Hardwood Flooring

Types of hardwood flooring

There are two types of hardwood flooring:

  • ENGINEERED flooring is manufactured in a manner similar to plywood, where thin sheets (plies) of wood are laminated (glued) together in a crisscross formation for strength. A top layer (veneer) of hardwood is added as a finished top layer. Engineered flooring is available as strips (three inches or less in width) or planks (over three inches wide). Engineered floors are very stable and can be installed on any grade level. Although engineered wood floors are manufactured through a laminating process, they are not the same as a laminate flooring.
  • SOLID floors are cut from solid pieces of wood and milled to standard specifications. The flooring can be installed as planks or strips. A single strip board is constructed of individual slats glued together end to end to form strips. The strips are then installed as tongue-and-groove. Parquet flooring is normally a 12"x12" square consisting of narrow strips of wood.

Whichever wood floor you choose, the following installation options are available:

  • TOP NAIL DOWN: attached to a wood subfloor with flooring nails.
  • STAPLE DOWN: attached to a wood subfloor with a pneumatic stapler.
  • GLUE DOWN: engineered floors are applied to the subfloor with trowel and adhesive.
  • FLOATING: tongue and groove floor planks are glued together. Rather than being fastened to the subfloor, the floor rests on a pad between the floor and the subfloor.

Back to top

Benefits of hardwood flooring

Choosing a new hardwood floor offers many benefits.

Choices in hardwood flooring: There are more than 50 species of hardwood floors to choose from, both domestic and exotic, spanning the spectrum of colour options, hardness, and price ranges. Whether you’re looking for traditional oak, rustic pine, exotic Merbau, or trendy bamboo, you’re sure to find a colour and style to fit your décor.

The long-lasting beauty of hardwood floors: No other flooring offers the natural beauty and value of wood. Wood flooring enhances the décor of any room, provides timeless beauty, and will increase in value throughout the years. With proper care and maintenance, a quality wood floor will last the life of your home and add to its resale value. The appearance of hardwood actually improves with age because the natural product will acquire a desirable patina over time. Many hardwood floors can be refinished, allowing you to refresh your floor to its original look.

The health benefits of hardwood floors: Because wood does not collect dust and other allergens, many leading health associations agree that wood floors are the perfect choice for a healthy home.

The environmental benefits of hardwood floors: Many wood floors are ecologically friendly. Since it's a natural resource, wood is both renewable and recyclable. Many of yesteryear’s old wood ships, warehouses, barns, and other structures often find a second life in wood flooring.

At PC Flooring, we research our manufacturers and will not sell or recommend any endangered hardwood species.

Factors to consider when choosing a hardwood floor

There are some things to keep in mind when considering a new hardwood floor. The finish is susceptible to scratching from traffic or pet nails. Solid hardwood cannot be installed below grade level. It is not recommended to install a hardwood floor in a full bathroom due to its sensitivity to humidity and pooling water.

Also keep in mind that no two floor boards will be identical. Variations in appearance are completely normal. As your floor ages, some colour change can occur. This is also normal but can be minimized by limiting exposure to direct sunlight and periodically moving furniture and rugs. Cracks are normal as well and will appear and disappear between floorboards during seasons of high and low humidity. Generally, anything less than the width of a dime is considered normal and will correct itself as seasons change. Flooring inspectors recommend inspecting the floor from a standing position in normal lighting to identify irregularities.

Today’s hardwood floors come in a wide variety of wood species, colours and widths. Besides the classic North American hardwoods, such as oak, maple, and ash, we also offer non-endangered exotic hardwood species from all over the world. We welcome you to visit our 3,000-square-foot showroom in Richmond (just outside of Vancouver), British Columbia, Canada, to see the wide selection of hardwoods available to choose from.

Back to top

Hardwood floor maintenance

With the advances in today’s wood flooring stains and finishes, hardwood floor cleaning and care has never been easier. Regular maintenance requires little more than sweeping with a soft bristle broom. If your wood floor has a bevelled edge that could collect debris, you may want to vacuum with a soft floor attachment. Some manufacturers may recommend using a professional wood floor cleaning product. Check your manufacturer’s warranty or consult with your PC Flooring Professional for more information.

With these additional cleaning and preventive maintenance steps, you can minimize care and preserve the beauty of your new wood floor:

How to clean hardwood floors

  • Do not wet mop a wood floor. Standing water can dull the finish, damage the wood, and leave a discolouring residue.
  • Use the finish manufacturer's or the prefinished floor manufacturer's recommended cleaning system. If the manufacturer is unknown or has no recommendation, use a cleaner that will not leave a residue that would inhibit bonding and recoating. NEVER wax a urethane finish. Do not generally wet a wood floor with water. When using any wood floor cleaner that requires mixing with water, follow mixing directions precisely. A cloth wetted with water and squeezed dry may be used to wipe up foodstuffs and other spills, provided the area is buffed dry immediately. Heel or scuff marks and stubborn stains may be removed by lightly rubbing with a cloth and a wood floor cleaner.
  • Always use the manufacturer’s recommended cleaning products, as most manufacturers’ warranties are voided if other products such as oil soaps are used.
  • Wipe spills immediately with a slightly damp, soft cloth.

Hardwood floor preventive maintenance

  • Use throw rugs both inside and outside doorways to help prevent grit, dirt, and other debris from being tracked onto your wood floors. Rugs will also help prevent scratching. But avoid rugs with rubber backs, as they can discolour your new floor.
  • Put soft plastic or fabric-faced glides under the legs of furniture to minimize scuffing and scratching.
  • Avoid walking on your wood floors with cleats, sports shoes, or high heels. This kind of impact can dent any floor surface.
  • When moving heavy furniture, do not slide it across wood flooring. It's best to pick up the furniture completely to protect the floors
  • If necessary, use a humidifier throughout the winter months to keep wood movement and shrinkage to a minimum. Check with your manufacturer’s specifications on maintaining particular humidity ranges.
  • Exposure to sunlight will bring about subtle changes in the shade of any hardwood floor. This is not a defect. Area rugs and furniture should be occasionally relocated to provide even changes in shading.

Back to top