Hardwood flooring is one of the most beautiful options available to homeowners. Classic yet contemporary, as an interior aesthetic it can add a wealth of beauty and style to any home while at the same time increasing its value. As much as we all would like to save existing wooden flooring for as long as possible, there comes a time when replacement is the best option. Fortunately, now more than ever, homeowners have a variety of flooring options available to beautify their homes and enhance their lifestyle. Hardwood Floor Installers Minneapolis is a local flooring contractor offering professional hardwood flooring installation and refinishing of all types of wood floors in and around the Minneapolis area. We can preserve traditional, classic hardwood floors and make them look as good as when they were first installed, or provide you with brand new floors to upgrade the look of your home. Whether you need your floors refinished for a fresh new look or entirely replaced with brand new materials, our highly trained flooring technicians will provide you with the best advice and quality workmanship.
In addition to our installation and refinishing services, our flooring experts will provide you with valuable information gained from years of experience regarding the different types of hardwood flooring available and can help develop unique floor designs to fit in with the style of your home. We also provide ongoing maintenance, preservation, and repair services.
Hardwood Floor Types
There are four main types of solid wood flooring to choose from – solid wood, engineered wood, unfinished wood, and pre-finished wood.
- Solid Wood Flooring
Solid wood floorboards are made from solid wood that has been milled from a single piece of timber. They are generally manufactured in widths ranging from one and a half inches to twelve inches wide and ¾” thick. The thickness of solid wood flooring allows it to be refinished several times more than other types of wood flooring and they often last for many generations. Solid wood planks are commonly nailed down onto a plywood or OSB subfloor. With proper subfloor preparation, solid wood floors can be installed over concrete flooring or over underfloor radiant heating. - Engineered Wood Flooring
This type of wood flooring is manufactured by cross stacking between 3 to 10 layers of hardwood and bonding them together under extreme heat and pressure. This type of engineering ensures that the wood is less likely to be affected by changes in temperature and humidity. By using engineered wood flooring you will be able to avoid many of the common problems associated with solid wood floorings such as the width of the planks used and the effects that temperature and humidity has on it. This type of wood flooring can be installed unfinished or pre-finished.
Due to the additional steps required in the manufacturing process of engineered wood, the cost is higher than solid wood flooring. Beware of engineered wood options that are cheaper than solid wood as it is most probably a sub-par product. In order to manufacture a cheaper version the thickness of the wear layer is often sacrificed which means that it will not be able to withstand a re-finish when necessary and will probably have to be replaced much sooner. So don’t go cheap when choosing engineered hardwood flooring and your floors will last longer. - Unfinished Hardwood Flooring
Unfinished flooring is chosen when a homeowner prefers to finish the flooring after installation in order to obtain a uniform, well-sealed surface. This type of wood flooring comes directly from the mill without any stain, sealer, or finish. Other benefits of finishing flooring on-site are ease of future repairs as you will know exactly what product was used; protection from the effects of spills since the entire surface is sealed in one go; vents and moldings will blend in better. Unfinished flooring can be purchased in either solid or engineered wood. It will need professional installation and superior equipment for sanding, as well as expert workmanship in the art of finishing. - Pre-Finished Hardwood Flooring
Pre-finished hardwood flooring is stained, sealed, and finished in the factory before being sold. They can be installed directly and don’t need any sanding or finishing and can be applied to both solid and engineered hardwood. They are generally more expensive than unfinished hardwood but you will save on time and labor costs as there is no additional work to be done on-site after installation. They are quick and easy to install but are generally more difficult to re-finish due to the micro-bevel and type of sealers and finishes used by the manufacturers. Pre-finished floors are more susceptible to water damage as water from a leak will seep into the bevels between the planks where the wood is unsealed.
Different Types of Hardwood Flooring Installation Methods
There are four main types of installs offered by Hardwood Floor Installers Minneapolis:
- Nail-Down
Nail or staple-down installation is suitable for use with plywood or OSB subflooring. This is the most commonly used method for installing solid unfinished or pre-finished hardwoods. With the correct subflooring, it can also be used to install engineered wood. - Glue Down
The glue-down method is suitable for use on concrete or gypcrete subflooring. It is most commonly used for installing engineered wood. It is sometimes used in combination with the nail-down method for planks wider than 5 inches to help with stability. - Floating Wood Floors
Suitable for use with plywood, OSB, concrete or other below-grade subfloors, this type of flooring is installed without attaching it to any type of subflooring material. They are attached by bonding together the tongue and groove sections of the planks. Floating wood floors are most commonly installed over concrete, or below grade where the underlayment creates a barrier from moisture. It is also used in condos where sound requirements exist.
Service and Long Term Maintenance Provided by Hardwood Floor Installers Minneapolis
Wood is a natural product that will react to the environment such as humidity and temperature changes, causing it to swell and contract. Air conditioning can help with humidity and a humidifier during winter will prevent excess contraction.
Hardwood Floor Installers Minneapolis recommends a screen and coating process every two to four years for water and oil-based finishes, depending on wear in high traffic areas. This process abrades the surface before a new polyurethane coat is applied.
Give us a call today for more information and a free quote. We can provide you with the best installation, and finishing services in the Minneapolis area as well as a wide selection of quality flooring options to choose from.