Unique Wood Floors

How Using Floor Muffler Underlayment Improves a Floating Wood Floor

2012-02-26T17:34:00.004-08:00

Floating wood floors add warmth and value to your home. Using Floor Muffler underlayment with that durable, attractive flooring adds even more to the space. Many homeowners wonder if this closed cell product is worth the extra cost, when standard underlayment paper has been used for years with both hardwood and engineered wood products.
When you compare both methods, it’s obvious that a high quality acoustical underlayment creates a more comfortable, reliable floor.

Floor Muffler Underlayment - 100 sq.ft. roll

What Is Closed Cell Underlayment?

This product offers all the benefits of traditional underlayment paper, with plenty of extra advantages. Made with polypropylene cells, Floor Muffler underlayment absorbs sound, protects against moisture and resists mold and mildew. It also eliminates the need for poly or plastic film between the subfloor and flooring, and is suitable for use with nearly any hard surface flooring available.
Standard underlayment paper is similar to roofing paper and does not protect the wood flooring from moisture issues. Paper products cannot offer the sound-dampening features of thicker closed cell products, and are susceptible to rotting, mildew and mold.

Advantages and Cost Comparisons

Concerned about sound traveling from one floor to the next in your home? Install this type of underlayment and hear less foot traffic noise transmitted through the floor to the space below. As an added bonus, Floor Muffler closed cell underlayment also blocks noise coming through the flooring from below. It’s an affordable, easy to install sound-dampening solution.
This product works perfectly for floating wood floors installed in the basement. Lay the Floor Muffler padding directly onto the concrete subfloor, connecting each roll with the included 6 Mil self-sealing sheet. Use a 2” band of underlayment around the perimeter of the room to block moisture vapors at the wall (this band will be covered by baseboard or floor trim). Forget about adding plastic film or another type of vapor barrier on the flooring – the closed cell underlayment blocks the passage of moisture and protects against mold and mildew.
Floor Muffler products can also be used under stapled or nailed flooring, although that process negates the moisture barrier and reduces the acoustical benefits. The manufacturer also offers a few solutions for glued-down engineered wood flooring. Use their specially formulated brands (HPPA or EWA) to maintain the warranty coverage on your underlayment.
Be prepared to pay more for this superior underlayment product. When compared to traditional paper underlayment, the cost difference per square foot of material is fairly minimal. Installing closed cell underlayment takes a little more time. In most cases, you can expect an average 10 x 10 room to cost about $40 to $50 for the Floor Muffler underlayment.
That cost provides excellent sound-dampening and moisture protection, as well as creating a more comfortable surface for walking. It may be warmer in certain circumstances and is specially made to protect the structural stability of your floating wood floors. You’re bound to be more satisfied with the final product when investing in Floor Muffler underlayment.

Floating Wood Floors FAQs | Sandable Wear Layer or Unsandable Wear Layer?

2012-02-20T09:30:00.000-08:00

What is the difference between solid wood floors and floating engineered wood floors? Most people would assume that solid wood flooring lasts longer, given that a worn hardwood floor can be sanded and refinished. The good news is that quality floating wood floors made with a sandable wear layer can also be refinished to stretch the lifespan of the floor significantly.

Protecting wood floors cuts down on the need to refinish.

Contrary to common myths spread around the flooring industry, quality engineered wood flooring can last up to 80 years. The lifespan depends on a number of factors, but wear layer thickness is key.

What Is a Wear Layer?

Engineered wood flooring is made by pressing or laminating multiple layers of ply together, and generally comes in thicknesses between 3/8-inch to 3/4-inch. A hardwood veneer on top provides the look and feel of solid hardwood. This top layer - called the wear layer - is made from real wood, and is either a sliced cut (thick slab cut with a saw from the side of the log) or rotary cut (thinner wood peeled off the outer layer of the tree with a lathe) veneer.

Sliced cut veneers range in thickness from 1mm to 6mm. Rotary cut veneers often create wear layers of only 0.6mm to 1mm in thickness.

Benefits of Sandable Wear Layers

Floating wood floors that boast a wear layer 1mm thick or more are deemed sandable. The thicker the wear layer, the more times that floor can be sanded and refinished. For example, floors with a 6mm wear layer can be refinished 5 to 6 times, creating an 80-year lifespan.

Standard solid hardwood floors run around 3/4-inch thick. The wear layer on solid wood floors is about 5/16-inch thick – sanding beyond that point reveals the nails used to fasten the planks down. You can refinish this style of flooring between 5 and 7 times, which is similar to a top quality engineered flooring brand boasting a 6mm thick wear layer. These high end lines provide the same level of quality, value and adaptability as solid hardwood, while also offering the benefits of engineered wood flooring products.

Sandable engineered floors have better moisture resistance than solid wood flooring, perfect for installation in the basement or in areas with higher levels of humidity.

What Are Unsandable Wood Floors?

Unsandable wear layers – those with a thickness less than 1mm – cannot be sanded, although they can still be recoated with lacquer or stain. This cuts their lifespan significantly. You can still expect to get about 20 years, depending on the traffic.

For projects that must fall within a limited budget, and in applications where lifespan is not an issue, this type of engineered wood floor provides the desired look for a good price. Remember that floating wood floors with an unsandable wear layer are still made with real wood, as opposed to laminate products that only simulate the look of wood.

If you’re looking for a durable, attractive wood floor that will last for decades, shop for quality floating wood floors with a wear layer 4 to 6mm thick. Be prepared to spend a little more for this product. If longevity isn’t an issue, look for engineered wood floors with a thin wear layer in the finish and color you want.

Click Lock Floating Wood Floors Vs Tongue and Groove Style | Part 2

2012-02-13T09:30:00.000-08:00

Tongue and Groove Wood Floor

In a January post we looked at the different types of floating wood floors, specifically click lock and tongue and groove styles. The advantages of click lock were clear for those who want to try their hand at DIY flooring, although we found out the tongue and groove wood floors may be cheaper.

Let’s take a closer look at tongue and groove floating wood floors and find out whether this style of floor suits certain applications better than modern click lock designs.

Pros and Cons of Tongue and Groove Floating Wood Floors

This style of engineered wood flooring comes with formed edges that fit together using a tongue on one board (thin piece projecting from the board’s edge) and a groove on the other (formed to hold the opposing tongue in place).

Fitting the floorboards or planks together is easy enough, but you’ll need to use adhesive to secure the fit. Solid hardwood often comes in this design, as do other types of building materials like exterior wood siding.

Pros

Tongue and groove is a traditional design that appeals to a broad range of homeowners. You’ll find a wide variety of brands and finishes in this style, often at clearance prices due to the rising popularity of click lock flooring.

Use this style of wood floor over a small area if you’re making the jump from carpet to wood. It’s economical and relatively easy to float over the subfloor of a limited space. Entranceways, hallways and home offices work well with tongue & groove products. If you want to run the wood floor across the balance of your home – and you’re planning to DIY the job – stick with click lock flooring brands that are widely available and super fast to put in.

Cons

Repairs on tongue & groove wood floors can be tricky, considering the floor panels or planks are actually glued together for stability. Floating floors are not adhered to the subfloor, but in order to replace or repair a board in the middle of your flooring, the installer will often need to break apart multiple pieces to get access.

Installing tongue and groove styles also takes longer, which can increase the price of this project if you’re hiring a professional installation crew. DIY flooring jobs with T&G wood floors can be messy and frustrating, too.

The installation process of tongue and can easily be botched, either when too much glue is used (a messy prospect) or the installer applies too little adhesive. Perhaps the flooring has developed gaps once the adhesive dried, leaving your wood floor looking sloppy. It’s tricky to fix this without wasting product.

Tongue and groove floating wood floors still has a place in the industry, and offers a solid, dependable finish on your new wood floor. Look for a good deal on this product and use it for smaller spaces. But it’s worth noting that click lock remains the product of choice for DIY fans and pro installers looking for a fast, stable fit.

ASIAN WALNUT: A UNIQUE, DISTINCTIVE AND DURABLE WOOD FLOORING OPTION

2012-02-07T11:25:00.000-08:00

If you’re looking for unique wood flooring, a little research into today’s trends is surely worth the effort. There are a few unique options now reaching our markets that may deserve strong consideration. One of the more unusual choices that is rapidly increasing in popularity is the Asian walnut wood floor. Asian walnut or Acacia as it is sometimes called is a very tough little tree common to the most arid areas of Southeast Asia, India, Africa, and Australia. This is an exotic species like Brazilian Cherry that can provide you with a striking center piece for your room décor. Its unique grain pattern makes it a perfect choice for large rooms and interior spaces.

Asian Walnut is normally sold in a 3/4" solid board that is designed for a nail down installation. The wood’s distinctive grain pattern, large swirls and loose grain structure gives it one of the most unique appearances of any wood species sold today. Another characteristic of Asian walnut hardwood flooring is that the board lengths are typically not longer than about 4 feet. The tree itself is not a tall growing tree, so the boards tend to be slightly shorter than traditional walnut trees.

Beautiful Asian Walnut

While Oak might be the most common wood flooring material that comes to mind, Asian walnut hardwood flooring is certainly worth considering. The wood is certainly one of the most unique hardwood species available in the market today. There are several things to think about if you are considering using the exotic Asian, Acacia walnut species of floors:

Shopping for Wood Floors

There are various sources for information and the purchase of Asian Walnut flooring materials. You can check with local dealers, the chain home improvement stores, liquidators, or online flooring wholesalers. Local dealers and large home improvement stores offer convenience, but they typically might not offer the most competitive prices. They may also be reluctant to provide free samples so you can check coloring and match the rest of your room décor. On the surface, liquidators seem to offer good deals, but it may be buyer beware as liquidators rarely provide a warranty. In many cases, once their inventory of a flooring material is gone, the product is no longer available.

Online flooring stores and wholesalers are usually the best resources for wood flooring. Online companies will have aggressive prices and will almost always ship free samples out directly to the shopper. An online flooring wholesaler like Unique Wood Floors in Hopkins, MN is a good place to start your shopping. They stock and sell several options in Asian walnut hardwood flooring. The site has photos, prices starting at $3.99 per square foot, and has free sample request options.

Unfinished Or Factory Finish

While it is true that any hardwood floor is subject to dents, scratches, and scuff marks, the harder the wood, the less likely they are to happen. Asian Acacia walnut properties rate very high on the Janka Scale coming in around 2,300. The Janka scale is a measurement used to determine the hardness of a hardwood species. The higher the number, the harder the wood is. At 2,300, Asian walnut is much harder than common oaks which come in around 1,300.

The wood hardness of Asian walnut is a definite plus in terms of the durability it displays while in your home. However, keep in mind that if you buy unfinished material, Asian walnut wood flooring it may not have the longevity of a factory prefinished product. Home finishing is not comparable to a factory finish because the installer cannot duplicate the heat and pressure applied to boards that are processed in a factory during the manufacturing process. Factory finished means the factory has applied multiple, protective coats of polyurethane, aluminum oxide, or a combination of both in a controlled setting using special equipment. A factory finish can provides the ultimate durability protection that there is for wood flooring.

Color Choice

Depth of color and a vibrant range of stains are one of the special features of this wood flooring material. While natural is the most common color, it’s actually just an unstained board with a protective clear finish. The natural Asian walnut boards will have a wide variety of color that may range from dark brown to light blonde. The darker colors can be slightly more prevalent due to the predominance of naturally occurring darker wood.

There are also a few dark stains options in colors such as Smoke, Toffee Toast Almond, etc. Smoke stained Asian walnut floors have a very similar appearance to Black walnut flooring. Because this stain has a much deeper, darker hue than other colors, by using a smoke stained Asian walnut you can achieve a nice alternative to Black walnut and the Asian version may be priced less.

Hints and Tips

1. Getting two samples of Asian walnut hardwood flooring allows you you see a better representation of your finished floor. Asian walnut Acacia wood has quite a large variation of characteristics between every board. Two samples will give you a much better idea of what your overall floor may look like.

2. Requesting installed room pictures from your dealer is a great idea. Combining your room scene pictures and two samples can allow you to make much informed flooring decision.

3. Buy one box of boards after you have decided on a specific color or dealer. This allows you to bring your design idea home. It also provides the opportunity to loosely lay out your floor in an area of your home to make sure you like the color and style. Even if you cannot send the box back to the dealer, your initial investment will be much less than if you had purchased the entire job and then changed your mind about color and/or style. This way, if you don't like the Acacia hardwood floor, you are only out the price of the box (around $100) instead of thousands.

Click Lock Floating Wood Floors Vs Tongue and Groove Style | Part 1

2012-01-06T16:35:00.000-08:00

Not all floating wood floors are alike. Many use the same design principles and appear to be of the same quality, but the reality is that certain types of engineered wood floors are better than others.

Click Lock Wood Flooring

Take the two most popular styles of engineered hardwood – click lock or tongue and groove. Most older product lines were made with the tongue and groove styling, a byproduct of solid hardwood flooring that requires glue or adhesive to keep the planks together. Newer styles have switched to the click lock design, convenient for the DIY flooring crowd and allowing for much faster installation in any circumstance.

Which one is best for your home? Should you opt for the modern click lock floating wood floors or stick with the tried and true tongue and groove design? Both styles have advantages and disadvantages, and your project details may be better suited to one over the other.

Pros and Cons of Click Lock Floating Wood Floors

The click lock design operates like tongue and groove, although in this case the “tongue” locks into the “groove” without the need for adhesive. It may be two hooked shapes that snap together or another type of patented design. Some click lock models have a tighter fit, but remember that a certain amount of flexibility is required to ensure the floor won’t buckle or warp with natural movement.

Pros

This style of engineered hardwood is the easiest to find. It comes in a wide range of wood species, finishes and widths. Click lock wood floor styles are available in thicknesses anywhere from 3/8” to 5/8”. All of these can be floated on a well prepared subfloor, and installation is fast and simple thanks to the shape of the floorboards.

Avoid the mess of using adhesives or glue with click lock floating wood floors. You only need a steady hand and a keen eye to snap these floorboards together, along with accurate measurements and a heap of patience, of course. Stop worrying about how much glue to put on, how to get it spread evenly, and how to get it out from under your fingernails. With click lock you can leave glue behind.

Repairs are also easier with this system, since you can remove the damaged planks without worrying about destroying the locking “tongues.” Because the edges of this wood flooring are precisely formed by machinery, snapping and unsnapping them is just as precise.

Cons

Click lock may be more expensive than tongue and groove engineered wood floors, if only because the older style can be found on clearance or on sale more often. You may find a cheaper click lock option, but be sure the quality of the product, including the finish, thickness and warranty, is comparable. The time saved in installation may even out the price difference, but that varies depending on the quality of the product.

It looks as if opting for click lock floating wood floors is a better idea than investing in tongue and groove engineered hardwood. But will it work well in any room or will tongue and groove still prove best for certain projects? We’ll have a closer look at the benefits and disadvantages of tongue and groove wood floors in the next post.

thanks to Jasmin Flooring of Australia for the image

Why You Need a Flat Subfloor To Install Floating Wood Floors

2011-12-28T15:06:00.000-08:00

A well laid hardwood floor

Most problems and issues with floating wood floors are a result of one particular glitch-an uneven subfloor. Although many people assume level subfloors are required under floating wood floors, the reality is a little more complicated. Having a flat subfloor ensures your floating engineered hardwood flooring fits well.

The Difference Between Level and Flat

A level floor may be important in a billiard hall, but you can actually install floating floors onto an unlevel subfloor without a problem (besides having a hard time playing pool in that room). It’s when the floors are uneven that the real issues arise.

Flat and level may seem like the same thing, but a flat floor can be out of level (to a certain degree) and still help to create a base for comfortable, quiet wood floors.

The easiest way to check the flatness of your subfloor is by using a straight 2x4, about 10 feet long. Lay it on the floor and have a look at the edge along the subfloor. This long stretch of wood should uncover any uneven spots, including dips, hills and gullies. These conditions will create squeaks, groans and bouncy spots.

Typical Problems With Your Floating Wood Floors

You might notice loud and intrusive noises coming from your new floating engineered floors. It could be creaking, squeaking or a hollow knocking sound. All of that racket results from uneven floors.

When floating wood floors rest on an uneven surface, and pressure is applied to the top of the flooring, the resulting movement tends to make a noticeable noise. Depending on the type of hardwood you have, this sound ranges from high-pitched to deep and hollow. A pronounced bounce can also result from lower spots; the floor gives a little more when walked on, only to bounce back with greater force than spots just inches away.

Correcting the Uneven Subfloor

Plywood subfloors correct uneven surfaces.

Most experts would agree that the maximum tolerance on a subfloor is 3/16” over a ten-foot span. Any dips and mounds that surpass that amount need to be corrected.

The method of correction depends on the type of subfloor in your home.

Concrete subfloors are corrected by screeding. This process involves filling in lower spots with fresh concrete and leveling that off to create a smooth, flat area. Wood subfloors, on the other hand, can be sanded down to ensure a flat surface ideal for the installation of floating wood floors.

It may be a good idea to call in a professional installer if uneven subfloors are a problem in your home. They can be fixed, but it’ll take a fair amount of sweat and the right equipment to handle this initial and essential step.

Flat subfloors produce quiet, well laid floating wood floors. Uneven conditions can be fixed ahead of time, and allow you the greatest enjoyment and value from your flooring investment.

thanks to flickr/thebaron03 for the pic of a plywood subfloor

Prefinished Wood Floors: Accessories Provide the Finishing Touches

2011-11-15T11:56:00.000-08:00

You already know the benefits of installing a prefinished (factory finished) wood floor in your home -- that's why you've been agonizing over which of the many selections is the best match for your interior decor. However, now that you've made your choice, there's one more decision to make -- which hardwood flooring moldings are needed to add the finishing touches to your room's transformation.

What moldings do you need? Well, that depends on the room's configuration and the scope of the project, but two factors are very important: the mo

ldings should be a good match with the prefinished floors -- you want the trim to blend in, not stand out like a sore thumb and the moldings should be the same high quality as the flooring being installed.

Fortunately, Unique Wood Floors provides a solution for both of these considerations. They offer a complete line of high quality wood floor moldings in numerous wood species such as Maple, Oak, walnut, Brazilian cherry, and many others that match all of their prefinished wood floor selections. You can also choose from prefinished, unfinished, and natural finishes on most of the trims. Now the only thing you have to do is decide which trims are best for your project.

Prefinished Wood Floor Moldings

While it's not true in every case, most of the time when your hardwood floor meets another floor material, there should be a piece of trim added. Moldings should also be installed on hardwood stair treads and at any step-down that occurs in your floor.

A few types of hardwood moldings to consider:

Reducers -- these are ideal for transitions to another flooring material when there is a height difference involved such as to vinyl or some ceramic tiles. Reducers are available in various heights.

Thresholds -- these hardwood molding have various shapes, but just about all have rounded edges to prevent tripping. Thresholds are normally used in doorways or walk-thru openings to provide a distinct separation between two different flooring materials. They're often used between hardwood and carpet, ceramic tile or other flooring materials that may be a different height than the wood surface.

T-Molding -- this trim is similar to a threshold, but is designed to separate two floors that are approximately the same height.

Stair Nose -- this trim is also called bull-nosing because of its rounded front edge. It is used at the front of the tread if you're converting stairs over to hardwood and can also be used at landings and step-downs in the floor.

These are just a few of the numerous hardwood moldings that Unique Wood Floors offers. The descriptions on the site can help you decide if the trim is right for your application or consult with a local flooring contractor for their advice.

thanks to The Construction Guys for the pic

Accessorize your Prefinished Floor with Wood Duct Vents

2011-11-04T12:59:00.000-07:00

Heat rises and that's one of the reasons many homes have their duct vents in the floors or low on the walls in most rooms. While this can be great for keeping your house warm on a cold winter day, the coated metal registers installed by most HVAC companies don't do much for your interior decor -- especially when placed in that beautiful prefinished wood floor that was just installed.

Fortunately you have an option other than those unattractive and often poor quality metal duct vents -- Unique Wood Floors offers wood registers in numerous styles and standard sizes that can complement your prefinished wood floor and even the appearance of the entire room. The vents are available as either flush mount that sit down even with the top of your wood floor or surface mount which can be simply be secured over the duct opening. The registers can also be purchased with an optional damper to allow adjustments of the air flow.

Wood Registers can Complement your Prefinished Wood Floor

Unique Wood Floors offers the wood registers in various wood species such as bamboo, maple, and hickory or go exotic with Brazilian cherry and tigerwood to add a little flair to your floors. You can choose from unfinished, natural finish, or a stained finish with most wood types and styles. The registers are available in the traditional finned styling or select egg crate vent covers for a more modern look. Surface mount wood register covers can also be used on your wall duct vents to serve as an accent and complement your prefinished wood floor.

The HVAC supply ducts in residential rooms are normally installed in standard sizes and most are available from Unique Wood Floors -- even custom sizes may be sometimes be ordered. To figure out what sizes you need for your wood registers just measure the inside of the ductwork openings. Registers are classified by the length and width of the opening with 4" x 10", 4" x 12", and 2.25" x 12" being the most common sizes. It's not uncommon for the metal ductwork of a floor vent to be slightly compressed during construction so make sure you push it all the way open before measuring. Remember that you're ordering the size of the opening -- not the overall size of the register.

Wood vents are a little more expensive than the unattractive metal registers you may have now. Pricing can vary depending on size, wood species, and style, but expect to pay about $30 for an unfinished maple flush mount 4" x 12" vent and if you buy 10 or more, the price drops by a dollar for each unit. The same sized metal register might cost about $8 at many large home improvement stores, but if you're upgrading your home with prefinished wood flooring, why not take the extra step and upgrade the few floor registers in the room as well.

Create a Dramatic Look by Upgrading your Stairway's Treads and Risers

2011-10-28T14:25:00.000-07:00

If you live in a two-level home, the interior stairway can often be used to create a dramatic accent for your interior decor and serve as an engaging focal point for anyone who happens to enter the front door. Whether you have a simple straight set of stairs, a 90 degree run with an intermediate landing, or a grand curved affair that sets off your foyer, your stairway can complement both levels of your house by conveying a sense of warmth and comfort or making a bold architectural statement.

One of the methods many custom home builders use to make their stairways stand out is to install pre-built units with hardwood treads and risers that can be stained to match the prefinished flooring on the main level of the home. They often install a carpet runner up the center of the stairs to save wear and tear on the stained finish and to provide a color contrast with the hardwood's natural grain.

While pre-built hardwood stairways can be beautiful, they're not always the most practical or economical solution for your finished home. So is there an easy and budget-friendly way to upgrade your old carpeted stairway into a warm interior accent? Actually there are two options, they can each be done by a handy homeowner, and you can get the materials for both projects from Unique Wood Floors.

Installing Hardwood Treads and Risers can be a DIY Project

Most carpeted stairways have softwood treads and risers which with a little effort can be replaced with prefinished hardwood substitutes or for a more colonial look -- just install hardwood treads and paint the risers. Unique Wood Floors offers treads and risers in numerous wood species, finishes and sizes to fit most standard sets of stairs. If your stairway is boxed in with walls on either side, standard treads feature a bullnose on the front edge and squared off ends that can be trimmed to fit. Homeowners with stairways exposed on one side should choose universal treads which feature an attractive finished edge.

Unique Wood Floors offer prefinished hardwood treads and risers that match most of the flooring they stock or choose an unfinished hardwood to create your own unique hue. If budget is a concern, you can also build prefinished hardwood treads out of the same selection you chose for your floor and use a bull-nose trim for the front edge. Intermediate landings can be handled in the same fashion.

Either method is DIY friendly and can usually be accomplished with a few common household tools. Custom homebuilders give their stairways a dramatic look and you can too by upgrading your old carpeted stairs with new prefinished hardwood treads and risers.

Why Prefinished Wood Flooring Can Be Your Best Choice

2011-10-20T12:59:00.000-07:00

There are numerous reasons for installing hardwood flooring in your home such as durability and increasing its re-sale value, but when it comes right down to it -- the primary reason is that there just aren't any other floor covering options that can rival its natural beauty. Hardwood conveys a sense of warm that no other flooring can come close to duplicating. However, if you're planning to have solid hardwood installed, there's still an important decision to be made -- should you go with prefinished flooring or the more traditional finish-
in-place variety?

There are some purists who may tell you the only "real" solid hardwood floor is the type that's sanded and finished on the jobsite by an ever dwindling supply of specialized craftsmen. Many of those same purists also think that computers are just a passing fad. Prefinished solid hardwood is exactly the same as the unfinished type, but the stain and sealant are applied at the factory instead of in your home. A few factors to consider when making your choice:

Prefinished Hardwood Flooring Installation Time

In many cases prefinished hardwood flooring can be installed in a day or two -- your floor can be carpeting in the morning and the new hardwood floor can be enjoyed that same or next evening. Finish-in-place hardwood flooring requires time to be installed, sanded, and at least a day to have the finish applied -- then it has to dry. If you're having it installed during a remodeling project, forget about using the room for several days and depending on the humidity, possibly even longer.

No Mess with Prefinished Hardwood Flooring

If you've ever been in a room where unfinished hardwood is being sanded, it's an experience that won't soon be forgotten. There may even still be sanding dust in your hair. Sanding hardwood in a finished home can create a substantial mess and even in a house under construction, the walls and trim must be thoroughly purged of dust before paint can be applied. The only dust you'll have when installing prefinished flooring is a little from the saw and that can be placed outside if it's a nice day.

Prefinished Hardwood Flooring is DIY Friendly

If you're handy with tools and like saving money, installing prefinished hardwood flooring can be a great DIY project. In many cases all you'll need are a table or miter saw, a pneumatic or manual nailer, and a few common hand tools to complete the job. The best thing that can be said about installing and finishing finish-in-place hardwood as a DIY project is to call the professionals unless you happen to be a very experienced woodworker.

Unfinished and prefinished hardwood are both beautiful products, but unless you just have to have your floor installed and finished as it was done back in the day, prefinished hardwood flooring is usually your best choice.

Choosing Hardwood Floors for Your Home 101, Part 3 - Choosing Your Wood Flooring.

2011-09-07T18:42:00.000-07:00

The decision to install hardwood flooring in your home is something you can take pride in. Not only are you adding to the value of your home, you are also adding to the beauty and aesthetics of it as well. We have already covered why to choose hardwood floors, and we've covered Understanding the needs of the space you'll be installing them in. Now it is time to consider what species of wood flooring you will choose, as well as determining factors like pre-finished solid hardwood, engineered or floating wood flooring, color, grain, hardness and other relevant considerations.

Wood Species

Some of the more common species used are Oak, Ash, Cedar, Chestnut, Walnut, Cherry, Redwood, Teak, and Tiger Wood. There are so many species used in hardwood flooring it would not be prudent to list them all. You can rest assured that there will be a species to fit most any need or look you are considering for your project. Don't hesitate to call Winston or Andrew at Unique Wood Floors (952-994-9696) to help you with the decision on what species will be right for your home and your tastes.

Janka Hardness Scale

The hardness of a hardwood floor is determined by its Janka rating or the Janka Hardness Scale. It's important to understand how the hardness of the floor you choose will hold up under the conditions it will be exposed to in your home. Wood floorings Janka rating is measured by the force it takes a 11.28 mm (0.444 in) steel ball to embed itself half way into a type of wood. Basically, the scale helps determine a type of woods ability to stand up to denting and the normal wear and tear it will be exposed to in your home. As you look at a Janka chart you will see that woods are rated from hardest to softest. In the wood flooring industry Red Oak has been determined to be the wood all others are compared to because it is a medium density wood. Here is a link to Wikipedia that has an excellent Janka chart to look at.

Your Environment

Let's consider the fact that hardwood flooring is a natural product so you must consider that it will expand and contract with changes in humidity and temperature. There are also species that are sensitive to natural sunlight. This means that over time they can fade, darken or even change shades. Make sure to describe to the staff at Unique Wood Floors the amount of sunlight exposure from windows and doors to the room you're installing in. You should also consider the traffic the room will be exposed to. Generally speaking the more traffic the space will see the harder the wood should be.

Your Financial Investment

There are many factors to consider when determining the cost of installing hardwood floors. The rule of thumb is the overall quality of hardwood flooring will have the biggest effect on the amount you will invest in your project. Starting with the basics consider where the hardwoods originate from. This will directly affects their cost. Exotic hardwoods are imported into the U.S. and carry with them the extra costs in overseas transport. Domestic hardwoods come from in country and obviously have far less shipping expenses in getting them to the public. Another factor in price is choosing between a solid hardwood floor or an engineered hardwood floor. This would include the finish of the wood, distressing (hand scraped), size of planks, and even the warranty that is offered with the wood you choose.

Unique Wood Floors Has the Answers

This series of posts was designed to get you thinking about the various considerations you will need to think about when making such an important investment. No amount of writing, tips, or online guides can replace the knowledge you will find with our staff. With over 10 years experience in the industry and hundreds of thousands of square feet sold and installed the wealth of information we can offer is unique and indispensable.

Feel free to give us a call or email anytime at 952-994-9696 or sales@uniquewoodfloor.com. We will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have about this important decision.

Choosing Hardwood Floors for Your Home 101, Part 2 - Understanding The Needs of Your Space.

2011-08-24T16:05:00.000-07:00

The selection process of Hardwood floors can be a bit overwhelming for anyone. The first step in the selection process for your home is knowing the facts. This starts with the very space (room) you intend to install the Hardwood flooring in.

Room Location is Very Important

As an example you may be planning to install wood flooring in a bathroom or basement and those have special considerations. In most cases, you'll want to choose an Engineered Wood Floor, and you may want to consider a type like White Oak or Teak. Perhaps it's a living room you want your wood flooring to be installed in. In this case if the room is bathed in sunlight, you may want to consider color change before purchase. Some woods change dramatically when exposed to sunlight and if you choose the wood floor for its color you may be disappointed over time. Radiant heating is another thing to consider. Some woods will do fine when installed over radiant heating others will not. A general rule of thumb is that no wood floor should ever be installed over rating heating system with a maximum temperature that exceeds 85°.

Understanding Your Subfloor

Once you have a good understanding of your space you then need to consider the subfloor upon which you will install the flooring. There are different types of subfloor, but before installing wood flooring over any type, you must ensure that the subfloor is flat and even. Most subfloor's are either wood or concrete. If your subfloor is concrete and it is a new home the concrete slab should be allowed to cure for at least 6 to 12 weeks before wood flooring is installed. You may not think about moisture when considering concrete but this is a very important factor. Using a moisture meter will help you determine whether or not your concrete meets the flooring manufacturers recommendations.

Even if the moisture content is low, you really should consider using an Underlayment with a moisture barrier when floating directly onto concrete. If you're subfloor is wood keep in mind that wood subfloor's are often installed over concrete slabs on the ground floor, so perform the same moisture test to be sure the subfloor is suitable for wood installation. You should test the floor for squeaks and weak spots. Some repairs can be made by simply nailing down corners or tightening screws. You may need to replace wood over mushy spots and possibly even level the concrete beneath when needed. Make sure to look for anything that protrudes – staples, nail or screw heads and corners that aren’t level are common.

Determine Which Way to Run Your Hardwood Flooring

Part of the interest in traditional hardwood floors comes from the sense of direction and flow that the orientation of the board joints creates. It's important to keep in mind that not all spaces have the same conditions and no single exact formula exists for determining which way to run your flooring boards. There are certainly a variety of factors to keep in mind when making the final decision about board direction. A good place to start is to find out which way the floor joists run by looking up from the basement, running a stud finder along the floor, or by consulting the houses architectural plans. The rule of thumb is running floorboards perpendicular to the direction of the joists allows the joists to more equally support the boards. Measuring the dimensions of the space is important as well. Installing floorboards in the long direction typically creates uniformity, whereas installing floorboards against the long direction often obstructs the sense of flow through the room. Consider the main entrance to this space, you may wish to create continuity by laying the floorboards perpendicular to the threshold. In this orientation, boards will run the same direction as the foot traffic going in and out of the space. Finally, assessed the architectural feel of the room. For extremely "boxy" rooms, consider laying floorboards on the diagonal. Diagonal boards will add a contrasting dynamic and directional flow.

Understanding Your Space Helps You Understand Your Budget

In our first article (Why Choose Hardwood Flooring?) we spoke about budgets and prices. Here is a small excerpt from that article:

Installing hardwood flooring in your home comes with a price, but you should not let the price alone determine your choice of which flooring to install. The price should be a factor, because you have a short-term budget to consider. But quality flooring is a long-term investment, adding value to your property as a whole which often justifies the short-term expense. When Hardwood flooring is installed properly and in the right environment, you will actually save the cost of replacing flooring in the future of an inferior quality.

It's important not to let your budget get out of control. But when considering such an important investment in your home make sure you adequately budget for your space so you don't compromise the investments you're making in your property.

At Unique Wood Floors we understand how important this decision is for your family and your homes overall value. Feel free to give us a call or email anytime at 952-994-9696 or sales@uniquewoodfloor.com. We will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have about the space you are considering installing your wood floors.

Choosing Hardwood Floors for Your Home 101, Part 1 - Why Choose Hardwood Flooring?

2011-08-18T15:57:00.000-07:00

One of the most time honored flooring materials is the natural beauty of Hardwood Flooring. Hardwood floors add a beautiful, elegant, natural element to any home. The use of hardwood flooring is timeless. It enhances the warmth of any home and its natural colors blend with the decor of any room. Advances in technology have led to hardwood floors looking better, lasting longer, and easier to care for than ever. In addition, they add value to your home in the resale home market. It's also important to keep in mind how Hypoallergenic hardwood flooring is. Hardwood floors trap fewer allergens including dust, pollen, and dust mites than alternative flooring types. Furthermore, it is recommended by the American Lung Association to improve air quality in your home.

Choosing Hardwood flooring for your home also ensures durability in your investment. Hardwood floors can last a lifetime and are always in style, making them less expensive in the long run because you don't have to reinstall. If maintained properly, wood flooring should never have to be replaced. Unique Wood Floors offers some of the densest, most durable species in the world. Because of this durability they are easy to maintain. To keep them in good shape and looking new, normal care such as sweeping or vacuuming with a soft broom or vacuum is generally all that is required. To maintain its luster, use the manufactures recommended cleaner with a dry mop and terry cloth cover. Along with the incredible durability, our full line of exotic species offers a wide variety of appearances to match your personality, style, and home from light to dark, we have species that will match your tastes.

Installing hardwood flooring in your home comes with a price, but you should not let the price alone determine your choice of which flooring to install. The price should be a factor, because you have a short-term budget to consider. But quality flooring is a long-term investment, adding value to your property as a whole which often justifies the short-term expense. When hardwood flooring is installed properly and in the right environment, you will actually save the cost of replacing flooring in the future of an inferior quality.

At Unique Wood Floors we understand how important this decision is for your family and your homes overall value. This is why we decided to create this multiple part series about choosing Hardwood floors for its investment value and its natural beauty. We take great pride in our flooring and in the satisfaction of our customers. We invite you to take a look at our Testimonials Page on our website to read what our customers have to say about their experience with our company and our product. Many of these testimonials have an accompanying picture of the actual flooring the customer is referring to.

Feel free to give us a call or email anytime at 952-994-9696 or sales@uniquewoodfloor.com. We will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have about this important decision.

Wood Floor Glossary and Tips For Selecting Hard Wood Flooring

2011-07-24T11:08:00.000-07:00

For nearly a decade Unique Wood Floors has been bringing the finest Hard Wood Floors and Green Renewable Resources like Bamboo and Cork Floors. Providing unbeatable prices for our customers without compromising quality. Starting in August we will be staring a blog series called Buying Hard Wood Flooring:101. It's our goal to help educate you about our products and the valuable investment you are about to make in the beauty of your home.

To get things started, here is a basic glossary for the most common Wood Flooring Terms and a few tips about each one.

Color

A stained floor gives a unique feel to each room. Be sure to select stains that will match different decors (especially for exotic woods and natural stains), since your wood floor will outlast any trend in home fashion. But remember that stained wood can be sanded more than once, restained, and refinished to restore the original color of the species or even choose a new one.

Species

Each wood species has its own grain, color, and veining. Your choice of species depends on your personal preferences and the effect you want to achieve. The most popular species are oak and maple, followed by yellow birch, white ash, beech, cherry, and walnut. Exotic Hard Woods, which are very warm in color and extremely solid, are also available.

Gloss

There are three main types of gloss on the market: high-gloss, semi-gloss, and matte. A very bright finish tends to highlight marks, while a matte or satin finish makes them less noticeable and delivers long-lasting beauty.

Grade

Grading is a means of rating boards according to variations in the wood’s natural color. For example, “Select & Better” grade woods are more uniform in color than “Exclusive” grade, which present greater, more pronounced natural color variation.

Positioning

Your wood flooring should ideally be installed at a right angle to your subfloor joists. But you should also consider the shape and size of the room. For example, installing the boards lengthwise may make a long room look even longer, and it may be more flattering to lay the boards diagonally. If you like an original look, choose a floor with patterns.

Width

Boards are generally available in standard widths of 2 1/4" [57 mm], 2 1/2" [64 mm], and 3 1/4" [83 mm]. Widths of up to 5" [127 mm] are becoming increasingly popular. Your choice will depend on the effect you want to create. Thinner boards make a room look longer, while wider boards make it appear shorter. Remember, however, that a tight grained wood like maple expands with humidity, which may make thinner boards preferable for some uses.

Accessories

Installing a hardwood floor usually requires much more than just prefinished hardwood boards. You’ll surely need edgings, stairway nosings, vent flashings, and moldings to join with the walls. Make sure you can get these basic accessories in the same stain and gloss as your flooring.

Floor Types

There are three main types of flooring on the market: Engineered Wood Floor, Glueless Engineered Wood Floor, and Solid Wood Floor. Each floor types offers certain advantages—everything depends on the room where the floor is installed and on your needs.

Choose Unique Wood Floors

As you can see, many factors influence the choice of a hardwood floor. However, one thing is sure: It is important that you are well-informed and that you carefully choose where you make your investment. It is essential that you purchase your hardwood floor from a specialized dealer like Unique Wood Floors who not only sells flooring but can also advise you on achieving your desired result according to your priorities and budget.

Wood Flooring - How to Select the Wood Floor That's Right For You

2011-07-07T06:25:00.000-07:00

Let's Start With What Wood Flooring Species You Like

There are several aspects to consider when selecting a quality Hard Wood Floor. Following is a brief step-by-step approach for a novice buyer. Start by selecting a specie and then find out what pattern, construction and finish. Different species have very different characteristics and attributes such as appearance (color, grain), properties (hardness, dimensional stability), workability (sanding, nailing, finishing), cost and availability.

Next Consider The Pattern (Type/Design) Of Your New Hard Wood Floor

Strip: usually in the standard 2 1/4" or 3" width, and random length.

Plank: usually between 3" and 8" wide, in fixed or random width and length.

Longstrip & Longplank: usually about 7 feet long and 7" wide boards with strips glued together and on the next layer in this engineered construction.

Parquet: usually a 12" by 12" square with an endless choice of geometric designs.

Many people chose strips for a more contemporary look. It creates a linear effect in a room, often promoting the illusion of a larger space. If a clear select grade (best) is chosen, it gives the room a more uniform color and a narrow modern look.

Planks are appropriate when a traditional decor, a country feel, or an antique colonial style is desired. Plank flooring is also linear, however it is wider in width. One can chose planks with plenty of knots for a rustic appearance.

Parquet, along with inlays (borders, medallions, other species, etc.) and other custom designs, can give a wooden floor an elegant and exclusive look. Parquet offers a variety of design options, when linear is not your preference.

Generally speaking, a dark colored specie (or a dark stained floor) gives a more formal, or traditional look. Some species, like American Cherry and Brazilian Cherry, darken faster than others from direct sunlight (ultra violet light) and from age. Lighter colors, especially maple or oak, are used in country or contemporary type interiors.

Then You Should Consider The Construction. Hard Wood Floors Can Be Solid or Engineered

Solid wood floor is one complete piece of solid wood from top to bottom. It must be nailed down (or glued down if 18" or shorter strips are installed) over a wood subfloor.

Engineered wood floors (also called laminated) is a construction of 3 or 5 layers of wood laminated together. Because of the cross-grain lamination construction, engineered floors are very dimensionally stable and do not expand and contract like a solid product. Engineered floors can be installed on any grade level with nail down, glue down, or floating methods. Engineered floors are most often pre-finished.

Finally Choose The Finish (Pre-Finished or Unfinished)

Pre-finished flooring comes with a durable and consistent factory finish. No sanding and no finishing is needed and the job is therefore completed more quickly, typically in one day versus four to six days for site-finished, meaning there is no need to move out. Pre-finished floors eliminate the dust, noise, and odor involved in the job-site finishing process.

Unfinished (i.e. site-finished) is the traditional wood flooring to many people. There are more options for colors, stains and types of finishes, which all contribute to the personalization of a solid floor.

Recommended Considerations For Any Exotic Wood Flooring or Local Wood Flooring

Wide Plank floors are also often used in contemporary settings. Like using large format ceramic tile for bathroom floors to make the room feel larger, wide planks also create the feeling of greater space. Many of the "exotic" or sub-equatorial species allow for wide or even super-wide plank widths and long lengths.

Custom floors offer the widest range of species, plank size, hand-scrape or other surface treatments, colors, and factory finishes in solid or engineered construction.

Also make sure your floor is made in the USA. Much of the flooring found at the big box stores is coming out of China, are made with sub-standard plywood, and contain toxic levels of formaldehyde.

Many of the parquet patterns, like a Versailles, are done in larger formats, like 36". Some of the smaller parquets range from 16" to 22". A custom parquet allows the size to be adjusted slightly to fit the room proportions, with or without a border of planking.

It's important to keep in mind that wood flooring has different grades; unfinished wood has explicit, legally binding, well defined grades with detailed explanations, used by many manufacturers; prefinished wood has descriptive, custom grades defined by each manufacturer's marketing and advertising departments with vague and persuasive words. Grades are defined by the size and number of natural characteristics found in trees and the lumber and veneer from them, such as knots, wormholes, mineral deposits, sapwood and heartwood, grain; and production factors such as board lengths, sticker stains and milling imperfections. Just as you can order beef and get filet mignon, pot roast and hamburger, you can get Walnut flooring and get Clear, #1 Common, or #2 Common (unfinished), or Prime, Standard, Country, or Cabin prefinished (or whatever descriptions a manufacturer may use).

One Final Tip About Bevel or Eased Wood Flooring

You can select either a beveled edge or a square edge for your hardwood floors. Today, most manufacturers refer to their beveled edge as an “eased edge” because the tapered edge has been reduced dramatically from the old fashioned grooved edges.

Beveled edges do serve a purpose, however. Manufacturers can produce beveled edge planks faster than square edge planks, which lowers their production costs — a savings they can pass on to the buyer. In addition, a beveled edge floor can be more forgiving when installed over irregular subfloors and uneven plank heights won’t abut each other — a situation called “overwood.”

Another benefit of a bevel or eased edge floor is it reduces the visible (and physical)impact of expansion and contraction of the boards/planks. A sand and finish on site floor will show gaps when the floor is in a contracted state. Walk on this floor in socks or bare feet and you will feel the sharp edges. Not so with the eased edge floor.

Unique Wood Floors is Here to Help

If you have questions or would like to learn more about how Unique Wood Floors can help you get the best price and make the right decision on your hard wood floor choice please give us a call at 952-994-9696.

Proper Care and Maintenance For Your Hardwood Floors

2011-02-22T08:27:00.000-08:00

When considering purchasing a new hardwood floor for your home or workplace, it’s important to keep in mind what kind of upkeep it will require. Here are some care and maintenance tips that will help you keep your wood floors at their best for many years to come.

Wood is a natural product with its own natural variations of grains, colors and characteristics. It should be noted that these variations are perfectly normal with any wood product. Wood is also a living material that reacts to change in the climate and its surroundings. During summer’s high humidity, your hardwood floors will absorb moisture and expand. In winter, when we heat the indoors and humidity drops, wood will also release its own humidity causing your wood floors to shrink and contract.

Therefore, it is essential to the care of your hardwood floors that the humidity in the rooms with any hardwood flooring be maintained at the level between 35–55% by the use of humidifier and /or dehumidifier. It is also important to keep the room temperature between 60 to 75 degrees F by heating or air-conditioning.

Some other helpful tips to keep your hardwood floors looking great:

Keep dirt, sand, grit and water off your hardwood floors by placing outside mats in front of all entrances to your home.

Sweep or vacuum regularly to rid the floor of dust and grit that can scratch the finish.

Remove shoes with spiked or damaged heels before walking on your hardwood floors to prevent scratches and dents.

Keep pets’ claws trimmed and paws clean and free of dirt or soil.

Always apply felt pads under any furniture or chair legs to prevent scratches and to ease movement. Keep pads clean at all times and regularly check and replace as necessary.

Protect the wood flooring when moving heavy furniture or large appliances. Place on mat or piece of plywood and slide smoothly over floor.

Use rugs in high wear areas and heavily traveled spots such as pivot points, room entries and stair landings.

Never flood or wet mop your wood floor with water or any other liquid products, this includes Ammonia , dust cleaner or any other cleaner that is designed to clean another surface type (ex. tile or vinyl cleaners.) Severe damage may occur that will void the warranty.

Wipe up any spills immediately with a damp cloth.

Exposure to sunlight with its UV rays accelerates oxidation and aging of materials. This may change the color of your hardwood floor. Periodically rearrange the furniture will allow the floor to age evenly.

Lastly, it is important for you to know what your manufacturer's warranty is and how to follow its instruction about wood flooring care and maintenance. Failure to do so will tend to void your warranty.

The Growing Appeal of Cork Flooring

2011-01-10T03:04:00.000-08:00

The biggest question still holds true in most people's minds when they think of cork flooring. Can a piece of cork really last as long on the ground? The answer is yes. Your cork wood flooring is just as durable as other flooring alternatives. Some cork floorings, like Ipocork by Amorim, are finished with up to 6 layers of wear resistant technology.

Not only is it highly durable, cork has been known to be a great insulator for heat, sound and moisture. Cork bark is made up of a tiny sealed cellular structure, which contains 90% air. With about 40 million of these cells per cubic centimeter, they provide resiliency and insulation. As you can imagine, cork can be compressed and quickly returns to its original shape, making it a remarkably forgiving flooring material.

The comfort of cork should not be overlooked. The air trapped in the structure of cork flooring provides great support for your feet, making it an ideal product for rooms in which you spend the most time in. Cork contains a natural substance called Suberin, which repels insects, mold and is even fire resistant. Not to worry though, Suberin is completely safe for children and animals.

It wouldn't do it justice to talk about cork without talking about all the environmental benefits that come along with this green product. The reason cork is considered an eco-friendly flooring is because it is a highly renewable resource. Cork oak trees do not need to be savaged to harvest the cork from them. The tree bark is removed, leaving the rest of the tree fully intact.

The bark from cork oak trees can be harvested every 9-12 years for a total of more than 20 times during its natural lifespan. Most cork comes from the Mediterranean, specifically Portugal, which supplies over 70% of the cork production in the world. After the bark is harvested and ground up, it is bound with a non-toxic resin and baked in large sheets and different patterns. This process produces the natural beauty we see in our cork floors.

All these benefits must cost a fortune, right? Fortunately, that's not the case. Cork, being a renewable resource, is relatively affordable. As of 2011, the average price for cork flooring is less than most hardwood species and comparable to bamboo.

Cork flooring comes in glue down or floating. Glue down installation results in lower material costs but higher installation costs. Where as the more common form, floating installation results in lower over all costs and is easier to install. As a result, most cork comes in a click and lock flooring system, making it ideal for the do-it-yourselfer. If you were to hire an installer, hours are typically shortened due to the short preparation time.

Another huge benefit of having a click and lock system floating flooring is the ability to replace certain pieces without damaging the surrounding area. Dishwasher floods are not something anyone can prepare for but the damage just doesn't seem as severe when it is a matter of replacing a few pieces.

Now that you know what all the hype is about, Unique Wood Floors hopes you'll keep cork in mind for your next project.

Radiant Heat and Hardwood Flooring

2010-09-02T03:34:00.000-07:00

With new technologies introduced in the last decade, it has become more of a reality to safely install radiant heat beneath your hardwood floors without worry of damaging the wood. The main advantage radiant heat has to offer is that you will receive even heat distribution throughout your home, adding comfort and value. With the great advantages that come with radiant heat hardwood floors, there are a few simple rules to follow in order to make sure you have a great HVAC and flooring experience.

Always follow the installation, maintenance and warranty information supplied to you by the wood flooring manufacturer. For example, some manufacturers will not warranty their product over radiant heat. While others, using the same wood species will honor all warranties over radiant heat if you follow their installation and maintenance instructions.

Include the proper system controls when you install your radiant heating system. It is strongly recommended that you install a thermostat outside your home and at the outflow points of your boiler or water heater. When properly set, these thermostats will eliminate the chance that your hardwood floors will be "shocked" by large and sudden temperature changes (the temperature of the hardwood floor itself should never go above 80F). These large swings in temperature can cause a myriad of problems including cracking, face checking, bowing, and gaping.

If you are installing new hardwood flooring over new concrete or plywood, make sure that you or your contractor check the new subfloors moisture content as compared with your new wood flooring. The two numbers should be no more than 2-3% different. For concrete slabs, it can take upwards of two months to fully "cure" and have a stable moisture content. Once cured, run the system for 5-6 days before the installation of your hardwood floors to drive out any residual moisture (only 2-3 days are necessary for plywood subfloor). Check the surface temperature of the subfloor to make sure it does not exceed 80F. Then, turn down your system to the flooring manufacturers guidelines for installation and you are ready to install your new hardwood flooring.

Relative humidity in your home should always stay between 35-55%. Not only will this make your living space more comfortable but it will also help create a stable environment for your wood flooring. Excessive moisture or extremely dry conditions can severely damage or even destroy your new floors. This can easily be controlled by a central humidifier/dehumidifier system.

Following these simple rules will help insure that you have a great experience with both your hardwood flooring and your radiant heating system for years to come.

thanks for the pic! (source - floorheatingsystemsite.com)

Go Green and Go Beautiful With Bamboo Flooring!

2010-06-09T03:51:00.000-07:00

Bamboo can be an incredible choice for your homes flooring. What many people don't realize is that bamboo is a grass, not a tree. This means that its finished appearance is very distinctive. The reason for this distinctive look is the eye-catching pattern of slightly darker bands produced by its nodes, a feature that clearly sets it apart from wood. Bamboo has recently become one of the hottest choices in flooring. There may be many reasons for this popularity but one of the greatest is its environmental benefits.

Bamboo has gained a reputation as an eco friendly, highly renewable resource material. Bamboo can grow up to 47 inches in 24 hours and 78 1/2 feet in 40 to 50 days and it only takes about 3 to 5 years for bamboo to reach full maturity. Traditional hardwoods can take 20 - 120 years to mature. Bamboo can be harvested without the need to replant because the root system is left intact when it is harvested. The root structure has the ability to hold the soil in place preventing erosion. Amazingly bamboo is actually stronger than most hardwoods; some species of bamboo have obtained Janka hardness ratings higher than Maple and nearly double that of Red Oak. Bamboo is also very resilient and can take a greater impact than most hardwoods without denting.

At Unique Wood Floors we import the finest bamboo available. Our bamboo flooring is available in a light natural color, or in darker shades depending on your needs. You have far more choices in bamboo than you may realize. Darker shades can be created by a method called carbonization. Carbonization is a manufacturing process that subjects the bamboo to steam and pressure. This causes the darkening of the sugar content in its fibers resulting in a honey brown color. The shades of this color are dependent upon the length of the process. You can further enhance the finished product by the various planking constructions. You can choose vertical, horizontal, solid engineered and strand woven. Like hardwoods, bamboo floors are cut into planks so you can vary the length and width of the cut to achieve various looks. Create A wide open space with long, wide cuts, or create striking patterns with short, thin cuts.

If you're worried about the maintenance of a bamboo floor, don't be. Just like a hardwood floor, bamboo floors have a urethane topcoat to protect their finish. The best way to maintain the finish is with regular sweeping and vacuuming with a soft bristle attachment that will keep the dirt from wearing down the floor surface. We also recommend using a microfiber mop head; this will give you an amazing clean that dries quickly. The most important thing is to avoid leaving streaks or detergent residue buildup on the bamboo floor. This can be avoided by choosing the proper detergent. Don't hesitate to ask Winston or one of Unique Wood Floors other knowledgeable staff members. We can make sure you have the appropriate cleaner for your new beautiful bamboo floor.

Everybody wants to jump on the conservation bandwagon. In our hearts we all want to do the best thing we can for our planet. That's why Unique Wood Floors has our go green solutions. It may be one thing to recycle a soda can, make sure were recycling our cardboard, or even driving the newest hybrid automobile. However, we can think of no better way to help our environment than by beautifying our homes with some of the finest flooring material available.

Choosing Quality Floating Wood Floors For your condo, basement, radiantheat floors

2010-05-02T22:00:00.000-07:00

You are just a few clicks away from a new Wood Floor for your home! We are talking about clicking together your brand new floating wood flooring.

Floating wood floors are now installed on any hard surface with simple a click lock or tongue & groove system. All floating floors are bound to each other and not to the sub floor. This makes it possible to expand as one piece rather than individual boards. It's ideal for areas with higher humidity such as basements. Since floating wood floors will expand and contract as one unit, the chances of cupping or gapping between boards is greatly reduced, but be sure to leave space along the walls and cover them up with your baseboard as this allows for expansion.

Unlike its counterpart, click lock floating wood floors are much easier to repair if a specific area is damaged. A great example is a dish washer flood. You would simply unclick the flooring up to the damaged area, then replace the damaged boards and reassemble.

Another benefit is installing it directly over ceramic, tile, or any hard surface. Tearing out and disposing your old flooring is quite an extensive project in itself, but that's no longer necessary.

Floating engineered wood floors have become more and more popular amongst home owners due to the simplicity of installation and stability in structure. Besides a few species, they also worked well with radiant heat systems and concrete basement sub floors. Floating engineered flooring is typically installed above the underlayment, a foam or cork material, which acts as a barrier to moisture and sound.

European styled floating wood floors often have a 3-ply design with the top wear layer being hardwood, lumber middle core and balanced base veneer. When the floor has a 3 to 4 mm (1/8" to 3/16") wear layer, it is considered high quality for several reasons. First of all, the thick wear layer can be re-sanded and varnished a few times giving it the fresh new look as when you first installed it. Secondly, floating wood floors with a thick top layer prevents you from feeling the "bounce effect" while walking on it because it tends to sit on the sub floor firmly due to the weight of the hardwood.

We have been selling Floating Wood Floors for years at Unique Wood Floors. While most engineered floating wood floors are designed with a click & lock system, some can still be tongue & groove which requires edge glue. There are advantages to each design. Builders and Diyers enjoy the floating wood floors with click & lock system more due to the benefits of easy installation. Meanwhile, contractors could favor the tongue & groove floating wood floors more because they can be installed by nail-down and glue-down.

Now you may be asking yourself. Why should I choose floating wood floors over laminate flooring which is just as easy to install and has the similar wood grains? Well floating wood flooring is real wood that offers all the advantages of real wood floors. The biggest advantage is that real hardwood is warmer on your feet. Like solid wood flooring, floating wood floors with thicker wear layer can also be refinished a few times. Remember the thicker the wear layer the more times you can refinish. Quality floating wood floors should last 40 to 50 years!

For more information about how to choose your next floating wood floor and maintenance tips, please feel free to contact us at 952-994-9696 or email: sales@uniquewoodfloor.com.

Recap:

Not all the floating engineered wood floors are made equal. Total thickness and wear layer (top hardwood part) make a huge difference on the performance and life span of your installed floor.

All wood products will have some expansions and contractions during season change.

1/8" or thicker wear layer and 1/2” and thicker total make wood floors with optimal floating weight.

European styled 3 ply floating wood floors provide good stability.

Make sure your sub-floor is leveled within 3/16” for every 10 sqft before installation. The most common cause of hollow sounds and noises are from low spots on your sub-floor.

A good 1/8" acoustical underlayment, such as Acousti-Cork or Floor Muffler, will improve your floating wood floor's performance and improve sound barrier quality.

The bigger area you are covering, the thicker floating floors it requires.

Consider A Floating Hardwood Floor: It’s Hardwood without the trouble!

2010-04-20T10:48:00.000-07:00

A floating floor will be basically a hardwood floor that is installed by gluing the floor planks together as an alternative to gluing or stapling them to the floor itself. Since a floating floor doesn't need a unique kind of subfloor to install to, it frees you up to install wood flooring in areas where they previously weren't a possibility. You are able to install them over vinyl or ceramic flooring, or in areas of high humidity where traditional hardwood floors have a tendency to warp and crack. If you're looking for the great look of hardwood floors without the installation challenges and limitations, then a floating hardwood floor will be everything that you've been searching for.

Another advantage of a floating wood floor is usually that, given that they are glued together as an alternative to the subfloor, they usually are placed in a bevy of areas where traditional hardwood floors weren't a solution. First off, they are often installed over the top of other flooring choices (everything with the exception of carpet), saving you time and trouble of tearing out your original flooring before installing your floating wood floor. And because they're glued or clicked together, instead of fastened to your floor itself, the entire floor expands united rather then as individual planks. This simply means they may be installed in areas of high humidity (i.e. basements) where hardwood flooring previously wasn't allowed.

Why Use Floating Wood Flooring

A floating wood floor will be placed in almost identical way as a laminate or engineered wood floor. Made out of a core layer of plywood or hardwood, with layers of hardwood veneer as the "wear and tear" (or top) layer, these planks are designed in tongue and groove style and are usually glued together as you put them to use over the layer of foam padding. If that sounds too challenging to suit your needs, new kinds of floating wood floor are actually being manufactured that happen to be "glueless," which enable it to be clicked together upon installation. To make a lengthy story short, a floating hardwood floor combines the simple installation of laminate flooring using the classic looks of hardwood flooring. That's a combination that's tough to beat.

Floating Wood Floors May Very Well Be Refinished

Finally, among the many big advantages of choosing a floating wood floor over laminate is certainly that they can be refinished more than once, just like a traditional hardwood floor. Consequently a floating wood floor isn't a quick term flooring option. If installed correctly and taken care of properly, a floating hardwood floor can last 40 to eighty years, depending on the thickness with the wear layer of hardwood veneer!

A Few Items to consider When Inserting a Floating Wood Floor

While these floors possess tremendous upside, here are a few things to be aware of to ensure that your new floor won't disappointed you during the years to come. First, fight the temptation going cheap and don’t purchase cut-rate flooring. The cheaper the flooring the cheaper the wear layer, and the cheaper the wear layer, the shorter your new floor's lifespan is going to be. Spending a little bit more for the thicker wear layer will be worth every penny if you're considering increasing the life span of your new floating hardwood floor. Also, understand that one of many main important things about these floors can be their downfall. Be sure to leave room for expansion after you install your flooring. Any time you cut your new floor to fit, the complete surface will be almost certain to buckle and heave soon enough. By leaving a tiny space between your flooring as well as walls, thereafter covering that space with baseboard or other trim, you can rest easy knowing your floating floor can last you for a long time.

If you're serious in installing a floating floor in your house, contact Unique Wood Floors today at 952.994.9696 or email us at: sales@uniquewoodfloor.com about selecting the most appropriate style, wood, and installation method for you and your home. Please be sure to visit us at www.uniquewoodfloor.com