Hardwood FAQ

IS RECYCLED WOOD FLOORING AVAILABLE?

Yes. Wood salvaged from a variety of sources, including old barns and factories, is a popular design trend. Wood recovered from riverbeds is another growing segment of the wood flooring industry. Logs that sank during logging operations years ago are being recovered by a number of companies and used to create truly unique flooring. Today’s only significant source for heartwood from long-leaf pine is through reclaimed timbers from warehouses and factories constructed during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Chestnut, hemlock, poplar, walnut, and cypress are other options.

ONCE INSTALLED, HOW OFTEN MUST WOOD FLOORING BE REPLACED?

Every hundred years or so. In fact, the heart pine floors in historic Bacon’s Castle in Virginia are more than three centuries old and counting. Simple care and maintenance keeps wood floors looking beautiful for a lifetime. Instead of laying an entirely new floor when the original is worn, wood floors can be rejuvenated with sanding and refinishing. When done by a wood flooring professional, wood floors need only to be refinished every 10 – 15 years or 10 – 12 times during a floor’s life. When a wood floor’s useful life is over, it’s completely biodegradable.

IS THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT PROTECTED DURING THE HARVESTING AND MANUFACTURING OF WOOD FLOORING?

Yes. Far from a depleting resource, hardwood is sustainable and commercially more available now than ever before. On the 486 million acres of forestland in the United States classified as commercial, substantially more wood is added in new growth each year than is harvested. For hardwood species, 90 percent more wood is added annually in net growth than is removed through harvest.

MY CLIENT SUFFERS FROM ALLERGIES. IS WOOD FLOORING HYPOALLERGENIC?

Millions of people suffer from sensitivity to chemicals and toxins. Tests by leading allergists have proven that wood flooring provides a healthier environment for these allergy sufferers. Wood doesn’t harbor irritating dust and microorganisms.

IS IT COST-EFFECTIVE FOR HOME BUILDERS AND RENOVATORS TO SELECT WOOD FLOORING INSTEAD OF LESS-COSTLY MATERIALS?

Yes! Residential real estate agents say homes with wood floors sell faster and fetch higher prices, according to a recent nationwide survey commissioned by the National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA). By a four-to-one margin, real estate agents said that a house with wood floors would sell faster than a house without wood floors. Some 90 percent said a house with wood floors would bring a higher price.

MY CLIENTS HAVE DIVERSE TASTES IN INTERIOR DESIGN. DOES WOOD FLOORING GO WELL WITH MOST DESIGN STYLES?

Yes. In a recent survey commissioned by the NWFA, 96% of interior designers find that wood flooring works well with many decorating styles – modern, traditional, and formal. Designers rated natural materials as superior to man-made materials in beauty, prestige, style, maintenance, and durability. A variety of woods and finishes are available to complement the decor and style of any room.

THERE ARE SO MANY SPECIES OF WOOD. HOW DO I SELECT ONE?

Choosing a species of wood involves more than selecting a color to match your décor. You should be aware of the basic facts about wood species. Other appearance-related attributes are important too, such as texture, grain, and cut. Installers will want to consider mechanical properties like dimensional stability, machinability, and ease in finishing.And any specifier will need to consider availability and cost. NWFA’s wood experts offer detailed information about the properties of many wood species.

WHY DO MOST GYMNASIUMS USE WOOD FLOORING?

For the same reason many homes and businesses do: durability and comfort. Indeed, wood flooring commands more than 70 percent of the highly demanding sports floor market. Wood floors are softer and more supple than other surfaces. Wood flooring provides greater resilience, improved shock absorption, and increased energy return, all ofwhich help to reduce injury and body fatigue for athletes.

I’VE ALWAYS USED WOOD FLOORING IN LOW-TRAFFIC AREAS LIKE FORMAL LIVING ROOMS OR CONFERENCE ROOMS. IS IT DURABLE ENOUGH FOR A KITCHEN, BATHROOM, OR WORK SPACE?

Yes. Specifiers and clients are discovering what basketball players have always known: wood flooring can take a pounding and still look beautiful. The stet finishes on most new wood floors stand up to heavy traffic, bringing wood flooring into bathrooms, kitchens, and other high-traffic areas. These finishes resist wear and stains better than other finishes and require no stripping, no buffing and no waxing.

DOES WOOD FLOORING PROVIDE GOOD ACOUSTICS?

Churches, synagogues, and other clients with auditorium projects increasingly request wood floors for its warmth and acoustic attributes. Ask your wood flooring professional about special installation techniques that can increase acoustic abilities.

DOES WOOD FLOORING PROMOTE A HEALTHY INDOOR ENVIRONMENT?

Yes! Bacteria, dust and dirt do not embed themselves in wood flooring, as they do in other flooring options. Simple regular maintenance—such as dust mopping, sweeping, or vacuuming—keeps wood floors dust-free.