If you are looking to install
new wood floors, you will see that there are a lot of options out there. To start off, you may want to consider if you
would like to have solid wood, prefinished wood, engineered wood or laminate. Each of these products are of good quality,
it is really a matter of what will meet your needs for the job to be done. Solid wood is sanded, stained and finished
once installed while the others mentioned come already stained and are simply installed to the room of your choice.
Engineered wood offers good stability for wood that tends to expand and contract over time.
Species of Wood: Species you may know of are probably Oak, Ash, Maple and Cherry, among others. In the case of Oak, there are
two different species—red and white– and are easily confused. White
oak is usually less expensive than red oak. Be sure your bid specifies your choice of red or white oak.
Grades of Wood: #1 Common is the most economical
grade of oak, with select and clear being the next two upgrades in both appearance and price. With maple the grading goes
from lowest grade to highest: 3rd, 2nd and 1st grades. Make sure your bids specify the grade of options for each species and
grade on the same bid for price comparison.
Moisture
Content: In new construction or in the case of water damage, a bidder should always
take a reading with a moisture meter to determine the moisture content of the sub-floor. It is important that a sub-floor
be allowed to dry within certain specifications to avoid future problems with the fit and finish of your hardwood floors.
