Hardwood Flooring Guide
Hardwood Flooring Guide
Hardwood flooring adds beauty and value to all types of spaces. Offering unbeatable value, style, and unique character, it’s hard to top natural hardwood. At Ches-Mont Carpet One Floor & Home in Parker Ford, Pennsylvania, we carry one of the region’s most comprehensive collections of natural hardwood. Our experts can help you make sense of your selection, which spans all your favorite tree species in both engineered and solid options.
What’s your signature style? There are hardwood flooring options to fit any décor vision. Whether you prefer a traditional size and finish, or lean towards something more modern, we have your flooring here. Keep in mind that the look of your outcome will be defined by your floor planks’ length and width as well as overall wood grains, finish, shine, and color.
Hardwood flooring is offered up in many different tree species, with each type offering its respective features and benefits. Choose from classic woods like maple, pine, or oak, as well as exotic varieties like mahogany and cherry. Different hardwood species offer varying levels of strengths and hardness, so it’s recommended to do your research before making any final decisions.
With our inclusive inventory of both solid and engineered hardwoods, including stunning selections by Rustic River, there are many incredible options for you to consider. Our region’s balmy summers, soggy springs, and chilly winters mean a unique set of challenges for your flooring, so proper planning and research is always a great decision. Here are some things to bear in mind as you shop for hardwood flooring.
Engineered hardwood flooring is a manufactured product, crafted using multiple layers of natural woods and resins. Since these hardwood planks are pressed together in a dense, cross-grained composition, the result is a better fit for seasonal climate fluctuations. Engineered hardwood can manage a fair degree of moisture and is less likely to shrink or expand. It can be used below grade and holds up against heavy usage with little scratching or denting.
Solid hardwood, which is hardwood’s original form, bears a very simple and uniform construction. With each plank comprised of a single, solid hunk of natural wood, solid hardwood flooring adds ongoing value. It can be refinished time and time again as the years march on, or your tastes change. Still, solid hardwood flooring has its limitations. It doesn’t fare well in wet or humid settings and can never be used below grade.
Hardwood flooring is undoubtedly beautiful, but it does have some limitations. Natural hardwood isn’t suitable for bathrooms or kitchens, since wet planks can bend, buckle, or crack over time. Choose natural hardwood instead for dryer settings with consistent climates.
Natural hardwood floors are an investment. To ensure your new wood floor panels stay looking beautiful for years to come, it’s important to understand how humidity impacts your floor. Hardwood is naturally porous and absorbs moisture from the air around it. This can cause the planks to cup, buckle, and warp. If the air is especially dry, then hardwood can shrink and become brittle. This will lead to gaps between the floorboards, where dust, dirt, and pet fur can escape. It can also lead to cracking and splintering. You can use a hygrometer to measure your indoor humidity levels and help maintain your hardwood. Indoor humidity should stay within the range of 35-55% and you want to avoid rapid fluctuations. You can use a humidifier to help keep your floors from becoming dry and brittle during the winter months. It’s also essential to find the best hardwood floor for your specific space. Engineered wood planks have a layered construction that gives them dimensional stability in different room conditions. They can handle humidity and moisture better than solid wood floors. We also have wood-look luxury vinyl, laminate, and tile. These are all available in waterproof varieties and they flawlessly capture the beauty of natural hardwood without the worry over humidity. Wood-look floors are particularly useful if you want the appearance of hardwood in your bathroom or kitchen, places where regular hardwood can warp.
As proud members of Carpet One Floor & Home, the world’s largest cooperative of independent flooring stores, Ches-Mont Carpet One is your one-stop source for all your hardwood flooring needs. We carry many of the industry’s most beloved hardwood brands, including selections by Invincible, Rustic River, Hydrotek, Voyager, and more. Visit us today at 2540 New Schuylkill Road, Route 724 in Parker Ford, Pennsylvania, or check out our inventory online to find the perfect hardwood flooring for your home.
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