The Cheap Alternative: Buying Hardwood Floors Wholesale

A lot of people decide not to go with hardwood floors because they are rather expensive. In fact, when you compare their price to cement, hardwood floors are priced higher by around 20% to 30%. 

Why is this so? Hardwood floors come from organic and exhaustible materials. In addition, it takes years for an oak tree (the common source of hardwood) to fully mature, so technically, its preparation is more tedious. Concrete takes only a few hours to make and it doesn't usually require heavy human labor. On the other hand, there are a lot of people involved in producing the final hardwood floor plank.

However, this doesn't discount the fact that hardwood floors are still the best way to go. Not only do they make the room cooler, but they actually give it a more natural look. Concrete makes a room look very contrived, which is a no-go for claustrophobes and a pain to deal with during extreme heat.

Hardwood floors are expensive, yes, but they are not impossible to obtain. You can purchase hardwood floor materials on discount from hardware stores, or you may buy them wholesale. If you're building an entire house, wholesale is your best option. It might be expensive at first, but it is a one time shell-out that, when calculated, is a lot cheaper in the long run. If you buy hardwood floor planks by the piece, then you're setting yourself up for a huge expense. 

Wholesale hardwood floors are available in any wood and hardware store, so they're not difficult to find. Literally defined, wholesale hardwood floors are planks bought in bulk. And aside from being a cheaper option, getting them wholesale will spare you from the hassle of having to go to the store again to keep buying more boards. 

Most stores offer free delivery of hardwood floors, especially if they are bought wholesale. Transporting these wood planks is no joke, that's why stores are more than willing to do the delivery for wholesale orders at no extra cost. 

Have It Easy With Prefinished Hardwood Flooring

Let's admit it. Installing hardwood flooring is quite a task and not many do it yourselves succeed perfectly during their first try. True, installing hardwood flooring is a skill, but it can be less of a chore and a headache if you go with prefinished hardwood flooring in the first place.

Prefinished means it has already been coated and sealed with translucent film which serves as its protection from daily wear. What finishings can do is shield your hardwood floor from spills and scratches, and make it easier for you to wipe or mop clean. 

If you're thinking of installing hardwood flooring yourself, you can enjoy the greatest ease and convenience with prefinished planks. With prefinished hardwood floors, the task of nailing the flooring to your sub floor ends after the drilling is done. 

If you purchased pure hardwood oak or maple (or whatever is available), you will have to apply finishing s  sand it down and put on wax and polishers after. The amount of time to perform the task of installing a hardwood floor is halved if prefinished wood is used.

Prefinished floors also have a better finish than most independently finished floors. Because the application is uniform and the volumes of coating controlled and predetermined, you are sure that every prefinished hardwood floor plank is of the best quality. Normally, prefinished floors are thrice sanded and coated with aluminum oxide finish eight times. They are also likely to have been tested for various normal wear situations and made more resilient.

Prefinished flooring is a little more expensive than pure hardwood planks. However, when you do the math on everything that has to be done to make the basic form shine to your liking, you'll actually eventually spend a lot more with the latter, not to mention the heavy labor that you need to put into it. 

Sure, you can argue that you can always hire professionals to do the job for you, but if cost is an issue, then you'll be thanking the high heavens that somebody had enough foresight to come up with prefinished hardwood flooring. Be a wise and practical consumer. Sanding and finishing entire floorings is a thing of the past. Now that prefinished floors are available, you should spare yourself from the hassle. 

Oak Hardwood Floors

What is a hardwood? Contrary to its name, 'hardwood' does not mean that the wood is harder than any other, however, hardwood is considered denser compared to other species. The most common uses for hardwood is for building materials, particularly for flooring. The popular hardwood species include cherry, maple, and alder, but the most widely used among them is oak. 

There are basically two ideal types of oak for flooring use: Red oak and white oak. The characteristics of each will be discussed in brief here. 

Red Oak Hardwood Flooring

Red oak is probably one of the most popular picks for hardwood floors. First, because it is abundant and, second, because it has a rather reddish hue that appeals to most interior designers and home owners. Red oak is also a comparatively dense type of hardwood so it is more resistant to regular wear. Its texture is a little coarse but it's nothing a little sanding won't be able to fix. 

White Oak Hardwood Flooring

White oak is more resistant to moisture than red oak but the latter is more widely available. Because of its general strength and durability, builders even use it to make barrels and ship timber. In addition, various kinds of stains and finish tones reflect beautifully on white oak. It has a medium to coarse texture, so deciding if you'd still want to sand it is up to you. 

Oak is one of the best materials to make floors with, but surveys say that its popularity is only next to that of cherry and maple, which are a lot less expensive. But if you're looking to impress your visitors with your red or white oak hardwood floor, then, by all means, make that investment. Oak takes a century to mature, and it can last by about the same number of years if properly maintained. 

How To Lay A Replacement Hardwood Floor Board

If a particular plank on your hardwood floor is beyond repair, your best option would be to replace the board with a new one. You might initially think that floor board replacement is a job that is reserved only for the professionals. In fact, laying a floor board is actually something you can do yourself, given the right tools and the proper instructions. 

There are hardware stores that sell bundled packages for do it yourself hardwood floor replacement projects. They even come with step by step instructions to help even the most inexperienced of floor layers easily understand and follow. So, when your plank needs relaying, have no fear. Instructions on how to lay replacement boards are here.

1) Clear the damaged area of all the nails embedded into it. You can do by positioning a nail set over the nail and driving it down as far as possible using a hammer. The purpose of this is to avoiding having the hammer pound against the wood and causing further damage.

2) Once the nails are removed, remove the damaged board by using a wood chisel to pry the affected area out. The absence of the nails should make this process easy, but you still have to be careful not to ruin the adjacent boards.

3) Prepare your replacement plank and try to see if its a perfect fit to the blank spot. If it's too big you will have to make the necessary adjustments.

4) Turn the replacement board over and put construction adhesive. This will enable the plank to stick to the sub floor.

5) Tap the board into place and make sure that it's in the right position. When you have finally decided on its placement, that's when you drive 2-inch nails to secure it. Use a nail set to drive the nails' heads a little below the surface so they don't jot out.

6) Sand the area to even the surface out and apply a finish that matches the rest of the hardwood floor. 

Now you know how to lay a replacement hardwood floor board without paying for professional help. 

How To Clean Your Hardwood Floor

It is easy to build a house using concrete and steel, but it is quite a challenge to do so using wood. You might wonder why this is so, when wood is, perhaps, one of the most common building materials there is around. 

This is because, unlike concrete, wood is an exhaustible resource. Meaning, if nobody plants trees, then it's not likely that we will get any hardwood. And since most of our forest are starting to get depleted, then it is likely that the availability and cost of hardwood would continue to rise over time. Thus, our hardwood floors deserve the best treatment, if we are to expect longevity and stability from them.

So how do we clean our hardwood floors to ensure that they last long enough for the next generations to enjoy and benefit from? Here are some tips you might want to consider. 

First, when cleaning your hardwood floor, make sure that you use a broom that explodes at the ends. A broom with too fine bristles won't trap the dirt and will only have it accumulate within the little cracks and creases. 
Over time, this will damage your flooring and eventually cause wear. You won't be able to notice the changes until the damage becomes apparent. Surely this is something you want to avoid. 

Second, do not use oil based soaps to clean your flooring. There are cleaning liquids made especially for hardwood floors that won't cause damage to their finish. Remember that a finish is what shields your hardwood floor from wear and spills, so must always check if the coat is still thick enough to serve its purpose. 

Third, do not leave standing water or wet rags on your hardwood floor. If this is too late, you can choose to either sand the affected area or replace the plank where the damage has been done. But if the water has just been these for a short while and your finish is newly done, then you have nothing worry about. Just wipe the wet area with a soft dry rag and you're good to go.

Cleaning your hardwood floor requires diligence on your part, because, well, hardwood floors deserve to be maintained properly. They bring stability and sturdiness to your living space. The least you can do is to make sure it is cared for properly. 

Saving Your Hardwood Floor From Water Damage

It is painfully inevitable. No matter how much you try to protect your hardwood flooring from stains and damage, at some point or another, someone will spill something on floor. When this happens, there's no reason to go ballistic. 

If you have been diligently checking your floor's finishing, then  spilling water or any form of liquid into it should not be too much of a problem, so long as you wipe the spill up immediately. But if you're floor coating has thinned and liquid has been there for quite a while, that's when you should start to think of restoration strategies.

Hardwood floor's number one enemy is water. Your floor's luster is at its mercy. You can easily remedy this by mopping the affected area. In worse cases, water can seep into the woodwork and result in decay and warping. 

When wiping, use only soft, dry cloth rags. Coarse cleaning materials will scratch the flooring's surface and thin out the finishing. If you're dealing with a puddle, start with the edges of the puddle first and work your way to the middle. 

Some people use steam cleaners to deal with water spills. However, you should realize that not all steam cleaners are compatible with hardwood floors. Neglecting to check compatibility might cause more harm than good to your floor. Also, no matter the nature of a stain, never use wet cloths for clean-up. Even slightly wet mops are a no-no, especially for hardwood floors that are sealed and coated with wax. 

Finally, your best defense against the hassle of dealing with water stains is to be careful. But you really can't put all your eggs into just protecting your floor from water. As mentioned earlier, liquid stains are inevitable. Thus, foresight is your friend. Ensure that your floor is waxed regularly and the finishing reapplied from time to time. 

Does Your Hardwood Floor Finish Need Reapplying?

It's only been a few years and you see that your hardwood floor looks seemingly old. What happened? How can you make it look like new again? Before you take any step further, you should first see the condition your hardwood flooring is in. Check if any special cleaning is necessary or if serious repairs need to be done.

When evaluating the condition of your hardwood floor, observe the finish. Is it just soiled or has it already thinned out? Study your floor to see if the finishing has been scraped, dulled, or chipped. 

You can find out if your finish is worn by spilling a small amount of water at a high-traffic area. If the water beads at the top, then you have nothing to worry about -- the finish is still intact and sealed. But if the water seeps in and darkens the spot where it landed then you might need to redo the finishing for that particular area. If the test bears the same result for other parts of the house, then those probably need replacing, too. 

Next, see if the wood is still in good condition. If the finish has shown signs of wear, it is likely that the wood has been damaged, too. If you find that the wood has started to decay, then you definitely need to replace the boards. 

If it's a situation that still can be salvaged, it would be best to just call in professionals, as a do-it-yourself endeavor, especially if you're not that experienced, to avoid causing further damage. 

You can try to temporarily resolve the damage by putting wax on the affected area. Take note of the word 'temporary' because wax is by no means a solution to woodwork problems. It simply acts as a coverup or maintenance coat until you can come up with the funds to put in replacements. 

It does not take rocket science to know if your floor's finish needs to be redone. But, while this is easy to determine, the fact that refinishing jobs are costly might put you off. But if you want to restore your hardwood floor's beauty, then you should set a budget for repairs aside. Otherwise, your initial investment on your flooring will go to waste.

The Convenient Way To Finish Your Hardwood Floor

Anybody who has experienced finishing their hardwood floors by themselves will tell you that it is a very tedious task. You will not just apply the finishing once, but will have to put on several numbers of coats before it looks satisfactory. Prior to that, you will have to wrestle with the sander -- a machine that is quite difficult to control. So what is the best and easiest way to come up with a nicely finished hardwood floor? 

Simple. Purchase one that is already pre-finished. If you're thinking of installing hardwood flooring yourself, you can enjoy the greatest ease and convenience with pre-finished planks. With pre-finished hardwood floors, the task of nailing the flooring to your sub floor ends after the drilling is done. 

Pre-finished floors also have a better finish than most independently finished floors. Because the application is uniform and the volumes of coating controlled and predetermined, you are sure that every pre-finished hardwood floor plank is of the best quality. 

Normally, pre-finished floors are thrice sanded and coated with aluminum oxide finish eight times. They are also likely to have been tested for various normal wear situations and made more resilient. Having a hardwood floor in your home is an investment, but it is a one-time expenditure. This means you shell out a large amount only once because all you have to do is make sure the floor is clean and its finish its intact to for the next generations to benefit from it. Diligent waxing will do; so will constant cleaning. 

Finally, if convenience is what you're after, without having to sacrifice the quality of your hardwood floor and its appearance, then go for a pre-finished hardwood floor. But, hey, if you want to savor the feeling that you labored over your hardwood floor yourself, then buy it pure and just buy the appropriate finish. As a last tip, water-based urethane finishes are more resilient to sun exposure, compared to those that are oil-based. Happy finishing!

Unique Designs For Your Hardwood Floor

The fact that hardwood comes from organic material means that no two planks of wood are ever going to be exactly alike. If you go for factory manufactured and pre-finished wood, you might be able to see uniformity in the designs, especially with deliberately distressed hardwoods, but, the bottom line is, when you use hardwood material for your floor, you are sure that what you are stepping and walking on is one of a kind. 

This leads us to the question: what is it about hardwood floors that never go out of style no matter how the times and interior design principles change? 

Hardwood floors offer a kind of natural sturdiness and reliability that cannot be found in most home building materials. Sure, concrete is great, but nothing beats a well finished hardwood floor to get that truly natural touch.

Having a hardwood floor in your home is an investment, but it is a one-time expenditure. This means you shell out a large amount only once because all you have to do is make sure the floor is clean and its finish its intact to for the next generations to benefit from it. Diligent waxing will do; so will constant deep cleaning. 

If you want to see interesting designs on your hardwood floor, a good idea would be to have it distressed. Now you should be careful with this project as a poor distressing job could result in a disaster instead of a work of art. You should hire a professional to do this. 

There are pre-distressed hardwood boards available in home building stores, but they are factory manufactured so they are likely to have repeating designs. With a hand distressed hardwood floor, you are sure that every inch is unique, and your floor will not look too fabricated. Experts on flooring can spot a fake dead-on. 

The Beauty Of Hardwood Floors

There are homes that adopt a modern look and, therefore, use modern materials and designs. They may look a little futuristic and metallic, using only the finest concrete, steel, or fiber glass available. However, there are also those homes that stick to the conventional way of building; that is, by using wood. And for purists like these, hardwood floors are almost always a staple.

What is it about hardwood floors that never go out of style no matter how the times and interior design principles change? Hardwood floors offer a kind of natural sturdiness and reliability that cannot be found in most home building materials. Sure, concrete is great, but nothing beats a well finished hardwood floor to get that truly natural touch.

Hardwood floors are pretty expensive compared to most types of wood. However, they last a whole lot longer with proper care. The types of wood for such are oak and maple, but if you're under a budget, you might want to work with the latter, as oak woods are relatively expensive. 

Having a hardwood floor in your home is an investment, but it is a one-time expenditure. This means you shell out a large amount only once because all you have to do is make sure the floor is clean and its finish its intact to for the next generations to benefit from it. Diligent waxing will do; so will constant cleaning. 

But, perhaps, the best benefit you can obtain from hardwood floors is the natural look. You see, concrete gives off this cramped and stuffy atmosphere. But if you see wood in your home, you won't feel as trapped. Another is that no two hardwood floors are exactly alike. Because they come from a living thing, you are assured that each plank is unique.

You can't help but admire the history of each hardwood floor plank, and that's, perhaps, why it is comparatively pricey. If you want your home to have this rich old-house feel, use hard wood for your flooring. Surely, as human beings, we want some semblance of nature in our surroundings to keep us sane. Too much artificial building materials might seem ho-hum in the long run. 

Finally, in order to enjoy the full benefits of hardwood floors, proper care must be employed. They should be cleaned out constantly and maintained with waxing and refinishings to protect their quality. Hardwood floors, because they are organic, can decay if left unattended. But if treated well, hard wood can last a lifetime, or five.