Hardwood floors are the best option for people looking to bring something natural inside their homes or commercial areas. Its sleek and organic look makes you happy every time you see it, plus it has the durability and timelessness you always wanted.
Also, it is best for the areas like Toronto, where you can experience extreme weather because of its sustainability. So, if you are thinking about installing engineered wood flooring in Toronto, this guide is everything you will need to get started.
What Is Hardwood Flooring?
As the name speaks about it, the hardwood floor is made of solid or engineered hardwood planks that are installed together over the subfloors. These have been famous for a long time for their longevity and sleek designs.
What Is Hardwood Flooring Made Of?
Hardwood floors are made of different wood species. All of them have their own specific and unique features.
- Oak
- Cherry
- Walnut
- Maple
- Ash
- Mahogany
- Bamboo
- Jarrah
- Teak
There are more options available too, but these are suggested by every flooring expert as they serve all of your basic purposes.
However, if you want something extra, then you can contact flooring experts, and they will tell you about more options.
Board Types
Two mainboard types are used for hardwood flooring. One is a solid hardwood floor, and the other is an engineered hardwood floor.
Engineered Hardwood
The name speaks for itself. Engineered refers to something that came as a result of some sort of scientific experiment done by human labor, and when you connect hardwood with it, it makes everything clearer.
Engineered hardwood is simply a product of different hardwood board layers attached together. The upper layer is usually cheaper, such as plywood or other solid hardwood types.
This hardwood option is perfect for people who are tight on the budget and want a great appearance for their homes.
Benefits
- It is cost-effective
- Easier to instal
Drawback
The only drawback of this floor is that it might not be as attractive as solid hardwood is. Why? Because it contains different layers that make the structure slightly unattractive.
Solid Hardwood
Solid hardwood is a type of board that comes directly from solid wood. The thickness of this material varies, but majorly, it is about ¾ inch in thickness. Solid hardwood is permanently attached to the subfloor that is plywood or any related material.
Benefits
- It can be permanently affixed over the subfloor.
- It can be refinished as much as needed.
- Unique texture
- Wood-like appearance
Drawbacks
- It can contract or expand according to the temperature.
For instance, in areas like Toronto, it can cause these problems where it wouldn’t hold a stable structure, causing gaps or other issues.
So, if you are getting it installed in the areas like Toronto, flooring experts should know that they must leave gaps in the corners for expansion and contraction. Elsewhere, it can cost you more money.
- Likewise, this is more likely to absorb wetness that causes teardowns.
- Harder to install
Finishing Types
There are two types for the finishing of floors. One is site-finished, and the second is factory-finished. Let’s have a look at the properties of both and which one would fit better with your needs.
Site Finished
This type is unique and allows you to choose from an array of design options that would not look odd at all. However, you need expert craftsmanship to install site-finished floors because they require experience and perfect skills, as there are many chances of errors when dealing with this kind of flooring option. These are durable, unique, and easy to maintain or clean.
On the other hand, these can be harmful to the environment because of the use of volatile chemicals. Likewise, they need time to dry out, which could require a lot of time. So, you need to wait before adding any furniture.
Benefits
- Easy to clean
- Comes in many styles
- Unique
- Durable
Drawbacks
- Require extreme craftsmanship to install
- Non-environmental friendly
- Require days or weeks to dry out.
Factory Finished
This is a sustainable and cheaper option for people looking for rapid results. So, you can never go wrong with factory-finished floors.
These floors have zero percent chemical odors, and dust accompanies during the installation or after the process.
Unlike site-finished floors, they do not require extreme craftsmanship, but newbies can also install them. This makes them a better option for people only looking for fast results.
However, they do not have the perfectly smooth texture which you get from site-finished floors because they leave small gaps between the planks. It also makes them harder to clean or maintain.
Benefits
- It is a cheaper option
- More sustainable and eco-friendly
- No bad odor
- Fast and easy to install
Drawbacks
- Leaves small gaps between planks
- Do not have the smoothest structure
The Bottom Line
The temperature of Toronto is harsh and mostly cold, so it would be better for the people there to consider the advice from experts before their final selection. The dry weather contracts the hardwood, which might be a problem for you in the future. Likewise, you also need to consider how many times you can sand and refinish your flooring option.
We will suggest using engineered hardwood in a cold climate because it is less likely to contract or absorb humidity, unlike solid hardwood.
FAQ’s
What Type Of Hardwood Flooring Is Best?
It depends on whether you are looking for durability or texture. For instance, Ebony or cherry serve as the most durable options.
What is the cheapest hardwood flooring?
Pine is the cheapest hardwood floorings at this time. The price can vary from $1.50 to $5 per sq foot in different states. There are also less costly options that are slightly expensive than pine-like oak or American cherry.
What are the problems with hardwood floors?
Hardwood floors are not fixed and can contract or expand according to the temperature. For instance, in drier times, they might show gaps in between their planks.
Is hardwood suitable for floors?
Overall, it is a good flooring option because it allows you to get that natural look while having durability and prolonged life. It also helps you choose from many style options, so it is a good flooring.
How can I make my wooden floor less cold?
People living in cold areas like Toronto, often feel cold feet with hardwood floors. So, the best option to make hardwood less cold would be installing radiant heating or using any area rug. Also In Toronto Vinyl flooring is a good choice for cold temperature
Need more help? Reach Out now
If you are still worried about choosing the best option, then please feel free to reach out to us, and our expert team at Tycan Flooring will guide you in choosing the option that suits all your needs.
