Info and Tips
At Liberty Wood Flooring, we believe helping our customers understand hardwood floors and how to use them most effectively is one of the most important aspects our work. We begin by helping you to assess what type of surface best suits your needs. Here are some of the options:
Entry or Foyer:
The foyer is, in many ways, the most important room in your home, because it creates a first impression. For this reason, custom designed wood flooring is a popular choice for foyers and entry areas.
Kitchen or Family Room
Hardwood floors are a common choice for these areas because of their durability and low upkeep.
Formal Living or Dining Rooms
For a formal décor, darker wood is most popular with these rooms. When using dark wood remember that it makes your space seem smaller and generally require more maintenance.
Bathrooms:
It's not recommended to use hardwood floorings in bathrooms that are in constant use. Water can damage a wood floor, so we recommend using hardwood only in guest bathrooms that are not used for showering or bathing.
Home Offices and Bedrooms:
Light-colored hardwood floors accented by area rugs are a beautiful choice for bedrooms, creating a warm, intimate feeling. Offices tend to look better with darker colors for a more formal, businesslike appearance.
Other elements to consider when choosing hardwood flooring include maintenance, the amount of moisture in the environment, the directions in which the flooring will be laid and other issues. Our professional consultants can address all these questions to help you make informed choices. Here are some of the important points to consider:
- Do you want a domestic or exotic species wood? There are varying grades and uses for each type of wood flooring. For example, only some species can be used over radiant heat while others might handle humidity better than certain species.
- Become familiar with the dimensions and patterns of the flooring you have chosen. The lengths and widths are important factors when adjoining floor surfaces at doorways. Ask your consultant to show you the various patterns that will work in different spaces.
- Be sure to specify the direction in which your floor will be laid. Will the strips or planks be laid from east to west or from north to south in each room?
- Always request a sample of the flooring you have chosen, and be sure it has the same final color finish that you've selected. Expect to see a slight color variation between boards, which occurs naturally in all woods.
- Be sure your installer uses a moisture meter. This is the only way to determine the best type of wood for your floor.
- If you're using engineered wood, be sure to pay special attention to the way in which it adjoins your other flooring surfaces. Generally the more ply layers in the engineered wood, the more stable the material will be. The stability of these layers is important, but if you don't plan on staying in your home for than ten years, you can opt for less thickness in order to cut costs.
- Do you want random length flooring or uniform length? Uniform length flooring requires fewer end joints and can be faster to install. Random lengths offer a more traditional look.
- Your personal taste and preferences are important, but don't hesitate to ask questions and listen to the advice of your contractor, technician or designer about whether your choices will suit your space.
Hardwood Floor Care Tips
- Place protector pads on all furniture legs
- Make use of area rugs and mats in all high traffic areas
- Create a routine maintenance schedule based on the specifications of the manufacturer
- Do not use wet mops
- Never use ammonia or dust cleaners
- Clean tracked in dirt immediately
- Do not use floor cleaning products unless approved by the manufacturer
- Never wax a urethane finish
For more information, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS) page. And feel free to call our friendly customer service staff any time at 212-426-6967.
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