What to Expect from Your Hardwood Floor


1. Natural Variation Between Boards

Like all things in nature, no two boards are alike. You can have varying grain patterns, mineral streaks, shading variation and some knots. Some species have more of these characteristics than others. How much character you should expect also depends upon the grade of flooring chosen, as higher grades are more uniform. If the flooring has a stained finish as opposed to a clear finish, the boards will appear more uniform in color and grain. Natural color and grain is part of the beauty of hardwood flooring; and a good reason it makes such a desirable addition to your home.

2. Samples from Showroom

The samples from which you selected your floor typically exhibit less than two square feet, while your floor will typically comprise hundreds if not thousands of times that area; and again no two boards are alike. A sample has also aged for an undetermined time period and in varying degrees of exposure, while your new floor has not yet had the opportunity to do so. Do not expect a sample to exhibit all possible color and grain variation you will see in your floor.

3. High Edges (aka “Overwood”)

There are advantages to a factory finished floor(pre-finished) over a site finished floor. Some of them being a thicker and harder finish as well as a finish warranty. One thing that you cannot do with a factory finished floor is sand the boards to the exact same level after installation. Therefore, some boards may sit slightly higher than others. This can be caused by irregularities in the floor joists, sub-floor, the wood flooring, installation techniqu3es or a combination of these factors.

4. Wood Ages with Light and Time

All wood darkens in color with exposure to light (both natural and artificial). Some species, like most exotic imports and American Cherry, are particularly sensitive to light, especially sunlight. Again, if the wood is stained, the darker the satin the less apparent this aging will be. This is part of the beauty of hardwood flooring.

5. Furniture finish

You should not expect a furniture finish on your hardwood floors. Furniture is made of a small quantity of relatively high grade wood and the finishes are not typically intended for floor traffic. Flooring allows more natural grain including pores, small cracks, knots and small holes etc. The finishes are rougher, though formulated for high traffic.

6. Maintenance and Warranties

Only a manufacturer makes flooring, only an installer can turn it into a completed floor, and only you can maintain your flooring. You should be familiar with and observe all floor care and warranty information.

7. Gaps and Separation between Boards

Gaps between boards are a typical heating season issue caused as your floor becomes dryer and shrinks. One way to minimize this gapping is to maintain humidity in your home. The national Wood Flooring Association recommends 35-55% relative humidity year round.

8. Compared to Another Floor

Just as no two floors are alike, no two houses are alike, even though they might be next door neighbors. Consider a few variables:

  • Was the floor installed under exactly the same conditions by the same crew?
  • Is the floor the same brand, grade species and identical in all respects?
  • Did the same family live the same lifestyle in both homes?
  • Were the floors maintained in the same way?
  • When your floor is inspected by a flooring professional, it stands on its own merits based on industry standards, not compared to another floor.

9. Cupping

If cupping occurs, the floor has taken on moisture from any number of sources:

  • Typically, from a wet basement or crawl space
  • Structural problem
  • Plumbing issues
  • Too much humidity

10. Putty and Filler

Putty and/or filler are used on every hardwood floor. Unfinished floors are filled and/or puttied before the finish is applied. Since factory finished floors must be installed with the finish in place, colored putty is used to conceal face nails.

11. How to Inspect a Wood Floor

Your wood floors are intended as flooring, therefore, the accepted point of view from which to inspect a wood floor is from a standing position under normal lighting. Looking for minor imperfections on your hands and knees or at a particular light angle is not a valid means of determining acceptance of hardwood floor.