Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Choosing Your Oak Flooring

Many beautiful homes have similar attributes when it comes to floors…solid oak flooring. Oak floors stand up to the test of time and they add elegance and a feeling of warmth to a home. Quality floors adds value to a home and homeowners that have children or pets find oak easier to clean than carpet.

Hardwood floors are highly recognized for durability. This flooring is constructed from trees that are over a decade old. After the trees are cut down, they are allowed to fully mature for at least 5 years at which time the tension in the wood reduces. Once they are ready, they can be cut into planks and then dried for another full year. After they are fully dry, they are made stable in a kin and then, finally, fashioned into flooring.
If you like the look of oak, check some local stores for samples. There are two general sized of oak flooring, regular and wide. If you go with wide you can then choose from engineered oak flooring or solid oak flooring. The solid oak is made from whole wood. The engineered is even more durable and stable than the solid models. Either style is beautiful and functional.

White and red oak are yet more options. White is a harder wood and more resistant to fungus. Red oak is highly shock absorbing so it is less likely to split. Either of these types of floors would be great in a bathroom or a kitchen.

Once you choose your oak floor and install it in your home, maintaining it is quite simple. You will want to sweep it a few times a week and that should be all it takes to keep it looking nice. Over time, buy some cleaning products that help protect the wood to ensure it will look nice for years to come.

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