Category: Hardwood

How To Decide Between Engineered And Solid Hardwood

January 21, 2020

Have you been considering renovating your floors to add value and style to your home? Looking for an option that combines timeless style and class with durability? Hardwood floors are a long-standing favourite for those looking to make a statement both while residing in the home, as well as when they plan to sell in the future. As a bold and elegant selection, hardwood flooring serves as a worthwhile investment. If you’ve begun to look into options, but are feeling unsure of what to select, below are a few info points to keep in mind.

Engineered Versus Solid Planks

One of the most common questions our team hears pertains to the difference between engineered and solid (also called traditional) planks. While both may look quite similar to one another, there are important subtleties you’ll want to take into consideration when making your decision.

Solid Hardwood is crafted from a single piece of wood and is almost always thicker than its engineered counterpart. This thickness helps allow for resanding over the years, which helps the planks looking fresh while also eliminating minor wear and tear. Solid hardwood is durable, but is particularly vulnerable to water damage, scratches, and shrinking and expanding due to humidity exposure.

Engineered Hardwood is made of several layers of high-quality plywood that are fused together, then coated with a hardwood veneer. The finished product is slightly thinner than traditional planks, which only allows for planks to be resanded a few times. In contrast to solid planks, however, engineered hardwood is less susceptible to humidity fluctuations and has more flexibility when it comes to where it can be placed in the home, including over concrete or radiant heating.

Which Should I Choose?

The truth is, there’s no single answer that works best for every household. When making your decision, it’s important to factor in the unique needs and aspects of your space, including:

  • The purpose of the space
  • Environmental challenges
  • Exposure to moisture and humidity
  • Potential external damaging factors

Another aspect to keep in mind is that, while solid hardwood may be cheaper upfront, the ability to sand multiple times will typically afford you a longer lifespan than engineered hardwood. On the other side of the equation, engineered hardwood gives you more variety in terms of placement. No matter which you choose, proper flooring installation will help guarantee the longevity of your floors, as well as ensure they look their best right from day one.

To learn more about the varieties of hardwood available, contact Ashley Fine Floors today!

Five Factors To Consider When Choosing Hardwood Flooring For Your Home

Timeless and elegant, hardwood flooring remains a constant favourite among homeowners wishing to add style and value to their property. As a standalone work of art, such floors transform your space and create an unmistakable atmosphere that is sure to make any room stand apart. Due to the considerably large investment involved financially when selecting hardwood, it’s important to be aware of the many factors that can influence the longevity and viability of such flooring within your home. Below are five important elements to consider when installing hardwood.

Does It Mesh With The Overall Style Of Your Home?

If you’re doing a complete overhaul of a major area of your home, matching your flooring to the rest of the house may be less of a concern. Otherwise, it’s important to consider the style of all interior elements when looking at flooring elements. This will help ensure a more natural fit, or a bolder statement, depending on your preference.

Consider Your Staining and Finishing Options

While there’s no denying that hardwood is gorgeous on its own, staining can add additional colour and vibrancy to the wood and enhance its aesthetic appeal. Finishing will change the maintenance requirements by preventing the floor from getting dirty and extending its lifetime. It’s also important that while you can stain most types of wood, you’ll want to pick a stain that is compatible with your desired overall aesthetic.

What Kind Of Subfloor Does Your Home Have?

The kind of sub flooring in your home can influence what style of hardwood works best for your desired space. For those with a plywood sub floor, either traditional or engineered hardwood are suitable, whereas for those with particle board or concrete, you will need to replace it with plywood prior to installing solid or engineered hardwood.

How Much Natural Daylight Do You Get?

While daylight is certainly a blessing in any home, it can pose a challenge for light sensitive hardwood. Planks left in direct sunlight can warp over time, as well as fade. Contrasting, for bright rooms that do not have direct sunlight, choosing the right colours can act as more of a style statement.

Be Honest About Your Lifestyle

As we mentioned earlier, hardwood floors are a considerable investment in any home. Those with young children or pets may find that the natural wear and tear associated with hardwood makes care more difficult, and should select planks equipped to handle the strain of additional stressors.

Want to learn more about choosing hardwood for your home? We’re here to help!

Visit us in store or contact our team today!

How to Care For Engineered Hardwood Flooring

November 4, 2019

If you haven’t caught our previous piece on the difference between traditional and engineered hardwood, you may not know that there are two different kinds of hardwood available. As the more versatile of the two options, engineered hardwood offers enhanced resistance to humidity, as well as the ability to be installed over radiant heating. If you’re planning on installing engineered planks in your home, or are looking to care for your existing floors, below are a few pointers to help you keep your planks looking their best for years to come!

Know Thy “Enemy”

Before we delve into cleaning methods, it’s important to know the main culprits that can lead to premature damage, warping, buckling, and other issues experienced by hardwood floors. These include:

  • Improper initial installation
  • Exposure to heavy humidity, or prolonged contact with liquids
  • Scratches from debris, footwear, pets, or furniture.

Give your floors the best chance for a long life by partnering with a qualified installer and implementing a dedicated cleaning routine to eliminate the presence of other damaging factors.

Clean With Care

While hardwood flooring is quite robust, it does require caution when cleaning to avoid accidentally stripping off the seal, discolouring, or otherwise contributing to deterioration. Always:

  • Select cleaners and tools with caution. Wax-based cleaners, harsh detergents, and abrasive tools should never be used.
  • Stay on top of spills. Sitting water or liquids can cause irreversible damage.
  • Sweep your floors with a microfibre cloth or vacuum with a gentle attachment regularly (daily during the winter or during periods where more dirt and grit can be tracked in)

Prevention is the Best Form Of Protection

Give your floors additional TLC and protection by removing high heeled shoes or shoes with spikes before walking across, placing rugs at the entrance point of your room and under furniture (note, heavy furniture with pointed feet/legs may not be ideal for rooms with hardwood as they can often leave dents), and reminding guests or children to remove outdoor footwear before walking around the home.

With a plan in place, caring for your engineered hardwood can be easy. Learn more by contacting Ashley Fine Floors today!

Six Tips for Hardwood Floor Installation

October 28, 2019

Are you a fan of the timeless elegance hardwood floors bring to a space? Often viewed as the ultimate luxury, hardwood planks bring an undeniable class to any room, helping to tie together your aesthetic and serving as a statement piece for visitors to enjoy. While caring for your floors will help to extend the lifetime of the planks, proper installation is vital to preventing premature wear and damage. Below are six quick tips to keep in mind prior to hardwood installation.

1. Choose the right location

While hardwood is incredibly versatile as an aesthetic feature, it’s important to install it in the right area of your home or commercial space for the best results. Unlike other flooring varieties, hardwood is more susceptible to moisture, temperature fluctuations, scratches, and other challenges. This means that you’ll want to avoid placing it in basements, bathrooms, kitchens, and other areas that may be more prone to these kinds of factors.

2. Know which hardwood works best

One fact that property owners are often surprised to learn is that there are two different types of hardwood to choose from: traditional and hardwood. While you can read a more in-depth breakdown of the two here, you’ll want to keep in mind that engineered hardwood is slightly less affected by humidity and temperature fluctuations, making it more versatile in terms of where it can be placed.

3. Choose the best installation method for your planks

There are multiple different ways to install hardwood, including nail down, glue down, and floating methods. If you plan on doing a DIY installation, make sure you know what process works best for your planks, or eliminate the risk of mishaps entirely by partnering with an experienced flooring installation team.

4. Pick the right time to install
If you’re installing hardwood in a new or property, you’ll want to wait until the majority of construction or renovations are completed before installing your floors. This will avoid the risk of damage.

5. Properly prepare the surface

Prior to installation, you’ll want to ensure your space is dried and flat for the best results. Failure to double check can leave you with poor bonding, uneven planks, and other issues.

6. Prepare your planks

Before laying your flooring, you’ll want to make sure your planks are kept in a humidity controlled environment that prevents moisture buildup or the exposure to dampness. Ideally, have the planks delivered to your home about a week in advance to give the wood time to have acclimatized to your space.

Ready to get the home of your dreams? Contact us now to learn more about hardwood installation!

Traditional Hardwood Vs Engineered: What You Need To Know

July 23, 2019

Hardwood floors are often seen as the ultimate luxury by homeowners looking to elevate their space and add value to their property. Fully of timeless elegance and style, hardwood flooring give your home an undeniable flair and serves as a worthwhile investment. If you’re considering adding hardwood to your space, check out a few basic facts below.

Engineered Vs. Traditional

An important aspect you’ll want to keep in mind as you begin your search for the best fit for your home is that there are two kinds of planks available: solid (or traditional) and engineered. While both look stunning, there are slight differences you should be aware of.

Solid Hardwood is crafted from a single piece of wood and thicker than its engineered counterpart. This thickness helps allow for resanding over the years, which keeps the planks looking fresh and eliminates minor wear and tear. Solid hardwood is fairly durable, but is particularly vulnerable to water damage, scratches, and shrinking and expanding due to humidity exposure.

Engineered Hardwood is comprised of several layers of high-quality plywood that are fused together, then coated with a hardwood veneer. The finished product is slightly thinner than traditional planks and only allows for planks to be renamed a few times. Contrastingly, engineered hardwood is less susceptible to humidity fluctuations and has more flexibility when it comes to where it can be placed in the home, including over concrete or radiant heating.

Which Works Best?

When it comes to deciding on any flooring materials, it’s always best to keep the unique needs of your space in mind. Depending on the area you’re looking to finish, there are a wide variety of factors to consider, including:

  • Purpose of the space
  • Environmental challenges
  • Exposure to moisture and humidity
  • Potential external damaging factors

It’s also important to bear in mind that while solid hardwood may be more expensive upfront, the ability to resand multiple times will grant extra longevity, whereas engineered hardwood may allow you to outfit more rooms in your home.

Have more questions about Hardwood? Ashley Fine Floors is your first choice team of flooring experts in the Capital region. Contact our team today to learn more.

Six Hardwood Flooring Issues You Need To Keep An Eye Out For

July 17, 2019

Hardwood floors are a stunning and classic addition to any house. Full of natural warmth and charm, hardwood can help elevate your space with a timeless elegance that’s sure to create the perfect sense of home! Knowing how to care for your floors will help extend the life of your planks and ensure they look fresh for the years to come. It’s also important to be aware of issues that may arise over time or with improper installation. Below are six common issues to keep an eye for.

1. Abnormal Gaps

While all hardwood planks will have some degree of spacing between them, gaps that are too large, or even too small, can cause significant problems over time. Being spaced too far apart may leave your planks susceptible to water damage, whereas planks that are too close to one another may lead to warping or cracking. If you believe your flooring has inconsistent gaps, you should have it evaluated as soon as possible.

2. Cupping/Warping

Typically caused by water damage or prolonged exposure to moisture, cupping and warping refers to the slight sag or contortion of your planks. This is a particularly serious issue, because left untreated, the damage may be irreversible and even allow dangerous mould to develop.

3. Buckling

When wood flooring because moist, or are placed in a way that does not accommodate the natural shrinking and expanding of planks during the seasons, buckling can occur. Buckling can cause serious damage to your flooring if left unchecked, and should be evaluated early on.

4. Peeling Finish

Over time, you may find that the finish of your floors begins wear away and peel. To fix this issue, sanding and refinishing may be your best option.

5. Excessive Signs Of Wear

Without proper care, your hardwood can show progressive signs of age that leave it vulnerable to further damage. Scuffs, dents, chips and more should be kept in check and effort should be made to prevent abrasion from occurring in the first place.

6. Stains

There are typically two types of stains that can occur on wood surfaces: those that rest on top of the floor finish and that can be removed with a gentle cleanser, and those that have moved deep enough that they require sanding to eliminate. Stay on top of dirt and grim build up, as well as mopping up any spills to reduce your risks of stains.

Want to learn more about caring for hardwood floors or integrating them into your home? Contact our team in Edmonton today!

​Discover Your Perfect Hardwood Floor Solution

April 23, 2019

If you’re looking to add elegance and charm to your home, hardwood flooring is the ultimate luxury when it comes to style. Refined and timeless, hardwood can transform the overall look, feel, and aesthetic of your space instantly. If you’re considering adding hardwood to your home, and are wondering what the difference between different kinds are, the team at Ashley Fine Floors is here to help! Learn more about the difference between engineered and traditional hardwood, as well as a few basic care tips below!

To Follow Tradition Or Try Something New

One of the most common questions homeowners have when they begin to delve into the world of hardwood is the difference between traditional and engineered hardwood.

As the name suggests, Traditional Hardwood is crafted from a single plank of wood, and designed to be thick enough to allow for multiple re-sandings over decades. Solid hardwood is durable, but can be vulnerable to scratches as well as shrinking and expanding due to humidity exposure.

Engineered Hardwood is made from several layers of melted plywood that are coated with a hardwood veneer. The planks are slightly thinner than solid hardwood and therefore can only be sanded a few times, but are less susceptible to humidity fluctuations. Engineered hardwood can also be placed in areas where traditional hardwood is ill-suited, such as over concrete foundations or radiant heating.

When it comes to making your decision, it’s important to consider your overall budget (engineered hardwood is sometimes slightly cheaper), how long you would like your floors to last before the need to be sanded or replaced, and if you would like more peace of mind where moisture is concerned.

General Care

In terms of overall maintenance, hardwood does tend to require a little more care and awareness than other materials to keep its lustre. That being said, with some foresight you can easily settle into a routine that makes it simple to stay on top of cleaning. A few basic rules to keep in mind are:

  • Be cautious of anything that may lead to scratches: heavy furniture being moved, walking in high heels, and a build up of dirt and debris.
  • Clean spills and liquids immediately
  • Shelter your floors from prolonged exposure to direct sunlight or heat
  • Be diligent with any cleaners you use. Always make sure they are hardwood approved!

With the right guidance and planning, hardwood floors can be the perfect addition to any home. Learn more about hardwood and what best suits your space by contacting Ashley Fine Floors today!

Your Timeline for Flawless Hardwood Floor Care

March 27, 2019

Hardwood floors are a beautiful statement piece that can add style, elegance, and value to your home. With the proper care, hardwood can last for quite a while, giving you plenty of opportunity to enjoy their lustre. Learn how to maximize the life of your floors with our timeline of maintenance and TLC below!

Start Off On The Right Foot

Regardless of whether you choose engineered hardwood flooring or traditional hardwood, installing flooring is an investment. Give your planks the best chance for a long life by planning ahead from day one. Factors you’ll want to keep in mind, as well as best practices include:

  • Consider installing hardwood in rooms that do not receive direct sunlight for the majority of the day (which can discolour and warp your planks over time), or adding in curtains to provide some shelter.
  • Use caution when moving furniture. If possible, add felt protectors to the legs of your couches, chairs, tables, and more to help avoid accidental scratches.
  • Add additional protection (and sound absorption!) to your space by including a stylish throw rug to areas prone to heavy foot traffic.
  • Use caution when selecting cleaning products and ensure that the label clearly states that it is suitable for use on hardwood floors. Ideally, with regular upkeep, you should only need warm water and a gentle mop.
  • Remove outdoor shoes prior to walking across your floors to minimize the introduction of dirt and debris to your home.

Weekly And Monthly

While hardwood floors don’t typically require a large amount of maintenance and upkeep to maintain their sheen, regularly sweeping and occasional mopping will help prevent the build up of dirt and grime over time. Remember to use only hardwood approved cleaning products, as well as gentle cleaning tools to avoid stripping the natural protective layer off your floors, or causing scratches.

Yearly

Expect to see some natural changes in your flooring throughout the year, especially if you live in an area like Alberta, where the various temperature shifts between season can lead to the planks shrinking and expanding. If you notice visible signs of warping or damage, however, you’ll want to consult an expert immediately.

Later On

Regular care and cleaning will help keep your floors in ideal condition. Stay diligent and your floors will keep their lustre for years to come!

With the right care, hardwood floors can be the perfect long lasting addition to your home. Contact Ashley Fine Floors to learn more today!

The Beginners Guide to Traditional and Engineered Hardwood

January 10, 2019

Looking to add a touch of timeless elegance to your home and increase your property value? Hardwood flooring demands attention and holds an undeniably classic style that is sure to enhance your home. If you’re contemplating making the investment of hardwood floors, before are a few fast facts you’ll want to keep in mind.

There Are Two Different Kinds

Despite being sold under the “hardwood umbrella” there are two distinct types of planks available on the market: solid and engineered.

Solid (or Traditional) Hardwood is made of a single piece of wood, and is thick enough to allow for multiple resandings over the years. Solid hardwood is durable, but can be vulnerable to scratches and shrinking and expanding due to humidity exposure.

Engineered Hardwood is crafted from several layers of high-quality plywood that are melded together and then coated with a hardwood veneer. Slightly less thick than traditional hardwood and therefore only able to be sanded a few times, engineered hardwood is less susceptible to humidity fluctuations and can be placed in areas where traditional hardwood cannot such as over concrete or radiant heating.

Which To Choose?

As with any kind of flooring, both traditional and engineered hardwood have unique benefits. While traditional hardwood may be a little more expensive upfront, the ability to be sanded multiple times gives extra longevity and the thickness of the boards certainly makes them sturdy. Contrastingly, engineered hardwood is a little more flexible in its placement and can afford the same style in rooms that you may not be able to place traditional planks.

At Ashley Fine Floors, we carry the leading brands for both traditional and hardwood flooring. Visit our store or chat with our experts now to learn more about which type of planking is best suited for your space!

Caring for newly-installed Hardwood

January 2, 2019

Planning on treating yourself to a brand new Hardwood floor, but wondering how you can best care for your new investment? We can help! As a leading supplier and installer of hardwood planks in the Edmonton area, the experts at Ashley Fine Floors are here to help you protect your purchase. Read on to learn about early care of newly installed hardwood below!

Know what works best for the wood you’ve selected

While there are common aspects fo caring for hardwood planks, certain varieties may have unique needs or requirements depending on the finish and grain of your flooring. Knowing exactly what your floors need will help you use the right products and techniques from the start.

Be aware of the challenges of your space

Despite its durability, hardwood can be vulnerable to certain environmental factors that you’ll want to keep in mind to prolong the life of your planks. If your room has prolonged exposure to sunlight, or may experience humidity fluctuations during seasonal shifts, it may be ideal to consider adding a throw rug or curtains to help avoid sun bleaching or moisture build up.

Careful with furniture and heavy objects

If your hardwood is in dining area or room with lots of furniture, you’ll want to be very mindful of exercising caution when moving things around. Adding felt pads to the feet of chairs and tables to avoid scratches, dents, and dings.

Gentle cleaning

When it comes to cleaning your hardwood, gentle is the keyword you want to have in mind. Avoid using anything abrasive, and always check to make sure any solution you’re using is designed specifically for your flooring. Never use harsh substances like vinegar, avoid flooding your space, and stay aware from any product that you are not sure of.

Be diligent

Hardwood floors don’t require a lot of maintenance, but routine sweeping and vacuuming will help prevent dirt and grime from building up. This protects your planks in the long term as well, and will make sure you get the most out of your beautiful floors!

Learn more about caring for hardwood by following our blog and by contacting our team today!