Going With the Grain

More homeowners are ditching carpet for wood floors

These days, deciding what to do about your floors isn't as simple as picking out a color.

There's so much to choose from, and it seems that everyone has a different opinion about what to do, especially when it comes to hardwood options.

Some say solid hardwood is the only way to go and will last a lifetime, while others say laminate or engineered floors are the solution with easier installation and less hassle.

But here's the good news: no matter what you decide, the result will speak for itself -- a classic look that will complement most any room.

Some Tulsa experts recently weighed in on some recent trends in hardwood flooring.

Allergens and distress Many homeowners are choosing to do away with carpet and install or refinish existing solid hardwoods to address allergy problems or add to the resale value of their homes, said Mickey Snelson, manager of Wood Pro Hardwood Floors.

"I think it's kind of a trendy thing, really. In the '80s, everybody had carpet over their wood, that was the trend," Snelson said. "Wood is a lot cleaner, allergy-free and dust-free."

After pulling up the carpet, many floors just need refinishing and minor repairs, he said.

"They typically start to wear in areas around the kitchen sink or the entry way," Snelson said. "They will start to show through the stain."

Refinishing is usually recommended about every eight to 10 years, experts say, depending on how much traffic the floors receive.

Another trend in hardwood flooring right now is the distressed look, said Brenda Rice, co-owner of Hardwood Floors of Tulsa.

"People are wanting a hand-scraped finish, where the wood looks more distressed," she said. "Darker stained colors are also becoming more popular."

Of the existing solid wood floors in many Tulsa homes, Snelson said many are made of oak. But because of greater availability, exotic woods such as hickory, maple or walnut are being requested more.

"If you look at those houses in midtown built in the '20s and '30s, they have oak," he said. "It's a pretty common tree."

Rice said homeowners also are selecting wider boards, with widths of 4 or 5 inches, or they are choosing plank flooring, which is wider than 6 inches.

"There are definitely some neat custom looks, too, like borders that are actually different wood types. And there are some neat herringbone-type patterns or basketweave patterns, more intricate patterns that people used to do in the older days with more craftsmanship, that were in the older homes. Now, it's more affordable."

Greener wood A trend that is becoming a huge issue is the "greening" of the wood industry, said Jim Ecrette, manager of Pro Source Wholesale Floor Covering, which only offers products to trade professionals, such as designers or contractors.

The industry is considering types of flooring that have more renewable qualities, he said. For example, bamboo is very popular because of its ability to renew itself quickly.

"The No. 1 most renewable resource in flooring is bamboo. There are more and more great options available of bamboo. It's the greenest because the bamboo matures in five to six years," Ecrette said. He said another choice of renewable wood to choose for flooring is cork.

"Cork trees live between 200 and 300 years, and you can skim the bark every nine to 11 years," he said. "It's been around forever, and its a very durable product."

Wood and flooring suppliers are making an effort to monitor these practices, he said.

"More and more suppliers are supporting those wood companies that are practicing the proper forestry techniques," he said.

Kim Brown 581-8474

kim.brown@tulsaworld.com

Alternatives to wood

Here are the different types of flooring commonly available:

Engineered flooring is manufactured in a manner similar to plywood, where three or five thin sheets (plies) of wood are laminated (glued) together in a crisscross formation for strength. A top layer (veneer) of hardwood is added as a finished top layer. Engineered flooring is available as strips or planks. Strips are 3 inches or less in width. Planks are more than 3 inches wide. Engineered floors are very stable and can be installed on any grade level. Although engineered wood floors are manufactured through a laminating process, they are not the same as a laminate floor.

Laminate flooring shouldn't be confused with engineered wood flooring. Both are made of layers of material bonded (laminated) together for strength. Laminate floors use several materials such as resin, wood fiber and Kraft paper (materials vary by manufacturer) compacted under pressure to create the final product. The flooring is made into planks.

The surface of a laminate plank is actually an image, printed from film onto a thin decorative layer, which is then treated with a wear layer. The high resolution of the film allows an extremely authentic appearance. The finished material is similar in feel to a kitchen countertop. A variety of finishes are available from wood grain to color.

Solid floors are cut from solid pieces of wood and milled to standard specifications. The flooring can be installed as planks or strips.

Source: Lowe's

Deciding to refinish

First, decide whether the floor needs a total refinishing job:

1. If a drop of water beads or soaks in slowly, you may get by with a good cleaning and polishing.

2. If a drop of water soaks in immediately, the wood fibers may already be exposed and the floor needs refinishing.

3. If the floor is warped, deeply stained, squeaky or otherwise damaged, you'll need to make repairs first, then refinish.

If you choose to refinish, keep these things in mind:

1. Since the sanding process can remove a lot of surface, your floor needs to be at least 3/4 of an inch thick.

2. If your floor is thinner than that, you may want hire a pro to avoid accidentally sanding down to the subfloor.

3. A tongue-and-groove floor cannot be sanded as many times as a plank floor.

4. Some newer floors are as thin as 1/4 of an inch and cannot be refinished.

5. If your hardwood floor is underneath another floor covering, the old floor has to be removed.

-- Source: Lowe's

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