You’ll notice in several amtico flooring reviews that the upside is that these tiles are non-porous construction – so they resist water, are easy to maintain, durable, and can mimic the real stone and wood tiles out there, which are more expensive. The downside is that they, like all vinyl products, are made using chemicals that are bad for the environment. Even though a plant that makes Amitco may recycle its internal waste, the product itself is by its nature bringing new toxins into the world.

I avoid using vinyl flooring, but wanted to see what everyone is talking about so I did some research and found several interesting threads and reviews on Amtico flooring, which I hope will help you on your search!

Expense is one of the main reasons people go with vinyl flooring instead of solid hardwoods or tile, but there are price variations within the vinyl flooring world to be aware of. In this amtico flooring review, one person offered his opinion about Amitco and price point: “We sell Amtico at work and it is obviously good quality but you are paying for the name…” With another countering: “I can honestly say that Amtico is so much better than [K]arndean. You can really tell the quality difference when fitting the materials. I know Amtico is more expensive, but it is [worth] the extra [expense].”

When people buy a high-end laminate, they expect it to look like real wood (or tile). When it comes to the realistic appearance of Amtico, here is good support from someone with first-hand experience: “I had Amtico planks on the floors in a busy restaurant in Melbourne, Australia. They were just fantastic; easy to clean, hard to scratch up, and they looked so real that I once had a timber merchant down on his hands and knees examining it, because he couldn’t believe that it really was a vinyl plank.”

If you are considering doing a larger space, like a restaurant, here is a good link where they also talk about expense.

This thread continues the conversation many others are having about the cost of Amtico (typically versus the cost of Karndean). Included here, though, is are two great picture by the reviewer and installer of the floor of a conservatory where he had cut and fitted Amtico flooring to look like a custom-designed, parquet-esque wood floor – with curved shapes also! Amazing work – and great inspiration.

In addition to expense and flexibility, another common theme I found was longevity. Now for those who think in terms of “centuries” as a testament to solid flooring, speaking in decades may seem insignificant. But since this flooring hasn’t been around for 100 years, all we can infer is so far so good. Many reviews touting the long-life of Amtico flooring say their flooring has been in perfect shape for 5, 10, 14, even 20 years (but still counting!).

Here’s a review so positive it makes me wonder who wrote it! — Amtico Flooring Review

On the other side, this amtico flooring review post reports getting “bubbles” on Amtico tiles. The helpful response to his problem might also helpful to you before you in install: “If your subfloor is concrete latex should have been applied first. The subfloor might not have been primed or the subfloor wasn’t cleaned properly before latex? This could be the cause of the bubbles. The Amtico might not have enough adhesive underneath the tiles, but [I] can’t see this causing bubbles.”

The amtico flooring review post continues with this super important recommendation for homeowners with Amtico flooring: “Certain adhesive cleaning products if overused causes the Amtico backing to melt. ‘Amtico adhesive cleaner’ if left to soak will seep through the edges and melt the backing. Crazy!!” Good to know!

Finally, here’s a current thread about Amtico alongside other options that was started in September 2011. It speaks to my heart when it begins with the question: “Have any of you chaps had experience with this stuff and am I living in the olden days by just wanting proper wooden floors?” — Piston Heads Amtico Flooring Review

All in all, Amtico flooring has gotten huge thumbs up (despite “green” concerns) from the research I’ve done. Do some checking and see for yourself. Meanwhile, I hope this has been helpful!

For more flooring reviews check out the following pages:

• Bamboo Flooring Reviews
• Amtico Flooring Reviews
• Cork Flooring Reviews
• Laminate Flooring Reviews

That said, I learned quite a bit when doing the research to put together this section of bamboo flooring reviews – and not all of it good!

I noticed two consistent reviews coming up for people when they were considering bamboo flooring: expense and durability (will it fade and scratch easily). Bamboo is absolutely more expensive than, say, vinyl flooring, but does the durability make the expense worth it?

On durability, this posting is clearly a cautionary review for people interested in bamboo flooring: “We find that [our bamboo floor] dents and scratches easily … and exposure to sun through the windows changes the color markedly (where we have had rugs and where furniture has been positioned is obvious)…”

You can approach your supplier and make sure that the bamboo they offer has a UV coating to protect against fading but not against scratches (though you can make sure to get the one with the strongest coating!). In this post, a reviewer had a similarly poor experience in “4 out of 4” places where bamboo had been installed – although different reviews on the same thread were much more positive, one saying: “It is as hard as the dickens. [The installer] dulled the blade already on his miter saw and the replacement blade during the installation…” — http://www.woodcentral.com/woodworking/forum/archives.pl/bid/1109/md/read/id/379586/sbj/bamboo-flooring-good-or-bad/

Why the variation in responses? With bamboo you really get what you pay for. If it’s within your budget, it would be wise to go with the high-end bamboo flooring that is well-coated and protected. Also, the type of bamboo flooring you choose can make a difference. Overall, the darker bamboo is harder (thus more durable) than the light varieties. And, as pointed out in this review on bamboo flooring (with mostly enthusiastic support of bamboo), darker wood also hides dirt better.

If you are going with bamboo and have an active household – even a moderately active household – check to be sure you are buying the type of bamboo flooring designed to hold up! According to this chart, which sums up some “highlights” of the Janka Scale, most bamboo is harder or nearly equal to oak (the middle of the pack) – so why the scratches? Perhaps they used a lighter, softer bamboo. Be sure to check! — http://www.shakuhachi.com/BF-Tech.html#anchor843374

If you scroll down on that bamboo review chart, you’ll also notice that bamboo is one of the most stable woods going, which means that it shouldn’t expand and contract as much as other wood species. This will reduce the chance of bamboo buckling and squeaking.

If you need high durability, strand-woven bamboo is one of the toughest floors out there. Keep in mind, though, that this is a laminate floor. It is a composite flooring constructed by fusing together different layers of woven bamboo, resin, and fiber board into planks – it’s not solid wood. The advantage is its durability; the disadvantage is that it is not nearly as “green” as solid bamboo.

How “green” is solid bamboo anyway? That can be tricky.

Bamboo is a grass that re-grows after it is harvested. That puts it right up there with cork flooring for eco-options. But you also need to know where and how it was manufactured. The majority of bamboo flooring is harvested and made in China, where there are less stringent regulations and they need to be shipped – using oil – to a country near you.

Check if the flooring has been Forest Stewardship Council certified – http://www.fscus.org/ – or a similar group – and if it is made with water-based finishes and is formaldehyde-free. The same goes for solid hardwood flooring, if you decide on that option.

The New York Times posted this article a few years ago, with a good review of bamboo flooring: One extra note – the review says you can clean your bamboo with most cleaners, and while that’s true, don’t wax it! Wax can build-up and if you ever need to refinish or restore your bamboo floors, the finish may not fuse to the floor correctly.

This is also a great bamboo flooring review site – BambooFlooring.biz – which stresses the importance of a well-prepared subfloor when installing bamboo (or any floating floor). If you want to read more on this, here’s another bamboo flooring review site that provides more detail on subflooring, with some extra bits on making sure your bamboo truly is eco-friendly.

So, after experiencing a lot of bamboo first-hand, researching reviews in the world, and talking with other people, here are my main takeaways about bamboo flooring:

• It is less expensive than solid hardwoods but more expensive than laminate flooring.
• It is “green” by the way it is grown but you need to make sure it stays “green” by the way it is processed.
• Many people report scratching and dinging. Darker woods and more durable and hide dirt better than lighter woods.
• As with all floating floors, they are easy to install but make sure the subfloor is prepared properly before installing.

Basically, the reviews on bamboo flooring are mixed. Hopefully the information I’ve collected here will help you sort through some of the noise and make an educated flooring choice that suits your lifestyle!

Visit RugsHD to find bamboo rugs.

For more flooring reviews check out the following pages:

• Amtico Flooring Reviews
• Cork Flooring Reviews
• Laminate Flooring Reviews

In the planning stages, I shared the same concerns – durability and warmth – with this reviewer who happily reports back: “Our kids have already spilled and stuck playdo all over the floor and no problemo – everything comes right up! The basement feels warm… really warm. We aren’t carpet people, so this was the best alternative.” That’s the best way to put it, really – “We aren’t carpet people, so this was the best alternative.” Cork has a tremendous amount of give, so it is soft on your feet, as carpet can. You can also – like we did – have a seamless floor (no tiles), which definitely make a room feel cozier. http://www.viewpoints.com/Cork-Flooring-review-b7cd0

I would highly recommend reading through the entire View Points website for cork flooring reviews. Every entry is educational! Here is a highlight I wanted to be sure you read before buying cork: “I bought pre-finished, floating panels instead of glue-down tiles.  I should have realized the obvious design flaw – pre-finished cork is mounted on HDF – NOT a moisture-resistant material.” — http://www.viewpoints.com/Cork-Flooring-review-f6a915

Some people are resistant to using cork for fear that their animals may scratch it. In our case, the cats did no harm. And in my research I found many other people who never had problems either, including this woman who uses a water-based sealant to buff marks: “[My store provided] small bottles of the water-based stain, which makes the scratches totally disappear. I’ve found that where the kitties do their craziest running-at-light-speed-and-skidding to a stop, once I apply the stain to the area (with the high-tech applicator – a kleenex) it’s all gone.” — http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/kitchbath/msg03063756886.html

Cork offers an eco-friendly alternative to bamboo, which – if the majority of cork floor reviews I’ve read are to be trusted – resists scratching better than the softer bamboo floors. There are some downsides, however. A big one is that I already mentioned is denting from heavy objects.

This can be solved by placing bed legs and table legs on wood, but sometimes that can be unsightly. Here’s the experience and review of one homeowner on denting and scratches: “It’s also soft, so anything with a little weight is going to leave an impression. We had to put boards underneath our bedpost. Also, be advised that whichever color you choose, it’s only that color on the top layer. If something scraps it, then the cork itself will be exposed, and man does it stick out. I’ve seen the corrective coloring sticks (I think they’re like a Sharpie), but I haven’t tried them yet.” — http://www.thekitchn.com/-good-questions-248-149718

This website provides a great cork flooring review from a builder point of view, including advice on density, installation, and floor might have the best protective coating: “Urethane coated cork flooring probably offers the best finish.” Also, for more detailed FAQ-styled information, check out Green Floors.

The ability to refinish solid hardwood floors sets them apart from most flooring options, including cork. Here is a review and summary of the issue with refinishing cork: “Refinishing cork is not like refinishing hardwood, where you can refinish almost endlessly to ensure your floors look great from the first year to decades past the fiftieth. Because the pieces are so thin, usually three-sixteenths of an inch, and crumbly, they require unusually gentle sanding between coats.” This posting received several interesting responses, which you can read here.

When started looking into cork flooring, I wondered if most people had the same positive experience I had and whether denting was a problem. In the end after reading all of these reviews, it seems that most people love their cork floor, and yes denting can be a problem. If you plan to lay cork flooring in a bedroom or living room, redistribute the weight of the bed/sofa legs as a precaution. Cork flooring is perfect for kitchens and bathrooms where there isn’t usually heavy furniture, especially because it is also so easy on the feet.

On this site there’s talk about possible water damage with cork. My experience – and what I’ve learned – says the opposite. There is not much to be concerned with regards to water damage. Cork is a naturally resistant product and if you seal it up, you should be fine.

For my purposes – a new family room – my concerns about denting (see: heavy couch with lots of people sitting on it) outweighed my overall appreciation of cork, so I have decided to go with bamboo. I hope all of these cork flooring reviews have helped you get closer to making your flooring decision!

For more flooring reviews check out the following pages:

• Bamboo Flooring Reviews
• Amtico Flooring Reviews
• Laminate Flooring Reviews

Laminate Flooring Reviews from Friends

Laminate flooring reviews from friends is always a trustworthy source. They have had laminate flooring installed and it worked well and was comfortable to walk on. It didn’t squeak or buckle, but it lacked a certain charm and, in my opinion, made the room feel a little cheap somehow. My aunt’s laminate flooring was installed by a professional (so we can assume that the sub-floor was well-prepared – though you never know!) and it warped.

I’m sure we all have these stories, but since I’ve never used laminate flooring myself, I compiled several reviews given by homeowners and contractors who have far more experience that I do to give you some resources to draw from during your decision-making process.

Laminate Flooring Reviews From Others

This is a very helpful blog by an installer who reviews over 3 dozen different types of laminate flooring! He offers advice, breaks down the cost, and often includes pictures of the floor during and after the installation that might be very helpful when you are sorting through your options. There are, after all, so many options of laminate flooring!

These homeowners installed prego – or laminate – flooring in their kitchen and dining room. They give it a five out of five stars review for the same reasons I often hear when people are talking about laminates:

• Low cost – “I’m sure the cost was nearly half what we would have spent on a tile or solid hardwood floor installation…”
• Simple installation – “The job was completed in less than a full day…”
• Trouble-free maintenance – “The floor is incredibly easy to clean and maintain.”

They add, though, that your laminate flooring won’t be “fooling” anyone. If your heart is set on solid hardwood because you, like me, think they have a certain soul, then you shouldn’t “settle” for laminates. I love hardwoods for the wood, so even though they have come a long way in developing more life-like laminates since this blog was written in 2007, it is still not the same for me.

This is, of course, a personal decision. If you want the overall look of hardwoods and it doesn’t matter that the product is a composite and not solid – or if there are more important factors at play, like your budget! – then these might do the trick. Visit stores and see how you feel!

Beyond the “how they make you feel” factor, there is also durability to consider. Wood flooring, whether solid hardwood or laminate flooring, can be hard or soft. Soft floors dents easily. There are more soft solid woods than there are soft laminates – in general, laminate flooring can withstand more damage in part because of the way they are engineered and in part because of their strong protective coatings.

Laminate Flooring Is Hard To Pass On

From the laminate flooring reviews I’ve read, it is hard to go wrong with the way laminate flooring resists denting.

Here is a great review from a post written March 2012: “I have hardwood floors in most of my house and have found that certain types of woods are more susceptible to denting, please check with your local store or contractor on the best dent resistant hardwoods or laminates.”

If you’d like to read a conversation between who have installed laminate flooring or considered it, this is a good one: Laminate flooring… is it bad?. There also are some interesting off-shoots from people who made choices other than laminate flooring.

Video Reviews of Laminate Flooring

We hear in reviews a lot about the possible squeakiness from floating floors, or flooring that is not glued down to the subfloor, like most laminates that snap together. Clearly from this short video – Laminate Flooring Review – this customer is dissatisfied with the noise her laminate flooring makes when she walks on it. I posted this because the truth is that without understanding how the floor was installed, you can’t blame the squeak on the flooring itself. A floor can squeak if the subfloor was not properly set or is in questionable condition, or if it is acclimating to suddenly very hot or very cold temperatures.

You may also run across video reviews of laminate flooring buckling. Again, without know the installation techniques, it is hard to be sure that someone didn’t leave enough room along the edges for the floor to expand into (the “expansion gap”), or have a bad subfloor.

If you are getting ready to buy, here’s the World Floor Covering Association’s site that offers quite a bit of useful information and reviews on laminate flooring, including a calculator and a list of things to consider before you head to the checkout counter.

Remember that floors are meant to last for years and years, so don’t shop impulsively! Hopefully this list of laminate flooring reviews has helped you while you are doing your research. Happy shopping and happy flooring!

For more flooring reviews check out the following pages:

• Bamboo Flooring Reviews
• Amtico Flooring Reviews
• Cork Flooring Reviews

The Debut of Parquet Flooring

In America, where wood was plentiful and homes were springing up rapidly, new houses often included basic unfinished wood floors. Parquet flooring didn’t come into fashion until the 1700s. By the end of the 1700s parquet had swept into the western world’s richest homes. The biggest change since then is that parquet flooring has become much more affordable.

In the past, the ornate parquet flooring design was hand created from pieces of wood shaped like squares, triangles, and diamonds, using either different types of wood or wood that was stained different shades of brown. Today, the designs are available in “tiles” that are easy to install – sometimes even easier than traditional hardwood flooring. The most popular style is herringbone, which looks like a checkerboard.

Famous Parquet Flooring

One of the most famous parquet floors in America was the Boston Celtics basketball court. The many perpendicular pieces of wood caused the ball to respond differently on each section of the floor, giving the Celtics a true home court advantage. The court floor was disassembled in 1999 and sold as souvenirs, with parts of it added to the new parquet floor.

Cleaning Parquet Flooring

Cleaning new parquet flooring is easy – sweep or lightly mop. Older parquet floors are often finished with a lacquer, varnish, or shellac, which require a special paste wax applied every few years to keep the floors protected. It is especially important to protect these floors since they are very difficult to refinish because the grains of the pieces of wood are in different directions.

For similar posts, visit Timber Flooring, Oak Flooring, and Cork Flooring.

Why Allure Flooring?

Allure flooring looks almost identical to wood or tile flooring. It is also stronger and has long life than wooden flooring because of its moisture resistance, making it a great option for kitchens and baths – but again, check on the environmental risks and manufacturing background!

If you love the look of other materials but don’t want to use them – for either financial reasons or perhaps because they compromise your comfort by being cold or hard – Allure flooring can fill that gap. Allure comes in over a dozen different styles. You can buy Allure that looks like Oak, Cherry, Teak, and Hickory, or even ceramic tile. Being vinyl Allure flooring is softer to walk on than real hardwoods – and certainly more flexible and warmer than tile.

The “grip strip” adhesive used to install Allure flooring makes it one of the only truly waterproof flooring options out there. The grip strip is on all sides of each plank. When they are pressed together and interlocked with the support of this grip strip, a strong seal is formed. If water or any liquid spills directly on the seams, there is literally no place for the liquid to go. It just beads up, ready to be wiped away.

Preventing Mold On Your Allure Flooring

There is potential trouble, though, with such a tight seal – mold. Unlike carpet and other flooring that “breathes” and is sealed to the sub-flooring, non-breathable Allure is snapped and sealed to other planks on each side. This leaves it at risk for mold growing underneath the allure flooring, as it was known to do with traditional vinyl flooring.

To protect yourself, have your sub-flooring material checked for moisture, especially if it is concrete. Remember, oftentimes you can’t see moisture because it has a place to go – but once you lay Allure on top of a flooring that gets moisture, it can become trapped between the flooring planks and the floor beneath. Even if you get a clean bill of moisture health, you may want to lay down a mold protection shield before installing your allure flooring.

There are a few types of moisture barriers to consider:

• Combination Foam/Film, which is a sheet of foam with a moisture barrier on the bottom where water might swell up – this is used commonly on first floors and over concrete. Standard Foam is also available, but this has no moisture barrier and it typically used when laying allure flooring on plywood dirt. Standard Foam will do nothing to prevent moisture.
• Modified or Upgraded Underlayments, which are thicker than the two above and often used on the second floor since it offers a greater sound barrier
• Solid Cork, which is usually used when sound reduction is a major factor.

Cleaning Allure Flooring

When cleaning your Allure floors, don’t use harsh abrasives. Simply vacuum then mop with warm water. For tough spots, Allure makes Allure Resilient Vinyl Floor Cleaner with Polish and Refresher Soft Satin that can be applied. Because allure floors can be slippery when wet, allow them to dry thoroughly before walking on them.

What Else Should I Know About Allure Flooring?

It’s good to note that if you live in a condominium or other joined units, you should check and see what type of underlayment is required before you choose your flooring – and certainly before you lay it down! These underlayments are needed to keep the noise level down, not for moisture. The requirement may vary from one type of flooring to another, so it could affect the overall price (and labor) or your project.

When installing you follow the basic protocol for wood flooring: Let the boxes sit for several days in the room where you will be installing the flooring. This allows the Allure flooring to adjust to the temperature and humidity of your individual space.

Be careful when you are taking the contents from the carton – some people have reported trouble with the planks sticking together and if you don’t follow the instructions, you could break some of the planks. The rest of the installation is simple click and lock. Because there is no need to affix this flooring to the floor beneath, it can be a quick install – even for beginning DIYers!

To sum up, Allure flooring is an inexpensive, easy-to-install choice for your flooring that looks like “real” flooring, but it is not very green and you may need to take some precautions against possible moisture and noise.

For similar posts, visit Synthetic Flooring, Rubber Flooring, Laminate Flooring, and Linoleum Flooring.

To install the wood carpet, each strip had to be tacked down individually then filled in. After it was down, the floor was scraped and sanded using a 25-pound sandpaper block that was pushed with a broom handle across the floor until it was uniform and smooth. Varnish was then applied before the floors were finished with wax and painstakingly buffed.

Despite the best of intentions – and the labor involved! – these floors were squeaky and often cracked, leaving frustrated homeowners who were open to new solutions. Enter vinyl flooring with its endless design possibilities and easy installation.

The Debut of Vinyl Flooring

Vinyl flooring made its successful debut in 1933 at Chicago’s Century of Progress Exposition! It offered a low maintenance alternative to wood flooring that caught on quickly as the “no wax option.” People loved the wide range of colors and patterns available and how easily vinyl floors resisted water and cleaned up, making it especially suitable for bathrooms and kitchens.

Decades later, however, we came to understand that vinyl flooring can emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) through off-gassing. VOCs are toxic chemicals used in the manufacturing process. In addition to creating unhealthy indoor air quality, they can greatly affect people with asthma, lung conditions, and allergies.

Off-gassing declines the longer the vinyl flooring is down, so if you are buying an older house, there is no danger. If you are looking to renovate and you currently have vinyl flooring, however, you might want to consider laying the new flooring on top of the vinyl – or calling in a professional – since vinyl flooring created in before 1970 was often also backed with asbestos sheeting.

How Is Vinyl Flooring Manufactured?

Vinyl flooring is typically created from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), that emits toxic chemicals like dioxin and phthalates in the manufacturing process and when the PVC is disposed. In 2004 a joint Swedish-Danish research team found a relationship between allergies in children and indoor air levels of the components used in vinyl flooring. As a green, safer alternative to vinyl flooring, you might want to consider natural linoleum flooring, which is made from sustainable materials.

As you look around, you might also see vinyl flooring called Vinyl Composite Tiles (VCTs). This delineates the difference between vinyl sheets and vinyl tiles. Vinyl sheets are rolls of vinyl; VCTs are composed of colored vinyl chips that are formed into solid sheets by heat and pressure then cut into tiles (typically 12”). VCTs are commonly made from recycled vinyl.

Vinyl Flooring PROs

There are several reasons you might be thinking about installing vinyl flooring:

With a revival of mid-century style, many people who are looking for flooring that fits the era – and that means vinyl!

It is economical, coming in as one of the least expensive options on the market.
Vinyl flooring is easy to maintain and upkeep.

So if your heart is set on vinyl flooring – for aesthetic, financial, or practical reasons – perhaps search out vinyl flooring made from recycled vinyl. Tons of it is being collected from construction sites around the country in an effort to divert it from landfills, where the chemicals may leech into the earth.

Vinyl Flooring CONs

There are new vinyl floorings coming out that are FloorScore certified as having no affect on indoor air quality. Remember, though, that these products may also be coming from new sources of vinyl, which create trouble during manufacturing and – years from now – disposal. Call the manufacturers directly and ask them where they source their vinyl or how they make their flooring before you buy

Vinyl flooring can scuff. The good news is that these scuffs may look highly damaging, but they are actually patches of rubber that sit on top of the floor surface. By using ingredients that safely pull up all scuff mark residue, you can keep the plank flooring clean and looking like new without harming the vinyl surface. So if you choose to go with a vinyl floor, here are three ordinary household items that can help remove scuffing: baking soda and a toothbrush. Simply mix the baking soda in a cup with water to activate it, and then use the toothbrush to scrub over the scuff in gentle circles. Wipe with a clean damp cloth when you are done.

Sometimes you may need to follow up with a swab of alcohol to pull up any stubborn scuffs.  As always, wipe up with a cloth. Good as new!

If you are going to use vinyl flooring and are planning to install it yourself, read our guide here: HOW TO INSTALL VINYL FLOORING

For similar posts, visit our Synthetic Flooring, Allure Flooring, Rubber Flooring, Tile Flooring, and Laminate Flooring.

Hardwood Flooring Options

In addition to reclaimed timber flooring, there are many wood flooring options available, with widely varying colors, textures in the grain, and hardness ratings. Here’s a list of the most common types to get you started:

• Ash – Ash is such a hard wood that they baseball bats out of it! The sapwood – the outer layers of the log, is cream-colored to almost white, while the heartwood – the innermost section, is tan to dark brow.
• Beech – Beech has a reddish brown color and is softer than Oak and somewhat susceptible to scratches and denting.
• Birch – Birch planks have lighter creamy shades mixed with darker red and brown tones. Different species have different hardness, which can be a factor when choosing flooring – especially if you have children or high heels! These are the most common varieties of Birch: Paper Birch, which is the softest, with a hardness rating of 910 on the Janka Hardness Scale; 1470.
• Douglas Fir – Douglas Fir is a yellowish tan color. This wood is about half as hard as Oak can dent easily.
• Red and White Oak – Red Oak is – you guess it! – reddish in tone. It is the most popular traditional flooring option. Red Oak a hard, dense wood that resists wear, but not as well as White Oak, which is slightly harder. White Oak has a more intricate pattern to the grain.
• Maple – a harder wood floor that is light-colored with a close grain, so it is less “busy” than other hardwood flooring textures.
• Pine – Pine is the wood commonly used to make bookshelves. It has yellow tones with lots of swirls and knots that give it its character. Like Oak, Pine has a natural resistance to insects. It is, however, one of the softer woods, with the Eastern White Pine variety coming in at a very low – and very dingable! – 380.

Hardwood Flooring Sizes

There are basically two sizes of hardwood flooring: standard (2-4” wide) and wide-plank floors (5” and wider). In the early days, wood floors were either uneven sizes or wide-plank. Now, most homes are floored in standard plank flooring – though there is a growing trend back to wide-plank for aesthetic reasons only.

Hardwood floors are either “natural” – trees are milled into lumber, period – or engineered. Engineered hardwood flooring has a core of solid wood covered with plywood and finished with a veneer of natural veneer (like many newer cabinets). Engineered wood is less expensive and more water resistant than standard hardwood flooring, but the major drawback is that the veneer makes refinishing difficult since you can sand down and accidentally hit plywood.

Hardwood Flooring Textures

Hardwood floors also have a variety of possible textures that are created in processing. Most wood floors are smooth, but you can also find distressed, hand-scraped, and wire brushed hardwoods.  Distressed hardwood floors are worn down by hand and/or light machine, which makes the floors look well–used and lived in – some say they look “beaten.” Hand–scraped hardwood planks are scraped individually to look more worn down than distressed. Since each plank is done by hand, the end result is very unique – but also very expensive. With wire brushing, the sapwood is removed with a wire brush, bringing out the wood grain for a grainy effect.

Whether you go with solid hardwood floors or engineered hardwoods, many hardwood suppliers these days are concerned about limiting their impact on the environment. Make sure to ask how they source their wood (is it sustainably sourced?) and what their “green” practices are (do they use non-toxic finishes?). If being eco-friendly is in your plan, then ideally the lumber would also be certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

Also it’s good to note that a significant portion of the world’s wood is processed in China, where they import most of the wood from Russia, Southeast Asia, and Africa. There are few regulations guiding the way wood is logged and processed, which is leading to deforestation issues and illegal harvesting. There are many hardwoods that are grown in the United States and processed responsibly – take a minute and check with your provider to see if your wood selections are “home grown”!

Additionally, lumber can also carry certification by the National Wood Flooring Manufacturers Association (NOFMA), which requires that manufacturers meet strict standards in the four areas of hardwood flooring: Grade, Configuration, Moisture Content, and Average Length. This is an easy assurance that you are buying quality.

Hardwood Flooring DIY Project

If you are going to use hardwood flooring and are planning to install it yourself, read our guide here: HOW TO INSTALL HARDWOOD FLOORING

For similar posts, visit Parquet Flooring, Oak Flooring, and Cork Flooring.

a. Trees or wooded land considered as a source of wood.

b. Wood used as a building material; lumber.

For our purposes, we are going to refer to letter b to differentiate Hardwood Flooring, made with lumber or wood, and Timber Flooring, milled from recycled or reclaimed wood flooring.

Where Is Timber Flooring Used?

The wood for timber flooring has been reclaimed from the sides of barns, houses, sheds, old agriculture buildings, even signs. Because it is salvaged, oftentimes this wood has been painted. When the paint is removed, it leaves behind some shading on the planks, making each batch irregular and unique. Typically timber floor planks also have weathered nail holes, old saw marks, dark patina – even bug trail grooves!

In times gone past, the width of a flooring plank would be determined by the width of the log. Most homes were laid out with irregular floorboards known as random widths. Because timber flooring can be salvaged from siding or from irregular flooring, it is often an unusual size. Traditional hardwood flooring creates planks that are 2-1/4” wide and considers a plank over 5 wide a “wide plank”; timber flooring planks can be as wide as 24 inches. These sizes are usually milled to the standard flooring size, but you can request instead that they be left their original, irregular sizes.

Where Can I Find Timber Flooring?

Timber flooring is available at specialty lumberyards, flooring contractors, and small distributors who collect reclaimed wood and re-sell it, un-milled, to the homeowner so you can finish it to your liking. This would be the best route if you are looking to keep the irregular sizes. Either way you decide, it is best to go to the stores and see what they have since there is such variance!

Using reclaimed timber also offers you the chance to find wood species we no longer use, like Chestnut, which was decimated by a fungal blight 100 years ago and is no longer available as newly milled flooring.

Why Timber Floors?

Many people prefer timber flooring because it brings with it a rich history – as evidenced by the grade “Antique” – salvaged from agricultural buildings and barns that are no longer structurally sound. The wood is then re-milled and re-finished. Typically building structure that were dilapidated or abandoned were either burned or hauled off to a landfill. This relatively new movement toward timber flooring is reducing waste.

The average life of hardwood flooring is 80-100 years. Timber flooring has already lived that long, and is ready for a second round. The standard thickness for new flooring is ¾” – you’ll probably find that most reclaimed timber has been milled to that standard thickness, but double check. You may want the option to sand and refinish the flooring many, many years down the road.

If you are going to use timber flooring and are planning to install it yourself, read our guides here: HOW TO INSTALL FLOORING

For similar posts, visit Parquet Flooring, Oak Flooring, and Cork Flooring.

How Hard Is Oak Flooring?

Oak, like bamboo, is situated in the middle of the Janka Hardness Scale. Pine, cherry, birch, and maple are all softer than Oak; ash and walnut are harder. Harder woods are stronger than softer woods, but they are also harder on your feet. Like so much of what Goldilocks loved in the house of the Three Bears, Oak  flooring fits right in the middle – not too hard, not too soft – making it one of the favorites for flooring.

Oak flooring also has beautiful grain markings, especially when quatersawn. To quarter saw a log, it is first cut into quarters (like four slices of a pizza). The quarter pieces are then stood with the point up and planks are sawed out by cutting straight down. This cut creates a wavy pattern in the grain that is very popular.

White Oak VS Red Oak Flooring

The difference between white Oak and red Oak flooring has become – in some cases – an argument of practical vs. aesthetic. White Oak is less porous than red Oak and, therefore, is slightly more durable and repels water better – two important factors when choosing flooring, but red Oak has that unique, traditional red hue to it with a more textural grain pattern. Given the equaling quality of wood sealants that increase both durability and water resistance, it may be best to simply choose whichever Oak floor looks better to you.

Oak Flooring PROs and CONs

Whether due to it beauty, its flexibility, or its durability, Oak is the official state tree of Iowa and White Oak is the state tree of Connecticut, Illinois, and Maryland. There is a sense of regal history with Oak flooring – the wood that lines the walls of the House of Commons in England. It has a rich story and warmth to it that is different from the modern and harder feel of strand-woven bamboo, for example.

Because of its high tannin levels, Oak floors are highly resistant to insect and fungal attack – another good reason to consider Oak  flooring! It’s this tannin level that makes Oak perfect to age wine, sherry, brandy, Scotch whisky, and Bourbon. When aged in Oak barrels, it’s the tannins that contribute to the “Oaky” taste of the contents.

The downside to Oak flooring is that – unlike bamboo and cork flooring – it is not a naturally replenishing resource. The Oak tree takes many years to generate acorns with seeds – to restock itself. Red Oaks can live for 200 years and white Oaks for over 300, making them historical figures in the forest. There are, however, many mills that now generate flooring from sustainably managed forests in the US or from reclaimed Oak. Because Oak flooring has been so popular, there is quite a bit that is being reclaimed now into timber flooring. Side note: timber flooring is also usually a more affordable option.

If you are going with Oak flooring and are planning to install it yourself, read our guide here:  HOW TO INSTALL HARDWOOD FLOORING

For similar posts, visit Parquet Flooring and Hardwood Flooring.