Competition Flooring & Remodeling
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2 Locations To Serve You
3814 S.Shepherd Dr.
Houston, Tx 77098
(713) 528-7847
jack@competitionflooring.com
5200 Bellaire Blvd.
Bellaire, Tx 77401
(713) 663-7847
joe@competitionflooring.com
HARDWOOD FLOOR CONSTRUCTION
Genuine hardwood is real wood, through and through, providing warmth, character and sophistication to discriminating homeowners.
Solid vs. Engineered
Is usually a melamine plastic layer used to give additional structural stability and added moisture protection to the planks.
Solid Wood
- »Milled from one piece of 100% solid wood. Most boards that are three - quarters of an inch thick, although a "thin-profile"solid is also available that is 5/16"thick.
- »Use in above grade installation only
- »Should not install below grade, as moisture makes it expand and contract.
- »While solid hardwood flooring is typically nailed to a subfloor, thin-profile solid flooring can be glued down over concrete and other hard surfaces.
Engineered Wood
- »Constructed of multiple layers of 100% cross grain wood that are bonded together. It is manufactured by permanently bonding together multiple layers of solid wood in a cross-ply construction. Engineered hardwood, typically 3/8"thick, is designed to have superior strength and moisture/humidity resistance. Other thickness are available.
- »Designed for installation at any house level including above or below grade.
- »Engineered hardwood flooring can be installed over wood, concrete or an existing floor.
Hardwood Flooring
3814 S.Shepherd Dr. Houston,
Tx 77098
(713) 528-7847
jack@competitionflooring.com
5200 Bellaire Blvd. Bellaire,
Tx 77401
(713) 663-7847
joe@competitionflooring.com
Species
The species of wood influences its appearance and durability. Not all species of hardwood are equally hard. For example, if your floor is going to take a lot of abuse, consider Oak, Maple or Ash.
Beech
Hickory
Maple
Red Oak
White Oak
Pecan
Color
Color will have an enormous influence on your buying decision. Hardwood flooring offers many color options. The colors available are the result of the natural color and graining of the species and the stain applied to the wood.
Gloss
Since the gloss level of hardwood flooring does not affect its durability or performance, your choice of high gloss or low gloss is a matter of personal preference.
» Low gloss floors tend to hide minor surface scratches better
Board Width
The width of the individual boards will have a dramatic influence on the look of your floor
» Strips: Narrow boards less than 3 inches wide.
» Planks: Wider boards more than 3 inches wide.
Edge and End Detail
The way the edges and ends of boards are cut is another factor that affects the look of your new hardwood floor.
Square Edge:
Boards fit flush against each other for a smooth traditional look.
Beveled Edge:
The sides of each board are sanded or angled to create grooves, or an outline effect around each board.
Eased Edge or Micro-Beveled Edge:
Edges are slightly angled where they meet to create a less apparent outline.
Style and texture
There are a wide variety of styles and surface texture available from sleek, sophisticated contemporary to casual, hand-scraped rustic.
Your Houston Hardwood Flooring Connection we carry a variety of lumber species . Our vast selection includes: Brazilian Cherry, Santos Mahogany, Ipe, Chestnut, Hickory, Oak, Maple, Ash, Pine, Antique Hearth Pine, Red oak, White oak, Southern Yellow Pine, Mesquite, Pecan, Australian cypress, Merebau, and many others. We carry Pre Finished or Un Finished Solid and Engineered Wood Flooring in many widths and thickness. There are a variety of looks from hand scraped, distressed, reclaimed, and traditional grades to choose from. We repair and install glue down, nailed, and floating floor applications as well as Finish and Stain on site. Once your floors are installed don't forget about the staircase. We custom make Solid wood stair treads, risers can be painted white or stained to match.
The Janka Scale Chart JANKA SCALE CHART (click here) The Janka scale rates the relative hardness of wood. We have listed some of the most popular choices in wood flooring and included some more exotic species for your reference and comparison. The higher the number the harder the wood. These ratings were determined using the Janka Hardness Test which measures the side hardness measure of the force required to embed a .444 inch steel ball to half its diameter into the wood. This is one of the best measures of the ability of wood species to withstand denting and wear. It is also a good indicator of how hard a species is to saw or nail.
This should only be used as a general guide when comparing various species of wood flooring. Depending on where the wood is harvested the results may vary. Plank construction and finish are also important factors when determining the durability and ease of maintenance of any wood floor.