Clayton Hardwood Floors and Flooring Installation
Wood flooring brings a variety of benefits to a room, with a warm, natural, classic look and charm that gives you decades of durability with a surface that can be refinished. With the many options available for hardwood, you have the freedom of style, including: varying widths, many textures, and a surprising number of colors to choose from.
Hardwood flooring brings versatility and can be installed almost anywhere. Not only does hardwood flooring give you a unique look and comfortable feel, it adds to the resale value that buyers and homeowners prize.
Frequently Asked Questions About Wood Floors & Hardwood Flooring Installation
What are the advantages of installing hardwood floors rather than carpet or laminate?
Both carpet and laminate flooring feature beneficial aspects as flooring options. Compared to hardwood, carpet and laminate are typically more affordable and more popular for commercial use. Hardwood floors, however, are more popular for residential installation for many reasons.
One contributing factor to the popularity of wood flooring for the home is that cleaning hardwood floors is typically easier and faster compared to carpet. Many people also choose to install hardwood floors to showcase the natural beauty of the wood. Not only do hardwoods look stunning when used for flooring, when properly cared for, a wood floor can last more than a lifetime. Neither carpet nor laminate have average lifespans comparable to wood flooring. For these reasons and more, hardwood is the most popular flooring choice to add value to a space.
What’s the difference between a engineered and solid hardwood flooring?
Solid wood is thicker, able to be sanded and refinished several times over the life of your hardwood floor. It expands and contracts with changes in indoor humidity, so installers often leave a gap between the floor and the wall that gets covered by molding. Engineered hardwood flooring is made up of layers, bonded together under heat and pressure. It’s less likely to be affected by humidity and can be installed in any room of the home, even in basements. Engineered hardwood flooring cannot be sanded and refinished the same way that solid wood can be.
Is it okay to install hardwood floors in a home with pets?
Wood floors are durable, especially with the proper finish, but they can still get scratched. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, either. Part of the charm of wood floors is the natural wear and tear that builds up over time. This gives the boards an added authentic look and feel that synthetic floor materials can’t quite capture. That said, if you’re concerned about scratches, you can minimize them with mats and rugs, and by keeping pet nails trimmed down. You should also keep in mind that any scratches you see are likely in the finish, rather than the wood itself. You can repair these scratches and refinish your hardwood flooring if need be.
Can hardwood flooring be installed in any room?
Both solid hardwood and engineered hardwood floors are typically suitable for most spaces in the home. It is not recommended to install hardwood flooring in rooms prone to moisture such as bathrooms and laundry rooms. Engineered hardwood flooring is the best choice for spaces more susceptible to humidity and moisture such as a basement.
How long will it take to install wood floors?
From project size to prep and finishing, there are many factors which may affect how long it takes to fully complete hardwood flooring installation. Contact us with your project details and we can give you an estimation for how long it may take to have your hardwood flooring installed.
Why does hardwood need to acclimate?
Solid hardwood expands and contracts in accordance to the moisture in the surrounding environment. If a hardwood floor is installed without proper acclimation, the subsequent expansion or contraction can cause buckling, warping or gaps in the floor.
How long after hardwood floor installation until I can walk on my new wood flooring?
Wait 24 hours after installation before walking on the new floors. Keep in mind, environmental factors may lengthen the wait time. For more information on what you may expect from installation, give us a call or send us a message and we can answer all your questions about new floors floor installation.
How long after hardwood floor installation until I can place furniture on my new flooring?
Typically 48 hours is needed before furniture can be moved back. Using furniture pads and taking care not to drag furniture on the flooring will prevent scratches and preserve the new hardwood. For more detailed information on post-installation care, contact us!