ideal choice for all sorts of bedroom layouts.

Today’s rug comes in a massive variety of colors and patterns and is available with a variety of textures. The only drawback is that carpet can be more challenging to maintain than other bedroom flooring choices.

Hardwood

Hardwood may not be as immediately comfortable as carpet, but it does provide the bedroom a natural, cozy feeling that’s quickly relaxing. Plus, compared to vinyl or rock alternatives, hardwood is softer and better insulated.

A lot of men and women choose to pair hardwood with carpets or other floor coverings. Just be sure to work a qualified hardwood floor installer to prevent annoying squeaks and creaks that can disturb a sleeping spouse.

Cork

Cork flooring has exploded in popularity in recent years, particularly as a substance for bedroom flooring.

Better still, with some very simple upkeep, cork is long-lasting and largely immune to stains. The only thing to be worried about is the fact that cork is a very soft material that could scratch under animal claws or furniture legs. Want bedroom flooring thoughts?

Vinyl

Vinyl floors is not only for the kitchen. It’s turning into one of the more prevalent bedroom floors choices because it provides remarkable versatility. It’s available in a near limitless assortment of looks, and if combined with underlayment padding it supplies the durability and softness of carpeting.

Better still, vinyl is quite easy to look after, especially in regions such as the bedroom that have lower foot traffic. Many homeowners, however, object to the fact that vinyl is a non-sustainable substance with a significant environmental effect.

Laminate

Laminate flooring is famous as a cheap alternative to more expensive materials such as hardwood. The appearance is remarkably similar, but laminate can be found in a fraction of the price and a lot less difficult to install. When coupled with underlayment padding alternatives, laminate floors may also be unbelievably comfortable. Take note, the cheap of this laminate is offset by its relatively short lifespan.

Find All Your Bedroom Flooring Options at Floor Sanding Victoria

Know which choice is ideal for you? Still trying to make up your thoughts? Either way, see Floor Sanding Victoria And get started working with such bedroom floor choices in person. The best way to make up your mind would be to experience the look and feel of every choice with your own eyes and hands. Don’t hesitate to contact us should you have any questions.

 

What Is Fumed Oak Flooring?

Fumed, or smoked oak is oak wood flooring which has been treated to change its color. Fuming or smoking entails putting the oak in an enclosed environment in which ammonia is introduced to the air. This enclosed environment may be a closed tank or a sealed jar or some form of container to which only a rather modest amount of ammonia is introduced. The impact of the ammonia from the atmosphere is that the color of the timber is changed.

It is a frequent mistake which fuming or smoking pine includes the application of this ammonia into the walnut, but this is not the situation. The change in color comes about from the wood’s reaction to the presence of ammonia in the atmosphere. Effectively what happens is that the ammonia results in the tannins in the wood to be brought to the surface. The nearer the tannins are into the surface, the darker the timber will look. The more the wood is subjected to the ammonia, the darker it becomes. The results obtained from fuming or smoking will vary from a rich brown colour to almost black.

Basically, the intensity of the colour and also the tone of the colour will depend upon the length of time the wood remains in contact with all the ammonia fumes. Periods of as little as half an hour will offer a lightly fumed impact and 72 hours a darker result. What’s more, the greater the temperature in the chamber, as you’d imagine, the faster colour change results will look, but not only that, the tone is going to be affected. Hotter temperatures normally present reddish tones and cooler temperatures green tones allowing for creativity in regards to the fuming or smoking process.

Like most things, it is reputed that fuming was detected by accident. At that moment, it was noticed that the beams over the horses were substantially darkened than the beams at different parts of the stable and this darkening procedure has been connected into the ammonia at the horses’ urine. Fuming or smoking as a timber treatment procedure became common location with arts and crafts furniture makers and to this very day, is very common. Although not hard, fuming bamboo floor isn’t something which would usually be performed on a DIY basis for flooring, although it is commonly used with this foundation for design little pieces of furniture.

Recommended Wood Flooring for Sheds

Many ages ago, if we’d been asked to recommend hardwood floors for sheds we would have thought that the customer had mistaken the date for April 1st, but now, more and more people are asking this question. And it is for good reason, because one factor which has changed significantly in recent years is the frequent definition and purpose of a drop. At one point, a shed was somewhat wooden hut that stood, occasionally unloved at the bottom of the garden, albeit the sanctuary of this DIY husband that escaped into his drop to get a time to himself. How times have changed. Sheds today come in all shapes and sizes and have many different purposes. Because of this, the recommended hardwood floors for your shed will depend to a large extent upon the objective of your shed.

Sheds Who Act as additional, Casual living spaces

A lot of folks in britain find themselves in the position of needing more room but not able to sell their houses since the current market is more economical than they would like. This signifies is that loft and cellar conversions are getting increasingly more prevalent. Nevertheless, for those men and women who have adequate sized blossoms, a”posh” backyard shed is frequently the answer they have been searching for.

Often employed as playrooms for children, house offices and even casual bunk-rooms for teens, a good sized, nicely assembled garden shed may be the best remedy to insufficient space. With a few garden sheds which are on the market nowadays appearing almost like small homes in their own right, the option available is astounding.

Based upon your budget and the projected usage of your drop, the flooring you select might be high or very low budget. In any event, as a result of this challenging climatic conditions a drop is very likely to endure, there is no getting away from the fact that engineered timber flooring is guaranteed to be your very best alternative. Temperature and moisture changes in discard surroundings of styles are important and you want to keep this in mind while you’re creating your flooring selection.

As a result of its smart construction, engineered wood does not expand and contract to the exact same extent as solid hardwood floors , meaning it does not stand exactly the exact same danger of being ruined by being in a drop setting. If you are buying minimal cost but great looking discard to expand your living area, the likes of the Natural European Oak Engineered floors (one that has been brushed and petroleum completed could be the ideal alternative ). Even though it’s low budget, the last appearance can be magnificent and you’ll have the ability to utilize it as a neutral background to either a beautiful contemporary or traditional inside for your drop.

If you are choosing a high of the current market, higher budget drop which you are likely to use as a home office, then the odds are you’ll spend substantial time and might even use it as a room to welcome your significant customers. If that is true, then the odds are your floors budget will extend a little farther. This distinct distressed walnut option, would seem absolutely stunning at a backyard office surroundings, not too extending your finances, but looking like it may have.

Sheds for storage or DIY

If your shed is to be used only for storage or DIY, then the style of your flooring is very likely to be less important. The priority is very likely to be price. If that is the case, a lacquered, very low budget engineered wood floor is the perfect solution. What it will enable you to do is make your discard looking good and providing you a solid and stable foundation on which to keep your products or execute your DIY activities.

Regardless of What the purpose of your shed, it is important to make the right flooring options and at Floor Sanding Victoria We are here to help. If you want to talk during your shed flooring job, why not get in touch now ? Our team is highly experienced in all aspects of flooring and can assist you in making the right choice.

CHOOSING BETWEEN SOLID VS ENGINEERED WOOD FLOORING

Replacing rugs and other obsolete flooring with wood is a smart option for homeowners. But consumers wonder which option gives the best value and contemplate the question of solid vs engineered wood floors. What are the significant differences in these popular products? And how can you choose the perfect wood flooring for your home?

Major Differences in Strong Vs Engineered Wood Floors

Though they provide the same beautiful, natural look in your home, solid hardwood and engineered hardwood floors are manufactured differently. Formed from a single plank of wood, solid hardwood flooring give an attractive, durable surface for rooms on the main and upper floors of your home.

Engineered wood floors, on the other hand, are fabricated with a plywood foundation of overlapping bits and topped with a layer of solid wood. This mixture provides the appearance of solid hardwood with improved stability and more uses.

Where Do You Need to Install Wood Floors?

Your choice of solid vs engineered hardwood flooring may be determined by location. Solid hardwood performs nicely in rooms above level. Elevated levels of humidity and the demand for a wood subfloor make cellar or below-grade software very costly.

If you’re looking at installing hardwood flooring in the basement, engineered wood outlines are set up as floating floors, using either glue or a click-lock layout. Engineered wood also works well in different rooms where moisture may be an issue, like the laundry and kitchen. Installing wood floors in the complete baths aren’t generally recommended, although a good quality engineered hardwood product provides a stunning finish in modern bathrooms.

Solid hardwood flooring remain the ideal option for above-grade applications in remote homes. Condominiums and apartments often need to install floating engineered wood flooring because sound and fireproofing guidelines don’t permit solid hardwood to be sanded down, and engineered hardwood floors are much less vulnerable to moisture from the concrete slab.

Longevity and Flexibility

Wood flooring needs a significant investment, but also significantly enhances your property value. It only makes sense to invest your money wisely, installing wood flooring that’s made to last.

Well-chosen solid hardwood flooring installed with a professional contractor could last over a century. The solid design permits you to resurface the flooring multiple occasions, whether to change color or simply freshen up the room. Engineered hardwood flooring persist for quite a while, but a thinner wear layer and softer composition reduce the longevity by a few decades.

Far superior to vinyl and laminate flooring, wood flooring gives an upscale appearance and improved comfort in your home. Deciding between solid vs engineered wood floors demands careful consideration and thought. Based upon the location and desired appearance, an individual may emerge the better option. But both provide excellent performance for a long time to come.

 

DIFFERENT KINDS OF WOODEN FLOORING

If you’ve ever installed wooden flooring within your house you will be well aware of both acclimation and the effect of indoor humidity on hardwood floors. The wooden flooring in your house is perhaps one of the numerous unique attributes your house needs and needs care even when installing them.

Acclimatisation of hardwood floors

Whether your flooring is laminate, hardwood, bamboo or cork, there is a process involved during setup of your wooden flooring that’s vital. This method differs among flooring producers and is better called acclimatisation of wooden flooring. Acclimatisation is a required process when installing wooden flooring to permit the hardwood floors in your home to adjust to the humidity because hardwood floors is stained.

From the process of acclimatisation generally the hardwood floor is put in your area for a span of 2 to 3 days. The temperature in this interval is near 60 to 75 levels and the amount of humidity close to 35-55percent .With change in seasons, humidity levels are more likely to change as well. This is especially true of specific areas of the country where weather changes are drastic.

Please be aware that you’re spending a significant sum of money on your hardwood floors and ought to heed the information provided above. Whenever you are installing your wooden flooring, pick a manufacturer and also a business which adheres to the practices of acclimatisation.

REVAMPING YOUR HARDWOOD FLOORBOARDS

You may have been gutting your residence is preparation in order for it to be restored and redecorated and you’ve revealed beautiful solid hardwood floors underneath the old carpets. Original hardwood floorboards are infrequent and they’re mostly in very bad condition, especially if they have not been looked after properly.

If you would be liked to preserve your hardwood flooring and expose it to its past glory, then you’ll need to call in an expert flooring specialist who will have the ability to provide you with advice about restoring your solid hardwood floorboards.

In order to make certain that your previous hardwood floorboards are acceptable for being walked upon and to keep them from being damaged in the future, your hardwood floor specialist will have to execute lots of procedures. This may include sanding, treating, staining and varnishing the wood so that it is brought back to life again.

One of the wonderful things about original hardwood floorboards is that they look absolutely amazing once they have been revived and it takes a lot of effort to restore the boards, that is why you need to call in the professionals.

CONFINE YOUR CARPETS TO THE PAST

You’re certainly not alone if you’ve only ever had carpets in your home, and they have had pride of place in a large proportion of properties for years.

However, a change is as good as the rest, and many homeowners are making a fantastic change by throwing out their carpets and making their homes look far more stylish by investing in hardwood flooring.

We all know just how difficult it can be to keep carpets clean, especially when you have a busy household, and this is one of the key factors which has contributed to so many opting for hardwood flooring instead.

Hardwood flooring can be kept clean with just a little simple sweeping and mopping- unlike carpets which need professional cleaning on a regular basis- which can be expensive. There are also only, so many times that you can clean carpets before they need replacing, although with hardwood flooring you can simply treat it to refinishing to bring it back to life.

Just about every type of hardwood flooring looks great with just about every type of decor, which means that however many decor changes you go through during the year, you won’t need to change your flooring.

So confine your carpets to the past and look to a more beautiful and functional future with hardwood flooring.

PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR HARDWOOD FLOORING

Installing hardwood floors in the home is a great way of giving decor a stylish pick-me-up, although for it to continue to function an attractive part of decor, attention has to be paid to looking after it.

Investing in hardwood flooring then paying very little attention to it after it has been installed is a fast path to the corrosion of the appearance and condition of flooring- which can see you wasting your hard earned cash.

Paying proper attention to hardwood floors does not necessarily need to involve spending hours attending to it as routine polishing and cleaning just requires to take a few minutes from your own time.

Since you would with carpeting, any dirt or spills on hardwood flooring ought to be cleaned off quickly to stop staining, which is just plain common sense.

In areas where floor may be vulnerable to damage i.e. Kitchen and hall regions, it might be a fantastic idea to put money into entry mats or rugs. This will truly help to prevent damage to your hardwood flooring investment.

If you’re unsure about how or how many times you need to be paying attention to your floors, ask for guidance from an expert.

CONSIDER THE ADVANTAGES OF WOODEN FLOORING

If you’ve finally decided that you would like to find the rear of the rugs in your house, and have concluded that hardwood flooring is the best replacement, it is important to carefully consider the benefits which different types of flooring offer.

No two types of hardwood floors are exactly the same, therefore it’s important to assess different sorts of wood that can be found in order to find out which type best meets with the needs of your home.

Various types of wooden flooring offer various degrees of durability in addition to different appearances, and these are two of the most essential elements which you need to keep in mind.

No matter your personality preferences, and whatever the nature of your property, since there is such excellent choice with wooden flooring, there’ll definitely be at least one kind of flooring for you.

Once you have discovered wooden flooring which ticks every box, you will then discover that it’s easy to wash and maintain it. This can go a long way in ensuring that flooring serves you well and that it looks absolutely stunning for a very long time.