Custom Hardwood Floor Types in LA

Hardwood Flooring Options

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From hand-scraped to traditional classics. Options to fit any budget.

Hardwood flooring is one of the best flooring options for easy care, low maintenance, and high durability. There are several options to choose for hardwood flooring, and here are a few things you can look for when choosing hardwood flooring for your home to ensure that it is a good choice.

Don’t confuse floor type with wood variety — we’ll cover selection of wood variety in the next section.

For now, let’s discuss the three main types of hardwood floors to consider.

Natural Hardwood Flooring

Natural hardwood flooring can be beautiful, and eco-friendly. The style of hardwood is not compromised if you choose the wood that has been recycled or salvaged. New hardwood flooring products can be certified as being from a naturally sustainable source. You can also simply choose a product made from a source that is already verified as being naturally sustainable, such as bamboo.

Bamboo has the same look as natural hardwood flooring but grows quickly in the wild.

One of the best things about using natural hardwood flooring is that, when made and installed properly, the flooring can last for fifty-plus years. You may also be surprised to know that cork flooring is also made from naturally sustainable wood of the cork oak tree. If you are looking for an innovative, eco-friendly flooring option, then cork is definitely a great choice.

Cork Flooring

Even though you may not think of cork as a type of hardwood floor, the truth is that cork is one of the more eco-friendly choices available today, and cork comes from a naturally sustainable tree that grows in regions of the Mediterranean. Cork flooring comes in many different styles and colors, giving you options that may not be available with other types of natural hardwood flooring.

Cork, bamboo, and even traditional hardwood flooring all give you the look and feel of a classic home. With all of the hardwood flooring choices available, you will have the exact look and feel that you want in your home, whether it is conventional or eco-friendly.

Wood flooring can be classified according to whether the species is hardwood or softwood, domestic or exotic (imported), and prefinished or unfinished. Different species are further distinguished by such factors as type (solid or engineered); style (strip, plank, or parquet); width, length, and thickness of the strip or plank; the natural color of the wood; figuring; cut; grade; and, if it is pre-finished, the kind and color of stain that has been applied.

Other factors to be considered when choosing wood for a floor are the hardness of the species, its dimensional stability under various climatic conditions, the floor area to be covered, the kind of traffic it will take, and the relative cost of the wood, among other things.

In other words, choosing a wood flooring product that is right for your job is not necessarily going to be a simple decision.

Solid Wood Flooring

Solid wood flooring comes in many types. Each type is available in both an unfinished and a pre-finished version. Unfinished flooring must be job-site sanded and finished after installation. Pre-finished flooring is sanded and finished at the factory — so it only needs installation. A solid piece of hardwood, generally cut into 3/4″ thick planks. Recommended for above ground; not recommended for concrete slabs.

Solid Hardwood flooring comes unfinished, which is then installed and finished on-site; or pre-finished, which is completely finished at the factory with several coats of durable finish, before it’s ever delivered to your home, then simply nailed down. So, if you have decided on this option, now just figure out your what type of finish you want, of the many options. Another choice to consider with solid hardwood flooring, is whether to go with pre-finished flooring, factory finished; or unfinished flooring, which is sanded and finished on site. The main types of solid wood flooring are:

Strip Flooring

This type of flooring is denoted by the thickness and width of the wood planks. Strip flooring has a set width, but the thickness can vary. Strip flooring ranges in thickness from 5/16 of an inch to 3/4 of an inch wide. It is available only in widths of 1 1/2 inches, 2 inches and 2 1/4 inches.

Plank Flooring

Plank flooring only comes in two thicknesses, but unlike strip flooring, the widths can vary. It is available only in thicknesses of 1/2 inch or 3/4 inch and a range of widths from 3 inches to 8 inches.

Parquet flooring – Parquet floors have a very different look from typical hardwoods. They are made up of geometrical patterns composed of individual wood slats held in place by mechanical fastening or an adhesive.

Acrylic-impregnated Wood Flooring

Acrylic-impregnated wood flooring is infused with sealant and color throughout the thickness of the wood. So, what is normally a surface “finish” is actually consistent throughout the wood. This type of flooring is most commonly used in commercial, not residential, projects. This type of floor is very hard and it is highly resistant to moisture and scratches.

According to the World Floor Covering Association, once installed, it is extremely difficult to tell the difference between a solid wood floor and the other wood floors. Solid hardwood strip floors are the most common flooring option, although engineered flooring has become very popular due to its low cost.

Engineered Wood Flooring

Engineered wood flooring should not be confused with laminate wood flooring. Engineered flooring is produced by adhering layers of plastic laminate veneer with real wood. The main difference between this type of wood and laminate flooring is that laminate flooring contains no actual wood. Look for more on laminate wood flooring later in this article.

These are several plies of wood that are glued and laminated together to form a wood plank. Range in thickness from 1/4″ to just over a half-inch. Can be installed almost anywhere in your home, including over concrete.

Long strip Hardwood Flooring

These are engineered floors, but with a longer and wider plank, which allows the top layer to show 2 or 3 rows of thin hardwood strips.

Exotic Hardwood Flooring

Different hardwood specie from around the World. Not found in North America, these hardwood come from Australia, Africa, Brazil and the Far East. Exotic hardwoods offer unique wood grain and coloration Many exotic floors are available in and in solid hardwood planks as well.

Wood flooring is offered in a variety of sizes.Their thickness generally ranges from 1/4″ up to 3/4″ for most solid hardwood. The width varies from 1″ on up to about 6″, with the most common sizes being 2-1/4″ and 3″. Each size will give a different look to your floor, so your decision should be based on your desired outcome and look you wish to achieve.

When considering the type of hardwood flooring you would want to use, it is recommended to consult an experienced hardwood flooring contractor. Doing so will provide you with the peace of mind that you will get a satisfying result in the end.

Hardwood Flooring Installation in LA

Installing natural hardwood flooring can be a simple job that does not take long. Hardwood flooring is available in sheets that are pre-cut to make the installation process simple and efficient. If you have chosen cork flooring, then installation will also be relatively easy by allowing our professional installers to do the job for you. Professional installation ensures that your renovations are smooth and time-efficient.

Installing hardwood flooring can add aesthetics to your home and help increase its value. You can choose the hardwood flooring that you like best, and new flooring options have expanded to include even unconventional woods, such as eucalyptus. All of these natural hardwood flooring choices will provide a long-lasting, durable flooring option for many years to come.

So, which type of wood floor would be best for you? There are several things to keep in mind when choosing the appropriate type of wood flooring for your home. Solid hardwoods may require a little more upkeep than engineered wood flooring, but they can always be re-sanded and refinished. If maintained, solid wood floors will retain their value better than engineered wood. In addition, deciding between strip, plank or parquet is, for the most part, a question of taste. If you like thin, long planks of wood, you should choose strip flooring. If you prefer the aesthetic of very wide planks of wood, then plank flooring is the best choice. And, if you have a more decorative look in mind — perhaps a geometric design — parquet floors will be a perfect match for your taste. Remember that plank flooring may require some extra work during installation, and its cost can be higher than strip flooring.

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Custom Hardwood Floors LA, a flooring contractor, offers Low Price Hardwood Floor Refinishing and Hardwood Floor Installation Services throughout Los Angeles, specializing in Refinishing, Installation, Repairs, Custom Floors, Exotic wood.

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