4 Things You Must Know Before You Buy Timber Flooring

Every house owner beholds a dream of having awe-inspiring floorings which can bring in a classic look to the house along with good vibes. Moreover, when the timber floorings are to be of hardwood, this procures the sense of both responsibility and designing. However, there are certain basic steps that we need to follow while choosing good quality timber for the flooring of our house. There can be different options like carpet etc., but hardwood is the one which looks standard and sophisticated. Some of the basic considerations are described as follows:

Selecting Just the Right Timber Flooring

Making the right choice of timber flooring could be difficult without having any prior experience in that arena. Carpenters and engineers who work in designing wooden products know that there is more to timber flooring than just the surface design. Here are the points to give you a head start:

#1. Selecting Solid or Engineered Flooring

Engineered planks are the ones which are sold by recognized companies only and involve the design such as the top layer is a bit thinner and is in continuation with the other three layers generally. This arrangement is made to prevent the damage of the floor from shifting during expansion and contraction cycles. But these should be chosen in such a way that the top layer is not much thinner. An engineered floor can also be directly placed over concrete, which has different benefits as well.

#2. Choose the Type Of Finish

There are many finishing products like polyurethanes, etc. oil finishes are also good but it is not that much suitable for stains and damage, which often leave a mark. Oil finishes can be scratched more easily, but one advantage is that a person cannot notice scratches on an oil-coated floor so easily. Oil finish needs maintenance, which is easy but needs to be done more often. Polyurethanes, however, do not need frequent maintenance, but a good one is necessary after a general gap.

#3. Choosing the Wood Types

Generally, the wood used in timber flooring is that of the oak. The benefits of using oak wood are that it has a large number of natural stains and has a reasonable price as well. The designing circles usually look good with white oak. Walnut wood is also a popular choice among people. It is a bit softer than oak and is of a darker shade, which is beneficial for the rooms which need a dark finish. Hickory, cherry, maple, etc. are also the different choices.

#4. Determination of Plank Width

Different sizes of planks ranging from 2 to 3 inches to wider ones can be used, though wider planks are much more in use these days. Wider planks generally cost more but indicate to be expensive and luxury both. The width of the plank is directly proportional to the width of the room. The number of seams during the installation of the planks is one thing that needs to be taken care of, because of the contractions and expansions of the wooden material.

This is one of the primaries yet one of the most beneficial things which need to be planned clearly during timber flooring installation. The package boards need to be placed first in the concerned room and allowed to stay for some days, which is a method for the adjustment of the moisture of the room and the planks. The space for installation of the timber flooring needs to be prepared first so that the doors can be opened without difficulty. We should not sand any part which contains asbestos or is coated with lead-based paint.

The beginning should be by rolling out the underlayment. Once installed, the finish should be perfect with the correct fixing of the contours and attachment and trimming of the moldings. These are the basic precautions and guidelines one should follow during timber flooring.