First, all hardwood is not created equal. What are the types of wood construction, species and styles? There are three basic construction types: solid, engineered and hybrid. Solid hardwood is what most of us know. It’s ¾” thick and milled with a tongue and groove for easy installation. Often, it is unfinished and will be sanded and stained on site (in your home). Solid hardwood is a great investment and will last for generations. Because most solid hardwoods have a ¼” or greater top layer of wood, you are able to sand it down and re-stain it multiple times so as interior colors change you can change with them without doing a completely new floor. Maintenance will need to be done approximately every 10 years and if you are not considering a color change, a quick “pad and recoat” is all that is necessary.
Engineered hardwoods are layered plies of hardwood with the grains turned 90 degrees with each ply to create dimensional stability for the product. Engineered wood floors are factory finished to allow for a more durable and longer lasting finish and most engineered woods come with a 15-plus year warranty. Because of our geographic location and the fluctuations in humidity, engineered wood floors have a much larger portion of the wood market. Unlike solid hardwoods, you can install engineered wood floors directly to a concrete slab without any extra cost.
The last type is a hybrid, which has been gaining in popularity because it is even more dimensionally stable than engineered wood floors and offers some economic benefits. Hybrid hardwood floors use a high-density fiber core in lieu of layered wood plies for the interior core. This high-density fiber core makes the wood harder and more durable against denting and scratching.
Now, let’s discuss where and where not to put hardwood floors. First and foremost, hardwood flooring plus installation is going to be a significant investment, so protect it by installing a humidifier system onto your HVAC system. If you have questions regarding the humidifier system, call my friend Steve at Energy Savings Heating and Cooling (www.energysavingshc.com). As a flooring retailer, we advise our clients to avoid putting hardwoods in the wet areas such as bathrooms, utility rooms and kitchens. I know, I know, you want hardwood in your kitchen, ok, go ahead but please put your homeowner’s insurance policy on the fridge because you will at some point be calling because the dishwasher broke or the ice maker line has been leaking for three months and you didn’t know. Other than the wet areas, you can install hardwood floors everywhere else.
Now, if budget is a concern, I would focus on the main living areas where you will get to enjoy the beauty of the hardwood in an open space. If you take a look at most bedrooms, more than 60 percent of the room is usually covered by the bed and other furniture, so ask yourself if you want to spend that kind of money on something you will never see.
So, how much should I expect to invest if I am looking to have hardwood flooring installed? Well, you get what you pay for. It’s not a cop-out; it’s the truth. Here are some rules of thumb to use to find out a ballpark budget for the project. Economical entry-level wood flooring should run around $9 to $10 per square foot, not including any tear out of existing floors or prep work that may need to be done. A mid-grade hardwood floor will run around $13 to $18 per square foot and will offer you a richer higher quality finish and often a better construction process. On the higher end, use your imagination because we can do it, just make sure price is not an issue.
Thanks again for spending time with me – if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at chussey@theflooringshack.com. QCBN
By Chris Hussey
Chris Hussey is the Principal of Chris N Nate’s Flooring Shack at 9234 E. Valley Road in Prescott Valley. He can be contacted at 928-515-2450
Leave a Reply