Apr 24 2008
When it comes to hardwood flooring, BuildDirect, the world's leading online wholesaler of building materials wants consumers to know that not all wood is created equal. There is a lot of confusion about which is better, engineered or solid hardwood flooring. But according to the team at BuildDirect, it's not necessarily about one type being better - it's all about the right choice for you.
"There are important differences between solid and engineered hardwood," said Rob Banks, vice-president of sales, BuildDirect. "Issues such as moisture content and relative humidity should be considered before choosing any type of hardwood."
BuildDirect advises that engineered hardwood flooring can be installed in a greater number of locations when compared to solid hardwood flooring. When looking to install below grade, engineered flooring is the one to go with. For flooring over radiant heating systems, engineered flooring is also the right choice. And many engineered floors can be floated over a concrete slab, just like a laminate floor, which makes for a straightforward installation.
However, there are some great advantages to solid hardwood flooring that you won't find in engineered hardwood. Solid hardwood flooring is known for the superior structural strength it lends to a property. As such, the value of properties are raised when solid hardwood flooring is installed. . And with solid hardwood flooring, you have the option of re-finishing its surface more frequently than you would with engineered floors.
Hardwood requires very little maintenance and is fairly easy to clean. Just remember - the most important rule about cleaning hardwood floors is that you should never use water.
"Water can damage your hardwood floor and pretty much remove any of the benefits associated with choosing solid hardwood," said Banks. "Also, make sure to use a cleanser that doesn't contain a lot of harsh chemicals in order to preserve the floors natural look."
New Exotic Hardwood Flooring Launch From BuildDirect.
For those looking for superior exotic hardwood flooring, BuildDirect has recently launched their Hand scraped Tropical Collection of solid hardwood flooring. The new line on the Mazama label comes in several styles including, Acacia Dark Walnut, Mongolian Teak and Manchuria Cherry. All styles feature a 15 year warranty.
For more information, visit http://flooring.builddirect.com/Wood-Flooring.aspx.