Installation

Real Wood Floors Beauty That Lasts a Lifetime.

There is no substitute for the durability and beauty of a real wood floor. For every room in your home there is a hardwood floor that can add beauty, warmth and value. Hardwood flooring has stood the test of time in durability and is easy to maintain. With its superior strength and beauty, a real wood floor is one home investment that truly last a life time.

Hardwood Floors are Green

Wood is both renewable & recyclable, and because wood floors do not collect dust and allergens, many leading health associations agree that wood floors are a perfect choice for a healthy home.

When Selecting the Perfect Hardwood Floor

There are five categories to choose from that we install. All unfinished hardwood flooring that we install is NOFMA graded. The National Oak Flooring Manufacturers Association sets the standards in grading & milling so the consumer will get a consistent product wherever they purchase oak flooring that carries their seal throughout the states. Most of the better saw mills carrier the NOFMA graded seal. You won't fine the NOFMA graded seal in the big box stores, yes the material may be cheaper but their will be a noticeable difference in the quality & look of the floor.

→ Unfinished Solid Wood Flooring
gives you a great opportunity for customization. You select the species, stains, and finish to customize the flooring to your space. This is the most popular and traditional floor that we all grew up with. Suitable for above grade only. (1st & 2nd level in home) bedrooms, living room, dining room, hallways, foyers, and kitchens are excellent for unfinished flooring.

→ Prefinished Solid Flooring
not only enhances any room but provides you with a factory finish warranty of up to 25 years. There is a wide variety of flooring in almost any species of wood. Suitable for above grade only. (1st & 2nd level in home) bedrooms , living room, dining's room hallways, foyers, and kitchens, are excellent for Prefinished wood floors. It provides is a very clean & contemporary look. The benefit is no sanding or staining. We take it out of the box, install it and your ready to go.

→ Engineered Wood Flooring
consists of layers of wood pressed together with the top layer being the finished floor product. Many different species, colors and finishes are available. It is perfect for those areas of the house where solid wood flooring is not suitable. Suitable for above grade & below grade. Basements, bathrooms, utility rooms and kitchens are perfect rooms to install this type of flooring.

→ Floating Floors
can be installed almost anywhere. Floating floors are made of multiple layers of wood constructed with tongue and grooves along all four sides. They are not nailed or glued to the sub floor hence the name floating floor. When the furniture is in place the floor is held down. It has a softer feel under foot when you walk. Suitable for above grade & below grade. Basements, bathrooms, utility rooms and kitchens are perfect rooms to install this type of flooring.

→ Antique Wood Flooring
consists of trees that had centuries to grow and which were used in old barns and factories built over 100 years ago. The floors can include the following types of antique wood: Chestnut, Douglas Fir, Heart Pine, Oak, Butternut and Cypress.

Wood Grain Terminology - Annual Rings

Most species grown in temperate climates produce visible annual growth rings that show the difference in density and color between wood formed early and that formed late in the growing season. The inner part of the growth ring, formed first, is called "spring wood"; the outer part, formed later in the season, is called "summer wood." Spring wood is characterized by cells having relatively large cavities and thin walls. Summer wood cells have smaller cavities and thicker walls. The distinguishing features among the various species result in part, from differences in growth-ring formations. And within species, natural variations in growth ensure the unique character and beauty of each piece of wood.

Type of Wood Cuts

The angle at which a board is cut makes a big difference in how the finished product looks. There are three types of wood cuts: Plainsawn, Quartersawn and Riftsawn.

Plainsawn is the most common cut. The board contains more variation in grain patterns than the other two cuts, resulting in growth rings more conspicuous.

Lumber is obtained by making the first saw cut on a tangent to the circumference of the log and remaining cuts parallel to the first. The method is the most economical, because it provides the widest boards and results in the least waste.

Quartersawn produces less board feet per log than Plainsawn and is therefore more expensive. Quartersawn wood twists and cups less and wears more evenly. It makes a beautiful wood floor with tight grain pattern.

Lumber is produced by first quartering the log and then sawing perpendicular to the growth rings. Quartersawing produces relatively narrow boards, nearly all vertical-grained, and creates more waste.

Riftsawn is similar to Quartersawn, but the cut is made at a slightly different angle.

This is similar to quartersawing but the angle of the cut is changed slightly so that fewer saw cuts are parallel to the medullary rays, which are responsible for the flake effect.

Examples of the Wood Cuts

Plainsawn - The most common cut. Contains more variation due as the growth rings are more conspicuous.

Quartersawn - Wood twists and cups less and wears more evenly.

Riftsawn - The cut is at a slightly different angle than quartersawn.

Grading

Each grade features distinctive natural wood characteristics, as illustrated by these oak wood grade features. All unfinished hardwood flooring that we install is NOFMA graded

Clear - Beautiful in every detail. Very clean, refined wood that is virtually clear of any natural wood characteristics. The color is very uniform. Mostly prime heartwood content.

Select And Better - This grade features a minimum of natural wood characteristics and delivers a rich, premium hardwood visual. Clean consistent color throughout with a minimum of color variations.

No.1 Common - For those who love the natural look, No.1 Common features distinctive grain patterns and wood character marks accented by subtle changes in color and tone. Very lively and colorful.

No.2 Common - A rustic look highlighted by vivid grain patterns accented with a host of wood character marks and contrasting colors and tone. An excellent value in quality solid wood flooring. Subject to availability.

Rift and Quarter Sawn Flooring

If unique is what you seek, look no longer. Rift and quarter sawn wood creates very distinctive grain patterns that accent natural wood characteristics such as medullary fleck rays and wavy, interlocking grain. The result is a very beautiful, very durable hardwood that also reduces risk of shrinking, splintering, warping and cupping.

What to Expect

Each grade features distinctive natural wood characteristics, as illustrated by these oak wood grade features. Keep in mind that no two boards will be identical. Variations in appearance are completely normal. As your floors ages, some colors change can occur. This is also normal, but can be minimized by avoiding exposure to direct sunlight. Cracks between floorboards are normal as well, wood floors expands & contract during the change in seasons and high & low humidity levels. A wood floor should be viewed from a standing position in normal lighting to identify any flaws.

Borders & Medallions

These can add a wonderful touch to your wood flooring. They have become an increasingly popular choice for many that want to customize their homes. There are many different options. With our inlays from Oshkosh Designs and your imagination there is potential for unique and unlimited designs for your floor.

Repairs

When repairing or replacing floor boards time & patience, along with the proper tools , techniques, and knowledge of the product will pay off in the end.