Prefinished Flooring – Prefinished Hardwood Flooring

Up until about two years ago the most common widths for solid prefinished hardwood flooring were 2-1/4″ and 3″.  These widths of flooring provided a very lineal look, some would say busy, while at the same time offering an added level of dimensional stability; a thinner board will expand and contract less than a wider board.  Recently wider widths such as 5″ all the way up to 12″ (or wider) have become popular.  These floors, while beautiful and impressive, have increased the potential for expansion and contraction related claims.

When choosing a solid wide width prefinished floor there are a number of factors to take into consideration.  The first and foremost is the environment the floor will be installed in.

Does the home have radiant heat?  Solid wood floors can be installed over this type of heating system, but the recommended products are few.  This type of installation is best suited for engineered flooring.

Is there a climate control system that regulates humidity levels?  Is the home in a dry climate, i.e. the desert or is it excessively humid like the coast?  Unregulated interiors with seasonal swings in humidity will allow the solid wide width prefinished flooring to expand and contract at will, generally resulting in either cupping or excessive gaps.  All of these factors should be addressed prior to installation.

Another consideration is the specie of wood.  Some species like American Walnut, American Cherry, and Teak are much more dimensionally stable than Maple, Hickory, or Brazilian Cherry.  Certain cuts, like quartersawn, can also add to the stability of the wood because the flooring expands and contracts vertically instead of horizontally.

Wide width flooring can be installed successfully, but proper precautions and recommendations must be followed and realistic expectations must be provided to the consumer.

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Brazilian Cherry Flooring/Brazilian Cherry Floors