Hardwood Flooring:

[Buckalew11]

Tell me about yours.

What you like, dislike, what brand you have, engineered or not? Pros and cons you think I should be on the lookout for.

We're building and putting hardwood in most of the house. We're also using tile which I picked out today. The hardwood, though, is harder for me choose. Any advice or info you can give me will help me.

TIA

 

[Cool-Beans]

Mom had a ton of wood floors in her last house. The thing I like is that you can get the heating/airconditioning vents made out of the wood, too. So they're totally flush with the rest of the floor. One big, smooth surface...and it just looks cool.

The thing I don't like is the dust. You really see the dust and your socks get dirtier. She swiffered that floor every damn day, but my socks always got a little dusty. At home, they're always very clean and white. I care about stupid crap like that, but most folks don't.

The thing that mom didn't like was that the surface of the wood wore away where the barstools were. She sat at that counter a lot doing crossword puzzles and going through recipes (for food she'd never make, lol) and stuff. And even though she put those little pads on so that the chairs wouldn't scuff the wood, they did. There are little sections worn down where the chair she always sat in was. Pissed her off more than a little.

And she got expensive wood. If I'm good at spending money, it is because I learned from the Queen of Spending Money. My brother often jokes about how she paid more for one room than he did for his whole house. Said the guys told her it would be $12,000 and she said, "No! I'm paying $14,000!!!" But it still wore down in the spot that got used often, even though it was good and she took care of it.

I like the darker wood better. I think it is "warmer", but that's a personal preference. I like the AKL, too.

And that is the complete extent of my knowledge on wood floors. Best of luck.

 

[Disney Doll]

Natural red maple. But it's not red...it's a golden oak color. Pretty hard. Finish is water-based acrylic, which is very durable and easy to clean...window cleaner in water.

I have 4" wide boards in the kitchen, so it wouldn't look too "busy" with the wood floors and wood cabinets, and 2" wide boards throughout the rest of the house.

 

[Buckalew11]

Leave it to you to make me laugh.

I enjoyed that story about your mom. She and recipes make me think of me and my scrapbooks!

I have laminite flooring now and love those so I obviously do not have a problem with dirty socks. *blushing smilie here* Heck, I've been known to wear my socks outside.

Thanks for your info and if I do not get any more input from others, come back and visit me on here. I hate starting threads for fear of no one posting to them!!

 

[Buckalew11]

Natural red maple. But it's not red...it's a golden oak color. Pretty hard. Finish is water-based acrylic, which is very durable and easy to clean...window cleaner in water.

I have 4" wide boards in the kitchen, so it wouldn't look too "busy" with the wood floors and wood cabinets, and 2" wide boards throughout the rest of the house.

Thanks Disney Doll! I'm looking at wider boards and maybe this 4", 2" is something I need to think about also. I had not thought of something like that. I have a friend who laid hers on the diagonal in her dining room but I am not clever enough to think of these type things.

 

[raysnkaysmom]

My old house had hardwoods, and I miss them. I had previously thought it'd be cold all the time, but a couple area rugs and I loved it. I'm not big on the oak color...but a light maple or dark color seems to look nicer...

 

[minniecarousel]

We like ours. We have it in the entryway, living room, dining room, kitchen and one bathroom. (almost the whole downstairs - just the family room and the one downstairs bedroom have carpet).

The drawbacks: someone wore spike heels and there are definite dents because of it (still can't figure out when/how it happened!); we've dropped stuff on the kitchen floor, creating dings; there have been faded areas that you can see - where the rugs have covered the floor & the sun has hit.

That said, they're holding up well - they could use a refinishing, but we're not doing it yet. If I were putting it in now, I'd ask how many years the manufacturer suggests before refinishing again.

 

[Buckalew11]

Do all hardwood floors fade? I know I have seen some that say "photosensitive".

That's the thing about the pergo type floors. I've dropped stuff and there is nothing to show for it. I'm sure they could get damaged though and it'd be hard to fix, but in general, nothing happens.

Thanks for these responses.
Maybe I'll hear from more people today.

 

[mom2rb]

I have Brazilian Cherry everywhere upstairs and in my bedroom. I have Travertine in the rest of the house. Mine is 3/8 inch thick, solid wood. I did this so that it could be refinished many times. My boys and my dogs have scratched the floors up, but you can only see it if you look at it from an angle. I love them.

 

[Christine]

I have them all through my house.

Stay away from "builder grade" or anything that Home Depot or Lowe's might sell. It's not going to last unless you are a soft walker and a fanatical cleaner.

Whatever flooring you get, look at the warranty on the finish. By the one that lasts the longest. This is an indicator of a good finish. My first floor (installed by builder) had a 10 year finish and, if the finish had lasted 5 years, I would be surprised. My current floor has a 25 year finish and is MUCH harder and durable. Still looks great after 8 years. They now make finishes up to 50 years I think. Go to a professional hardwood store supplier.

 

[MomNeedsVacay]

we had our entire first floor "hardwooded".... be careful of the really dark shades b/c they show a lot more dirt/ dust/ dog hair etc.....
I was given several options of different sheen finishes...at first I want something with a lot of sheen, but with three kids, had to be realistic becausxe, the more sheen, the more scratches and imperfections will show...I went with a low-sheen....

 

[Nancyg56]

I love my wood floors. My DH actually chose what to put down, they are custom cut 8 inch planks that are tongue in groove. In the bedrooms we put down pine which has actually worn well. They have not been refinished for 8 years but do need it now.

In the great room we have 8 inch red oak, also tongue in groove. This floor is almost 5 years and does need to be refinished. The areas where there are chairs or the hassock are wearing.

I make sure that I keep them clean, my microfiber mop is my friend. I think I am able to keep the house cleaner and there is less dust in the air. They do need to be kept clean though, the little particles of sand will mar them quickly.

 

[tigercat]

I don't have hardwood although that is what we want to put down. I don't like dark wood especially since my house seems to be dark anyway. How do you find it works in the kitchen? My downstairs has a hall, dining room, livingroom, 2 pc bathroom and kitchen. I had wanted to put in hardwood all over. I hate carpeting which at this point is only in the livingroom and diningroom. The rest just has laminate which is horrible and old. Has anyone had a problem in the kitchen and bathroom?
tigercat

 

[Nancyg56]

I know people who have used hardwood and had no problems. I was afraid to put it in my household.

 

[momrek06]

OP, I built my house in 2005 in MA. We have hardwood and it is throughout the kitchen, eating area and entry way. I went with a color that would look nicely/match with my kitchen cabinets. I love the low maintenance of the floors.

 

[Christine]

Has anyone had a problem in the kitchen and bathroom?
tigercat

It's really only problematic if you buy low-end hardwood floors that don't have a good finish. The finish will actually wear off in high traffic areas and will get messed up by having water on them.

 

[sbell111]

I put down Bruce 3/4" solid hardwood. I chose the 2 1/4" strips rather than the wider planks because I prefer the look. I chose ash over oak because it is somewhat more durable and stable than oak.

I bought the prefinished stuff because I laid it myself and didn't want a huge mess. It was much easier to install than I thought it would be.

 

[Buckalew11]

I have them all through my house.

Stay away from "builder grade" or anything that Home Depot or Lowe's might sell. It's not going to last unless you are a soft walker and a fanatical cleaner.

Whatever flooring you get, look at the warranty on the finish. By the one that lasts the longest. This is an indicator of a good finish. My first floor (installed by builder) had a 10 year finish and, if the finish had lasted 5 years, I would be surprised. My current floor has a 25 year finish and is MUCH harder and durable. Still looks great after 8 years. They now make finishes up to 50 years I think. Go to a professional hardwood store supplier.

Thanks, I took this advice!

OP, I built my house in 2005 in MA. We have hardwood and it is throughout the kitchen, eating area and entry way. I went with a color that would look nicely/match with my kitchen cabinets. I love the low maintenance of the floors.

Very pretty!


I have picked out my floors. I'm going with a Shaw, engineered hardwood because I want the 5" planks. I felt like I settling when looking at most as nothing just stood out and grabbed me until I saw the sample. Then, I lost my heart to it!!!

 

[momrek06]

I have picked out my floors. I'm going with a Shaw, engineered hardwood because I want the 5" planks. I felt like I settling when looking at most as nothing just stood out and grabbed me until I saw the sample. Then, I lost my heart to it!!!

AWESOME!!!