hardwoodfloor

Hey guys it been a while. I just wanted to let everyone know we are working on the business and been away from website/blog pages. We will be updating some coming up shortly.  Check out our old blogs. They have good information.

Here is a good article on hardwood floor care tips. Palmetto Hardwood has some great article on our regular website as well.   For a quote on hardwood floors and floor care products call us or visit our website

The Black Walnut
By T Sons

The Black Walnut, scientifically known as Juglans nigra, is a flowering tree that belongs to the hickory family. This species of tree is native to eastern North America. It grows mainly in riparian zones, from places such as south Ontario, South Dakota, Georgia, central Texas and northern Florida.

Appearance

This tree is a large deciduous species that can grow to heights of forty feet. If it faces forest competition, it will develop a tall, clear bole. Unlike the open-grown form, it doesn’t have a short bole with a broad crown. The Black Walnut has a grey-black bark which is deeply furrowed. The centre of the twigs has air spaces in it. The leaves are alternate and pinnate, with the largest leaves being found in the centre.

Flowers and fruits

The flowers of this tree are monoecious. The male flowers form drooping catkins that are around ten centimetres long while the female flowers are terminal and are found on short spikes towards the twig’s end. They are yellow green in colour and bloom somewhere around late spring. They are found in clusters of two to five and ripen during autumn into a fruit that has a greenish-brown, semi-fleshy husk surround a brown, corrugated nut. The entire fruit, with the husk included, falls in October. The seed is quite small is extremely hard. This nut has sweet, oily meat within it that is edible. It matures from near late summer to fall. These trees usually crop more heavily every alternate year.

Uses

The Black Walnut has many uses, from its wood to its nut. The nuts from these trees are used commercially all over the United States. The nutmeats have a distinctive, robust, natural flavour and crunch, which makes it a good food ingredient. It is used widely in banking, confection and ice cream.

Producers use these walnuts in many traditional treats like cookies, cakes, pies and fudge during fall holidays. The fact that this nut has a strong nutritional profile means that it used in many foods such as fish, chicken, pork, salads, vegetables and pasta dishes. This walnut has a high unsaturated fat percentage and protein but has no cholesterol, making it quite healthy.

The Black Walnut is highly valuable due to its true, dark-coloured heartwood. Although it is strong and heavy, it can be easily split and worked. Walnut wood has been used throughout history for making furniture, paddles, flooring, coffins, gunstocks and many other woodwork products. It is so important that walnut poachers are being tracked down. The density of this tree’s wood makes it lighter than oak wood.

The seeds give out a meat that can be converted into a brownish-black dye. This was used by early settlers to dye their hair. Extracts of the outer soft part of the fruit are used even today as a natural dye for some handicrafts. The walnut has tannins in it that act as a mordant, making the dyeing process easier. It is used as a wood stain or as dark ink.

http://www.tnnursery.net

TN nursery is a state certified tree nursery specializing in native plants and trees, shrubs, fern and perennials as well as pond plants and wetland mitigation species.

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http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Black-Walnut&id=2945915

Here is a good article on hardwood floor care tips. Palmetto Hardwood has some great article on our regular website as well.   For a quote on hardwood floors and floor care products call us or visit our website.

Brazilian Cherry Hardwood - Maintaining the Character of Your Hardwood Flooring
By Marc Marseille

Whether you have an older home or a newer construction, hardwood floors are a beautiful addition. Besides the beauty of natural wood flooring, they can also increase the value of your home. There is little maintenance needed to secure the life of your flooring, but nevertheless, these steps are important in caring for your investment.

The prevention of certain damages to your flooring can greatly reduce your need for constant repair. Some of the natural wear and tear to you hardwood may include worn out areas due to scratches from moving furniture, scratches from bad footwear, scratches from dirt and small rocks. Most of these occurrences can be prevented by placing area rugs in higher traffic areas. To avoid scratching the floors while moving furniture, you can add rubber soles under your furniture. It is also a good idea to remove your shoes at your front door to avoid tracking excess moisture and dirt into your home.

Other preventative measures that you can use for your hardwood floors are amongst your common cleaning routines. You should broom your floors on a regular basis with a fine bristles. Mopping your floors on regular with neutral PH wood cleaner will also assist in keeping your floors in good condition. Even though most natural wood floors are stained, excess water can still cause damage, so making sure that your floors is dry at all times is important.

Wood floors often lose their shine over time due to natural aging or negligence. There are some very simple ways to identify if your floors may need a little TLC. Tests like adding a little bit of water to suspected damage areas may reveal if your floors are in need of some repair. After adding water, if the area turns a darker color, it usually is a sign for concern. The task of repairing your hardwood should be left to a professional if you are not knowledgeable of wood repair.

Since most natural wood surfaces usually have sore sort of poly urethane finish or wax, repairing an area can be as simple as refinishing the affected area. You can visit your local home improvement store to compare and match your woods finish. If your floor has a wax finish, you can use a #2 steel wool pad soaked in soap and water to rub out most stains. Once the affected area is smoothed out, you can then re-stain and wax.

Hardwood flooring such as Brazilian Cherry Hardwood are a long lasting cost effective way to add value and beauty to your home. With the proper care, natural wood flooring can maintain their beauty for years to come. Even though these maintenance methods are not difficult, they are mandatory in preserving the life span of your wood floors. Proper care and prevention will prove to be the keys to protecting your investment from unnecessary damage.

Marc Marseille is an internet professional with several websites on the net providing valuable resources to many. For more details on Brazilian Floors you can visit Brazilian Cherry Hardwood.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marc_Marseille
http://EzineArticles.com/?Brazilian-Cherry-Hardwood—Maintaining-the-Character-of-Your-Hardwood-Flooring&id=1917537

Here is a good article on hardwood floor care tips. Palmetto Hardwood has some great article on our regular website as well.   For a quote on hardwood floors and floor care products call us or visit our website.American Black Walnut Hardwood Flooring - A Dream or a Dent Machine
By Karen Lacasse

A Walnut hardwood floor is one of those truly beautiful wood products not only to install, but in the whole aesthetics when the job is done. The colour is so rich and being a natural not a stained tone each board takes on it own appeal. That being said walnut wood floors do have one downfall, at least when we talk about functionality.

Typically a customer really only wants to have an intense conversation about decorating, while in the process of selecting a floor. What hardwood flooring, paint and railing will make the home look like a million bucks. But having been in the business for 25 years, I’ve come to realize that they all start talking about wear ability after the first date, the first dent or the first disaster.

Young Johnny drops a soup tin on your new walnut hardwood floor and panic sets in. This is somewhat justifiable, since walnut only ranks 1,010 on the Janka hardness scale. If you are familiar with the latter your know that the higher the number the harder the wood. Maple, for instance is over 1400 and exotic woods like Brazilian Cherry are over 2500, so that American black walnut hardwood flooring is significantly softer than other options. This is a reality!

Many manufacturers only apply a satin finish for the top coat to make the eventual dings and dents somewhat less noticeable. This does help. The reality is that you need accept that a walnut hardwood floor will get its share of dents BUT the big advantage is that because the colour is natural you never have to worry about scrapping off a deep stained top layer and exposing a lighter, natural finish of the wood below. Walnut is a deep chocolate-purple tone throughout the entire thickness of the wood. Scratches can be easily repaired with a touch-up polyurethane pen.

Thus where the softness may be a concern in high traffic applications the fact that a walnut hardwood floor is colour consistent throughout its thickness kind of counter balances this downside. As with all life, purchasing hardwood flooring is full of tradeoffs. Just make sure you understand the balance sheet.

For lots of information on how to buy the right floor and specifically what other characteristics of a walnut hardwood floor your may want to know visit us on line at woodsthebest.com. We’ve been doing this for 30 years, so we know our stuff!

Karen Lacasse draws on 25+ years of woodworking experience, both as a woodworking teacher and industrial woodworker/owner of Lacasse Fine Wood Products. She is the author behind woodsthebest.com where you will find articles and resources to help with all your American Black Walnut Hardwood Flooring purchases and for that matter anything else you would like to know about wood and its use in home rennovation. ENJOY!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Karen_Lacasse
http://EzineArticles.com/?American-Black-Walnut-Hardwood-Flooring—A-Dream-or-a-Dent-Machine&id=740582

Here is a good article on hardwood floor care tips. Palmetto Hardwood has some great article on our regular website as well.   For a quote on hardwood floors and floor care products call us or visit our website.Brazilian Cherry Hardwood Flooring - Everything You Need to Know Before You Buy
By Eric M Dyer

Brazilian Cherry Hardwood Flooring has become the latest trend in the hard surface flooring industry. If you’re considering buying a Brazilian Cherry Floor, you’re making a wise choice. However, before you hop on the web to purchase your new floors you might want to know a little more about this great flooring and the various options you will have.

• Brazilian Cherry Hardwood Flooring can create a warm and casual look or a very formal style for your room. It will depend on the rest of the décor you have. Brazilian Cherry is a very versatile style and can transform a room with the right touch.
• Brazilian Cherry wood is one of the hardest, most dense woods on the Janka Scale ( an industry standard for wood hardness) and scores over 2800 out of 4000 for hardness. It will be very resistant against dents compared to most other wood species.
• Stained versus Unstained is a choice you will have to make. You can purchase Brazilian Cherry in both a natural, unstained version as well as a stained finish. Both will have a protected top coating but the stained may give you a more formal look if that’s what you are after.
• This unique floor comes in various widths. Typically you will see options between 3″ and 7″ wide planks. Any of these are great selections. It will depend on the look you are trying to set for the area.
• Cherry Hardwood floors also come in both the solid and engineered forms. The solid option may give you a few more refinishes over the life of the wood (but probably not enough to really matter that much). The engineered option will give you an extra bonus against excess moisture or humidity versus solid.
• This flooring is available in all installation options. Depending on the type you choose, it may be nail down, glue down, or floating floor style (which is great for installation over concrete subfloors or slabs).

When shopping, be sure to keep in mind that this species of wood can sometimes darken over its life span. Brazilian Cherry can be bought locally or over the web. Furthermore, most flooring distributors will gladly send a no charge sample for you to view. One last tip is to buy an extra box or two if your budget will allow. In case you were ever able to need to repair a spot in the floor, these extra pieces will come in handy down the road.

Be sure to check out Owen Carpet Company for great deals on Brazilian Cherry Hardwood Flooring.

The author, Eric Dyer is an Owner of Owen Carpet based in Dalton, Ga. Owen Carpet was featured by NBC’s Today show as the #1 place in America to buy Floorcovering.

For more information you can visit, http://www.owencarpet.com or call Owen Carpet at 1-800-626-6936.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eric_M_Dyer
http://EzineArticles.com/?Brazilian-Cherry-Hardwood-Flooring—Everything-You-Need-to-Know-Before-You-Buy&id=2517651

Here is a good article on hardwood floor care tips. Palmetto Hardwood has some great article on our regular website as well.   For a quote on hardwood floors and floor care products call us or visit our website.FSC Certified Ipe Decking Delivers
By Rosi Lehr

What is FSC? FSC stands for Forest Stewardship Council. This non profit organization is recognized as the most credible international system in forest management. Their certification is the only one recognized for LEED rating on commercial and residential projects for wood products. FSC certified Ipe decking is fast growing in popularity due to it’s multi-facet properties. They include janka hardness of 3640, fire rating class I (same as concrete and steel), resistance to insects, mold and fungus (no chemicals here) and longevity of 40 plus years with no maintenance products. What is not to like.

What does it take to be FSC certified? Well, that can go into heavy details but here is a fraction of the commitment that is involved. The company must be willing to implement additional policies, procedures, rules, time and monies that solely pertain to FSC. This involves hiring an FSC accredited certification company that implements audits, report misuse or abuse, approve or deny application of the FSC trademark on products and off products and assist company in utilizing FSC responsibly. Audits are conducted annually and re-submission is needed every 5 years. Mills for example must have a specifically designated area solely for storage of FSC wood. Once in operation for milling the machinery, forklift and area must all be labeled thoroughly and specifically for anyone who enters to know only FSC products and production is allowed. Why is this important? The purpose for this is to cut out improper management of our forests.

Why Ipe? As stated above, Ipe has a janka hardness of 3680. In comparison to California Redwood at 420, this hardwood is 8 times the hardness. Ipe is naturally resistant to insects, mold and fungus, so no need to put chemicals on it. It is naturally recyclable, self sustaining and renewable. The longevity of Ipe decking is 40 years and over 100 years with a UV inhibiting deck oil. Ipe rating surpasses the minimum required for wet areas based on Americans with Disability Act requirements for static co-efficiency of friction used by commercial projects for slip ratio on flooring.

Put the two things together; FSC™ certification and Ipe decking and you get the best decking available. Nothing else can quite capture the natural beauty of real wood and without the worries of chemical out-gassing and now with reassurance of a responsible forest certification.

Rosi Lehr is a contributing writer for Advantage Trim & Lumber Co.

Ipe Decking

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rosi_Lehr
http://EzineArticles.com/?FSC-Certified-Ipe-Decking-Delivers&id=2604166

Here is a good article on hardwood floor care tips. Palmetto Hardwood has some great article on our regular website as well.   For a quote on hardwood floors and floor care products call us or visit our website.Got Ipe?
By Rosi Lehr

In the midst of this economy, many people are opting to stay in their homes. Nesting is taking on a new meaning. Remodeling has increased and families are now staying home for vacations and entertaining. This has helped the economy in terms of outdoor products for clients looking to expand their back and front yards. The coastal areas as well as areas with temperate weather can make the most of their outdoor area for a longer period of time. People are willing to invest back into their home for comfort and entertaining. Green and recycling are becoming the norm. Educated consumers are willing to investing into quality products instead of a quick fix.

Unemployment is at an all time new high of 9.5%. Foreclosures don’t seem to be letting up and the future is uncertain. People are responding with less outings, vacation and spending. Keeping up with the Jones is no longer viewed as a status quo. Keeping your home and job are the reality of life for the majority of people nationwide. Many homeowners who were looking to upgrade to a new home are now re-evaluating their existing lifestyle and current homes. Many are looking to extend their living space and re-create a home to entertain in and enjoy coming home to.

The backyard is an easy addition without having to go into replacing roof and mortar. Some opt for a wraparound or front porch. Many homes that have a porch will include a deck and outdoor kitchen. This creates a totally new entertaining area and cooking environment, opening up more space for more people. Enjoying the outdoor air and ambiance is good for you. Finding a place to relax in a natural environment is the oasis that many people desire and love sharing it with family and friends. The project can be as simple or as elaborate as you desire. Whether simply a deck for a couple of chairs or a outdoor kitchen and entertainment area complete with tv, refrigerator, ice machine oven and fireplace, the value of the addition is definitely worth the cost.

There are many options for outdoor decking and patio material. The preferred material for many high quality homes is ipe. Ipe decking has seen increases in sales in the last decade due to it’s many outstanding properties. This super wood is one of the strongest woods available with a janka hardness of 3600 and a fire rating same as concrete and steel. Ipe requires no chemicals as it is naturally resistant to insects, mold, rot and fungus. The longevity of Ipe is minimum 40 years with no treatment to over 100 years with a UV inhibitor oil. There is no other decking material that will perform the way this wood does. Man made decking is still experiencing problems with delaminating, staining, warping and mold/fungus growth.

When investing into your outdoors, go with the proven leader for durability, beauty and longevity. Ipe hardwood decking will last years beyond your life and you won’t have to worry about it. Pay for the product not the marketing behind the product and if your concern is purchasing a green product than look at the FSC certified Ipe decking. This ensures you are purchasing lumber from a responsibly harvested forest with a future.

Rosi Lehr is a contributing writer for Advantage Trim & Lumber Co.

Ipe Decking

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rosi_Lehr
http://EzineArticles.com/?Got-Ipe?&id=2620001

Here is a good article on hardwood floor care tips. Palmetto Hardwood has some great article on our regular website as well.   For a quote on hardwood floors and floor care products call us or visit our website.Decking Made Easy With Ipe
By Rosi Lehr

If you are reading this article, than you may be looking for a new deck. If this is the case, than you must be bombarded with the different choices that are available for decking material. There are three major competitors; treated lumber, composites and hardwood lumber. They all have their pro’s and con’s. When weighing out the differences you will see why the choice is easy. Ipe decking has superior qualities that make it easy for you.

Treated lumber is probably the cheapest choice. The problem is it is treated with chemicals that are harmful for the environment and most importantly for you and your family. The longevity of the treated woods is about 10-15 years with annual maintenance and may be less in the harshest environments. Splintering and rot are some complaints in as little as 2-3 years. This lumber will be relatively easy to install but will require sealing and regular maintenance.

Composite lumber is somewhat mid of the line and can be very high priced depending on manufacturer and color selection. This material is a combination of plastic composites and wood fibers. This product is heavily marketed as the big corporations are spending their money on pushing that composite decking requires no sealer and will last forever. These are false statements. Composite decking has a history of problems with staining and color fading. The wood fibers that are mixed in the plastic has an environment for mold and fungus growth and some decking products have warped with the heat exposure. De-lamination has been reported in as little as 9 months after installation. Warranty will only cover the materials thus creating more labor with removal and re-installation. As for maintenance, the warranty is not valid with out regular maintenance of the decking. Sealing the deck with a preservative would be the way to insure a resistance to fungus and mold.

Now let’s examine Ipe decking. Ipe wood is 3x’s as hard as oak with a fire rating class A same as concrete and steel and slip resistance rated above the coefficient of friction for commercial applications. The hardwood is so dense it is resistant to mold and fungus. No worries about chemicals, Ipe is also insect and rot resistant. Ipe has been used in several commercial application due to its strength and natural beauty. Those who have environmental concerns about deforestation can rest assured that there are governmental and private organizations that monitor forests specifically for practices and procedures. The forests in Brazil where Ipe is predominantly exported from has government implemented regulations that utilize selective harvesting and responsible forestry practices with severe penalties for forest owners that do not comply. FSC certified forests are now growing at a rapid rate and requires annual audits and compliance for responsible forestry. These types of systems in place will ensure that the forests stay in place rather than get burnt down for cattle gazing and agricultural cash cropping. This also ensures that jobs remain in place for the people that need them with the natural resources that they rely on. The life expectancy of Ipe decking is average 50 years with up to 100 years with maintenance. Pricing for this deck is more than treated lumber but when faced with having to replace and re-install in as little as 10 years, this hardwood is less expensive over time.

The choice is easy when comparing the information and when you look at the difference. Decking should be installed and than enjoyed for the lifetime of the home. Put something in you know will last, has no chemicals and you can enjoy without all the maintenance requirements.

Rosi Lehr is a contributing writer for Advantage Trim & Lumber Co.

Ipe Decking

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rosi_Lehr
http://EzineArticles.com/?Decking-Made-Easy-With-Ipe&id=2691645

Here is a good article on hardwood floor care tips. Palmetto Hardwood has some great article on our regular website as well.   For a quote on hardwood floors and floor care products call us or visit our website.Ipe Decking - Creating Your Outdoor Oasis
By Rosi Lehr

Do you want a high-end look to complement your home and lifestyle? Are you concerned about chemically treated wood and/or living on the water? You have found your answer in ipe decking. Also referred to as Ironwood and Brazilian Walnut, this species of hardwood is nature’s answer to outdoor living. When you consider the alternatives you will see why Ipe is the primary product of choice for outdoor applications such as piers and decks. The composite decking does not have the rich warm look and feel of real wood nor does it have the resistance to mold and fungus of Ipe and as for strength well sawdust and particleboard will never compare to the ipe wood. Ipe will sink when placed in water, it has a fire rating the same as steel and slip resistance that surpasses the minimum required co efficiency of friction standard for commercial applications.

Clients working with custom decor inside the home deserve something of comparable quality outside. More and more consumers are creating an outdoor oasis to compliment their dream home. Ipe is the natural choice without a doubt. The rich brown red color and dense wood resists pests without any chemicals. The tight grains keep the wood from bending or warping. Nothing beats the look and feel of an exotic hardwood like Ipe.

To compare it to a composite is like comparing plastic to marble. Nature has a way of creating all her products in a unique and magnificent manner. Educating yourself on the pro’s and con’s of different materials used for patios and docks will make the choice an easy one. The extreme humidity of Florida to the dry environments in Las Vegas and Phoenix are just some of the areas of success for Ipe. Couple the material with a professional application using hidden deck fasteners such as the Ipe Clip(R) brand will create the foundation for your vacation hideaway in your own backyard.

Rosi Lehr is a contributing writer for Advantage Trim & Lumber Co.

Ipe Decking

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rosi_Lehr
http://EzineArticles.com/?Ipe-Decking—Creating-Your-Outdoor-Oasis&id=2830982

Here is a good article on hardwood floor care tips. Palmetto Hardwood has some great article on our regular website as well.   For a quote on hardwood floors and floor care products call us or visit our website.What Are the Differences Between Oak and Walnut Flooring?
By Derek Rogers

Hardwood flooring is a classic and luxurious way to add a beautiful floor to your home. Used for centuries, hardwood is a durable choice that can last for many years with the proper care. And, if your hardwood floor becomes damaged, you can refinish it, instead of replacing it. However, there are many choices available when it comes to the type of wood used in your hardwood floor. Oak is one of the most popular, but maple, walnut, and others are also offered. If you’re thinking about a hardwood floor and are not sure if walnut or oak flooring are the right choices for your home, then here is some information to help you decide.

Oak is the less expensive of the two floors and a little softer. It’s more readily available and can come stained in a number of colours. That means that if you’re not interested in paying the premium for the look and hardness of walnut, but want a dark floor, you can still get one. Oak does not, however, look like walnut, even when stained the same colour. It has a much tighter grain, which some prefer, but others consider less attractive.

Walnut is a naturally dark, open grained wood. Most species are harder than oak, but softer than many other. The look of natural walnut is one that’s hard to reproduce artificially, however. If you love walnut wood, skip the imitations - they won’t measure up. However, remember that the way your flooring is produced may affect the look of it and it might not look just like the sample.

Sawn boards are the traditional option. However, lower priced sliced wood (which is soaked before sawing, then dried again) will have a different grain and be harder to refinish. Also, depending on where your wood was grown, it will look different. Even a few miles can make some difference in the appearance of an oak or walnut floor. That means it’s a good idea to get a look at the wood you’ll be using for your floor before installing it, if the exact look of the grain is important to you. Ask for samples of the specific flooring you will order, not just flooring of the same species.

Care for walnut and oak flooring is similar. Both can dent if a heavy object is dropped on them, although satin finishes may help reduce the appearance of these blemishes. Oak will dent more easily. Red oak is rated at about 1290 on the Janka hardness scale, while white oak rates at 1360. Black walnut is actually a little softer than these woods - rating at about 1000 on the scale. However, other walnut species are considerably harder - red walnut rates at 2450 and Brazilian walnut at an impressive 3680.

In the end, the choice of oak flooring versus walnut flooring comes down to personal preferences and budget. If you want the rich look of walnut, you won’t get it with an imitation. For those concerned about durability, red or Brazilian walnut are also great choices. However, if a good hardwood floor is the priority, and you don’t want to spend as much, oak is a perfectly attractive and worthwhile choice.

Derek Rogers is a freelance writer who represents a number of UK businesses. For wood flooring, he recommends Completely Flooring, one of the UK’s leading suppliers of Oak and Walnut Flooring.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Derek_Rogers
http://EzineArticles.com/?What-Are-the-Differences-Between-Oak-and-Walnut-Flooring?&id=1334429

Here is a good article on hardwood floor care tips. Palmetto Hardwood has some great article on our regular website as well.   For a quote on hardwood floors and floor care products call us or visit our website.Walnut Flooring - 3 Things Before Buying
By Eric M Dyer

Walnut Flooring is an absolutely beautiful addition to any home or property. When it comes to the various species of wood floors, Walnut has tremendous character when compared to most others. Walnut floors also add value to your home. This can be beneficial whether you are wanting to reinvest in your home or prepare for selling. Beauty or value, or both, Walnut flooring is a great choice. Before you start shopping for your Walnut hardwood floor, there are 3 things you will need to consider before you buy your new floor. If you have these important 3 things predetermined at the onset, your decision and search will be rewarding and money saving.

1. Walnut flooring is offered in both Solid and Engineered construction. Solid Walnut floors are exactly that, solid. The board is created from a single, solid piece of walnut. These boards require a nail down installation. Solid boards can also be refinished many times over the life of the floor. Solid floors are an excellent choice as long as your subfloor is not concrete. Solid designed boards cannot be nailed down to a concrete substructure. Walnut Engineered hardwood flooring is comprised of 3 to 5 layers of wood. The top layer is a real Walnut veneer surface. The layers below the veneer are made out of plywood like material. This design is typically a glue down or floating floor (no glue or nails are used) installation. Engineered Walnut flooring can be installed over concrete. Often you will find Engineered will cost a little less than Solid wood flooring. However, Engineered floors can only be refinished once or twice so they add less value than solid.

2. Unfinished or Prefinished is a misunderstood choice by consumers. Unfinished hardwood doesn’t have any stain preapplied or Polyurethane/ Aluminum Oxide protective coats. Prefinished Walnut flooring, has a factory applied stain and protective coat of Polyurethane and/or Aluminum Oxide. There are two distinct factors to consider when choosing between these two. First of all, unfinished walnut floors may appear at first glance to be less expensive. However, the fees to stain and finish will cost more in the short and long term versus factory, prefinished flooring. A factory finish will last dramatically longer and maintain it’s luster saving money in the long run as well by saving on refinishes later down the road. The second consideration is color. You can have an unfinished floor applied with a custom stain to give an exact match to what you are looking for. A prefinished walnut floor will give several options for color, but not the variety of options you may have with an unfinished floor. As a rule of thumb, if you can find prefinished Walnut flooring with a color that will work, it should be an easy choice to go with prefinished. If you can’t find a color that will work and don’t mind paying more now and later, go with an unfinished, custom stained Walnut floor.

3. There are several distinct species of Walnut. Asian, American, and Brazilian are the 3 main options you will see offered in the flooring industry. The 2 considerations when comparing these 3 species are which is the most appealing to you as far as aesthetics and the Janka rating. Janka rating is a scale or measurement of a wood’s hardness. The higher the rating, the harder the wood surface. These 3 species will have slightly different grain and knot character traits. The important thing to remember when comparing species of Walnut is to select the one that you like the appearance of the most.

If you start your shopping process knowing the answers to the three decisions above you will be better equipped to shop for the correct floor that you want and need. By having this knowledge, it will be far easier to compare prices and flooring. Shopping for Walnut flooring doesn’t have to be difficult if you know what you are looking for before you start!

Whether you decide to shop locally or online is a choice entirely up to you. Local shopping will give you a quick glance at what is available in your local market with samples to see when you walk into a store. Be warned, that the larger home improvement stores may be convienent but will offer little discount compared to local independent stores or online wholesalers. If you’re willing to spend a few minutes online shopping for your Walnut floor, you may be able to save a considerable amount by finding a flooring wholesaler who can ship nationwide. A great place to start your online search for Walnut flooring is Owen Carpet Company in Dalton, GA. They carry many varieties of Walnut Flooring at great prices.

The author, Eric Dyer is an Owner of Owen Carpet based in Dalton, Ga. Owen Carpet was featured by NBC’s Today show as the #1 place in America to buy Floor covering.

For more information you can visit, http://www.owencarpet.com or call Owen Carpet at 1-800-626-6936.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eric_M_Dyer
http://EzineArticles.com/?Walnut-Flooring—3-Things-Before-Buying&id=2767366

Here is a good article on hardwood floor care tips. Palmetto Hardwood has some great article on our regular website as well.   For a quote on hardwood floors and floor care products call us or visit our website.

Ipe (Brazilian Walnut) Flooring Vs Red Oak Floors
By Rosi Lehr

Red Oak flooring has revolutionized the hardwood flooring industry in the 80’s but with new technology and demands, we have discovered a stronger, more durable and beautiful hardwood that lends a more sophisticated look. Ipe also known as Brazilian Walnut offers all those qualities and when comparing the Janka Hardness and fire rating coupled with the warm natural beauty of the wood you will begin to understand why Ipe flooring is the wood floor for the future.

What is Janka hardness? The Wikipedia definition states: The Janka hardness test measures the hardness of wood. It involves measuring the force required to embed a 11.28 millimeter (0.444 inch) steel ball into wood to half its diameter. This method was chosen so that the result would leave an indention 100 square millimeters in size. It is one of the best measures of the ability of a wood species to withstand denting and wear. Red Oak has a rating of 1290 compared to Ipe at 3640. In essence Ipe flooring is 3x’s stronger than Red Oak.

What is the fire spread rating? Business dictionary states it is: Rough measure of a material’s propensity to burn rapidly and spread flames. Red Oak has a class III rating vs. Ipe at class I, the same as concrete and steel. This is an excellent safety feature for commercial applications.

Red Oak tends toward a medium color and wide variation in grain where Ipe is a tighter grain dark color. It has a more traditional look where Ipe can fit both traditional and contemporary settings. The physical attributes are quite visible but the behind the scenes properties give you a good idea on the longevity and durability of these woods. Red Oak did serve a great purpose for the 80’s but with the technological advances and more responsible forest harvesting available, Ipe floors are quickly becoming the hottest product for your wood flooring selection.

Rosi Lehr is a contributing writer for Advantage Trim & Lumber Co.

Ipe Decking

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Here is a good article on hardwood floor care tips. Palmetto Hardwood has some great article on our regular website as well.   For a quote on hardwood floors and floor care products call us or visit our website.Mesquite Flooring - Barbeque Flavoring or A Great Wood Floor?
By Karen Lacasse

Mesquite wood is probably best known as a wood, or I should say a wood converted to a charcoal or shavings for barbequing and smoking. More recently though mesquite lumber it is being considered for flooring. Is this a wise choice? Can it stand up to the daily rigors of a well used floor?

Some might suggest that mesquite lumber is much like the ranchers that share its landscape, tough, resilient and stable through everything that life throws at it. Mesquite trees go through long unpredictable seasons with rain as only an afterthought, surviving extended periods of drought and then a deluge with storm waters saturating its soil. The Mesquite tree survives this all, without much of a reaction.

In the wood technology lingo this translated into a very low co-efficient of volumetric shrinkage.

What does that mean to you? Well, given that almost every location around the world experiences shifts in seasonal humidity that typically causes wood to react by expanding and contracting, mesquite is quite unusual. It barely moves at all. This makes mesquite lumber flooring ideal. The cracks that appear in the winter months of a red oak or maple floor are much less likely in mesquite flooring.

This feature is also appreciated by the wood dryers. With low volumetric shrinkage, the wood is much less likely to crack in the drying process. The mesquite flooring manufacturer will dry mesquite lumber down to somewhere between 6 and 12% moisture content, mostly dependant on the geography of where it is going; drier to drier climates, wetter for the California coast. With little tendency to crack most of what goes into the kilns comes out as usable lumber.

This stability also allows the creative use of mesquite lumber. Flooring is sometimes designed using the small cross grain slices of the tree to create an end cut block floor. Just as if someone had started at the top of the tree trunk and cut small ½” slices all the way down.. The visible surface of each block shows the annual rings of the mesquite tree.

Sometimes they leave them in the round and fill the corners with a tough grout and other times the end slices get squared off and laid like parquet tiles. Either way you end up with a unique rustic floor that has no equivalent either in design or figure, in the traditional hardwood flooring market.

Check out the other features of . Does it survive the abuse of a dog? How about the kids, or maybe your commercial establishment with daily outside traffic? Learn lots, pick well!

Karen Lacasse draws on 25+ years of woodworking experience, both as a woodworking teacher and industrial woodworker/owner of Lacasse Fine Wood Products. She is the author behind woodsthebest.com where you will find articles and resources to help with all your home renovation projects. She designs woodworking craft patterns and shares her wood crafting knowledge at theWoodBox.com

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Here is a good article on hardwood floor care tips. Palmetto Hardwood has some great article on our regular website as well.   For a quote on hardwood floors and floor care products call us or visit our website.Mesquite Hardwood Flooring - Will It Survive the Dog, the Cat and the Kids?
By Karen Lacasse

Flooring of any sort, probably takes more abuse then any other decorating feature of your home. The pets race across the floor to attract attention and bond with the family members and the kids respond with all kinds of toys in tow. And your flooring, well it’s expected to endure all and still add beauty and class to any home environment. Can a Mesquite Hardwood Floor meet this challenge?

Well first it might be important to understand how all lumber is tested for durability. Of course durability in itself can imply many different things from impact resiliency expected in a baseball bat to the environment ability of planking on a wood strip canoe to survive weather issues, but in this case we are being very specific.

Durability of a wood used for a hardwood floor is in reference to its compression, or dent resistance. It is a measure of the amount of force required to push a .444 inch diameter steel ball half way into a piece of wood. It is referred to as the Janka Rating.

In layman’s terms it is a way to measure the hardness of a particular wood. It gives the consumer some idea on how easy it will be to scratch any particular floor while moving furniture around, or corralling the children.

Wood Flooring Hardness Rating: Mesquite Hardwood Flooring?

Mesquite lumber is rather unique in that it is the hardest of all typical North American woods. It has a Janka Rating of 2345, putting it well ahead of the normal species of flooring like red oak and hard maple with an under 1500 Janka wood floor hardness rating. Mequite wood then is almost double in dent resistance.

For the consumer this suggests that a mesquite wood floor will certainly handle the abuse without showing signs of wear as quickly as some of the more traditional woods.
If you would like the more basic consumer test without having to rely of a set of lab generated numbers just lift up a box of hardwood flooring. Mesquite will weigh in at more than three pounds per square foot of three-quarter inch thick hardwood flooring. Then lift up an equivalent box of oak or maple hardwood. The weight should give you some idea. The heavier the wood then obviously the more difficult it will be to damage.

Note that when discussing a wood floor hardness rating, Mequite is ranked harder than all North American species but this is not meant to suggest that it is the hardest wood species on the global flooring marketplace. We can find wood floors like IPE that rank well above 3,000 so keep in mind that this scale is relative!

This is only one of the advantages of Mesquite Wood Flooring and you may wish to research it further to get a more complete understanding of what you have in the way of design options and other appealing wood characteristics that make it a great hardwood flooring to survive the dog, the cat and the kids.

Karen Lacasse draws on 25+ years of woodworking experience, both as a woodworking teacher and industrial woodworker/owner of Lacasse Fine Wood Products. She is the author behind woodsthebest.com where you will find articles and resources to help with all your home renovation projects.

She designs woodworking craft patterns and shares her wood crafting knowledge at theWoodBox.com

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Here is a good article on hardwood floor care tips. Palmetto Hardwood has some great article on our regular website as well.   For a quote on hardwood floors and floor care products call us or visit our website.Kempas Hardwood Flooring - Tips For A Solid Choice
By Eric M Dyer

Kempas Hardwood Flooring has become widely popular in the hard surface floorcovering industry. Kempas is a wood species prevalent in the Countries of Malaysia and Indonesia. The recent popularity of this hardwood has been a result of the other exotics such as Santos Mahogany, Brazilian Cherry and Jatoba. These all have similar colors, except Kempas has a very coarse grain structure which some prefer. If you are considering a hardwood floor made of Kempas, you will need to know a few things before you go shopping. Here are some important tips to consider.

• Kempas flooring can be manufactured from Kempas Heartwood can look very reddish/orange brown, somewhat similar to a deep cherry. Kepmas Sapwood can resemble a lighter color with even some yellow spots or streaks.

• This species of wood floors can also be available in both solid and engineered styles. Engineered is a wafer type design with a true Kempas vainer top surface and standard wood layers beneath. Engineered wood is a good option if you need to install over a concrete slab or floor. Engineered floors are usually glued down. Solid Kempas is a superior product however because not only can it be refinished many more times, but also will typically have less splitting due to the grainy, coarse definition that the species can have. Solid construction floors are typically nail down design.

• Kempas hardwood board widths can range from around 3″ to 5″.

• Even as a natural finish this wood floor can have a deep rich formal look.

• Exotic Kempas will also handle traffic well due to it’s ability to handle friction as a result of it’s coarse grain structure.

• On the Janka Scale (a hardwood scale that compares all hardwood species on hardness and density), it performs great around a rating of 1700.

• Most Kempas is offered in a prefinished design. Make sure the product has an Aluminum Oxide or Polyurethane/Aluminum Oxide finish for a longer lasting wear on the surface against scratches and day to day wear.

When shopping for wood floors, be sure to check out Owen Carpet Company for great values on Kempas Hardwood Flooring. With several widths to choose from on solid, nail down designs, they may very well be able to save you money.

The author, Eric Dyer is an Owner of Owen Carpet based in Dalton, Ga. Owen Carpet was featured by NBC’s Today show as the #1 place in America to buy Floorcovering.
For more Exotic Hardwood Flooring information, please call Owen Carpet at 1-800-626-6936.

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Here is a good article on hardwood floor care tips. Palmetto Hardwood has some great article on our regular website as well.   For a quote on hardwood floors and floor care products call us or visit our website.Exotic Wood Flooring
By Sarah Freeland

The first thing that you need to research when shopping for exotic wood flooring is the type of wood you want to use. You can select from exotic woods like Brazilian cherry, bamboo, mahogany and Brazilian chestnut. Each type of exotic wood has its own hardness rating and its own hues and grain patterns. You should request samples of the woods that you are interested in so that you have a better idea of what they will look like after the flooring is installed.

After you have selected the type of exotic wood that you want to install your next decision that you will need to make is whether you want to purchase imported hardwood flooring or if you want to purchase an exotic wood laminate. The laminate flooring will allow you to create a rich looking floor without having to spend as much money, and without having to buy wood panels that are harvested from trees in environmentally sensitive areas.

Your next decision to make about your exotic wood flooring is whether you want to hire someone to install it for you or if you want to try and install it yourself. If you plan on installing your exotic hardwood flooring yourself then you may want to look for pre-finished planks. This way you wonÕt have to sand and finish your planks after you install them. If you want to install a laminate floor then you can get a click together glue less model. These are the easiest laminate floor types to install.

Is exotic wood flooring right for you? Find out more at LaminateFloorsCheap.com - your source for information on bamboo laminate flooring, do it yourself floor installation information and professional flooring advice. For more home decor and remodeling options visit the home decorating directory.

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Here is a good article on hardwood floor care tips. Palmetto Hardwood has some great article on our regular website as well.   For a quote on hardwood floors and floor care products call us or visit our website.Exotic Hardwood Flooring Makes Your Feet Look Good
By Terry Price

Truly, it’s hard to beat the timeless beauty that antique wood flooring or even cork flooring can offer. The type of wood used is a personal preference and it basically depends on your lifestyle choice. Your new hardwood flooring is going to be stylish and have eye appeal, and will complement any type of room decor. Other than your standard traditional oak flooring which is common in many new homes, exotic wood flooring can be a stunning and beautiful change.

Hardwood flooring is durable and will last virtually a lifetime with the proper care. Exotic wood flooring comes in a variety of species, stains, finishes and patterns from which to select. In addition to being hypoallergenic, wood flooring is environmentally friendly. It enhances the desirability and real estate market value of your home. Flooring costs are now an affordable option and worth every penny. If you’re considering exotic hardwood flooring, you have to ask yourself, ” Am I choosing the best hardwood flooring type available for practical reasons or is this simply a luxury?

There are many different types of exotic woods such as bamboo flooring, Australian tiger-eye, cork flooring, antique wood flooring, and the list goes on and on. Maintenance should be one of your considerations when selecting a fine hardwood for your flooring. Exotic wood types such as Brazilian teak, Brazilian walnut, Tiete rosewood, and Santos mahogany will require less pampering because of their high Janka Hardness rating.

According to tests undertaken by the US forestry lab, some types of exotic woods are more durable than others. They use an official hardness rating system called the Janka rating. It is based on the pounds of pressure needed to embed a 0.444-inch diameter steel ball one half its own diameter into the wood. It’s interesting to make some comparisons. Looking at white pine as an example it takes 380 pounds of pressure, Douglas fir, 660 pounds, and American cherry flooring, 950 pounds.

Many of the exotic woods are in the thousands. Brazilian teak hardwood flooring has a Janka rating of 3,540. It is excellent for growing families with large pets and requires less maintenance and repair due to wear and tear. If you’re expecting a lot of heavy use and foot traffic, Brazilian cherry has a rating of 2,820 and may be better than Australian hard Cyprus. Brazilian cherry may lack the wide range of cream to brown tones filled with dark character knots that Cyprus can offer, but it has a tremendous hardness rating that’s about double. Also, the flooring cost is less expensive per square foot than Cyprus for similar grade planks. The cost savings can be as much as $1.65 or more! The higher the hardness level, the fewer the precautionary measures you’ll need to take to prevent surface damage for the simple fact that it is more durable. Bamboo flooring, as an example, is extremely tough and a great flooring for family use.

Households without small children and heavy foot traffic may require lower hardness ratings and need not pay the higher costs associated with installing exotic hardwood flooring. Hardwood flooring still remains a good option and a sound investment for most households. You don’t have to order your flooring from the other side of the world to get a stunning and durable hardwood floor. Many domestic and local suppliers offer American hardwood with excellent durability and longevity that requires minimal upkeep and hardwood floor maintenance. The key is the quality of wood grade. Clear grades that offer warm inviting tones along with fine wood grains are excellent. You want to select grades that show off naturally-occurring character marks. Antique hardwood flooring offers an excellent character grade and one with rustic country charm that is especially appealing with certain types of home design and interior décor.

Consider the time saving convenience of refinished hardwood flooring. It cuts down on the overall hardwood floor costs including contractor installation. Sanding and finishing isn’t required, and refinished hardwood floor planks move independently with humidity changes. Seasonal changes are less stressful on flooring, so floor separations become less noticeable over time. A popular, upscale hardwood flooring is the hand-scraped, distressed and reclaimed, previously-used hardwood flooring that offers a classic look. The floor adds appeal and value to the homeowner due to the character flaws.

Distressed wood flooring is tremendous when combined with classical, fashionable décor adding a rustic appearance. It is a delightful combination of chic and shabby, hard to upstage. Hiring the right contractor to do your installation will help protect your investment and guarantee project success. Try posting your project online, and then sit back and wait for the contractors to come to you. There are lots of flooring contractors on standby just waiting to bid competitively on your project, ready to provide you with great service at the best price. Be critical of your contractor’s portfolio, references and company profile. Be sure to contact their references to ensure that you will get quality service. Remember, there is no obligation whatsoever in hiring any contractor, and make sure there are no hidden fees. Do your homework and create your masterpiece today!

Terry Price is a successful web publisher & expert author and is a regular contributor to http://www.hardwood-flooring-discount.com/bruce-hardwood-flooring.html . Explore the world of laminate flooring at: http://www.hardwood-flooring-discount.com/alloc-laminate-flooring.html

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Here is a good article on hardwood floor care tips. Palmetto Hardwood has some great article on our regular website as well.   For a quote on hardwood floors and floor care products call us or visit our website.Cork Flooring - An Excellent Flooring Alternative
By Michael Russell

You might not notice it but it is there! Cork flooring is now fast becoming the flooring of choice for most notable buildings such as churches, museums, hospitals, schools, libraries and hotels. With its excellent noise buffering quality and the comfort it provides to tired feet, who can resist it?

Isn’t cork just for bottle stoppers? What is it really and how is it converted to building materials?

Cork is derived from the outer bark of the cork oak tree, Quercus suber, which is commonly cultivated in the Mediterranean. Among the major cork-producing countries are Portugal (which supplies 50% of the total world’s demand for cork), Algeria, Spain, Morocco, France, Italy and Tunisia. In these countries, the trees are considered valued treasures. And why not? Cork is fast becoming a prime export commodity and having expansive cork oak forests translates to big local and foreign earnings!

The bark of the cork oak tree is typically harvested every nine or ten years. The harvested raw materials are then cleaned, boiled and have their rough outer bark stripped away. The finest slabs in the batch are then selected and from these, cork bottle stoppers are made.

Nothing ever goes to waste in the production process of these valuable resources. The scraps resulting from the manufacture of stoppers are collected and grounded into small granules. These are mixed with an appropriate binding material, molded into larger blocks and then baked to come up with the natural cork material which can be used for construction purposes.

Cork can be used in a variety of ways. They can be used in the flooring, walls and ceilings. They can even be formed into baseboards and moldings. Cork finds its way into most commercial, institutional and residential buildings due mainly to its moisture, mold and rot-resistant attributes. In most modern houses, cork materials can be found in almost all of the major rooms!

What makes cork such a hit in the construction of modern buildings?

Well, aside from the fact that it greatly reduces noise (offers up to 50 decibels noise reduction when used as a flooring underlay), cork has the following features:

. Durable. Cork is naturally resistant and recovers well from compression. Treating it with a protective finish further enhances this feature.

. Provides thermal and moisture insulation. Cork cells are multi-sided and have very strong and flexible cellular walls. They are joined together in a honeycomb fashion making them airtight and very resistant to moisture.

. Provides underfoot comfort. Cork’s natural structure makes it compressible so that it provides a comforting feel whenever you step on it.

. Easy to clean and easy to maintain. Cleaning cork flooring can be done in a breeze! For waxed finished cork flooring, all you need is a dry or damp mop. Liquid solvent wax can be applied occasionally to maintain the glossy finish. Or for a more serious cleaning stint, you can use electric buffing using 00 steel wool discs. Lamb’s wool pads can be used afterwards.

For polyurethane finished cork flooring, routine cleaning can also be done by using dry or damp mop. Refinishing it can be successfully done by using power floor machine with 00 wool disc and then applying polyurethane as per prescribed directions.

. Cork is manufactured without any significant negative environmental impacts. Cork-producing nations strictly enforce laws with regards to the harvesting and manufacture of cork. The barks of the trees are harvested in such a way that the trees survive the process and zero waste management techniques are imposed in the manufacturing procedure.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Flooring

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Here is a good article on hardwood floor care tips. Palmetto Hardwood has some great article on our regular website as well.   For a quote on hardwood floors and floor care products call us or visit our website.

Best Hardwood Flooring - Choosing a Style
By Chris Smitts

No one can really tell you what the best hardwood flooring is. Of course, there are many products that sell better or last longer than others, but all in all the choice is up to you depending on what you want for style and the type you prefer.

Real wood floors are obviously going to be a little more durable, but they are going to require a lot more work on your part to maintain them and keep them looking nice. Laminate and composite wood flooring is a great choice for people who are shopping on a budget and who want something that is low maintenance.

Ultimately, the best hardwood flooring for you is the flooring that suits your current décor or the renovations that you plan on doing, and the one that is most cost effective. Based on your budget, you will have a variety of different styles of flooring to choose from. For example, if you are looking for something unique and exotic, and have an unlimited budget, you can find real beauty and rarity and exotic hardwood flooring, such as teak and other styles.

However, if you like this unique type of flooring, but you don’t have the budget for real hardwood of this variety, you can check out the composite and laminate styles that are available with these designs.

One of the best things about composite and laminate flooring is that they are made up of scraps mostly that are pressed together to form what looks like a hardwood plank. Then, an image of whatever type of flooring is being made is superimposed onto the planks.

Using computer imagery and lamination, manufacturers have almost perfected the art of creating realistic wood floors from composite materials. To save people money and to save trees, these floors are a great choice.

Some of the best hardwood flooring that you will find is composite laminate material. These products are generally more durable and require less maintenance than actual hardwood floors, which makes them more affordable on a variety of levels. Not only do they cost less to buy and install. They also cost less to maintain, which makes the situation great all-around.

However, there is still something to be said for the true beauty of real hardwood floors. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter what type of hardwood floors you choose to put in your home, because all that matters is that you get the floors that you want.

To find the Best Hardwood Flooring just Click Here.

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Here is a good article on hardwood floor care tips. Palmetto Hardwood has some great article on our regular website as well.   For a quote on hardwood floors and floor care products call us or visit our website.

Strand Woven Bamboo Flooring - A Popular Choice For Exotic Flooring
By Timothy Croy

There are different types of bamboo floorings available today. The strand woven bamboo flooring is made by weaving bamboo fibers together and laminated under high pressure to get a dense floor board. As in other processes, the stripes are boiled to remove sugar before laminating under pressure. By this process the bamboo planks are joined tough during the whole manufacturing process. This type of flooring, because of its hardness is ideal for high traffic areas.

The installation of woven bamboo flooring is easy. The flooring pieces are of same measurement which makes it to join without complications. It can be directly glued to the foundation, nailed or stapled. Floating installation is also possible. Many consumers do the flooring themselves under the advice and guidance of company people.

The production of woven bamboo flooring does not leave any waste of bamboo planks since all pieces are taken in the initial process of boiling and lamination. Future refinishing of the flooring is easy as it can be sanded in the same way as other woods are sanded. Routine cleaning is also easy than any other ordinary bamboo flooring.

The main drawback of woven bamboo flooring is its vulnerability towards water and moisture. Hence a little care should be taken while cleaning with water. If water spells it should be wiped with a cloth or other absorbent.

Occasionally there may be dents from dropped materials, fading in sun, scratches when there is too much traffic and discoloration.The tough nature of the flooring recommends gluing over nailing as the nails often will not pass with ease. If flooring is done by self gluing is better. Nailing can be done by experienced flooring contractors.

Whatever be the pros and cons, bamboo flooring a century old building material in Asia, is rapidly making its presence in Western countries. The present transport and communication advances have made it easier for the companies and consumers to come closer very fast. In Asia China is the leading exporter of bamboo floorings to the western countries.

Whether you’re interested in installing bamboo flooring or wondering how to clean it, we’ve got you covered! For honest and sound advice regarding bamboo flooring, visit our no nonsense bamboo flooring guide at: Cheap Bamboo Flooring

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Here is a good article on hardwood floor care tips. Palmetto Hardwood has some great article on our regular website as well.   For a quote on hardwood floors and floor care products call us or visit our website.The Allure of Exotic Hardwood Floors
By Marcus Peterson

Exotic hardwood floors are made up of solid exotic wood that is not grown in North America. These wooden planks are imported from Africa, Australia, Brazil, and the Far East. They are known for distinct coloration and wood grain, and can be bought as solid hardwood plank or engineered wood construction.

Exotic hardwood flooring is used for its distinct look. These pricey floors should be considered an investment as homes with exotic wood floors fetch higher price than the homes with other floorings.

When selecting your exotic hardwood flooring, you can choose from different grain styles and colors. Dark colors go well with conventional interiors, while light colors are suitable for casual and modern interiors. These versatile floorings come in a wide range of finishes. Exotic hardwood flooring can be installed in all rooms but the selected area should be kept dry.

Exotic hardwood flooring comes from all over the world, and is available at many retail outlets. However, in most cases you will find pricing for this item to range from $4.00 to $7.00 per square foot. Since exotic hardwood floors are not manufactured in the United States, it is best to find a seller who imports large quantities, and thus pays less shipping costs per square foot. Often such a seller will pass some of the savings on to you.

Hard Wood Floors provides detailed information on installing, cleaning and refinishing various types of hardwood floors, including engineered, solid, long-strip, exotic, pre-finished, and cheap hardwood floors. Hard Wood Floors is the sister site of Bamboo Flooring Web.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marcus_Peterson
http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Allure-of-Exotic-Hardwood-Floors&id=65178

Here is a good article on hardwood floor care tips. Palmetto Hardwood has some great article on our regular website as well.   For a quote on hardwood floors and floor care products call us or visit our website.

Exotic Wood Flooring - When Ordinary Isn’t Enough
By Chris Smitts

Some people are perfectly content with the look of a nice oak or mahogany floor that offers them the beauty of traditional hardwood without the expense of some different types of wood that are available.

However, for those who have more expensive tastes or would prefer something a little atypical in hardwood flooring, there is plenty of exotic wood flooring to choose from. As you can tell by the name, these flooring choices will generally be more expensive and harder to find, but they will definitely be well worth it when they make your house look like something out of a magazine.

Exotic wood flooring can add a great amount of beauty and personal style to your home, but it also can add a lot to your renovations budget. You might find a couple of manufacturers here and there that are able to offer you an exotic looking wood floor that fits your budget by creating styles in their line of composite wood floors and laminate flooring selections.

However, the rarity and beauty of actual wood floors made of exotic woods is unbeatable. One of the most popular woods for flooring in the exotic family is the Brazilian teak wood. This word is reddish brown or brown in color and often has black streaks mixed in the grains of the wood. It is very dense, which makes it durable. However, this also makes it expensive.

Some other types of exotic wood flooring include Bocote, Amboyna Burl, Cocobolo (a rare tropical rosewood), Santos Mahogany and Tasmanian Eucalyptus Burl. All of these woods come from different places all over the world and each has its own rarity and beauty to offer.

Exotic hardwood floors can offer unique decorative looks for any home, but they can be quite expensive. If you can’t afford to outfit your entire home with these floors, consider buying exotic decor that is more affordable instead.

Aside from being beautiful, exotic woods also offer much more durability than typical types of wood used for flooring. They are so rich and warm that they cannot be matched by any traditional hardwood floors, and they have so many unique markings that every plank is sure to be unique.

By taking the time to check out the exotic wood floors available to you, you’ll be able to determine whether you can actually afford this investment or not. If you can, it will definitely be worth it to invest in exotic flooring for your home.

To learn more about Exotic Wood Flooring just Click Here.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Smitts
http://EzineArticles.com/?Exotic-Wood-Flooring—When-Ordinary-Isnt-Enough&id=2549054

Here is a good article on hardwood floor care tips. Palmetto Hardwood has some great article on our regular website as well.   For a quote on hardwood floors and floor care products call us or visit our website.

The Mystery of the Unknown - Exotic Wood Flooring
By Christopher W Smith

Exotic woods have rapidly gained popularity in the American design world. They coordinate well with the exotic woods now being used to make kitchen countertops, and they are being seen in beautiful homes all over the country. It’s important, though, that when incorporating exotic woods into your decor that you know something about the sources of the woods, the different manufacturers, and features of the different types of wood so that you can make the right choice to meet your decorating needs.

Choosing the Best Flooring for a Particular Area of Your Home

The room you are planning to use the exotic flooring in will make a lot of difference in the type of wood you should choose. Most exotic woods don’t work well in areas where there is high moisture content, such as bathrooms and basements. However, if you take the time to do some research, you will find that there are some exotic wood flooring products that will work out well in these same damp locations.

When you set out to choose exotic wood flooring for your home, start by finding the floor that will give you the appearance you are seeking to achieve. Once you have a list of a few floors that you like, research each of them to learn the individual features and which of them will work best in which application.

Afzella is a good example of a tough, durable exotic wood that’s being used to make flooring, furniture, deck materials, and railings. This particular wood will be equally at home in a hot, humid climate or a cool, dry climate. Another great feature of Afzella is that it is awesome when used in high traffic areas of your home. Since the friction caused by constant use can make hardwood floors begin to show their age prematurely, it’s always best to choose a wood, like Afzella, which is hard enough to withstand the wear and tear. Of course, the fact that Afzella is proving to be such a popular choice makes it one of the higher-priced options on the market.

Where are Exotic Wood Floors Manufactured?

Most exotic wood floors are manufactured outside of the United States. Since they are manufactured in parts of the world such as Africa, Australia, and South America, the price, availability, and quality of the materials are not controlled by American companies and standards. This can mean that you will pay more for this type of floor, and the manufacturing standards of the country in which it is made may not be as high as those in the U.S. These are things you’ll want to look into before opting for exotic wood floors in your home.

You know you want hardwood floors - visit RefinishedHardwood.com for more tips on refinishing hardwood floors and hardwood floor installation instructions and make have the floor you’ve always wanted.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christopher_W_Smith
http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Mystery-of-the-Unknown—Exotic-Wood-Flooring&id=2933620

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Formerly Concrete Was DIY Flooring in the Basement
By Norbert Wolfenk

Today with “everything on the table” when it comes to flooring, never before have there been fine flooring choices at such affordable prices. Vinyl, that costs so little, was the winner in days gone by. It wore well and was everywhere. An in expensive alternative then was ceramic which became king. It looked great and lasted forever.

Hardwoods, while still pricey, look beautiful and provide great wear. Hardwood is cost-effective and is a fine flooring product that is within most budgets today. Whether your hardwood choice is an excellent Brazilian Walnut, or an exceptional Australian Cypress, with proper care, this kind of flooring will last 50 years or more.

Nonetheless, if hardwoods are still a bit of a financial stretch or the care required is a little more than desired then try looking at laminates (Faux wood). They’re another excellent option.

Faux wood (laminates) look great. This kind of flooring is usually strong four-layer construction that yields a highly durable product. The costs per-square-foot is much less, than you might expect than hardwoods and laminates are ultra-easy to install.

Ceramic and Porcelain flooring are still eternal favorites. There seems to be a race for favor between both types, ceramic and porcelain, simply because of both products with their strength and durability. Either provides a rich, bright appearance and can last for many decades with appropriate care.

Formerly, concrete was DIY flooring in the basement or garage. Today concrete will be found in the bathroom, kitchen, or almost anywhere. Consumers are opting for surface effects that create colorful flooring, even emulating the appearance of marble or tile. It’s low cost and looks great.

Sub-flooring is getting more attention these days. These spaces are as likely to be concrete as the traditional plywood. In any case because they age will require repair. However, you be glad to know that sub floor planking is being better treated to reduce the odds of insect invasion and water damage.

Carpet is still very much the number one choice for flooring. There are numerous basic types. There is everything from a simple throw or area rug, to full-room coverage that could be relatively inexpensive, long lasting, and beautiful.

That space under foot getting greater notice today. You might consider installing heating whether electric mesh, or radiant tubing, these systems have come down in price. They keep the floor warm and production methods have improved their efficiency. Other heating methods will not be needed, even in other rooms. The under floor options are less expensive to operate than they might appear.

If you plan to install tile, what is beneath will be noticed. Laying tile requires first-rate preparation, so be certain the sub-flooring is strong and super-flat. That is necessary or the tile will not set properly. Then there is the requirement after you install it, and that is to look after your floor.

You know it! And there’s no getting around it! Every kind of flooring requires some care. Carpets require cleaning, especially when something spills. Ceramic and laminates require mopping. Hardwood flooring requires good care, so that they don’t dull or scratched due to grit being dragged across the surface. Minor tile cracks, carpet burn, and laminate scratches; all require restorative efforts that are more extensive.

At the end of the day or the decade however, you can look back and even though it’s underfoot, flooring can make or break the appearance and usability of a room. Selecting well and keeping it in good shape will reward the cost and effort many times over.

Norbert Wolfenk frequently pens web pages on themes associated to discount laminate flooring. You can discover his contributions on discount laminated flooring over at http://www.insidewoodworking.com/flooring/discount_laminate_flooring.html and various other sources for discount laminated flooring information.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Norbert_Wolfenk
http://EzineArticles.com/?Formerly-Concrete-Was-DIY-Flooring-in-the-Basement&id=2809117

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What Are the Differences Between Oak and Walnut Flooring?
By Derek Rogers

Hardwood flooring is a classic and luxurious way to add a beautiful floor to your home. Used for centuries, hardwood is a durable choice that can last for many years with the proper care. And, if your hardwood floor becomes damaged, you can refinish it, instead of replacing it. However, there are many choices available when it comes to the type of wood used in your hardwood floor. Oak is one of the most popular, but maple, walnut, and others are also offered. If you’re thinking about a hardwood floor and are not sure if walnut or oak flooring are the right choices for your home, then here is some information to help you decide.

Oak is the less expensive of the two floors and a little softer. It’s more readily available and can come stained in a number of colours. That means that if you’re not interested in paying the premium for the look and hardness of walnut, but want a dark floor, you can still get one. Oak does not, however, look like walnut, even when stained the same colour. It has a much tighter grain, which some prefer, but others consider less attractive.

Walnut is a naturally dark, open grained wood. Most species are harder than oak, but softer than many other. The look of natural walnut is one that’s hard to reproduce artificially, however. If you love walnut wood, skip the imitations - they won’t measure up. However, remember that the way your flooring is produced may affect the look of it and it might not look just like the sample.

Sawn boards are the traditional option. However, lower priced sliced wood (which is soaked before sawing, then dried again) will have a different grain and be harder to refinish. Also, depending on where your wood was grown, it will look different. Even a few miles can make some difference in the appearance of an oak or walnut floor. That means it’s a good idea to get a look at the wood you’ll be using for your floor before installing it, if the exact look of the grain is important to you. Ask for samples of the specific flooring you will order, not just flooring of the same species.

Care for walnut and oak flooring is similar. Both can dent if a heavy object is dropped on them, although satin finishes may help reduce the appearance of these blemishes. Oak will dent more easily. Red oak is rated at about 1290 on the Janka hardness scale, while white oak rates at 1360. Black walnut is actually a little softer than these woods - rating at about 1000 on the scale. However, other walnut species are considerably harder - red walnut rates at 2450 and Brazilian walnut at an impressive 3680.

In the end, the choice of oak flooring versus walnut flooring comes down to personal preferences and budget. If you want the rich look of walnut, you won’t get it with an imitation. For those concerned about durability, red or Brazilian walnut are also great choices. However, if a good hardwood floor is the priority, and you don’t want to spend as much, oak is a perfectly attractive and worthwhile choice.

Derek Rogers is a freelance writer who represents a number of UK businesses. For wood flooring, he recommends Completely Flooring, one of the UK’s leading suppliers of Oak and Walnut Flooring.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Derek_Rogers
http://EzineArticles.com/?What-Are-the-Differences-Between-Oak-and-Walnut-Flooring?&id=1334429

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Walnut Flooring - 3 Things Before Buying
By Eric M Dyer

Walnut Flooring is an absolutely beautiful addition to any home or property. When it comes to the various species of wood floors, Walnut has tremendous character when compared to most others. Walnut floors also add value to your home. This can be beneficial whether you are wanting to reinvest in your home or prepare for selling. Beauty or value, or both, Walnut flooring is a great choice. Before you start shopping for your Walnut hardwood floor, there are 3 things you will need to consider before you buy your new floor. If you have these important 3 things predetermined at the onset, your decision and search will be rewarding and money saving.

1. Walnut flooring is offered in both Solid and Engineered construction. Solid Walnut floors are exactly that, solid. The board is created from a single, solid piece of walnut. These boards require a nail down installation. Solid boards can also be refinished many times over the life of the floor. Solid floors are an excellent choice as long as your subfloor is not concrete. Solid designed boards cannot be nailed down to a concrete substructure. Walnut Engineered hardwood flooring is comprised of 3 to 5 layers of wood. The top layer is a real Walnut veneer surface. The layers below the veneer are made out of plywood like material. This design is typically a glue down or floating floor (no glue or nails are used) installation. Engineered Walnut flooring can be installed over concrete. Often you will find Engineered will cost a little less than Solid wood flooring. However, Engineered floors can only be refinished once or twice so they add less value than solid.

2. Unfinished or Prefinished is a misunderstood choice by consumers. Unfinished hardwood doesn’t have any stain preapplied or Polyurethane/ Aluminum Oxide protective coats. Prefinished Walnut flooring, has a factory applied stain and protective coat of Polyurethane and/or Aluminum Oxide. There are two distinct factors to consider when choosing between these two. First of all, unfinished walnut floors may appear at first glance to be less expensive. However, the fees to stain and finish will cost more in the short and long term versus factory, prefinished flooring. A factory finish will last dramatically longer and maintain it’s luster saving money in the long run as well by saving on refinishes later down the road. The second consideration is color. You can have an unfinished floor applied with a custom stain to give an exact match to what you are looking for. A prefinished walnut floor will give several options for color, but not the variety of options you may have with an unfinished floor. As a rule of thumb, if you can find prefinished Walnut flooring with a color that will work, it should be an easy choice to go with prefinished. If you can’t find a color that will work and don’t mind paying more now and later, go with an unfinished, custom stained Walnut floor.

3. There are several distinct species of Walnut. Asian, American, and Brazilian are the 3 main options you will see offered in the flooring industry. The 2 considerations when comparing these 3 species are which is the most appealing to you as far as aesthetics and the Janka rating. Janka rating is a scale or measurement of a wood’s hardness. The higher the rating, the harder the wood surface. These 3 species will have slightly different grain and knot character traits. The important thing to remember when comparing species of Walnut is to select the one that you like the appearance of the most.

If you start your shopping process knowing the answers to the three decisions above you will be better equipped to shop for the correct floor that you want and need. By having this knowledge, it will be far easier to compare prices and flooring. Shopping for Walnut flooring doesn’t have to be difficult if you know what you are looking for before you start!

Whether you decide to shop locally or online is a choice entirely up to you. Local shopping will give you a quick glance at what is available in your local market with samples to see when you walk into a store. Be warned, that the larger home improvement stores may be convienent but will offer little discount compared to local independent stores or online wholesalers. If you’re willing to spend a few minutes online shopping for your Walnut floor, you may be able to save a considerable amount by finding a flooring wholesaler who can ship nationwide. A great place to start your online search for Walnut flooring is Owen Carpet Company in Dalton, GA. They carry many varieties of Walnut Flooring at great prices.

The author, Eric Dyer is an Owner of Owen Carpet based in Dalton, Ga. Owen Carpet was featured by NBC’s Today show as the #1 place in America to buy Floor covering.

For more information you can visit, http://www.owencarpet.com or call Owen Carpet at 1-800-626-6936.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eric_M_Dyer
http://EzineArticles.com/?Walnut-Flooring—3-Things-Before-Buying&id=2767366

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Ipe (Brazilian Walnut) Flooring Vs Red Oak Floors
By Rosi Lehr

Red Oak flooring has revolutionized the hardwood flooring industry in the 80’s but with new technology and demands, we have discovered a stronger, more durable and beautiful hardwood that lends a more sophisticated look. Ipe also known as Brazilian Walnut offers all those qualities and when comparing the Janka Hardness and fire rating coupled with the warm natural beauty of the wood you will begin to understand why Ipe flooring is the wood floor for the future.

What is Janka hardness? The Wikipedia definition states: The Janka hardness test measures the hardness of wood. It involves measuring the force required to embed a 11.28 millimeter (0.444 inch) steel ball into wood to half its diameter. This method was chosen so that the result would leave an indention 100 square millimeters in size. It is one of the best measures of the ability of a wood species to withstand denting and wear. Red Oak has a rating of 1290 compared to Ipe at 3640. In essence Ipe flooring is 3x’s stronger than Red Oak.

What is the fire spread rating? Business dictionary states it is: Rough measure of a material’s propensity to burn rapidly and spread flames. Red Oak has a class III rating vs. Ipe at class I, the same as concrete and steel. This is an excellent safety feature for commercial applications.

Red Oak tends toward a medium color and wide variation in grain where Ipe is a tighter grain dark color. It has a more traditional look where Ipe can fit both traditional and contemporary settings. The physical attributes are quite visible but the behind the scenes properties give you a good idea on the longevity and durability of these woods. Red Oak did serve a great purpose for the 80’s but with the technological advances and more responsible forest harvesting available, Ipe floors are quickly becoming the hottest product for your wood flooring selection.

Rosi Lehr is a contributing writer for Advantage Trim & Lumber Co.

Ipe Decking

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Hardwood Floors: When Is Hard, Hard Enough?
By Karen Lacasse

The Cat, the dog and the kids are all going to be running around on your new hardwood floor. The ball goes flying and the dog takes after it as you sit on the sofa and cringe thinking about the scratches that will follow. And getting rid of the house pet is not an option! So is there a solution?

The current inflow of exotic hardwood floors from around the world might offer some relief. They are generally much more dense then our local North American species. In many cases they are twice as dense. They come in rich dark colours in line with what you think of when dreaming of the tropics, but it is their resistance to dents that will be their true appeal.

But they come with their own issues. Some are so brittle that it is next to impossible to nail in place without breaking all the tongues. Some are so nasty that they just can’t be used in less then perfectly controlled environments. Some are so expensive that you and I must win the lottery to be able to afford more than enough for the bathroom. But these are all discussions for another day.

Today, I really wanted to talk specifically about a wood floor’s hardness. Most of the woods that we see on the market today are rated according to the Janka Wood Hardness Scale. This is an industrial measuring process that allows you and I to compare all the various types of wood for their resistance to dings and dents, without having an engineering degree.

It is a pretty simple process. They use a type of hydraulic jack and see how much pressure it takes to embed a .444 inch diameter steel ball down to its halfway point in a piece of wood. The more pressure it takes, the harder the wood. It is measured in pounds-force (lbf).

Thus, the higher the number the greater its density and its ability to resist life’s challenges. The lower the number the softer the wood, in other words, the easier it will be for the dog’s nails to dent your floor. (as an aside I also use it as a gauge as to hard it will be to cut, nail and sand in my woodworking adventures)

Species like Jatoba (Brazilian Cherry) and Tigerwood with a Janka Rating over 2100 are good examples of woods that would age with a little more grace, then say a black cherry with a Janka rating of 950. Don’t get hung up too much with the actual numbers but rather the relationships between the various species, as even the same wood can express variation in hardness as a function of its growing environment. At the end of the day, all wood floors with a high Janka rating have a place in tough wear environments, particularly if you have a 120lb sheep dog.

Thus it may be important, if you have analyzed your home environment as a high traffic zone to consider some of the exotic wood options. There is a full listing of the Janka Wood Hardness Scale on our website. Use it as a starting point when shopping for a harder, more dent resistant floor. Then don’t forget to ask if this wood species has other specific challenges in either instability or installation, that you should be aware of. Get the whole story!

Karen Lacasse draws on 25+ years of woodworking experience, both as a woodworking teacher and industrial woodworker/owner of Lacasse Fine Wood Products. She is the author behind http://woodsthebest.com/ where you will find articles and resources to help with all your home renovation projects. She designs woodworking craft patterns and shares her crafting knowledge at http://thewoodbox.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Karen_Lacasse
http://EzineArticles.com/?Hardwood-Floors:-When-Is-Hard,-Hard-Enough?&id=469112

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Exotic Wood Flooring
By Sarah Freeland

The first thing that you need to research when shopping for exotic wood flooring is the type of wood you want to use. You can select from exotic woods like Brazilian cherry, bamboo, mahogany and Brazilian chestnut. Each type of exotic wood has its own hardness rating and its own hues and grain patterns. You should request samples of the woods that you are interested in so that you have a better idea of what they will look like after the flooring is installed.

After you have selected the type of exotic wood that you want to install your next decision that you will need to make is whether you want to purchase imported hardwood flooring or if you want to purchase an exotic wood laminate. The laminate flooring will allow you to create a rich looking floor without having to spend as much money, and without having to buy wood panels that are harvested from trees in environmentally sensitive areas.

Your next decision to make about your exotic wood flooring is whether you want to hire someone to install it for you or if you want to try and install it yourself. If you plan on installing your exotic hardwood flooring yourself then you may want to look for pre-finished planks. This way you wonÕt have to sand and finish your planks after you install them. If you want to install a laminate floor then you can get a click together glue less model. These are the easiest laminate floor types to install.

Is exotic wood flooring right for you? Find out more at LaminateFloorsCheap.com - your source for information on bamboo laminate flooring, do it yourself floor installation information and professional flooring advice. For more home decor and remodeling options visit the home decorating directory.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sarah_Freeland
http://EzineArticles.com/?Exotic-Wood-Flooring&id=471445

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Kempas Hardwood Flooring - Tips For A Solid Choice
By Eric M Dyer

Kempas Hardwood Flooring has become widely popular in the hard surface floorcovering industry. Kempas is a wood species prevalent in the Countries of Malaysia and Indonesia. The recent popularity of this hardwood has been a result of the other exotics such as Santos Mahogany, Brazilian Cherry and Jatoba. These all have similar colors, except Kempas has a very coarse grain structure which some prefer. If you are considering a hardwood floor made of Kempas, you will need to know a few things before you go shopping. Here are some important tips to consider.

• Kempas flooring can be manufactured from Kempas Heartwood can look very reddish/orange brown, somewhat similar to a deep cherry. Kepmas Sapwood can resemble a lighter color with even some yellow spots or streaks.

• This species of wood floors can also be available in both solid and engineered styles. Engineered is a wafer type design with a true Kempas vainer top surface and standard wood layers beneath. Engineered wood is a good option if you need to install over a concrete slab or floor. Engineered floors are usually glued down. Solid Kempas is a superior product however because not only can it be refinished many more times, but also will typically have less splitting due to the grainy, coarse definition that the species can have. Solid construction floors are typically nail down design.

• Kempas hardwood board widths can range from around 3″ to 5″.

• Even as a natural finish this wood floor can have a deep rich formal look.

• Exotic Kempas will also handle traffic well due to it’s ability to handle friction as a result of it’s coarse grain structure.

• On the Janka Scale (a hardwood scale that compares all hardwood species on hardness and density), it performs great around a rating of 1700.

• Most Kempas is offered in a prefinished design. Make sure the product has an Aluminum Oxide or Polyurethane/Aluminum Oxide finish for a longer lasting wear on the surface against scratches and day to day wear.

When shopping for wood floors, be sure to check out Owen Carpet Company for great values on Kempas Hardwood Flooring. With several widths to choose from on solid, nail down designs, they may very well be able to save you money.

The author, Eric Dyer is an Owner of Owen Carpet based in Dalton, Ga. Owen Carpet was featured by NBC’s Today show as the #1 place in America to buy Floorcovering.
For more Exotic Hardwood Flooring information, please call Owen Carpet at 1-800-626-6936.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eric_M_Dyer
http://EzineArticles.com/?Kempas-Hardwood-Flooring—Tips-For–A-Solid-Choice&id=2665622

Here is a good article on hardwood floor care tips. Palmetto Hardwood has some great article on our regular website as well.   For a quote on hardwood floors and floor care products call us or visit our website.The Allure of Exotic Hardwood Floors
By Marcus Peterson

Exotic hardwood floors are made up of solid exotic wood that is not grown in North America. These wooden planks are imported from Africa, Australia, Brazil, and the Far East. They are known for distinct coloration and wood grain, and can be bought as solid hardwood plank or engineered wood construction.

Exotic hardwood flooring is used for its distinct look. These pricey floors should be considered an investment as homes with exotic wood floors fetch higher price than the homes with other floorings.

When selecting your exotic hardwood flooring, you can choose from different grain styles and colors. Dark colors go well with conventional interiors, while light colors are suitable for casual and modern interiors. These versatile floorings come in a wide range of finishes. Exotic hardwood flooring can be installed in all rooms but the selected area should be kept dry.

Exotic hardwood flooring comes from all over the world, and is available at many retail outlets. However, in most cases you will find pricing for this item to range from $4.00 to $7.00 per square foot. Since exotic hardwood floors are not manufactured in the United States, it is best to find a seller who imports large quantities, and thus pays less shipping costs per square foot. Often such a seller will pass some of the savings on to you.

Hard Wood Floors provides detailed information on installing, cleaning and refinishing various types of hardwood floors, including engineered, solid, long-strip, exotic, pre-finished, and cheap hardwood floors. Hard Wood Floors is the sister site of Bamboo Flooring Web.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marcus_Peterson
http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Allure-of-Exotic-Hardwood-Floors&id=65178

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Legend Exotic Hardwood Flooring Collection - A Well Kept Flooring Secret
By Eric M Dyer

When it comes to Exotic Hardwood Flooring, Legend may not have the biggest name in the hardwood flooring industry, but has a great reputation, broad product line and great prices. Exotic Hardwood floors have an ability to turn a room from so-so into sizzle. These unique grains, colors and textures can do amazing things to a home’s appeal. Whether you are trying to make a statement with your décor or increase the value of your home, a floor with Exotic Hardwoods from Legend can really set you apart.

When looking for unique hardwood floors, you will hear about a lot of different manufacturers. Legend is one you may or may not run across unless you had read this article. Legend is well worth considering as their price points are very competitive with other major manufacturers. Exotics from Legend include:

• Traditional Bamboo in both vertical and horizontal styles. A true Bamboo classic look with the Legend quality to assure you have a 25 year warranty.
• Brazilian Natural Cherry for the true critic of Brazilian woods. Available in 2 widths and very competitive with other brands of Natural Cherries.
• Stained Brazilian Cherry. Want to make a statement? This is the one.
• Brazilian Legends group encompasses the ever popular Tiger wood, Mahogany, and Redwood families. These 3 styles are a huge trend right now!
• Cumberland and Enchanting have a smooth finish to give an ultra formal look.
• Kempas hardwood from Legend has a unique style all it’s own.
• Legend Hardwood also offers a rustic hand scraped at a great price compared to others.
• Southern Plantation and Sumatra styles offer an amazing texture and the Walnut colors have a rich grain to accent the floors grain.

Be sure to check out Owen Carpet Company for great Legend Exotic Hardwood Flooring Prices and other floorcovering projects.

The author, Eric Dyer is an Owner of Owen Carpet based in Dalton, Ga. Owen Carpet was featured by the NBC Today show as the #1 place in America to buy Floorcovering.
For more information you can visit, http://www.owencarpet.com or call Owen Carpet at 1-800-626-6936.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eric_M_Dyer
http://EzineArticles.com/?Legend-Exotic-Hardwood-Flooring-Collection—A-Well-Kept-Flooring-Secret&id=2348779

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Exotic Hardwood Flooring Makes Your Feet Look Good
By Terry Price

Truly, it’s hard to beat the timeless beauty that antique wood flooring or even cork flooring can offer. The type of wood used is a personal preference and it basically depends on your lifestyle choice. Your new hardwood flooring is going to be stylish and have eye appeal, and will complement any type of room decor. Other than your standard traditional oak flooring which is common in many new homes, exotic wood flooring can be a stunning and beautiful change.

Hardwood flooring is durable and will last virtually a lifetime with the proper care. Exotic wood flooring comes in a variety of species, stains, finishes and patterns from which to select. In addition to being hypoallergenic, wood flooring is environmentally friendly. It enhances the desirability and real estate market value of your home. Flooring costs are now an affordable option and worth every penny. If you’re considering exotic hardwood flooring, you have to ask yourself, ” Am I choosing the best hardwood flooring type available for practical reasons or is this simply a luxury?

There are many different types of exotic woods such as bamboo flooring, Australian tiger-eye, cork flooring, antique wood flooring, and the list goes on and on. Maintenance should be one of your considerations when selecting a fine hardwood for your flooring. Exotic wood types such as Brazilian teak, Brazilian walnut, Tiete rosewood, and Santos mahogany will require less pampering because of their high Janka Hardness rating.

According to tests undertaken by the US forestry lab, some types of exotic woods are more durable than others. They use an official hardness rating system called the Janka rating. It is based on the pounds of pressure needed to embed a 0.444-inch diameter steel ball one half its own diameter into the wood. It’s interesting to make some comparisons. Looking at white pine as an example it takes 380 pounds of pressure, Douglas fir, 660 pounds, and American cherry flooring, 950 pounds.

Many of the exotic woods are in the thousands. Brazilian teak hardwood flooring has a Janka rating of 3,540. It is excellent for growing families with large pets and requires less maintenance and repair due to wear and tear. If you’re expecting a lot of heavy use and foot traffic, Brazilian cherry has a rating of 2,820 and may be better than Australian hard Cyprus. Brazilian cherry may lack the wide range of cream to brown tones filled with dark character knots that Cyprus can offer, but it has a tremendous hardness rating that’s about double. Also, the flooring cost is less expensive per square foot than Cyprus for similar grade planks. The cost savings can be as much as $1.65 or more! The higher the hardness level, the fewer the precautionary measures you’ll need to take to prevent surface damage for the simple fact that it is more durable. Bamboo flooring, as an example, is extremely tough and a great flooring for family use.

Households without small children and heavy foot traffic may require lower hardness ratings and need not pay the higher costs associated with installing exotic hardwood flooring. Hardwood flooring still remains a good option and a sound investment for most households. You don’t have to order your flooring from the other side of the world to get a stunning and durable hardwood floor. Many domestic and local suppliers offer American hardwood with excellent durability and longevity that requires minimal upkeep and hardwood floor maintenance. The key is the quality of wood grade. Clear grades that offer warm inviting tones along with fine wood grains are excellent. You want to select grades that show off naturally-occurring character marks. Antique hardwood flooring offers an excellent character grade and one with rustic country charm that is especially appealing with certain types of home design and interior décor.

Consider the time saving convenience of refinished hardwood flooring. It cuts down on the overall hardwood floor costs including contractor installation. Sanding and finishing isn’t required, and refinished hardwood floor planks move independently with humidity changes. Seasonal changes are less stressful on flooring, so floor separations become less noticeable over time. A popular, upscale hardwood flooring is the hand-scraped, distressed and reclaimed, previously-used hardwood flooring that offers a classic look. The floor adds appeal and value to the homeowner due to the character flaws.

Distressed wood flooring is tremendous when combined with classical, fashionable décor adding a rustic appearance. It is a delightful combination of chic and shabby, hard to upstage. Hiring the right contractor to do your installation will help protect your investment and guarantee project success. Try posting your project online, and then sit back and wait for the contractors to come to you. There are lots of flooring contractors on standby just waiting to bid competitively on your project, ready to provide you with great service at the best price. Be critical of your contractor’s portfolio, references and company profile. Be sure to contact their references to ensure that you will get quality service. Remember, there is no obligation whatsoever in hiring any contractor, and make sure there are no hidden fees. Do your homework and create your masterpiece today!

Terry Price is a successful web publisher & expert author and is a regular contributor to http://www.hardwood-flooring-discount.com/bruce-hardwood-flooring.html . Explore the world of laminate flooring at: http://www.hardwood-flooring-discount.com/alloc-laminate-flooring.html

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Mesquite Hardwood Flooring - Will It Survive the Dog, the Cat and the Kids?
By Karen Lacasse

Flooring of any sort, probably takes more abuse then any other decorating feature of your home. The pets race across the floor to attract attention and bond with the family members and the kids respond with all kinds of toys in tow. And your flooring, well it’s expected to endure all and still add beauty and class to any home environment. Can a Mesquite Hardwood Floor meet this challenge?

Well first it might be important to understand how all lumber is tested for durability. Of course durability in itself can imply many different things from impact resiliency expected in a baseball bat to the environment ability of planking on a wood strip canoe to survive weather issues, but in this case we are being very specific.

Durability of a wood used for a hardwood floor is in reference to its compression, or dent resistance. It is a measure of the amount of force required to push a .444 inch diameter steel ball half way into a piece of wood. It is referred to as the Janka Rating.

In layman’s terms it is a way to measure the hardness of a particular wood. It gives the consumer some idea on how easy it will be to scratch any particular floor while moving furniture around, or corralling the children.

Wood Flooring Hardness Rating: Mesquite Hardwood Flooring?

Mesquite lumber is rather unique in that it is the hardest of all typical North American woods. It has a Janka Rating of 2345, putting it well ahead of the normal species of flooring like red oak and hard maple with an under 1500 Janka wood floor hardness rating. Mequite wood then is almost double in dent resistance.

For the consumer this suggests that a mesquite wood floor will certainly handle the abuse without showing signs of wear as quickly as some of the more traditional woods.
If you would like the more basic consumer test without having to rely of a set of lab generated numbers just lift up a box of hardwood flooring. Mesquite will weigh in at more than three pounds per square foot of three-quarter inch thick hardwood flooring. Then lift up an equivalent box of oak or maple hardwood. The weight should give you some idea. The heavier the wood then obviously the more difficult it will be to damage.

Note that when discussing a wood floor hardness rating, Mequite is ranked harder than all North American species but this is not meant to suggest that it is the hardest wood species on the global flooring marketplace. We can find wood floors like IPE that rank well above 3,000 so keep in mind that this scale is relative!

This is only one of the advantages of Mesquite Wood Flooring and you may wish to research it further to get a more complete understanding of what you have in the way of design options and other appealing wood characteristics that make it a great hardwood flooring to survive the dog, the cat and the kids.

Karen Lacasse draws on 25+ years of woodworking experience, both as a woodworking teacher and industrial woodworker/owner of Lacasse Fine Wood Products. She is the author behind woodsthebest.com where you will find articles and resources to help with all your home renovation projects.

She designs woodworking craft patterns and shares her wood crafting knowledge at theWoodBox.com

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Mesquite Flooring - Barbeque Flavoring or A Great Wood Floor?
By Karen Lacasse

Mesquite wood is probably best known as a wood, or I should say a wood converted to a charcoal or shavings for barbequing and smoking. More recently though mesquite lumber it is being considered for flooring. Is this a wise choice? Can it stand up to the daily rigors of a well used floor?

Some might suggest that mesquite lumber is much like the ranchers that share its landscape, tough, resilient and stable through everything that life throws at it. Mesquite trees go through long unpredictable seasons with rain as only an afterthought, surviving extended periods of drought and then a deluge with storm waters saturating its soil. The Mesquite tree survives this all, without much of a reaction.

In the wood technology lingo this translated into a very low co-efficient of volumetric shrinkage.

What does that mean to you? Well, given that almost every location around the world experiences shifts in seasonal humidity that typically causes wood to react by expanding and contracting, mesquite is quite unusual. It barely moves at all. This makes mesquite lumber flooring ideal. The cracks that appear in the winter months of a red oak or maple floor are much less likely in mesquite flooring.

This feature is also appreciated by the wood dryers. With low volumetric shrinkage, the wood is much less likely to crack in the drying process. The mesquite flooring manufacturer will dry mesquite lumber down to somewhere between 6 and 12% moisture content, mostly dependant on the geography of where it is going; drier to drier climates, wetter for the California coast. With little tendency to crack most of what goes into the kilns comes out as usable lumber.

This stability also allows the creative use of mesquite lumber. Flooring is sometimes designed using the small cross grain slices of the tree to create an end cut block floor. Just as if someone had started at the top of the tree trunk and cut small ½” slices all the way down.. The visible surface of each block shows the annual rings of the mesquite tree.

Sometimes they leave them in the round and fill the corners with a tough grout and other times the end slices get squared off and laid like parquet tiles. Either way you end up with a unique rustic floor that has no equivalent either in design or figure, in the traditional hardwood flooring market.

Check out the other features of . Does it survive the abuse of a dog? How about the kids, or maybe your commercial establishment with daily outside traffic? Learn lots, pick well!

Karen Lacasse draws on 25+ years of woodworking experience, both as a woodworking teacher and industrial woodworker/owner of Lacasse Fine Wood Products. She is the author behind woodsthebest.com where you will find articles and resources to help with all your home renovation projects. She designs woodworking craft patterns and shares her wood crafting knowledge at theWoodBox.com

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Brazilian Cherry Hardwood - Maintaining the Character of Your Hardwood Flooring
By Marc Marseille

Whether you have an older home or a newer construction, hardwood floors are a beautiful addition. Besides the beauty of natural wood flooring, they can also increase the value of your home. There is little maintenance needed to secure the life of your flooring, but nevertheless, these steps are important in caring for your investment.

The prevention of certain damages to your flooring can greatly reduce your need for constant repair. Some of the natural wear and tear to you hardwood may include worn out areas due to scratches from moving furniture, scratches from bad footwear, scratches from dirt and small rocks. Most of these occurrences can be prevented by placing area rugs in higher traffic areas. To avoid scratching the floors while moving furniture, you can add rubber soles under your furniture. It is also a good idea to remove your shoes at your front door to avoid tracking excess moisture and dirt into your home.

Other preventative measures that you can use for your hardwood floors are amongst your common cleaning routines. You should broom your floors on a regular basis with a fine bristles. Mopping your floors on regular with neutral PH wood cleaner will also assist in keeping your floors in good condition. Even though most natural wood floors are stained, excess water can still cause damage, so making sure that your floors is dry at all times is important.

Wood floors often lose their shine over time due to natural aging or negligence. There are some very simple ways to identify if your floors may need a little TLC. Tests like adding a little bit of water to suspected damage areas may reveal if your floors are in need of some repair. After adding water, if the area turns a darker color, it usually is a sign for concern. The task of repairing your hardwood should be left to a professional if you are not knowledgeable of wood repair.

Since most natural wood surfaces usually have sore sort of poly urethane finish or wax, repairing an area can be as simple as refinishing the affected area. You can visit your local home improvement store to compare and match your woods finish. If your floor has a wax finish, you can use a #2 steel wool pad soaked in soap and water to rub out most stains. Once the affected area is smoothed out, you can then re-stain and wax.

Hardwood flooring such as Brazilian Cherry Hardwood are a long lasting cost effective way to add value and beauty to your home. With the proper care, natural wood flooring can maintain their beauty for years to come. Even though these maintenance methods are not difficult, they are mandatory in preserving the life span of your wood floors. Proper care and prevention will prove to be the keys to protecting your investment from unnecessary damage.

Marc Marseille is an internet professional with several websites on the net providing valuable resources to many. For more details on Brazilian Floors you can visit Brazilian Cherry Hardwood.

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Brazilian Cherry Hardwood Flooring - Everything You Need to Know Before You Buy
By Eric M Dyer

Brazilian Cherry Hardwood Flooring has become the latest trend in the hard surface flooring industry. If you’re considering buying a Brazilian Cherry Floor, you’re making a wise choice. However, before you hop on the web to purchase your new floors you might want to know a little more about this great flooring and the various options you will have.

• Brazilian Cherry Hardwood Flooring can create a warm and casual look or a very formal style for your room. It will depend on the rest of the décor you have. Brazilian Cherry is a very versatile style and can transform a room with the right touch.
• Brazilian Cherry wood is one of the hardest, most dense woods on the Janka Scale ( an industry standard for wood hardness) and scores over 2800 out of 4000 for hardness. It will be very resistant against dents compared to most other wood species.
• Stained versus Unstained is a choice you will have to make. You can purchase Brazilian Cherry in both a natural, unstained version as well as a stained finish. Both will have a protected top coating but the stained may give you a more formal look if that’s what you are after.
• This unique floor comes in various widths. Typically you will see options between 3″ and 7″ wide planks. Any of these are great selections. It will depend on the look you are trying to set for the area.
• Cherry Hardwood floors also come in both the solid and engineered forms. The solid option may give you a few more refinishes over the life of the wood (but probably not enough to really matter that much). The engineered option will give you an extra bonus against excess moisture or humidity versus solid.
• This flooring is available in all installation options. Depending on the type you choose, it may be nail down, glue down, or floating floor style (which is great for installation over concrete subfloors or slabs).

When shopping, be sure to keep in mind that this species of wood can sometimes darken over its life span. Brazilian Cherry can be bought locally or over the web. Furthermore, most flooring distributors will gladly send a no charge sample for you to view. One last tip is to buy an extra box or two if your budget will allow. In case you were ever able to need to repair a spot in the floor, these extra pieces will come in handy down the road.

Be sure to check out Owen Carpet Company for great deals on Brazilian Cherry Hardwood Flooring.

The author, Eric Dyer is an Owner of Owen Carpet based in Dalton, Ga. Owen Carpet was featured by NBC’s Today show as the #1 place in America to buy Floorcovering.

For more information you can visit, http://www.owencarpet.com or call Owen Carpet at 1-800-626-6936.

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Brazilian Cherry Hardwood & Jatoba
By Tom Jenkins

One of the most popular hardwoods in use today is the Brazilian cherry wood, or as it is also know, Jatoba. This beautiful wood is renowned not only for its beauty, but also for its durability and hardness.
While the final product (whether flooring or furniture) often turns out absolutely stunning, this article wishes to focus on the tree’s origins and characteristics.

First, this tree, which really isn’t a cherry tree at all (despite its name), grows in the Caribbean, Central America, and Southern America regions.

Typically these canopy trees tend to reach a height of up to 120 feet. Additionally, the tree’s truck circumference can reach a diameter of over six feet. Lastly, the Brazilian cherry tree’s leaves possess little red flowers and small fruit. This fruit, after it matures and drops from the tree, releases an overwhelming pungent odor, which is very difficult to tolerate.

Over the centuries, this tree’s wood, leaves, and fruits have been used in the alternative medicine realm. Specifically, it has been used to treat diarrhea and bronchitis. Additionally, people also feel that this tree has anti-fungal properties and have used it to treat fungal infections. Lastly, some people have mashed the leaves, flowers, and fruit to form a concoction that is supposed to give you an energy boost.

Besides, these medicinal purposes, the Brazilian cherry hardwood tree has also played a predominant role in the flooring and furniture businesses. Due to the wood’s characteristics (durability and stiffness), as well as its aesthetically pleasing qualities, this tree’s wood has become the most popular American import in terms of flooring and furniture.

Of course, due to the wood’s hardness, carpenters and furniture makers sometimes have a difficult time working with the wood. Over the years, they have learned that if they steam the wood before they work with it, the wood becomes significantly more pliable, making their work easier.

Tom Jenkins owns the Brazilian Cherry Flooring Guide. This website provides information on the various facets of Brazilian Cherry Flooring, from the characteristics of Brazilian Cherry Hardwoods to how to choose the correct flooring.

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