Atlanta Hardwood Flooring Construction
HARDWOOD CONSTRUCTION
Solid Hardwood Flooring
Solid hardwood floors have been around for a long time. They are generally ¾” thick and can be purchased raw or pre-finished. Because each plank is made from a single piece of wood, it tends to be very expensive.
In addition, solid wood floors expand and contract with changes in temperature. In summer, humidity causes hardwood floors to expand, causing the planks to buckle. In winter, as the moisture decreases, the floor planks contract, leaving gaps. The high levels of moisture are the primary reason that solid wood floors are not recommended in basements or over concrete.
Buyer’s Tip: Watch out for inexpensive hardwood that is less than ¾” thick. These “thin” solid hardwoods are very susceptible to bowing and buckling from exposure to sun and/or moisture.
Multi-layer Cross Grain Hardwood
Multi-layer, cross grain constructed hardwood, sometimes referred to as “engineered” hardwood, is becoming more and more popular.
Engineered Hardwood is constructed by taking multiple layers of hardwood (4 or more layers on better quality laminate) and fusing them together at 900 angles to create a stronger, more stable hardwood.
It is constructed of a face or wear layer (made from the species that defines the look of the hardwood), a core layer and a back, each made from solid hardwood, fused together at 900 angles to create a stronger, more stable hardwood.
Some lesser quality engineered hardwood is made with three layers of hardwood, versus the five layers found in better quality flooring. Each layer substantially increases the product’s stability.
The term “engineered” is misleading, because it implies that the wood is not real. In fact, many people mistakenly think that engineered hardwood is laminate. Engineered hardwood is 100% real wood.
Multi-layer, cross grain constructed hardwood is gaining popularity because it is more stable than solid hardwood, which means the floor is much less likely to warp or buckle. That’s because, with each layer fused at 900 angles, the hardwood floor is less likely to expand and contract with changes in temperature. This is particularly attractive with exotic hardwoods which, by nature, are softer and more likely to bend, bow and twist with changes in temperature.
The increased stability also means that engineered hardwood can be installed on floors that are below grade or on concrete, something you wouldn’t do with solid hardwood.
Engineered hardwood is also less expensive than solid hardwood. Solid hardwood is made from a single piece of wood. With engineered wood, the core and back layers can be constructed from less expensive but still very strong hardwood, while the more expensive hardwood species is used only for the face or wear layer.
Better quality engineered hardwood uses only North American hardwood for the interior layers. North American hardwood is superior because the growing season is slower, causing the grains to be much tighter. Lesser quality engineered hardwood is made with cheaper hardwoods from Central and South America, where the wood grows faster in the warmer climates, resulting in grains that are loose and more likely to warp.
Buyer’s Tip: Exotics hardwoods are typically expensive. Multi-layer cross grain constructed hardwood allows for exotic species that are price competitive with oak. Only the top layer is made from exotic wood; the remaining layers are made from traditional hardwoods which, though less expensive, are actually harder. In addition, exotic hardwoods typically expand and contract with temperature changes more than domestic hardwoods. The multi-layer cross grain construction of engineered hardwood adds dimensional stability, producing an exotic hardwood that is less likely to warp or buckle with changes in temperature.
Advantages of Multi-layer, Cross Grain Hardwood:
- Far more stable than solid hardwood – Minimal buckling or cupping;
- Because of its layered construction, it can be installed below grade
- Great for rooms where solid hardwood cannot be installed;
- Better for areas prone to moisture, such as kitchens and basements;
- Can be “floated” over various sub-floors, without nails or glue (see “Installation” below). - Pre-finished at the factory, with as many as 7 coats of stain and polyurethane, producing a more uniform and resistant finish;
- Can still be sanded and refinished, if necessary, up to 2-3 times.
- Customers rarely refinish a floor more than once a lifetime – and with the strength of the pre-finished product, it is unlikely that they will ever need to refinish their new floor. - More affordable than solid hardwood, particularly the more expensive styles of hardwood, such as exotic and distressed hardwood.
Buyer’s Tip: Lesser quality hardwoods are not milled to the same tolerance as better quality hardwoods. The result is planks that are not square or that have different heights, resulting in unsightly gaps between the planks when installed.
Hardwood Widths and Edges
Board width significantly impacts how a hardwood floor will look in the home. Hardwood floors were traditionally milled in narrow strips 2 ¼” wide. Today, most hardwood floors are milled into wider “planks” of 3″ or 5″ in width.
Hardwood edges impact both the look of the floor and how easy it is to clean:
Square Edge – The boards fit flush against each other for a smooth, traditional look. The smooth surface also makes cleaning easier.
Micro Bevel Edge – Features a slight angle at the top edge, giving some definition to each plank. You can feel the edge when you walk over the floor. It also helps mask slight imperfections in the floor.
Full Bevel Edge – Features a more significant bevel along the edge, resulting in pronounced joints between the planks, adding more depth and dimension, creating a hand-crafted look. A disadvantage is that the edge captures dirt.
Hardwood Finishes
Hardwood finishes serve three primary functions:
- Preserve the wood’s beauty and color;
- Protect the floor from water, dirt and wear; and
- Allow for easy cleaning.
Solid wood is typically sold unfinished: once the floor is installed, it must be sanded, stained and then finished with polyurethane. Sanding can be a challenging process, creates a significant mess and requires a great deal of preparation and clean up. More significantly, it is difficult to apply the finish uniformly. Most importantly, superior finishes, such as urethanes infused with aluminum oxide and Teflon for superior durability and scratch resistance, can NOT be applied to unfinished hardwood in the home.
Pre-finished floors are a more practical option. The wood is sanded, stained and finished at the factory, providing significant benefits:
- Better quality and more layers for greater consistency in finish;
- Enhanced urethanes, including those impregnated with aluminum oxide, which strengthen the surface and increase resistance to scratching; and
- Easier to maintain (particularly finishes using Teflon).
Buyer’s Tip: A recent trend is to sell hardwood flooring with gel stains, which contains no wear layers. While such finishes may look “charming” at first, they offer no protection against stains or scratches.
The three standard finishes for hardwood are:
- High Gloss – appropriate for low-traffic rooms such, as dining or living rooms, because it tends to show scuff marks more easily;
- Semi-Gloss – ideal for moderate-to-high traffic areas, such as family rooms; &
- Satin – suitable for high-traffic areas, including kitchens and foyers, because it hides scuff marks and scratches better than high or semi-gloss.
Historically, hardwood floors had a high gloss. The trend today is toward more satin finishes.
