When it comes to natural beauty and richness, it is hard to beat the look and warmth of real
hardwood. Like most floor covering products, hardwood has changed dramatically over the last few years. Never out of fashion, hardwood floors can add real value to the home. With proper maintenance, these floors can last a lifetime! This can make the price over the life of the product very economical.
Sam’s Flooring is proud to have partnered with several of the Industries BEST providers of quality hardwood. We have a wide selection of hardwood floor styles in our showroom to chose from including 3/4″ solid oak, maple, cherry all the way to the exotic species including Tiger wood, bamboo, Brazilian cherry and many others. Our promise to you is that your wood will be installed properly by our certified installers, quickly and professionally on the day we promise.
With a little basic understanding about the different types of wood floors you can be better prepared and more confident in your selection. Wood floors are produced in both solid and engineered planks and strips and come in a wide variety of wood species. To help determine which type of floor will work best for your situation depends upon the location within your home and the type of subfloor.
Solid wood floors are one solid piece of wood and are generally 3/4″ thick. Mohawk Solid Hardwood Floors are produced from the finest domestic and exotic hardwoods including red & white oak, American cherry, hickory, maple, and Brazilian cherry, and are available in several widths. Because solid hardwood floor styles are more susceptible to humidity and temperature changes than engineered wood floors they should only be installed above grade over approved wooden subfloors and must be nailed or stapled down. Solid wood floors can generally be recoated and refinished several times.
These floors are produced by laminating several hardwood plies together to form the planks. Most engineered floors can be glued-down, stapled-down or floated over a variety of subfloors including wood, dry concrete slabs and some types of existing flooring. Engineered hardwood floors have cross-ply construction which reduces the expansion/contraction of planks caused by variations in humidity and allows these floors to be installed on any level in the home. Available in plank and longstrip format, Mohawk Engineered Hardwood Floors come in a wide variety of widths, thicknesses and colors in both North American and Exotic hardwoods.
Today wood flooring is also offered in a variety of hardwood species that are not found in North America. Mohawk Hardwood Flooring Collections include some of the finest exotic hardwoods from all over the world. These floors offer many unique and visually striking appearances that are distinctly different from the North American hardwoods. Many of these exotic species are photosensitive and may change color over time. Please refer to sample panels for the level of photosensitivity of each product.
Unfinished floors require several days to install, stain and finish the flooring. Prefinished floors are less messy and can be installed and completed the same day. A factory-applied finish like Mohawk’s exclusive Scotchgard™ or CrystalShield™ finish with aluminum oxide is extremely durable and could not be duplicated with a job-site finish.
Knowing where the floor will be installed is essential. Before choosing a floor, determine if the room is above, on or below ground level (grade). Mohawk Engineered Hardwood Floors can be used in most areas in the home including rooms below, on or above ground level. Solid wood floors are approved for above ground-level installations only. These floors perform better in humidity-controlled environments.
Is your sub floor concrete or a type of wood substrate? Engineered floors are ideal for concrete slabs. For remodel projects you may want to consider Mohawk Engineered Hardwood floors that can be floated directly over the existing floor which eliminates the mess and additional costs of tearing out the old floor.
Prefinished Wood Moldings For Solid & Engineered Hardwood Floors
While Mohawk hardwood floor styles are brilliant performers, they aren’t indestructible. You can help maintain their strength and lasting beauty by following these general guidelines, and helpful Do’s and Don’ts to keep in mind when treating your Mohawk Hardwood Floors.
Vacuum or sweep with a soft-bristle broom regularly, especially before using floor cleaners, to prevent gritty dirt and particle buildup that can scratch the wood’s surface. Don’t use vacuums with a beater bar or power rotary brush head. Wipe up spills and spots immediately with Mohawk FloorCare Essentials Hardwood & Laminate Flooring Cleaner applied directly to a clean white cloth. Use ice to harden tough substances such as candle wax or chewing gum and then gently scrape with a plastic scraper, such as a credit card. Be careful not to scratch the flooring surface. Wipe area clean with a soft, slightly damp cloth.
High-quality floor mats at entrances and exits are key to reducing tile wear. They collect and trap all the corrosive substances that can be tracked in from outdoors, including dirt, sand, grit, oil, asphalt, or even driveway sealer. Also use mats in areas of constant pressure, such as in front of vanities, kitchen sinks and stoves.
Attach felt or similar protective pads to all furniture legs, particularly heavy pieces. When you’re moving furniture, appliances or other heavy objects, use a dolly; never slide or roll anything across the floor. If furniture has hard plastic or metal casters/wheels, use protective mats underneath or replace them with soft rubber casters.
What level of the home will the wood be placed in? If you want to do the basement or anything below ground level, you will need to go with an Engineered Wood. Engineered Wood is 100% natural wood that is sliced thinly into several cross-sections. These thin pieces of natural wood are laid at a 90-degree angle from the previous piece. This assures the customer that once the wood is laid, it will not be able to expand and contract with the changes in moisture most commonly associated with basements and spaces below ground level.
Next, you need to take into consideration what hardwood floor styles of wear do you want to see on your floor? Some Woods are very soft and will dent and scratch easily. If you are looking for a more durable wood that is more resistant to animal nails, stiletto heels, or general wear and tear you will want a harder wood.
Lastly, you will want to look for the type of wood construction that best suits your tastes. There are generally four types to chose from, and we have a large sampling of each one. They include: 3/4 Solid Hardwood Flooring (Unfinished or Pre-finished), Engineered Wood (Unfinished or Pre-finished), Longstrip Wood Planks (Pre-finished) or Parquet Tiles.
Hardwood floor styles can be very confusing, so please stop in and let our expert staff guide you to the right wood floor for your home.
Click on the links below to learn more!
Chesapeake,
Mullican,
Bruce,
Eastern Hardwood,
Somerset,
Mercier
6638 Lincoln Way West, St. Thomas, PA 17252