Hardwood is known as a beautiful and natural option that adds value to your home. There are so many options in the hardwood world, that may come with many questions. We have compiled our most frequently asked questions related to hardwood flooring and installation. Take a quick read below:
What is the difference between solid and engineered hardwood?
Engineered hardwood is considered a “real wood”, as it is a real hardwood wear layer over a plywood base. No photo of wood, no repeat patterns, this is real wood on the face! There are many different qualities of engineered hardwoods. Some are able to be refinished, others may not. Solid hardwood is exactly as it sounds, a solid slice of wood. Solid hardwoods we recommend to keep under 5” wide. If you like a wide modern look, engineered hardwoods are best for widths 5” or more for dimensional stability. Feel free to read into more detail on our blog page, engineered Vs. Solid hardwood HERE.
What is the difference between sand in home and prefinished hardwood?
Sand in home means a raw hardwood material is installed, then the finish is applied in home during installation. A prefinished hardwood has its finish applied at the factory and is able to be installed without any additional topcoat needed during installation. Often the finish applied at the factory is UV cured, which provides additional durability. Prefinished installations are typically less “messy”. You can live in the home, and furniture can be moved as you go. Sand in home hardwood is a good option if you are matching a sand in home floor that you already have installed in your home. At Koebers, we only install prefinished flooring but may be able to recommend a sand in home installation company.
Is hardwood flooring a durable, long lasting flooring option?
Nowadays, prefinished hardwoods are finished and coated with durable finishes to increase the lifespan. But don’t go dragging sharp item across it, or not protect them with rugs. Hardwood is a natural product that will dent and scratch. This is the beauty of a natural flooring option. Some hardwoods are “harder” than others, however all will dent and scratch. Choosing a hardwood with texture such as hand scraping, or wire brushing will help hide the “life” your hardwood may incur. Many hardwoods can be refinished, increasing the life span as well.
Is hardwood a pet friendly option?
There is no hardwood species or collection that we can guarantee to withstand pets. Hardwood will dent and scratch, even to pet nails. Pet accidents or any type of water sitting on the floor could negatively affect your wood flooring. Keeping pets nails trimmed, area rug protection at pivot points, and protection under pet water bowls will be key. We typically will steer you to a hardwood flooring with a textured finish if you have pets in the home.
There are so many species of hardwoods, how do I choose what is right for my home?
Each species has its own pros and cons. Visuals will be drastically different with various species as well. This topic is a blog of its own. We have a whole page to help guide you through hardwood species. Check it out HERE.
What can I expect during my hardwood flooring installation process with Koebers?
Most hardwoods will need to be delivered at least 24 hours ahead of installation for acclimation. On installation day, the crew will start by demoing your existing flooring and prepping the subfloor for new hardwood. Base boards often need to be removed for hard surface flooring installations. Some dust will accumulate with this type of installation, but our installers try to keep the areas as clean as possible. During installation, boards will be cut on site. Your driveway, garage or other designated outdoor area may be used for saw set up. Pets, children, and people with dust sensitivities should stay clear of installation areas. With prefinished hardwood installations, our installers will move furniture as they go. We ask you to move small items, knick nacks and breakables. The home does not need to be completely empty! You can live in the home while we install your new hardwood. Other common questions such as how long the installation takes, subfloor prep details, transition between other surfaces, etc. are questions that differ from home to home.
Is hardwood recommended on steps?
In some cases, hardwood can be a great option on stairs. One thing we always make sure you’re aware of is that hardwood on steps is slick! For pets and people living in the home, it’s a new way of learning how to walk up and down steps when hard surface is put down. It can be a hazard if installed without a stair runner. A couple things to consider as well is hardwood on steps is very labor intensive and costly and about 60% of our customers who install hard surface on steps are requesting a stair runner to be installed over it within a year.
Will hardwood flooring be easy to maintain?
Yes! Our prefinished hardwoods do not need any special recoating maintenance. We recommend vacuuming, sweeping, and using a non-treated dust mop (such as a Bona hardwood cleaning kit) and spritzing as necessary with a hardwood cleaner recommended for your particular flooring brand. A wet mop should NOT be used on your hardwoods as water can damage the boards.
We are the experts here at Koebers so feel free to reach out to us if your question was not answered here. Better yet, schedule an expert out to your home to take a look at what Hardwood could do for your home.