Hardwood Floors

[gail]

We are about to install new hardwood floors and find the choices daunting. We really like the exotic woods such as South American Walnut, African Mahogany etc. Anybody had experiences with these? Is a dark floor hard to maintain? We don't have dogs - any other problems?

 

[bobcat]

Floors

We are about to install new hardwood floors and find the choices daunting. We really like the exotic woods such as South American Walnut, African Mahogany etc. Anybody had experiences with these? Is a dark floor hard to maintain? We don't have dogs - any other problems?

They show marks and dust more then the light colors.

 

[caribbeansun]

Ask your salesperson about the durability of any of your selections. The exotic you go the less likely it will be that they actually know. We relied on the knowledge of our salesperson, told her that we had a golden retriever and she made a recommendation to us. Based on her recommendation we foolishly installed a birch floor which after only one week is looking like &%^& as it's terribly soft - pretty expensive mistake.

 

[dmensing]

We installed Brazilian Cherry Lite (Bellawood) through Lumber Liquidators. We are very pleased with the look and durability. I read varying reviews regarding Lumber Liquidators on another message board related to home improvement, but we had no trouble. I guess it depends on your individual store and installer. Lumber Liquidators only sell the floor, and refer you to outside installers.

Bellawood's website was helpful because it had a hardness/stability chart showing all the various wood types. Many of the exotics have a higher hardness rating than the domestic woods. We have a Golden Retriever and two kids, therefore, we were looking for something that could withstand the beating. After a year, so far so good.

We also learned that the wood with darken with age, so take that into account when selecting a color. We just picked up a rug by the front door and were amazed by the difference in color.

Here is a link to the Bellawood site and the hardness information:

http://www.bellawood.com/html/lc_woodhardness.asp#

HTH,
Dan.

 

[Jestjoan]

Thanks, Dan, that chart is great. I hope I can find it when we are ready to change from carpet to wood. We just had our carpet cleaned and it came out fine except for the traffic pattern in the great room.

Because there is a French door to the outside and the traffic pattern wear in the great room, I thought wood might solve the problems some day. I'd put a rug in the center. Of course, I have no idea on the cost of wood vs carpet. With the furniture out for the cleaning, the room really seemed really large. They charged it as two rooms.

 

[gail]

Thanks for all comments. Have bookmarked the website. Looks promising.
Gail

 

[geekette]

I've been wondering about bamboo. It sounds perfect. Anyone have it, or know someone that does?

 

[Michael]

Bamboo

Sam's Club is now selling bamboo flooring. Noticed it for the first time when I was in there today.

- Michael

 

[bobcat]

floor

Sam's Club is now selling bamboo flooring. Noticed it for the first time when I was in there today.

- Michael

The dark wood will make the room look small and dark. Try a light wood that is hard. The hardness chart is great. Not all stores give you this chart.Also, how damp is it where you live?.

 

[silverfox82]

Keeping in mind that a lot of exotic wood is coming from irreplacable forests perhaps you might look into southern yellow pine, heartwood that has been recovered from rivers or remilled from structures. It is hard as a rock, has a great look and can be stained if its not dark enough for your taste. It's not cheap but neither are the varieties you suggested and it's recycling at its best. A number of dealers advertise in the building mags, worth a look.

 

[caribbeansun]

Well consider me confused. According to that chart birch is virtually the same a red oak in hardness. Perhaps the reason we notice all the marks is because it's a light coloured floor - heck if I know

FYI - we would have put in the Brazilian Cherry but we couldn't find a colour that was sufficiently different than our cherry kitchen cabinets.

 

[pwrshift]

I was having my bedroom redecorated last year and the decorator specified hardwood floors for the living/fireplace area of the room. It looks just wonderful and the fireplace even reflects on it. There's a step down to this area from the bed area so I didn't have the whole room done as I prefer the feel of carpet when you get out of bed in the morning.

However, the very first morning, I stepped down on it with my socks on, slipped on the floor, fell to the ground and whacked my head on the step. You have to get carpets which have nonslip webbing under them, and your chairs all need special felt on the bottom as hardwood not only marks it can get permanent dents. I don't think I'd do it again.

Now I'm paranoid about it and take off my socks if I'm gonna step down on the hardwood floors. I've been careless and have slipped 3 times in the last year, so you learn quickly that while they look great, they can be a health hazzard.

Brian

 

[Bucky]

We also learned that the wood with darken with age, so take that into account when selecting a color. We just picked up a rug by the front door and were amazed by the difference in color.

I installed the Bellawood Rustic Maple two years ago and just noticed this anomaly.