If you or other household members suffer from allergies, you will find adding hardwood flooring to your home can improve air quality and reduce allergy triggers. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America recommends:

“Hardwood floors are an ideal type of floor for persons with allergies and asthma. Still, finishing products can cause a temporary reaction to the chemicals used in the process. To lessen these effects, choose varnishes and waxes with low volatile organic compound off-gassing potential … and leave the house while floors are being finished.”

The foundation suggests that a home should be ventilated for several days after the hardwood floors are installed before allergy sufferers re-enter the building. A professional house cleaning is also recommended to remove any residual dust. If you have allergy concerns and are looking at hardwood flooring solutions, pre-finished hardwood flooring may be the best option, because the finish is applied at the factory and will reduce your homes exposure to chemical fumes.

Installing hardwood flooring is an excellent remodeling project that will make your home more beautiful. Hand-scraped hardwood constitutes a growing trend in the hardwood flooring market. A secondary trend, wider-width floor planks, shows off the sought after texture of hand-scraped hardwood flooring to great advantage.

If you are considering adding hardwood flooring to your home or office space, take some time to look at the beautiful array of hand-scraped and wider-width floor planks. Following the installation of hardwood flooring, you will find that allergy sufferers breathe easier. Hardwood flooring does not trap dust or harbor mites the way carpeting does. Proper maintenance of your hardwood flooring keeps your home beautiful and your air quality much improved.

Crafted elements such as the library’s shelving and flooring showcase the beauty and flexibility of American walnut. According to the design manager, Carrie Das:

“We had chosen to use American walnut across the whole library because of its … straight grained appearance and its durability, being highly resistant to heartwood decay. It was also able to warm the environment and simultaneously provides a modern, classic and comfortable feeling.”

The AHEC is an international trade association for the American hardwood industry. The AHEC aims to educate the world on something Americans already know – American hardwoods such as walnut are unrivaled in variety, impact, and natural beauty. American hardwoods are sustainably sourced, consistent in quality and suitable for commercial and residential applications.

American walnut is one of the more popular species of hardwood used in the United States. Commonly used for flooring, furniture, paneling and accent work, American walnut is know for a fairly straight even grain with occasional wavy or curly grain. Sapwood is typically a milky white color while heartwood can range from light to rich brown with a slight purple hue at times. The installation at Zayed University is a great example of the dynamic beauty of American walnut hardwood.

American hardwood distributors are sure to be pleased with the burgeoning international popularity of native species such as American walnut. Walnut is very strong; it sands and machines well, while providing excellent warmth when installed. Design firms and homeowners alike will certainly keep Walnut hardwood a top choice for hardwood flooring at home and abroad for generations.

The search for authenticity in the digital age has people creating home environments based on times gone by, with the added benefit of modern technology. Hickory is popular for its innate beauty, strength, and durability. Wide-width planks can add an extra dimension to hickory flooring and are another example of what’s trending in search of authenticity. This style pays homage to the time before mass-produced, generic amenities.

In additional to the wide-width planks, hand-scraped hardwood flooring is becoming increasingly popular. People are looking for rich texture in their lives and this look harkens back to old mill style. The craftsmanship and longevity associated with the look of heritage flooring is making hand-scraped flooring a very popular option.

Additionally, hand-scraped eliminates the alternative approaches to finishing hickory, which involve water popping to open the grain or using wood conditioner to close it. The rough surface of character marks hides the inevitable blotching.

In any economy, people look for a smart value when investing in their home. This is particularly true today. The advanced technologies behind modern hardwood floors allow for the look of old world style with the timely convenience today’s homeowners demand. Harder finish options and numerous styles accommodate a range of budgets, adding up to quality and longevity. Hardwood flooring adds beauty, is easy to maintain, and doesn’t absorb dust.

Hickory hardwood flooring is a sustainable option. The hardwood can be reused and recycled, and new growth replaces wood that is harvested so the impact on the environment is more favorable than flooring material that involves greater processing and water consumption.

Adding a hardwood floor to a home is a popular and practical improvement project. To build comfort, value and style in your home, consider hickory hardwood flooring as a sound investment. Consider the various style, texture, and finish possibilities to find a hardwood flooring option that will best suit your decorating and lifestyle needs.

• Reclaimed wood. Just what’s reclaimed wood, you might ask? Not restricted to wide-plank flooring, reclaimed is hardwood salvaged from older buildings, which is then sold. Because wide-plank hardwood is more characteristic of older homes, reclaimed pieces are often from colonial-style houses.
Unfortunately, reclaimed hardwoods tend to be more expensive than newly-milled.

• Newly-milled. Up to 20 inches wide, newly-milled wide-plank flooring is available in Clear and #3 Common grades, but because the width results in more variance, a manufacturer may go by its own grading system.

• Engineered. Wide-plank engineered flooring, like its standard-size counterparts, is sold prefinished. This hardwood product typically has a 2mm veneer, although, because wide planks tend to be thicker, some are being made with corresponding wear layers. However, wide-plank engineered flooring does not exceed 48 inches in length.

• Long and Short Boards and Random Width. A floor of uneven boards, be it length or width, is a perfect opportunity for wide-plank hardwood. Long boards, which may be proportionally wide, are available up to 16 feet in length, while random width products can be seven inches wide. These longer or wider boards, however, should be dispersed with shorter planks in order to create the desired effect.

Award, Robbins, and Homerwood all carry wide-plank flooring. Award offers smooth and hand-scraped solid and engineered wide-plank flooring. Homerwood originally only offered solid wide-plank flooring but has since expanded to include several hand-scraped hardwoods. Robbins covers domestic and exotic species with its selection of wide-plank flooring, which goes up to 18 inches in width.

Aside from the rustic look, hand-scraped products literally add a new dimension to floors. Texture, according to top flooring manufacturer Armstrong, is now just as important as color. The undulating, uneven, if not somewhat rough, surface of hand-scraped flooring, then, appeals to the sense of touch.

Tastes, on the other hand, vary with region in the United States. The West Coast, for instance, appears to have a penchant for sculpted planks with few character marks. The Southwest region goes on the opposite direction, with preference for heavy graining, knots, and mineral streaks the most prevalent. The Northeast, on the other hand, is just getting used to hand-scraped hardwood, so a general inclination has yet to be determined.

Hand-scraped hardwoods fall into one of the following types:

• Time Worn Aged and Antique involve aging the hardwood. The new character is further emphasized through darker staining, highlighting the grain, and contouring.

• Wire Brushed adds a moderate amount of texture. The grain is accented, while the sapwood is removed.

• Hand Sculpted still has the distressed look but with a smoother texture.

• French Bleed is defined by deeper beveled edges. The joints are additionally accented with darker stain.

• Hand Hewn and Rough Sawn has the roughest texture out of all hand-scraped products. The surface, in fact, is so textured that saw marks can be felt and seen.

• Custom Unfinished is not sold through a retailer but, rather, an option for creating a unique hand-scraped floor. After ordinary unfinished hardwood is installed, a professional comes in to distress the floor. He may bleach it, pickel it, beat it with chains, or fasten it with antique nails.

This quality, combined with the closed and rough grain, makes hickory hardwood difficult to install, posing issues with machining, sawing, sanding, and finishing. Although prefinished products are certainly an option, getting the right stain is easier achieved through installing unfinished flooring and experimenting with various finishes. So, after the wood is sanded and installed, what are your options?

Hickory’s grain often results in blotching, and to achieve a more even look, a wood conditioner can be used, or water-popping is another approach. The former seals off imperfect grains, preventing blotching once the finish is added. Water-popping, on the other hand, opens the grain up. After the wood is installed, rub it with a damp cloth. Apply the finish immediately after the flooring is dry.

But why go through such trouble? A third, and increasingly-popular, option is hand-scraped hickory flooring. With a distressed appearance, hand-scraped hickory is aged or physically altered through brushing and scraping to have a rustic character. The unique look aside, the texture of hand-scraped hickory flooring camouflages blotches better.

There’s no uniform type of hand-scraped hickory, however. If you go for this option, browse around for the look you want. Both Hurst Hardwoods and The Discount Flooring Company offer solid and engineered hand-scraped hickory hardwoods. In terms of style, on the other hand, the wood is aged, brushed or sculptured to create a textured look and feel, or accented with darker finish.

The first thing that you should choose when decorating in a room with hardwood flooring is a color scheme that you want to go with. Because you have hardwood flooring you will be able to go with almost any color scheme and have it look great. After you have your colors selected you will be able to start picking out the furniture and accent pieces. In almost any room the furniture is the focal point so you should choose your furniture pieces early on. When you have the furniture delivered make sure you are cautious so you don’t scratch your hardwood floors; it is also a great idea to have felt pads affixed to the feat of your furniture so it doesn’t damage your floors over time.

After you select your furniture it is time to select the accents for the room you are redecorating. By picking items in your color scheme and possibly even using wooden elements you can truly tie the room together. It is important that you express yourself as a homeowner when redecorating so your home truly expresses who you are. You don’t want to spend time, money, and effort redecorating now only to decide that you’re not crazy about it in a few months. Redecorating can a bit of a difficult task but by having hardwood flooring as a base to build from you may find that things can be simpler.

One of the biggest problems that you may run into with hardwood floors is moving large pieces of furniture. If you have large heavy furniture that you like to move frequently it is important that you put felt pads, casters, or some other sort of mobility tool beneath the furniture to prevent scratches. By just pushing the furniture across the floor you are risking scratches that will be unsightly and will take work to repair. If you utilize gliders or casters when moving your furniture your floors should remain scratch free.

Next it is important that you should maintain your floors with the right tools. By using non-abrasive cleansers in conjunction with soft dust mops and using as little water as possible your floors will look great for years to come. Spills will not damage your floors if they are cleaned up soon after occurring but if you leave them standing for long periods of time you may find damage once you go to clean it up. If you are going to use a vacuum on your hardwood flooring make sure it is one that will not scratch the floor if it is used frequently.

By following simple tips and taking a few extra steps when it comes to your hardwood flooring you will find that it looks great for years to come. It won’t require the maintenance that carpet does and it will add beauty and value to your home. When you install your hardwood floors find out if the manufacturer has any maintenance tips or repair suggestions if you do end up finding a scratch in the floor down the line. By being proactive you will be able to keep your floors looking great.

Hardwood flooring is a great addition to any home as it offers unmatchable durability, beauty, and comfort. You can also say goodbye to vacuuming and carpet cleaning with the addition of hardwood flooring as it is very easy to maintain and will look great even with the littlest amount of maintenance. By keeping a dust mop on hand and cleaning up any spills after they happen your new hardwood flooring will look great for years to come.

Once you make the decision to add hardwood flooring to your home after the New Year it is time to pick out a hardwood species that will look good in your home and hold up well.  If you know that there is an area in your home that sees a great deal of foot traffic every day you are going to want to install a durable hardwood in that part of the home. If you have animals or children durable hardwood flooring is a great choice as it will stand up to the toughest wear and tear. If you are not a fan of the color of the more durable species of wood you can always use a hardwood stain to alter the appearance of the flooring.

When you are giving your home a new look after your New Year celebration keep the addition of hardwood flooring in mind. It will give your home a new feel that will also add value so if you ever make the decision to sell your home you will be able to attract sellers. When planning a hardwood flooring installation make sure that you contact professionals to complete the job for you if you are unfamiliar with do-it-yourself projects; this will help ensure beautiful results that you will be thrilled with.

While you may be planning on selling your home in the future you will be living in it for now so it is important to find flooring that will offer versatility that you will love. Hardwood flooring comes in a variety of species and is sure to look good in any home when decorated by any homeowner. So whether you are decorating with your old furniture or the next homeowner is bringing in all new décor the hardwood flooring is sure to be a great corner stone to start at. Hardwood flooring can be dressed up or down as much as the current homeowner desires which is another reason it is a great fit for a home that you know you will be selling in the future.

Hardwood flooring also offers a great deal of durability; if you know that you are going to be living in the house for a while you can count on the flooring looking as good as new as long as it is properly maintained. Luckily maintenance for hardwood flooring is simple meaning that you won’t have to do too much work to take care of it and the ease of care will also appeal to homebuyers when they are on the hunt for their new home. One thing that you should make sure of when you do sell your home is to tell the home buyers if the hardwood flooring manufacturer recommends any certain cleaners to maintain the beauty of the floor.

If you read our blog regularly you can probably rattle off tons of benefits of having hardwood flooring installed in your own home. Now pass those benefits on to the next person who will buy your home by installing hardwood flooring before you sell. You will surely see a return on the investment and you may even be more likely to sell your home with the addition of aesthetically pleasing hardwood flooring.