Humidity control and wear layer surfaces of hardwood.
This year the phone has been ringing off the hook for
hardwood flooring. People want to
install new hardwood flooring into their homes and have been flocking to box
stores and show rooms looking for product.
We are thrilled to have our phones ringing off the hook asking for
installation but are less thrilled about the products that they have already
purchased without understanding product
quality, wear surface or the required humidity control to maintain its
stability in their home.
It is very important that you have a basic understanding
of wear surface and humidity control before you purchase any products for your
home. We recommend you have a qualified
flooring contractor to come in to before you begin your search process. They
will measure, educate you about humidity control and wear layer surfaces. They will also be able to show you any
products that they carry and give you an idea on cost for good quality
flooring. You need to be prepared before
you begin your shopping process. You
need to understand how different flooring adapts to our Minnesota climate.
Many of the box stores and show rooms carry inexpensive
hardwood products that look like their more expensive counter parts on the
surface. The problem is that they have
little or no wear layer. This means the
product is a buff and coat product that cannot be refinished. These floors have a 5-7 year life span if
nothing scratches them and you do not have any children or pets. Often the boards are not finished on the
sides so when they are installed the color in between boards is missing making
the floors look like they were not installed properly. The reality is that these products are cheaply
produced and do not stand the test of time. They look beautiful on the surface but are
not a good value.
Be on your guard when shopping at a box store looking at
these products because you will be working with someone who makes $10 an hour
who has little or no education about hardwood.
This also can be true at show rooms that specialize in vinyl tile and carpeting but happen to carry
hardwood. They do not tend to understand the characteristics of wood species,
climate control or wear surface.
Humidity control on your furnace is extremely important for
hardwood stability especially if you decide to purchase exotic woods like
bamboo or South American woods. If you
don’t maintain humidity control in your home, your boards will expand and
contract causing gapping or crowning. Before
you buy hardwood, make sure you know the humidity levels in your home throughout
the year. Two good humidification systems are April Air and Honeywell. Any good HVAC contractor will be able to
install them on your furnace.
Hardwood flooring is an investment that should last a very
long time. Take the time to understand
its maintenance requirements, installation requirements, and learn about
humidity control so that your flooring purchase and installation stand the test
of time.
