Hardwood Flooring 101

You will find an overwhelming number of websites with information and how-to’s. Using our experience as professional hardwood flooring installers, and as homeowners, we’ve answered some of the general questions you have about hardwood flooring and where to start. To get you started, here is an introduction to some great basic information and how-to-choose guides:

Species:
Let’s start with Hardwood Species. What’s popular? Which one should I use? The answers to these questions lies strictly within you. Your taste, your style, your color preference, your purpose, the look you want – you, you, you!

Which species is harder? For the answers to questions like these, check out the Hardwood Species Guide at GateWoodFloors.com!

Types & Grades:
On the list of things to consider when purchasing hardwood flooring is “What type of flooring do you need or prefer?” Solid 3/4” thick hardwood flooring is what most people think of when someone says “hardwood floors.” But there are more options today than ever before. The area in which you are installing the new hardwood flooring will dictate what type of flooring you will be able to use. “On” or “Above Grade” is any room at ground level and up. “Below Grade” is any room below ground level. Your choices are Solid, Engineered, or Laminate. Solid hardwood flooring is available in both Unfinished and Prefinished and can only be installed “On” or “Above Grade.” Engineered wood flooring also comes in Unfinished or Prefinished but can be used at any level - “On,” “Above” or “Below Grade.” Laminate flooring is only available in Prefinished, and can also be used at any level. Moisture varies at each level, and should be taken into consideration when deciding what type of flooring to install. For more detailed information, check out the Products Guide at GateWoodFloors.com!

Time to Calculate:
You’ll need to calculate how much flooring is required before you make your purchase. We can show you how in 4 easy steps!

Doing It Yourself?
You will first need to determine your method for installation. Depending on the type of flooring you’re installing can choose “Nail Down,” “Glue Down,” or “Floating” installation. Read our Do-It-Yourself Guide for much much more!

Care & Maintenance:
After your flooring is installed, you probably have questions about how to care for it, especially in different seasons. What about pets? We’ve answered some of your most frequently asked questions right here!

Upon first glance, it seems as if installing a new hardwood floor is a monumental task. At GateWood Floors, we keep it simple. Visit our extensive Buyer’s Guide. In just a few minutes you will get all the info you need to get a hardwood floor that gives you a lifetime of pleasure.

Contractor Responsibility

Hardwood flooring contractors work with a natural, infinitely variable, renewable product that has a warmth and beauty all its own.
This unique product can last a lifetime. What is the contractor’s role and responsibility when it comes to providing this lifetime product?

The contractor is obligated to know the product he is installing. He should be accountable for proper placement and installation, as well as the products requirements. Wood is a naturally dynamic and variable product, particularly sensitive to moisture. Each species, size, and construction type will react differently to moisture. A contractor should know the typical environmental conditions for the geographical area in which he is working, and how the flooring to be installed will react. A contractor should know if the product, as specified, is suitable for the intended use and application.

For example:

• A solid product should not be used below grade.
• A wide plank, or species with high expansion tendencies, should not be used with radiant floor heating or in areas with extreme moisture ranges.
• A close grained species, such as maple, should not be used with a dark stain finish.
• Flooring with a lot of character marks should not be used in a formal setting.
• Soft species should not be used in high traffic areas.

For acceptable product performance, and a long life, one should expect exceptional quality workmanship from his contractor. The contractor should also know what conditions are required for the flooring to produce the highest performance possible. Site conditions need to be evaluated, and inadequacies need to be discussed. This will allow the consumer to make the best decisions, and provide the best opportunity to have his or her expectations met.

All manufacturer’s installation instructions and applications should be followed, including using the appropriate tools and proper use of those tools. The contractor should know the specifics for each and every item. Contractors should not install a defective product.

Finally, and maybe most importantly, the contractor is responsible to produce quality work that will satisfy his customer.

As a consumer, do your research, and ask a lot of questions. The more knowledge you have, the more educated your decision will be. And in the end, you will have a hardwood floor that gives you a lifetime of pleasure.

For more information on getting the right floor and making it last, check out the Buyer’s guide at GateWoodFloors.com.

Hardwood Flooring is Eco-Friendly

The nature of trends is that they don’t last. However, rising concerns over environmental issues indicate that “being green” has surpassed the “trend” stage and has now become a way of life for many consumers. There is evidence of this in our grocery stores with organic and natural foods displays, on packaging for brand name products, advertising “all-natural” or “no hormones,” and in the wave of community recycling programs for everything from paper to children’s toys to furniture - not to mention the free-cycling sites on the internet. So it is now safe to say that "being green" is not a “trend." It is a movement.

The move to environmental responsibility has reached the hardwood flooring industry as well.

Hardwood flooring is, in itself, green. It’s green because it already has the potential to be timeless - used forever as long as it’s maintained properly. It’s made from all-natural renewable resources. Manufacturers around the hardwood flooring industry are making an even bigger push to create flooring products with less waste and longer life. For example, engineered hardwood flooring continues to gain in popularity with consumers. It is a preferred flooring option in most every residential sector. In response to this increasing demand, manufacturers are creating engineered flooring that provides solutions to contractors’ and consumers’ concerns associated with construction, styling, performance and installation. In addition to coming from managed forests, some of these new engineered flooring products are produced with up to two-thirds less harvested wood than with typical wood flooring options. Manufacturers are using the dense inner layers of wood fiber, which are created as by-products from the manufacturing of other products like sawmill by-products. Otherwise these fibers would be thrown away, burned or put into landfills. An example of this extremely eco-friendly product, that showcases unsurpassed structural integrity, impact resistance and moisture tolerance, is Shaw’s EnviroCore ™ - used in their Epic engineered hardwood collection.

We’ve come to a time where “what’s old is new again." And it’s becoming increasingly popular, and important. Reclaimed wood flooring manufacturers are turning old timbers into beautiful wood flooring. Consumers appreciate the reclaimed flooring for its character and time-worn look. And they feel good about choosing a floor with minimal environmental impact.

Whether you are buying new, refinishing old, or reclaiming and reusing, being aware of how your flooring decision effects the environment is important. As the move to go green continues, many hardwood flooring manufacturers will only continue to offer more options to their customers. And GateWood Floors will be here to guide you along the way.

Welcome to the World of Hardwood Flooring!

Thanks for visiting the GateWood Floors Blog! We are thrilled to introduce ourselves and share lots of great information with you. Check back often for all kinds of useful content about hardwood floors:

You’ll learn how to plan a hardwood floor purchase, from pro’s and con’s of flooring types and guidance for decision-making to how to install and take care of your new floor.

We’ll also share hardwood floor industry information and updates, such as the latest production techniques and hot trends from manufacturers. Of course, we’ll always keep you in-the-know about brand new products, as well.

Lastly, don’t forget to check our blog for sales and special promotions – you’ll find the best deals on our hardwood flooring mentioned here.

Sharing our experience and knowledge with you in our blog is just the first step – visit GateWoodFloors.com to shop from wide variety of wood species in a range of widths, finishes and grades to suit any taste and lifestyle.