CHOICE
olid hardwood floors and advises how proper moisture management heir best for years to come.
Oak, whether red or white, is by far the most common type of natural hardwood used for wood floors. Because oak grows in abundance and is widely available as a flooring material, it is generally the most affordable choice among hardwood species. Like most other hardwoods, oak is durable and stands up well to foot traffic, making it a great choice for any flooring application.
Maple is the second most common type of hardwood floor. Many species of maple can be used for flooring and they vary quite a bit in terms of price, quality, hardness, and grain pattern. Some species of maple provide a swirling grain pattern that is quite prominent, while others yield a more uniform look and color.
Hickory is also a commonly chosen material for hardwood floors. Its knotted, grain pattern and color variance make it an interesting and attractive choice for almost any interior environment. Hickory is more expensive than oak, but it’s also a harder wood, which makes it quite durable and resistant to dents and scratches.
American Cherry is another popular hardwood, though used less often than oak, maple, or hickory. Expect it to be more expensive. It is also softer than many other species, making it more susceptible to dents or scratches. The attraction of cherry is its beautiful, deep reddish-brown color and its distinctive grain pattern.
Walnut is yet another favourite choice for floors. Like cherry, walnut tends to be more expensive. American walnut is softer, while Brazilian walnut is extremely hard, so never confuse these two types. Though the wood can vary widely in color and grain pattern, walnut floor planks typically don’t exhibit as much variation, giving a more consistent look.
Although these five types are among the most popular, many other excellent choices exist, such as ash, mahogany, or
bamboo (which is actually not a hardwood at all but a dense, fast-growing grass). Certain exotic species, such as teak or jarrah come at a price premium.
HOW TO ADDRESS THE
MOISTURE FACTOR As mentioned, excessive moisture can damage any type of wood or wood flooring product. Proper care and maintenance – such as cleaning up spills or quickly addressing potentially disastrous issues like flooding – help ensure the longevity of your hardwood floor.
Beyond that, it’s also crucial to pay attention to moisture before, during, and after installation. Always make sure that the hardwood flooring is delivered in advance and is given time to properly acclimatise to the interior environment where it will be installed.
Use of a non-invasive, pinless moisture meter provides a fast way to assess the moisture content of the wood. The meter’s moisture readings should then be compared to the equilibrium moisture content (EMC), which is the moisture content of the wood when fully acclimatised to its surroundings. EMC can be easily calculated based on ambient relative humidity and temperature. Some handheld meters, such as the Orion 950 by Wagner Meters, automatically calculate EMC for you. If the wood is within +/- 2%-4% (depending on width) of EMC, it is properly acclimatised and ready for installation.
https://www.wagnermeters.com/moisture-meters/
If hardwood flooring is to be installed over a concrete subfloor, it is also vitally important to pay attention to the concrete’s moisture condition. Never assume that a concrete slab that seems dry at the surface is sufficiently dry and ready for your wood floor installation.
Water is an essential component of concrete, and as such, a substantial amount of moisture may be lurking below the surface. This hidden moisture could wreak havoc with your hardwood floor, causing all sorts of potential problems, such as warping, buckling, crowning, cupping, staining, mould, or mildew.
The best way to prevent these problems is to evaluate the concrete’s moisture condition using an in-situ relative humidity (RH) test kit, such as the popular, easy-to-use Rapid RH L6. RH test results give an accurate, reliable indication of when the concrete is dry enough to safely install the hardwood floor.
https://www.wagnermeters.com/concrete-moisture-test/ HARDWOOD: A GREAT CHOICE
Use of a non-invasive, pinless moisture meter provides a fast way to assess the moisture content of hardwoods.
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FOR ANY HOME OR BUSINESS By taking these moisture-related precautions, you can have peace of mind knowing that you’ll enjoy the beauty, elegance, and durability of your hardwood floor for many years to come.
www.wagnermeters.com NATURAL MATERIALS | 19
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