Appearance

• Elegant - Class
• No two floors are ever identical due to variance in wood grains
• Numerous installation patterns and designs can be created

Additional information on hardwood flooring patterns and designs

• Numerous board widths
• Domestic & exotic woods
• Array of stain colors, gloss factors, edge details
• Ornamental insets available

• Large variety of patterns and colors including hardwood, tile and mosaics

Typical Warranties

• Prefinished:

Structural Integrity - Lifetime

Finish - 3 to 25 years

• Unfinished:

Varies dramatically

• Better quality lifetime on manufacturer's defects and wear through
• Rips, tears, gouges and stains, 5 to 20 years

Life Expectancy

• Pending no damage from external sources, the hardwood itself will last for hundred's of years.

• 10 to 20 years

Child Friendly

• Can be scratched
• Liquid spills can damage surface and cause boards to warp and rot

• Very child friendly
• Liquid spills can damage surface and cause boards rot

Pet Friendly

• Can be scratched

• Very pet friendly

Care & Maintenance

• Vacuum & mop using non-wax cleaners
• Recoat with polyurethane as needed
• Can be refinished - refinishing required every 15 to 25 years

• Sweep & mop using manufacturer's recommended cleaners

Installation

• Nails, staples or glue

3/4" or 5/8" thick: Nail to wood

5/16" thick: Staple or glue to wood, concrete or existing floor with the exception of carpet

• Adhesive

Felt: Full-spread or perimeter adhesive

Fiberglass: Loose - lay, modified loose - lay or full-spread

Both products can be installed over concrete, hardwood, plywood, or existing floor (except carpet)

Grade Levels

• Below grade only in very dry regions
• On grade
• Above grade

• Below grade
• On grade
• Above grade

Room Installation

• All rooms with following exceptions:
• Full & half bathrooms - not recommended - hardwood is very sensitive to humidity fluctuations and water
• Below grade basements - not recommended - hardwood may buckle or warp with fluctuations in moisture level

Note: As hardwood scratches consideration should be given to installations in foyers as dirt brought into the home can scratch the surface.

• All rooms no exceptions.

Budgeting

• Material cost $3/sq. ft. to $30/sq. ft. - very dependent on quality and dimensions of hardwood boards, finish and species.
• Installation cost (contractor):

Prefinished - $2/sq. ft. to $6/sq. ft.

Unfinished hardwood, finished on site - $6/sq. ft. to $10/sq. ft.

Note: Sq. ft. installation prices do not include the material or installation costs of underlayment, or repairs to sub-floors.

Note: Installing hardwood flooring on steps is not included in the pricing.

Additional information on budgeting for hardwood flooring

• Material cost $0.50/sq. ft. to $5/sq. ft. - dependent on quality of material and finish
• Installation cost (contractor):

$0.75/sq. ft. to $4/sq. ft.

DIY Complexity - Scale 1 to 5 with 1 being the easiest.

• 3/4" or 5/8" thick, with nails - 4
• 5/16" thick, with glue or staples - 3

• Felt: Full-spread or perimeter adhesive - 4
• Fiberglass: Full-spread - 4
• Fiberglass: Loose-lay or modified loose-lay - 3

Hardwood /

Engineered Hardwood

Laminate

Vinyl Sheet

Vinyl Sheet /

Hardwood

Linoleum

Vinyl Tile

Laminate /

Engineered Hardwood

Hardwood