Austin Hardwood Flooring, Wood Installation Contractors

Engineered Wood Vs. Solid Wood

Engineered Wood Flooring

Engineered flooring is Engineered wood where only the first layer is solid wood and the rest is a criss cross plywood. It is used for all grades above and below, concrete slab or ply-wood. This makes a perfect floor because its very stable. The criss cross layers below the solid piece of wood acts as a stable foundation, making it very stable against moisture and elevated levels of humidity. It acts as a 3:1 moisture barrier between your concrete and hardwood. Most engineered flooring have pretty good thick tops you can sand just as much as a solid. You can't sand past the tongue anyway whether it be a solid or engineered. Plus most if not all engineered hardwood finishes are heat treated at the factory, making the finish 4 times stronger that traditional poly-urethane. That's the reason why most engineered flooring come with a 20 - 30 year wear warranty. The heat treated process cannot be duplicated on site.

Solid Wood Flooring

A solid wood pre-finished or un-finished wood is when a piece of wood is solid from top to bottom. This plank gets nailed down on a wooden sub-floor. It cannot be installed in a concrete surface house. No matter what anyone says, a solid is only designed to be nailed on a peer and beam housing. An expansion gap is important because solid wood expands and contracts easily. Solid wood floors are meant to get nailed down on top of peer and beam homes. Companies install 3/4" inch plywood on top of concrete flooring all the time and nail down the solid hardwood on top of the plywood. This would act as a base so that a solid can be nailed down onto the plywood. Although this method is practiced on top of a concrete flooring, this method is not recommended by us in anyway. Solid wood floors are meant to be nailed on top of pear and beam foundations where the building is constantly breathing and is not dependant upon an A / C unit to keep it ventilated. Any house that has a concrete floor, will always depend on the A / C unit to keep the artificial environment consistent. Once this changes for any reason like in example:

Any house with windows closed and no A/C running or a poor A / C unit is just like a green house! This means the humidity levels will rise, and the nature of wood is to do what? Its to absorb water.

your A / C unit goes out
you sell your house its on the market and you turn off the A / C unit.
You leave house window open and its very humid outside
Your A / C unit is always running, but its just poor ventilation, or not enough ventilation
You take a vacation and you turn A / C unit off
Your house is just to humid for what ever reason

The risks involved are too high. Its just not worth it. Why spend thousands of dollars on a project and have to replace it later because you did not install engineered flooring on your concrete slab.

Here are some helpful facts and myths about engineered hardwood flooring.

Myth #1 - Engineered wood floors are fake.
Fact #1 - There is nothing more real than engineered. Engineered wood floors have a thin layer of the real hardwoods on the top, and the rest is composed of criss-cross ply or another format of compressed wood that allows the plank to be stable.
Myth #2 - Engineered hardwood flooring will not last because it is cheap.
Fact #2 - Multi-ply hardwood flooring will provide more stability than solid wood flooring. The finish on engineered wood floors generally has been heat treated at the mill so its more harder than solid wood flooring.
Myth #3 - My neighbors will know my wood floors are not solid and that they are engineered.
Fact #3 - Solid wood floors are designed to get nailed down on a peer and beam subflooring. Solid wood flooring should never get nailed inside a home that is on top of slab or concrete foundation. The green house affect can make a solid wood floor cup. So again, engineered wood flooring look just like solid wood.
Myth #4 - You cannot re-sand an engineered wood floor.
Fact #4 - You can sand down any engineered wood floor that has atleast 2 mm or more of top.

Hardwood Flooring Fort Worth TX

1What is the difference between solid wood and engineered wood?
- A solid wood is when a piece of wood is solid from top to bottom vs. Engineered wood where only the first layer is solid wood and the rest is a criss cross plywood.
- A solid wood that is 3/4 inch thick needs to be nailed to a wooden subfloor. If going over concrete a 3/4 inch plywood subfloor must be installed first. Roofing paper then gets installed for a sound barrier and moisture protection. Special thicker pad is also available for a softer step and knee friendly approach.
- A 1/2 inch solid wood may be glued down onto a concrete slab only and after a concrete sealer is applied over your concrete.
- An engineered floor requires no moisture barrier because it's already on top of criss-cross multiply wood glued together. This allows a 3-1 moisture protection ratio.
2How do I clean and maintain my hardwood floors?
Use a swiffer, vacuum, or a very damp mop. Never wet mop a hardwood floor. Look for the manufactures recommendations on what type of cleaner to use.
3What is a laminate floor?
A laminate floor is a picture of a hardwood floor. Usually the floors are made of synthetic backing for its base and a high-pressure laminate surface has been applied. These floors are not repairable because you cannot resand them. Manufacturers usually carry a 10-20 year wear layer guarantee. Some manufacturers also offer a fade and stain warranty. Often these floors can be clicked together for easy installation. A laminate floor is not a real hardwood floor. It is only immitation, but can be economical. Laminate flooring in Austin Tx is something we can help with
4 What is a floating floor?
A floating floor is wood floor, or a laminate that has no adhesive in between the subfloor and the actual wood floor. Generally, a pad is placed in between the subfloor and wood floor. A floating floor is ideal and recommended for when you have vinyl or ceramic that cannot be removed and has to be covered by woodfloor. Sometimes commercial or office areas have restrictions but you do not have to be limited because a floating floor is a good option. We have alot of floating floors to choose from. The Versini line offers alot of wood flooring that is desinged to float. It comes in a snap together design.
5 Can I put solid wood flooring on concrete floor?
Concrete is not suitable for a solid wood plank. A wood subfloor is much more suitable for a solid wood floors, because usually solids are 3/4 in. thick and get nailed down with a neumatic 3/4 woodfloor nailer. Underneath the 3/4 wood flooring, a black felt is usually installed. Other than the felt, a 15 lb. roofing paper can also be used. There are different types of padding. Some manufactures make padding with extra cushion. Extra cushion in a woodfloor can be a good thing because it is softer on your knees in the long run. The National Woodflooring Association recommends you do not glue a solid to a concrete floor. If you absolutely must have to, a concrete moisture barrier must be applied first before proceding to install. Here are 2 ways this can be achieved: - First 6 mil of polyethaline, or black/clear plastic is installed. Next a 3/4 in. subfloor CDX is nailed down with a 22 or 27 caliber nail gun every 8 sq. in. Next, a black felt paper [intalling this helps reduce the squeeking between wood floor and the 3/4 in. subfloor. Then the wood floor gets nailed down. The only issue with this is that your floor gets raised about 1 1/2in. Now the other option is this: - A chemical moisture sealer has to be applied. Each manufacturer recommends its own type of sealer. Normally, this sealer gets applied to your concrete floor and it has to dry first which usually takes around 24 hours before being able to apply the glue. Once this has taken place then can a 1/2 in. or below solid hardwood floor can be installed.
6 Can you glue down wood flooring on top of?
The answer is yes, only if your subfloor is CDX plywood or above. Always make sure that your sub-floor is clean and free of debris. If your sub-floor is uneven you must level it off. A good way to level off a sub-floor is to always make sure to use a straight edge and find the low spots. If you have low spots, they must be filled with float. A high spot can be sanded down of shaved down to meet industry standards.
7What about bamboo?
Bamboo is a very poplular product for which many mistake as a hardwood, but in reality it is a type of grass, not a hardwood. Bamboo can be softer than Red Oak and may not be resanded. Click here for your
8What is cupping or buckling?

This wood floor is cupping

This wood floor is buckling

There are waves on my wood floor. It almost looks like ripples you see in the ocean like waves Cupping is a term used for wood floors when it has expanded severely and the edges seem to be protruding upwards. The only thing that can cause this is excessive moisture. This can be especially true with a 1/2 in solid gluedown. Excessive moisture may be caused by a water leak, or poor air circulation in your house. Wood has to be within 3% moisture content between the wood and concrete floors. If it is not, it may not be installed until the solid wood has acclimated. Aside from the moisture sealer being applied to the concrete, this is a rule of thumb. That is why engineered flooring is recommended on concrete floors because it has a moisture barrier resistance built in the criss-cross-ply and has a less chance of cupping due to poor air-circulation.
9What about the gloss of a hardwood?
- The shine on a hardwood depends on the manufacturer, there are usually 3 catagories: - Satin-a low sheenSemigloss- a medium sheen (most hardwoods come this way Gloss- a high gloss - Which type of gloss you decide to get depends on personal preference.
10What is distressed hardwood?
A distressed hardwood is wood that has been handcarved either by hand or by machine. This hand carved facing tends to give wood a sort of rustic, restored worn look with lots of character. This floor is perfect for pets because if you scratch it, you can always stain the scratch with a stain pen and it looks like part of the rest of the wood These floors have a warm feeling to them and are becoming more,and more popular. There is also handsculpted wood flooring too.
11What is a sand and finish wood?
A sand and wood floor is a wood floor that was installed with out a finish,and sanded in place then coated with urethane. This method of installing can be more expensive and is proned to wear and scratch easier. It is important to remember that some factory finishes are treated with aluminum oxide then undergo a heating process which hardness the finish, this process is not duplicatable. Recently manufacturers came out with a pre-finished wood floor that can be installed together looking like a sand and finished floor. Another term to describe a sand and finish floor is seam-less floor.
12What goes in between my wood floor and my baseboard?

Quarter-round or shoemolding. The expansion gap, generally 1/4" gets covered up by this type of trim.
13Is hardwood suitable for any room?
Hardwood is suitable for any room except for a full bathroom. It is also good for kitchens. Any water spilled should be picked up promptly. Consider using mats near your sinks. Bamboo is also a good product for your kitchen since it is also a grass not a hardwood. Consider using the Teragren product since its 25% harder than red oak and 12% harder than maple. Since bamboo is a grass, it does not absorb water the way wood does.
14Is will hardwood floor increase the value of my home?
The answer is yes! Hardwoods will definetly increase and raise the market value of a home. A hardwood floor is an investment.
15What should I do prior to installation?
The process for preparation of a hardwood floor is simple. First, let the wood floor acclimate in a controlled enviroment if its a solid. This means inside your house NOT YOUR GARAGE. Never deliver wood in the rain or snow. The boxes do not have to be open since they come with small holes for air flow..
16Do hardwood floors change color?
All hardwood floors age in time and change color, some more than others. Most of the exotic hardwoods may do this in a more drastic way. This is a normal process for woodfloors for it is a natural color. Brazilian Cherry and Tigerwood are good examples of the two most drastic color changing woods. If you go to our gallery, you will see before and after pictures of the same floor in the same house after eight months of installation. Once a Brazilian Cherry floor has reached its peak it no longer darkens. The process, in general, can take about one year.

Reclaimed Flooring

Reclaimed hardwood is the term used when a wood floor is reclaimed or salvaged as it was probably from an old barn from the American Revolution. It was probably salvaged from a deconstruction, used railroad ties, siding from an old house, old beams from Chicago or an old factory.

Reclaimed flooring in Austin Texas is the term used when a wood floor is reclaimed or salvaged as it was probably from an old barn from the American Revolution. Similar to rustic flooring or handscraped flooring reclaimed flooring may have some history behind it. It can be wood that has been salvaged from a deconstruction, used railroad ties, siding from an old house, old beams from Chicago or an old factory, or sometimes it can be from sunken logs. Sunken logs or "recovered wood" is another term used differently than "reclaimed wood". The reason is that sunken wood never made it to a processing factory, so its was never used. Another term used is "virgin wood". This type of wood has no nail holes or any kind of history to go with it. Some people might prefer this over the reclaimed flooring and vise versa. It also can come from forest salvaged projects. This can be standing dead tress caused from storms or removed from forest due to urban expansion. These trees are then salvaged in turned into reclaimed flooring.

Reclaimed wood floors use to have some kind of use in the past. Buildings build in the United States in the last 2 centuries used wood as the main structural source. These buildings are now being demolished and wood that comes out of them is being turned into recycled or reclaimed hardwood. Taking advantage of the buildings resources and reusing them again for a different life is a fantastic way to recycle hardwood.

Sometimes people might go locally and reclaim an old barn or an old factory beam. Other people might travel across the globe in search of the perfect floor. Of coarse different regions on the earth will yield different species. For example places in the Pacific Northwest might be yield locally Douglas Fir. While Chestnut, elm or oak might be found more in the Midwest region. Other regions across the globe like in Asia might yield Teak since old buildings there are made of this type of wood.

Reclaimed hardwood is also used in things like furniture, and counter tops.

The Benefits of Reclaimed Flooring

The benefits is that it is environmentally friendly. The idea of preserving the forest and avoiding the landfills from wood that comes from these old buildings is a plus.
Some reclaimed wood come from nearly extinct and exotic wood. For example American Chestnut is a kind of wood floor you cant get anymore because of its nearly extinction due to a blight that happened at the turn of the century. So the only way people can obtain American Chestnut is from reclaimed hardwood. Some other woods that are protected are types of teak from Asia. Some of these teaks you can only obtain from reclaimed hardwood.
All reclaimed wood floors have a uniqueness to them due to their history behind it. All tell a story and have individuality and character. In fact some are as old as 400 years like the Chinese Elm.
Some other benefits of reclaimed hardwood is the ability to obtain old growth wood. Some of these woods that took centuries to mature have characteristics not found in younger trees. Getting wood floors from these reclaimed flooring can benefit the forest as less of the older standing remaining tress get left alone. Reclaimed hardwood flooring also come in the engineered form. This makes it possible to install over concrete or in basements otherwise solid wood floors would not be acceptable.

Things to keep in mind when purchasing reclaimed hardwood

1The amount of wood to buy is very important. The reason being is that there is only a few old structures and resources that these reclaimed wood floors come from. It is wise to consider buying allot more than you will need, just in case you will have to do a repair later on down. If you delay this, it may be too late by the time you decide on getting some extra. Keeping around 20 to 40 square feet extra stored away is recommended.
2Also a good practice, but not necessary is to know if the floor you are purchasing comes with a certain certification. For example the (FSC) or Forest Stewardship Council. This organization of makes sure that the reclaimed wood was obtained in a clean responsible manner. The SmartWood program is another organization that validates environmentally friendly practices when obtaining reclaimed timber.

Hand Scraped Wood Austin TX

The handscraped hardwood has the worn look feature with scraped edges and imperfections. This type of plank will hide scratches and dents more than a smooth surface finish. This type of wood resembles the way 100 year old floor will look after it has been walked on for nearly a century.

Rustic wood flooring Austin TX

Rustic hardwoods or the distressed floor used when referring to the worn look of wood floors. Mistaken for the handscraped floor, rustic flooring gives a floor character. Manufactures also consider rustic wood flooring the last of the grade. It does not mean that there is anything wrong with the floor, it just means that the style is different. Million dollar homes install this type of flooring all the time.

Smooth Finish

This type of plank is smooth to the touch and eye. It usually has no imperfection of the top layer surface. The top has been sanded in the factory or in place then finished out making the floor shine due to its smooth surface. Usually this type of flooring may require extra care to protect it from scratching.

Hardwood Floor Janka Hardness Scale

The janka scale is based on a metal ball test. The ball determines the point of damage to the wood. This decides the hardness for hardwood flooring. The janka chart below is available to see the difference.

Brazilian Ebony 3692 psi
Brazilian Walnut/ Ipe 3680 psi
African Pearwood/Moabi 3680 psi
Bolivian Cherry 3650 psi
Lapacho 3640 psi
Brazilian Teak 3540 psi
Tiete Chestnut 3540 psi
Tiete Rosewood 3280 psi
Brazilian Redwood 3190 psi
Brazilian Rosewood 3000 psi
Bloodwood 2900 psi
Brazilian Cherry 2820 psi
Patagonian Rosewood 2920 psi
Caribbean Rosewood 2920 psi
Santos Mahogany 2200 psi
Tigerwood 2160 psi
Purple Heart 2090 psi
Jarrah 2080 psi

Sydney Blue/ Gum 2025 psi
African Rosewood/ Bubigna 1980 psi
Merbau 1925 psi
Amendoim 1912 psi
Hickory/ Pecan 1820 psi
Doussie 1770 psi
Padouk/ African Cherry 1725 psi
Kempas 1710 psi
Bamboo 1650 psi
Wongo 1630
Zebrawood 1575 psi
Timborana 1570 psi
Cameron 1543 psi
African Walnut/ Sappele 1500 psi
Brazilian Maple 1500 psi
American Maple 1450 psi

Royal Mahogany 1400 psi
Caribbean Walnut 1400 psi
Australian Cypress 1375 psi
White Oak 1360 psi
Red Oak 1290 psi
Caribbean Heart Pine 1240 psi
Larch 1200 psi
Teak 1155 psi
Brazilian Euclyptus 1125 psi
Peruvian Walnut 1080 psi
American Cherry 950 psi
Southern Yellow Pine 870 psi
South American Lacewood 840 psi
African Mahogany 830 psi
Mahogany 800 psi
Honduran Mahoany 800

When in doubt you can always look up the hardness of a wood floor in the hardness chart below. The janka chart is measured by a metal ball test dropped on wood. Hardwood Flooring FAQ's

Transition moldings

Stairnose

The stair nose is the molding that goes in front of the wood over laping the facing or riser of a step. This piece makes up the edge of a step.

T-mold

A t-molding is the piece of molding that goes in between the wood floor and tile or carpet and other suitable similar flooring such as other wood flooring

Reducer

A t-molding is the piece of molding that goes in between the wood floor and tile or carpet and other suitable similar flooring such as other wood flooring

When in doubt, you can always count on our frequently asked questions and answers list. If your question is not listed or is not answered to your satisfaction, feel free to contact us.

Brazilian Cherry Wood Flooring

We carry Cherry from Brazil in Fort Worth Tx. Brazilian Cherry flooring also known as Jatoba or Courbaril. Its botanical name is known as Hymenaea courbaril. Unlike Brazilian Teak, the canopy tree can reach a height of 150 feet with a cylindrical trunk of up to 6 feet in diameter. The gray smooth bark exudes a gum substance so it is often used in medicinal purposes. Brazilian cherry also grows in Bolivia, Venezuela, Peru, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Caribbean and in Mexico. The Brazilian Cherry floor is considered to be an exotic floor here in the United States.

It has a brownish type of reddish color, to a pinkish to brown pink shadows. It may contain black striping and yellowish hues. It is a heavy wood with regular to irregular interlocking grain with a golden sort of glowing luster beneath its grain. At first Brazilian Cherry flooring will come in a lighter tan color but over time it darkens to its original color to the deeper reddish brown. Exposure to sunlight causes it to darken up.

Brazilian Cherry Applications

Brazilian Cherry is 200% harder than Oak hardwood flooring and has a janka rating of about 2820. It has many applications. Brazilian cherry sometimes is used in interior finishing's like rafters, beams, door frames, furniture and flooring It also has exterior use like sleepers, frames, architectural details, furniture and many other uses such as decorative veneers, turnery and joinery. In Brazil and South America Brazilian Cherry is used in boat docks, piers and even bridges which still to this day remain standing. This is because Brazilian Cherry has a natural property that does not require added preservation due to its natural oils.
Its one of the most popular types of flooring there is today in the market. One of these reasons is its stability, versatility, and hardness. It has allot of variation, so it matches with allot of colors complimenting furniture in any setting. Some prefer the flooring because of its unique warmth and unique reddish glowing cherry tone. Others because of its hardness, durability, stability and it is one of the most readily available flooring of its kind. This is why it is being used more in homes, apartments, condominiums and modern shopping malls. Unlike oak, maple, pine, or American Cherry and Walnut flooring, Brazilian Cherry is very durable because of its hardness. It is not easy to dent and scratch. Brazilian Cherry also comes in a hand scraped form, engineered, and solid. Some of our manufactures make Brazilian Cherry in a form that it can be floated for special applications.
Brazilian Cherry is highly regulated through its governmental control throughout Brazil. According to Ibama, Brazil's government harvesting control agency, no clear cutting is allowed in Brazil. All trees must be tagged and presented to authorities before harvesting to ensure proper and responsible harvesting regulations were practiced. No tree less than 26 inches in diameter when measured 48 inches above ground can be cut. This ensures availability and no under age cutting. With immediate jail with out bail until trial held, and fines up to $1,000,000 companies in Brazil take no chances in these tight government regulations. Not to mention emidiate seizure of equipment, bank accounts and other properties. It is safe to say Brazil has one of the most strictest environmental laws and enforcement in the world. Fort Worth Flooring Store is ready to help you with any questions you may have.

Brazilian Walnut Hardwood Flooring

Unlike American Walnut floor, the Brazilian Walnut, also known as Ipe or Canella imbuia, Embuia, Embuya Brazilian Walnut flooring is the hardest and densest hardwoods in the Brazilian hardwood family. Like the Brazilian cherry wood, this wood is grown in Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Venezuela, and Guatemala. But it mostly grows in the moist forests of Parana and Santa Catharine southern Brazil. Its found in altitudes of 3,000 to 4,000 ft. The Brazilian Walnut tree grows at a maximum of 130 ft to 165 ft in height and 6 ft in diameter. This makes it one of the tallest trees of its kind.

Brazilian Walnut Floor Characteristics.

The woods color can be from an olive to chocolate brown, to gray and black reds. It usually has striping and it is fine textured with fine ripple marks. It can also come in light yellowish tans or rich mahogany blends, it just depends where it was grown. Over all it is a dark floor, mainly used for dark hardwood flooring applications. Over time it will darken to a brown black color, originally it will display a large variation in color. It has wavy grain with a high luster. It is one of the hardest with a janka scale rating of 3680. It is resistant to wood insects and fungi. A fantastic residential or commercial floor.

Brazilian Walnut Uses.

Its used in a wide assortment of furniture, cabinet work, decorative veneer, joinery, garden furniture, hydraulic works, tool handles, bridge decking, commercial and residential flooring. Brazilian Walnut is very dense so it will cause a dulling effect with any sawing tools. Always use a carbide tip blade when cutting Brazilian Walnut. The flooring can have allot of benefits on a residential or commercial floor. First it is one of the hardest, so scratching will not be easy. Second the wear ability due to its dense fibers can make the floor last for centuries. Its a perfect floor for a high traffic area. It is a dark floor, so it will blend in nicely with white accent furniture or trim. This floor can also make your ceilings look taller, due to its dark properties. Fort Worth Flooring Store can help with any Brazilian or American Walnut flooring.

American Walnut Hardwood Flooring

The American Walnut flooring also known as Black Walnut, Burbank Walnut, Eastern Black Walnut, Gunwood, Virginia Walnut and North American Walnut. The Black walnut flooring is a very beautiful floor due to its lustrous properties and its dark brown chocolate blends, along with its vanilla swirls. It grows in North America south of Ontario, Canada and in the central regions of the United States like Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska and South Dakota. It can also be found in New York, Jersey, Pennsylvania and Minnesota.

The walnut flooring has a sort of ironic white sapwood on the outside of the tree but and the inside a chocolate brown, purple twist to it. American Black Walnut consists of variation, even though in the manufacturing process the wood floors get steamed to lessen the contrast between the sapwood and heartwood. It has a straight grain with burly patterns giving it its unique character and its texture. The janka rating of the walnut floor is 1010 so its one of the softer woods, but yet one of the most beautiful hardwoods. It is still one of the most stable wood floors.

Application of the wood are many. The Walnut flooring is perfect for radiant heating systems. Walnut flooring is very stable. This makes the floor safer than others to install in a high humid area. Although if installing a solid floor on a concrete, never hesitate to install a moisture barrier for extra protection. The wood is also used for baseboards, railings, furniture, decorative accents, picture frames and beautiful residential flooring. Because of the natural beauty, the wood requires no stain. Only in the natural form of the wood can you see the actual elegance. The walnut flooring will also develop a lustrous patina after years of use. Fort Worth Flooring Store can help with any type of walnut floors you may need.

Brazilian Teak Flooring

Also known as Camaru is one of the hardest wood of its kind. Brazilian Teak flooring is very durable and hard. Its botanical name is dipteryx odorata or tonka bean. Brazilian Teak grows in Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, and Costa Rica.It can reach up to 120 feet tall with a width of 5 feet. It is also know for Brazilian Chestnut, let it not be confused with the American Walnut. The Brazilian Teak or Camaru fruit is known its fragrance and is being used in the cosmetic industry and medical field today.

Its color ranges from medium brown reddish, yellow reddish, to tan brown reddish with golden streaks and black striping. It may also contain some purple brown but over the years of exposure to light it becomes a uniform yellow-brown. It has a very fine texture with interlocking grain. It has a janka rating of 3540 so it is considered one of the hardest of the Brazilian wood floors. BR111 offers one of the finest Teak from Brazil.

It has allot of other uses, besides shampoos and perfumes. It can also be found on bridges, ships, and heavy construction. It can also be found on outdoor furniture and decks. . Of coarse it is one of the most luxurious wood flooring. Some oak flooring can be stained to look like teak, but it will lack its grain characteristic. This unique grain give it the look of an intertwining dense grain you cant get from oak flooring. It performs well in residential and commercial applications. It is 175% harder than red oak and 12% more stable than red oak, the Brazilian Teak flooring is one of the most durable and resists dents and scratches and Fort Worth Flooring Store can help with any questions you may have with Brazilian Teak.

White Oak, Red Oak Floors

Fort Worth Flooring Store can help with any oak hardwood flooring. Unlike the American Walnut, the Red or White oak is one of the most popular wide spread wood floor in the U.S. Member or the Beech family its scientific name is Quercus rubra or Lithocarpus. Oak hardwood flooring can exist a wide variation of the name in American red oak like black oak, buck oak, canadian red oak, eastern red oak, leopard oak, maine red oak, mountain med oak, northern red oak, swamp red oak, water oak and maine red oak. Not to be confused with the American White Oak also known as Basket Oak, Chestnut Oak, Mountain Oak, Rock Oak, Tanbark Oak and Swamp Oak. It is one of the fastest growing of the oak family. It can grow up to 80 ft tall and has a diameter of 2 to 3 ft. It grows in Canada, Northeastern United States, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas. It is the most common used hardwood in the United States primarily because of its abundance.

The red oak flooring has a janka rating of 1290 and can resist wear, and is less durable than white oak. Its color is mostly a reddish yellow brown. It can have black mineral streaks. This of coarse all depends on the grade of the floor.

Oak Floor Grades.

The following four grades are the standard for the NOFMA Wood Flooring Manufactures Association. Clear Grade, Select Grade, No 1 Common Oak, No 2. Common Oak Clear grade, this grade is mainly heartwood or the center of the tree. It will have a minimum number of marks, streaks or imperfections. The clear appearance give it the clear look. It may have a thin brown mineral streak 3 inches long for every 6 inches or 3/8" sapwood through the entire length of plank. Small burls and fine worm pin holes.

The Select oak grade may have different variation of natural sapwood and heartwood. Unlimited sapwood, with slight imperfections. A small tight knot every 3 feet of plank is also permitted with a little burls and small machine burns across the plank no bigger than 1/4" is also admitted.

1 Common oak will contain more variation than select grade and coloration varying in characters. Filled knot holes. Minor imperfections are allowed. Flag worm holes, streaks and worm holes with dark machine burns across plank no bigger than 1/2 inch wide, no more than 2 for every 3 feet are also permitted.
2 Common oak will have allot more variation in color and imperfections than No. 1 common oak. Knot holes and open splits on face that are admitted. Black streaks, with imperfections and some broken tongue are also admitted. Red oak hardwood flooring is commonly used in all applications. It makes a great commercial and residential flooring. Acquiring the 3 1/4 nail down flooring is rather easy and can be sanded and stained to practically any color. The red oak flooring is used for sand and finished because of its ability to absorb stain. It has a strong stain absorbent ability, so color can be added, changed, or manipulated with endless amount of possibilities.

Austin, Texas Hardwood Floors

Table of Contents:

Engineered Wood Vs. Solid Wood

Engineered Wood Flooring

Solid Wood Flooring

1What is the difference between solid wood and engineered wood?

2How do I clean and maintain my hardwood floors?

3What is a laminate floor?

4 What is a floating floor?

5 Can I put solid wood flooring on concrete floor?

6 Can you glue down wood flooring on top of?

7What about bamboo?

8What is cupping or buckling?

9What about the gloss of a hardwood?

10What is distressed hardwood?

11What is a sand and finish wood?

12What goes in between my wood floor and my baseboard?

13Is hardwood suitable for any room?

14Is will hardwood floor increase the value of my home?

15What should I do prior to installation?

16Do hardwood floors change color?