Flooring Company Blue Point NY


Factors to Consider When Choosing Wood Flooring

When it comes to hardwood flooring, Long Island homeowners turn to KO Floors. For more than 50 years, Kevin Zaharios and his team of professionals have been providing outstanding hardwood flooring services. From new flooring installations to refinishing, the experts at KO floors offer exceptional craftsmanship, the highest quality, and affordable pricing. There’s no other hardwood flooring company on Long Island that can compare to KO Floors!

Wood flooring is durable, timeless, beautiful, and adds value to your home, which is exactly why wood flooring installation is the best option for your home.

However, while there’s no question that you want hardwood, you aren’t sure which type you should choose. There are tons of great options available, but not every type of wood flooring is suitable for every space. To ensure you choose the best wood flooring for your needs, here’s what you’re going to need to determine:

The Construction

The construction of the wood floor is one of the most important factors you should consider. There are two main types of wood flooring: solid and engineered. While both are made of real wood, the difference is how they are constructed.

As the name suggests, solid wood floors are made from solid pieces of hardwood, which is then joined together with tongue and groove strips along the edges. Solid hardwood can be finished before installation, or it can be unfinished at first, and refinished after it is installed. Engineered hardwood is also made of hardwood, but that wood sits on top of several layers of plywood and composite materials. The layer of hardwood is pre-finished.

If you’re installing the flooring in a location, where temperature and humidity fluctuates (unlike Long Island), engineered wood may be a better option; the design prevents it from warping and buckling in such conditions.

The Hardness

Hardwood floors range in hardness. The Janka Hardness Scale is used to determine the hardness of different types of wood. The higher the score on the Janka scale, the stronger and more durable the wood.

Consider the conditions that your wood flooring will be exposed to. For example, if you have small children and pets, or if you are installing the wood in a high traffic area, a harder wood – such as Mahogany or Walnut – is a better option. However, woods with a lower score on the Janka scale – cherry and yellow pine, for example – can withstand wear and tear with proper care.

The Appearance

Since hardwood floors are made of so many different types of wood, there are a variety of styles to choose from. For instance, if you like more of a natural look, a light-colored, wide-planked wood floor with defined grains may a good choice for you; or if you prefer a more traditional look, a darker wood with less grain  and narrower planks might be more suitable.

Whatever your taste may be, there’s a hardwood floor that will work with the design of your home.

Wood Flooring Installation

You should also consider the installation process. Nails, staples, or glue are traditionally used to secure solid and engineered hardwood to the subfloor; however, there are newer ways to install wood flooring. For example, some engineered wood floors can be installed using a “click” process. Instead of being secured to the subfloor, it’s floated above it, allowing for faster flooring installation.

Also, the installation of prefinished wood floors is faster than unfinished, because the planks are finished before they are installed. If time is of the essence, a pre-finished “click” engineered wood may be the best option for you.

The Cost

Lastly, you are going to want to consider the cost of the project. Prices can vary significantly; but generally speaking, unfinished solid hardwood floors tend to be the most expensive. The construction of this type of hardwood, as well as the extended length of time for installation, usually ups the price.

If you are thinking about installing wood flooring in your home, contact KO Floors. Their friendly staff will help you select the best type of hardwood flooring for your needs, and you’ll have the opportunity to see a wide selection of options at their showroom. For fast, affordable, and expert hardwood installation on Long Island, KO Floors has got your floors covered!