| By Ryan Neumann
Traditionally Hardwood flooring has been viewed as the crème de la crème of
flooring. Until the 1980’s if you had hardwood flooring, to a certain extent you
were considered wealthy. Times change as does technology and this either brings
prices down or up depending on the supply and demand of a product. In todays
times, hardwood flooring can be found almost in every retail flooring store
around.
Hardwood flooring is generally sold in only a couple varieties. Unfinished
Hardwood, Pre-finished Hardwood, Engineered Hardwood.
Unfinished is the traditional product which was bought in a couple different
woods, widths, and lengths. The tongue and groove design was laid and then
sanded to get a smooth and even texture on the surface of the wood. Once the
wood was sanded, it was then stained and lacquered which traditionally consumed
a lot of labor. Time equals money and in the pre 80’s this was a very expensive
process.
Pre finished has been on the market for many years now and is the most
commonly used hardwood in homes. This flooring is unique where right after the
manufacture cuts the tongue and groove, it sends the wood through the finishing
sander and then to the spray booth where all pieces are finished. The time
consuming labor processes involved in the sanding and staining/lacquered
unfinished hardwood have bee replaced by machines which can produce at a higher
level of efficiency than the human hand. The installation of the pre-finished
hardwood flooring is a 1-2-3 step process. This flooring makes prices
competitive with other flooring alternatives.
Engineered Hardwood is the newest product on the market and is becoming more
popular. This product is unique where it is made from a new form of particle
board with a veneer layer of your choice of hardwood on the top. This is then
pre-finished and sold in stores. The unique aspect of this engineered hardwood
is that it can be installed in basements and cooler/more moist environments
where the pre-finished and unfinished hardwood cannot. Prices are slightly
higher on the engineered hardwood but may come down as supply rises.
In conclusion, choosing which of the three to put on your floor depends on
the look you are going for. Each product will give you a slightly different look
in your home. If you needs are driven by economy, there is a lot of pre-finished
hardwood flooring options on the market. If you are driven by the traditional
look, unfinished hardwood flooring is a good option. But if you are driven by
technology and flexibility, then Engineered hardwood is your best choice.
Ryan Neumann has online information and buyers guide websites that help
consumers make wiser choices when shoping online. This particular website can be
visited at http://www.flooring-laminate-hardwood.com/hardwood-flooring.html. |
