House And Garden

Hardwood floors look great in almost any room and with any type of décor. However, there are times when you may want that great look, but you want something a bit different, or something that might be a bit more unique. This is when you might want to consider parquet floor for your home. These are often used in a foyer or a living room, but they can look great anywhere in the home where you want to have natural wood beauty without the look of slats laying side by side as with regular hardwood flooring.

Parquet floors differ from hardwoods in the way they look and the way they are put down. These are often done in a specific geometrical type of design and the work is done with shorter slats of wood, or can be done with many shapes. The most common shape for parquet floor might be the square, but you can find great looking floors done with almost anything you can imagine. If you can work well with wood, you may even be able to come up with your own designs by cutting and fitting your own pieces.

Those who have parquet floor will tell you that they are great, and they are as easy to care for as regular hardwoods. The wood must be protected, but this type of flooring can really take a beating with the right type of finish on it. Parquet floor is used in many businesses, and can even be great for a dance floor.

There are some things to keep in mind with parquet floor, however. You do have to be careful that they don’t absorb a lot of water or they may warp and wear before their time. Damp mopping should only be used when necessary, and the floor should be dried immediately after that is done. You may love these anywhere in your home, but you should really think about it before you install them in the bathroom. There is a lot of moisture there and even the best protection might not be enough. If you really want parquet floor in your bathroom, be sure to go out and get some specifically designed to work well in that particular room.

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Like a child who has discovered a new toy, this article about Hardwood Floors will open up a whole new world of awe and wonder for you.

If you’re considering a new look for your floors, you’ve got several options. Carpeting, tile, linoleum and wood are four common choices, each useful in certain applications and pretty much according to your taste. Hardwood floors are one attractive choice that’s hard to beat for looks and durability.

A hundred years ago, hardwood floors were quite popular and those same floors of solid wood planking are still going strong in many older homes today. However, when you go shopping for hardwood flooring today, you’ll find many types available. There are laminates, solid planking, floating and engineered hardwood floor materials. This can be confusing unless you understand the differences and characteristics of each. Let’s sort out some of the confusion so you can make an educated choice that works for you.

As we take a closer look, keep in mind all of the useful and important information that we have learned so far.

Most hardwood floors today are laminated, with a base of plywood, covered with a soft wood, with the top layer a hardwood. These laminated products fall in the category of engineered floors. You’ll find there are differences in quality and naturally, price. Some have only a thin veneer of hardwood, which will be reflected in a lower price. For a long-lasting floor, you’ll want to pay the initial extra price. You’ll save money in the long run.

Engineered hardwood floors are pre-finished and installed without nails or glue, thus the name floating is applied. The idea is that, by leaving a narrow margin of space between the walls and flooring, variances in dry winter heat and humid summer conditions allow for expansion and contraction, much like joints in a bridge. Engineered floors are either tongue in groove or with snap-together edges.

Genuine solid hardwood floors must be glued and nailed. They cannot be installed as floating floors. New solid planks come milled as tongue in groove, which makes installation easier than the old style of solid straight edged planks. Most solid wood flooring is unfinished, allowing you to choose the stain, oil, varnish or waxing of your choice. If you finish your hardwood floors yourself, be aware that more maintenance is required than with pre-finished solid hardwood floors. You’ll need to periodically refinish your hardwood floor if you opt for the unfinished solid planking. Installation of solid hardwood floors will be more expensive as more time and expertise is required.

There is some controversy among hardwood floor experts as to which is the most durable choice engineered or solid wood flooring. Some say engineered hardwood floors are just as durable as solid planking, while others maintain the solid hardwood floor will outlast engineered flooring many times over.

You have another option which may be a good compromise. You can buy solid inch hardwood and, using purchased inch plywood, engineer your own flooring. It’s more work, but then again, you get what you pay for, and engineering your own will give you the best of both worlds, with hardwood floors that will withstand generations of use.

If we have failed to answer all of your questions about Hardwood Floors, be sure to check into other resources on this interesting topic.

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