Handscraped hardwood -- will it become dated?
carsonheim
10 years ago
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Comments (39)
rwiegand
10 years agojanesylvia
10 years agoRelated Discussions
Somerset Country Hardwood Made in China
Comments (93)Cupping generally points to an acclimation issue that is the responsibility of the installer, not a manufacturing issue. The manufacturer can make installation recommendations but isn't responsible for things out it their control. What was the moisture level in the flooring upon delivery? Unless the new wood was out of the generally accepted range, that's not an issue. What was the moisture level in the subfloor prior to installation? What was the indoor relative humidity before, during and after installation? An inspector will likely ask for these numbers to determine a cause. What is it the indoor humidity level now? Acclimation related cupping may resolve itself after a full year of seasonal changes. The tiny flaws in your close-up pictures could probably be touched up but the pervasive cracking/splitting would worry me. The advice to find an independent inspector and pay for an inspection is good advice....See MoreHandscraped Hardwood Floor - prefinished vs unfinished?
Comments (3)I just went through the same decision. My KD recommended having the hardwood finished after the install. While the prefinished has many more coats of finish on it, it can't be refinished if need be. My installer said we can have the floor repolished every 4 or 5 years to maintain it, and if some boards become damaged, it's possible to replace just what's needed - that can't be done with prefinished. Friends who did the prefinshed noticed that in winter the boards contracted and they could see the unfinished sides of the wood. Water can get between the boards, but if it's finished in place that doesn't happen. We did the family room and the kitchen. It's only been a week or so - I hope this helps you. It's all about what's best for your situation....See MoreDark hardwood vs lighter hardwood floors
Comments (61)When it comes to hardwood, trends are something to ignore! Why? Because hardwood is pretty much a lifetime purchase, and unless yours is damaged in some way, you're probably not going to replace it. So, light wood vs. dark wood, wide planks vs. narrow planks -- that stuff's all going to come and go. With that in mind -- as well as the very real concerns about cleaning dark wood -- I'll vote for a nice, neutral midtone every time. Not too much contrast, not too red, and (unless it's a beach house) not too pale. I think this is the wood that's most likely to give you good service and stand the test of time....See MoreFlooring Pros; Need nail down hardwood floor acclimation/finish HELP!!
Comments (21)The acclimation you've been recommended to use is generally how we've done floors forever EXCEPT when using wider planks. As was noted above, have the plywood and wood checked. If they're too far apart the area can be dehumidified to bring the plywood moisture down and/or the wood will add moisture if it's particularly dry. Make sure the contractor is putting a vapor/moisture barrier (not retarder) between the concrete and the plywood. I don't recommend any barrier between the wood and plywood. Some pros have been burned using (probably cheap) water based finishes and refuse to use anything other than oil based. Others think you should use only the newest technology finishes and exclusively use water based. We use both. With a stained, hand-scraped White Oak, I would choose oil based polyurethane. No water based finish compares to the durability of oil modified. Considering the cost, it's a no-brainer unless you have special circumstances. As to staples vs. nails, we've used both and seen little difference in the performance. My preference would be for nails but the industry seems to have moved more toward staples....See MoreKath9177
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