What to consider when buying a hardwood floor.

Getting Started
Choosing the right floor can feel like an overwhelming task. After all, the floor is literally the basis, or foundation, of your room. And while at first glance many wood species look similar, there are key differences that will influence your choice. Tiger Wood, for example, has a wonderful warm glow for the casual country kitchen or family room.. By contrast, an Ipe floor in the same room would make a different statement and provide a different feel. Ipe makes an elegant companion to granite countertops and sleek steel appliances in a modern setting.

In addition to decorating considerations, the floor has to provide both functionally and emotionally. Your choice in flooring may need to address any combination of the following concerns: easy maintenance, warmth, comfort, period appropriateness, noise adsorption and safety.

While your floor is neutral ground to build upon-also consider that a beautiful floor is an investment that will do more to define your home style than any other single element.

Product Features
Choose a floor that complements the design statements in your home. If your room already has a distinct design, use one of the colours or textures. If your room has a simple design, a bold pattern can make a powerful statement.

Consider these features:
SPECIES
Depending on which tree your floor is created from, or inspired by, the appearance of your floor will vary. Some trees have bold grain patterns, such as Australian Chestnut. Others, including Cumaru and Ipe, have a more subtle grain. More defined grains are often associated with country or informal looks while more refined grains are often found in more traditional homes.

SHADE VARIATION
Formal or traditional looks are often enhanced by darker wood tones such as Wenge. More casual or informal looks are often best complemented with lighter wood tones such as Siberian Larch. Remember to be creative. Add interest to your room by picking up one or more of the colours in your fabrics, walls or countertops. Try selecting a coordinating colour inspired by a favorite artwork or dinnerware.

GLOSS LEVEL
Consider the level of gloss or shine you’d like on your floor when narrowing your purchase decision. A high gloss finish is appropriate in rooms that are low-traffic. A semi gloss finish is best for family rooms and dens where moderate-to high-traffic is expected.

EDGE PROFILE
The edge profile will have an impact on the overall look of your room. Square edge boards fit flush next to each other for a smooth, elegant look. A full bevel or micro bevel edge creates an angled effect where boards meet creating depth and dimension.

FLOOR WIDTH
This can be easily overlooked but is very important as to how your floor will look in your home. A narrow floor width produces a sophisticated look and is most appropriate for a formal dining room or a traditional bedroom. A wider floor width is often found in more casual settings-a country kitchen, for example.

FLOOR THICKNESS
When choosing a floor’s thickness you have different options available to you. Standard thickness for solid hardwood flooring is ¾” thickness. The word “Solid” simply means the piece of flooring is all wood. When choosing an engineered floor it’s important to consider the thickness of the ware layer (pc of thin wood that sits on top of the engineered wood) as this can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. The thicker the ware layer the better.

GRADE LEVEL
Standard grades in hardwood flooring are select, 1com, 2com, mill run or rustic. Often times the select and 1 common grade is used in more formal settings because it has more clear wood and less character wood. In a casual setting a 2com, mill run or rustic grade is most commonly used because the character of the woods natural imperfections enhances the casual look.