2 Major Questions to Answer if You Want New Hardwood Flooring

Hardwood has always been a popular choice for flooring. It is strong and long-lasting. Hardwood flooring is also an extremely attractive surface and exudes a natural warmth and timelessness that is hard to replicate with other materials. Here are two major questions to ask and answer to learn about what kind of hardwood flooring you should get for your home.

Will you work alone or with professionals?

If you are considering investing in hardwood flooring then it is a good idea to talk to a company that specialises in hardwood flooring supplies. They will be able to offer you invaluable advice about which hardwood flooring solution will work best in your property. One area where their assistance will be particularly useful is in dealing with humidity. Whether you are planning to install the flooring yourself or want to hire a team of professionals to take on the job you will need to consider the humidity of your property.

Wooden flooring will always move in response to the surrounding environment. The less humid the climate the more the floorboards will shrink causing gaps to appear. A professional hardwood floor installer will be able to ensure that the floor is laid to allow for natural gapping and that it does not detract from the appearance of the floor.

How will your hardwood flooring be finished?

Once you have laid your new hardwood flooring you should have it properly finished. An untreated timber floor will soon deteriorate so choosing a professional finish will help to preserve the flooring as well as improving the appearance of the surface. When it comes to hardwood floor finishes you have four main options. You can choose between

  • Polyurethane
  • Curing oils
  • Oil modified urethanes
  • Penetrating waxes and oils

Each of these options has different advantages, and each will create a different look for your hardwood flooring. If you favour a natural look for your floor then penetrating oils or waxes are an excellent choice. They are also one of the initially cheaper finishing options, although this type of finish can become high maintenance over time. Curing oils will produce a richer timber colour than penetrating waxes and they offer good bonding resistance, but these are also a high maintenance option compares with other finishes. Oil modified urethanes provide higher durability but their resistance to edge bonding will be lower.

In Australia the most popular form of finishing for hardwood flooring is polyurethane. This type of finish provides the greatest degree of durability combined with the lowest maintenance costs.

Whether you want to use a polyurethane coating or something different you should discuss your requirements with your hardwood flooring supplies company. They will have the materials you need and the right experience to help you create the floor you need.

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