As with any other industry, trends filter in and out of style. As we round the corner of first quarter of the new year, we want to ensure you are fully equipped knowledge of flooring trends for 2024 and how you can introduce them into your home!
The popularity of the modern farmhouse interior design style can be attributed to Joanna and Chip Gaines, hosts of "Fixer Upper". While the show first aired in 2013, modern farmhouse is trending in the new year due to Joanna's new take on modern farmhouse. While staying true to some of the original elements of modern farmhouse, such as neutral-coloured furniture, Gaines ha incorporated new elements such as textured ceilings, moody hues, and subtle wallpaper.
If you ask us, wide plank hardwood floors are like jeans: they go with everything! The versatility of wide plank flooring allows them to be seamlessly incorporated into various home styles as well as adds real estate value to your home.
Homeowners have been incorporating this non-traditional choice of kitchen flooring for what we believe are two main reasons. First, installing hardwood flooring in your kitchen provides a seamless continuation from the adjoining room to the kitchen. Second, the warmth and softness of hardwood is preferrable to the sharp coldness of ceramic tile or porcelain when walked on.
Herringbone patterns can be seen popping up everywhere in 2024, from cute necklaces to new hairstyles. However, the design pattern has become especially popular with interior designers this year. They have been embracing the herringbone design in spaces as a way to dress up a standard wood floor. As the design creates movement, herringbone can be a great choice for those wanting to add visual interest to their space.
While our company made the decision to stop carrying exotic wood species in 2017, we continuously reiterate our reasoning to educate consumers on the environmental impacts of exotic hardwoods. We have instead shifted towards low-sheen wire-brushed flooring in domestic species like Ash and Maple. While these flooring options are not as hard as exotic woods like Jatoba, they perform much better in our Canadian climate.
Natural wood tones are not just gaining traction because the beautiful colours lend well to any design style. Natural wood tones are rising in popularity because people are seeking to incorporate more nature into their spaces. Following the two-year global lockdown, people want to be surrounded by natural elements that remind them of the great outdoors.
Mixed width flooring, also referred to as random width flooring, is a great choice for homeowners looking to add character, as well as visual intrigue to their space. This is also a great option for those struggling to decide between narrow and wide plank flooring you are able to get the best of both worlds with this 2024 flooring trend.
We believe that wood accents are trending this year largely due to the fact that there are countless ways to integrate them into your space. Feature walls are a popular choice embraced by interior designers as they are a great way to add an artistic element to your home.
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There are various ways to integrate wood into your home. From stair treads to moldings, wood accents can be used in a variety of ways to improve upon a space. A common wood accent that is often used to highlight fireplaces for instance are feature walls. Feature walls are constructed from hardwood planks that are mounted to the wall, giving the space an element of depth and charm that is very eye catching. Including a wooden feature wall in your home can help distinguish your space and add character.
In minimalist spaces, a wooden accent can add character and charm. For example, the image above demonstrates how the addition of the Walnut panels brings this little nook to life with warm tones. Wood accents also work great in modern farmhouses as the wood stands out when paired with neutral colours and white paint.
With the vast variety in types of wood and the finishes you can choose from, there is no limit to hardwood's versatility
If you’re convinced that wood accents are something you want to incorporate into your space this year, we can provide a few ideas for how you can do so:
Using wood to add texture
Using wood panels as a backdrop
Mixed width flooring, also known as random width flooring, tends to be a top choice for flooring design for clients that are looking to add visual intrigue to their space. For this design, the hardwood planks are installed in alternating patterns, creating a unique design that provides character. Mixed width flooring usually incorporates up to three different plank sizes such as 4”, 6” and 8” or 6”, 8”, and 10”.
While our specialty is wide planks and long lengths, we ensure to carry a variety of lengths and widths to fit any interior design style clients have in mind. In fact, we’ve found that mixed width flooring is ideal for clients that are struggling to decide between installing narrow or wide planks.
As flooring plank widths can make a noticeable difference in how your room can look and feel, its important to note this when selecting your flooring. When you install new hardwood floors, you are doing so with the expectation of keeping them in place for years. That is why we here at Gaylord Hardwood Flooring want to help guide you through this important decision.
We know that you want to install the best hardwood floor that suits your needs and your preference. In order to do this, you need to begin by asking yourself some questions, such as:
Next, you’ll want to look online for inspiration. We recommend Houzz, as well as Pinterest, for countless interior design ideas. Using these platforms will allow you to narrow down the colour of hardwood you prefer, the variance in plank width you favour, as well as the overall look of the space you are designing.
Now that you’ve done these first two steps, the third step is scheduling an appointment with us. We’ll show you flooring options, provide you with samples so that you can see your hardwood selections in your own space, and can even help you choose a professional installer. Its time to take the next step in finding your forever floors. You’ll be happy you did.
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Since we started making flooring, the best selling stain colour each and every year is natural. It is timeless and the best option to let the wood showcase it’s personality. It’s Greg Gaylord's favorite because he know it goes with everything, like wearing jeans.
Now more than ever, we are seeing clients favouring wood that showcases inherent characteristics. There has been a shift from dark and glossy finishes being in demand, to matte and wire-brushed finishes gaining popularity. But what caused this shift? We believe that there are a few reasons for this. Let’s look at these in more detail!
The beauty of natural wood tones is that the rich, warm hues enhance any interior design style with ease. For this reason, we have compiled a list of various natural stains we offer that can lend well to any design preference. Whether you have a fondness for contemporary décor, or are drawn to a more traditional style, natural wood tones will add a timeless elegance to your space.
If you’re thinking about incorporating natural stained wood floors into your new project, our team can help you decide whether it’s a good fit for your space. Contact us here to book a virtual or in-person consultation. If you already have an idea of the flooring you want, place your order for samples here.
]]>This week we will be covering a trend that has been a popular topic of discussion for the past three decades: environmental sustainability. However, we will specifically be covering the 2024 flooring trend of sustainable flooring. Make sure to catch up on our earlier blogs here if you haven’t already.
I’m sure you’re probably thinking: what exactly is sustainable flooring? Sustainable flooring is produced from sustainable materials, as well as by a sustainable process, that reduces demands on ecosystems during its life-cycle. According to the National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA.org), hardwood flooring is the most abundantly renewable flooring material available. The reason for this is that sustainable forest management makes it possible to harvest wood without any serious impact on the environment, because trees are a renewable resource that can be replaced time and time again.
Its important to note that the hardwood flooring process is more sustainable than alternatives. In this process, logs are sawn into lumber, the lumber is milled into flooring, and in the case of Gaylord Hardwood Flooring a 0% VOC (volatile organic compounds) finish is then applied. Hardwood flooring takes less water and energy to produce than any other flooring option. The only by-product is sawdust, which can be made into wood pellets or used for horse bedding among other things. Furthermore, indoor air quality can improve with the installation of hardwood floors.
At Gaylord Hardwood Flooring, we believe in educating consumers before they make flooring choices. If choosing a green flooring product is important to you, read on to find out more about sustainable hardwood; a product that will last a lifetime without negatively impacting our environment.
Gaylord Hardwood Flooring made the decision to discontinue the manufacturing and production of exotic wood species in 2017. In the past, we offered exotic hardwood species such as Sucupira, also known as Brazillian Walnut; Tigerwood, also known as Brazillian Koa; Cumaru, also known as Brazilian Teak; and Jatoba, also known as Brazilian Cherry.
In a recent video, Greg Gaylord explains why the company shifted away from working with exotic hardwoods. He details that the hardwood flooring company wanted to focus on sourcing and manufacturing all hardwood products within a 300-mile radius of their Tweed, Ontario showroom. The reason for this is because when buying wood from Brazil, despite it being FSC-certified, it can be difficult to determine where the wood originated. Additionally, the environmental impact of shipping products from South America was of concern. The Tweed native goes on to note that he loves the idea of a supplier taking him into the woods to show him a log that will be made into Gaylord Hardwood Flooring.
We shifted to low sheen wire brushed flooring in domestic species like Ash and Maple. While these flooring options are not as hard as exotic woods like Jatoba, they perform much better in our Canadian climate.
If you’re considering using exotic species for your next project, its important to understand the impact this will have on the environment. For instance, the majority of bamboo timber comes from China where existing forests have been cleared to make way for bamboo plantations. The deforestation leads to soil erosion and loss of habitat for flora and fauna, which is then compounded by the use of pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers.
A product’s biggest impact on the environment is the issue of shipping. The environmental impact of shipping Canadian hardwood flooring in Canada is minimal compared to shipping bamboo flooring from China. That is why we have a selection of domestic hardwoods that would make great alternatives to exotic species. For your next project, consider using White Oak, Ash, Maple, Hickory, or Red Oak. Both the environment, and Gaylord Hardwood Flooring will thank you.
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The herringbone design pattern is made by staggering planks in a zig-zag technique. Herringbone lengths must be a multiple of the width (i.e., 5x30, 4x20, etc.). This pattern is often confused with chevron where the planks are set on a diagonal and meet in the center line. This design dates back to the ancient Roman Empire and was usually seen in castles and ritzy buildings. Recently, there has been a rise in popularly amongst other finishes, such as more herringbone wall treatments, furniture, and tile work. This has increased the accessibility of this product which correlates with the pattern's increased traction on social media platforms as more people look online for home renovation advice.
We believe that the true beauty of herringbone lies in its versatility. Herringbone is able to create movement within an unadorned space due to the interesting design. The pattern also does a great job at dressing up a standard wooden floor, as seen in NYC photographer Allie Provost’s TikTok. In the video, @allie.provost shared a before and after TikTok of her herringbone transformation. The before shows her hardwood floors laid in a straight, modern design in her pre-war apartment. The after reveals Allie's apartment completely transformed with warmth and character.
Herringbone works well in a variety of finishes and plank sizes, so you can really customize your space to your personal style! We recommend White Oak Natural, Beach Sand, and Bare if you’re looking to change up your space with a design that is both classic and updated. However, as herringbone looks gorgeous in every stain - it can even lend itself to a more traditional stain from our gallery, such as Cognac and Toffee.
Things to keep in mind
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Its no secret that hardwood is not the traditional choice for a kitchen, but its been trending over the last few years for good reasons. If you're like us, you absolutely LOVE the look of hardwood in kitchens! Not only does it create a visually seamless surface between the the kitchen and adjacent room, hardwood also provides a warm and soft sensation on one's bare feet. This is preferrable to porcelain and ceramic tile which tend to feel uncomfortably cold when walked on.
If you are thinking about implementing this beautiful trend in your kitchen, its important to consider these things first:
If you've decided that this is exactly the upgrade your kitchen needs, keep reading to find out our recommendations for your kitchen reno:
Over the past decade, wide plank floors have been a continued trend, and we're happy to see the trend persist! Wide plank hardwood flooring provides an expansive and cohesive look, while also creating a sense of openness and flow. This effect can make rooms feel larger and more welcoming!
Wide plank hardwood flooring is solid or engineered wood flooring that is wider than 2.5-4 inches, which is the width industry standard floorboards tend to be. However, solid wide plank flooring is a small subsection of the hardwood flooring market, one that we are proud to be experts in.
In recent years we have seen that clients are leaning toward wider planks for a variety of reasons. Wide plank flooring sets the tone for a home and creates the perfect canvas to build upon. One of our favourites is Our Livesawn White Oak because it is a specialty cut, so it shows off and highlights some really pretty grain patterns and natural characteristics throughout each board and floor. Just look at the various atmospheres we've helped clients achieve!
Wide plank hardwood flooring works for various home styles. Depending on the stain, you can use your floors as more of a statement piece or as a blank canvas for your dream home.
Whether you are renovating a cozy cottage or building a floating house, wide plank hardwood flooring can make compliment any space without diverting from the ambience.
When renovating, a homeowner’s first priority should always be adding to their property’s resale value. That’s why wide plank hardwood floors are such a popular choice in renovation projects: because homebuyers are willing to pay a premium for homes with beautiful hardwood flooring. For those buyers, hardwood floors are essential, especially when they want their new home to be move-in ready.
Wide plank flooring creates visual continuity in a space due to the wide boards and long lengths. The result is a flooring that is less busy and provides a nice flow to any space!
The price of wide plank hardwood flooring tends to be higher due to needing bigger logs to produce the boards, as well as the lumber is more scarce than what is used to make narrower boards. Generally, wide plank hardwood starts at $15 per square foot. At Gaylord Hardwood Flooring, we understand that flooring is an investment. This is why we have a collection of wide plank hardwood flooring to suit an array of budgets! Clients also appreciate our marked down flooring as we are able to provide them with beautiful options at incredibly low prices!
2024 Flooring Trend 1 of 8: Modern Farmhouse
What is modern farmhouse?
The phrase "modern farmhouse" has been thrown around liberally in recent years. Modern farmhouses embrace the longstanding elements of historic country farmhouses, such as wide plank hardwood floors, open shelving, shiplap walls, steel frame windows etc. This interior design style also sprinkles in modern-day elements that lend the look a more contemporary "not a typical farmer" edge. Modern farmhouses tend to favour neutrals, white paint, and pine finishes, which allows for more rustic architectural accents like barn doors and exposed beams to stand out more.
Unlike Mediterranean and Adobe style homes that are generally only found in the southern states, modern farmhouses can be seen across the entirety of the United States and Canada. Our company has supplied wide plank flooring to a great deal of modern farmhouses. From local projects in Prince Edward Country, to projects across the border as far south as Florida and Texas, we've found that this style is incredibly versatile.
Tonka Bay Project
This custom home in Tonka Bay, MN is truly swoon-worthy. It features 6" Wide Plank White Oak in our Beach Sand Stain which highlights all the natural wood characteristics throughout the boards, resulting in a really natural look while adding a subtle textural element. Contrary to dark woods, these floors are very low maintenance and easy to look after. In combination with these light neutral floors, this custom home features black windows and doors, shiplap, and neutral tones throughout the space.
County Stone House Project
Belinda Kelly truly outdid herself with this custom renovation. Belinda transformed this tired stone house into a bright and open space with modern farmhouse vibes. The addition of our 8" Wide Plank White Oak Champagne floors, wood shutters and custom millwork paired with the warmth of the exposed beams provides the home with calmness and charm.
Now that you know what modern farmhouses entail, its time to for you to find out how you can incorporate this design into your space.
Flooring
Its no secret that flooring has a massive impact on any interior design. The species, colour, and texture of the flooring all play a role in the design's overall final look. For this reason, we have four recommendations that match the modern farmhouse style perfectly:
Exposed beams
We've found with our clients, they are often looking for a complimentary colour for their beams to create a continuous flow. Often, clients will purchase the same stain as their floor for their beams. So if you're like us and love the look of exposed beams, we recommend using the flooring listed above to achieve your desired modern farmhouse look.
]]>We think the popularity of the neutral floors is due to many reasons. Here are our top 5 reasons why they are popular (and why we love them!) :
1. People quite frankly were just extremely over those dark, polished, high maintenance floors that were everywhere. Don't get us wrong, they are stunning...but they are also a lot of work. That's not really practical for let's say, 90% of the population. (No there are no statistics on that...maybe I should run a poll over on the 'gram, but trust me.) They are not ideal for busy households - with pets, kids, or for those who really just want to "live in their houses".
2. This goes hand in hand with number #1, but let's face it light floors are just easier! Lighter floors show less in general - whether is dirt, dust, or wear & tear. Light floors have the ability to blend and hide every day life!
3. They are Pretty! Light floors show of natural colour variation, character, and wood grains like very few stains before (talk about visual interest!). They have the ability to tone down some of those harsher more traditional tones that not everyone vibes with, while still tending towards a more timeless choice for your space. A lot of Client's at our showroom just naturally gravitate to these tones when they are in the showroom, and can't take their eyes off them. Typically, our Client's land on 1-3 similar stains at the end of a showroom visit.
4. They are Non-Committal! You aren't committed to just one look, one colour scheme, or stuck in a trend that you are going to regret. They have many elements from natural wood tones (Which never goes out) while muting some golden, brown, and red undertones. They are super versatile (honestly, they look good with an array of styles and colours) and give you the flexibility to grow as your style evolves over time.
5. Make your home feel light, bright, and airy! Light floors help to open up a space and create a really calming feel. Lighter Neutral tones can add a touch of coziness and warmth to your home while still showing off the natural characteristics of a wood floor.
Do you guys love the light neutral hardwood flooring look that we are currently seeing as much as we do? Leave us a note in the comments!
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We've had the stain available at our Showroom for the last month, and our Clients have been loving it. We've trialed it on white oak - both the live sawn and quarter & rift sawn, red oak, and Ash and it looks stunning on all of these options.
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Owning a condo is awesome! You have all the pleasures of a home without cutting grass or shovelling snow. Sounds good to me.
Compared to single family homes, condo projects require more organization and scheduling. To go smoothly everything must be arranged in advance. Simple things like getting through the security gate and into the condo as well as having a parking spot can save hours. Arrangements must be made with the delivery department on estimated arrival times so the service elevators can be booked accordingly. When booking allow more time than the job should take. Before ordering your floor please check the maximum length the elevator will accommodate. Usually this is 8’ and occasionally 9’. Our engineered flooring comes in lengths up to 12’ so this is very important. Carrying the flooring up the stairwells should not be considered an option.
Check out the allowable working hours and restrictions on what tools can be used inside or on the balcony. If chop saws or table saws are not allowed in these areas and cutting has to be done in the parking lot which will add hours to the job.
Assuming your condo’s subfloor is concrete you must go with engineered. When doing a site inspection it is important to have the carpet or other flooring removed revealing the surface that will be covered. This will make it possible to see how much if any prep work needs to be performed. If a site visit is not possible Facetiming us from the jobsite will work. Be sure to have a level or a straight edge handy to check flatness of subfloor.
Concrete slabs absorb airborne and structural sound waves causing them to spread, multiply and echo. A sound barrier will be needed under your flooring. Check with your condo board to get the Impact Insulation Class and Sound Transmission Class rating required. The sound barrier can be in the form of an underlayment or in the glue used. If not using the underlay you must use a glue with a sound barrier and spread the glue with the recommended trowel which leaves the proper thickness of glue. Read the label on the adhesive to find the proper trowel size for your application and also the amount of adhesive you will need.
There are 3 types of install available. A full glue down directly on the concrete using an approved glue with a sound barrier. A double glue down where the underlayment is glued to the concrete and the flooring is glued to the underlay. The last and most popular is the edge glued floating application on an approved acoustic underlayment.
Each has its advantages and disadvantages. A full glue down or double glue down take more time and have a more solid feel but replacing boards if needed is more difficult. Glue can be messy to work with so it must be wiped up immediately. Edge gluing and floating the floor is less expensive, less messy and easier to replace a board. The floor will move slightly when walked on, especially if the floor is not perfectly level. Floating floors have more of a tendency to squeak than full glue down floors.
After installation the floor cannot be disturbed for 48 hours to allow the glue to cure. Do not cover the floor to protect it as this will slow down the curing process. Walking on the floor before the glue has cured will weaken the bond so install your last boards are on your way out the door.
In the Northeast Region during the heating season condos tend to be very dry, especially if there is a central heating and air exchange system. You may not have complete control over the humidity in your unit making it difficult or impossible to keep it between 35-55%. Engineered hardwood flooring is not bulletproof like carpet and box stores say. It is still a wood product and not without issues. Engineered flooring tends to handle higher humidity better than lower humidity. Most condos use electric heat which dries out the unit and can cause the engineered flooring to crack.
When shopping for engineered you will find a wide range of qualities and pricing.
A large amount of the engineered flooring available in North America is manufactured in China and other Asian countries. This poor quality flooring may work in some climates, but will not handle the extreme seasonal changes of our climate.
Engineered hardwood flooring with a thin surface cannot be refinished and can curl up if too dry. This stresses the wood causing delamination and cracking. With a very thick surface, the huge wear layer controls the entire floor, defeating the purpose of engineered flooring. And when the surface layer shrinks it will cause the floor to cup. Most products are not made to handle the constant changes in humidity so each time the heating season returns the product becomes weaker than the year before.
Gaylord engineered flooring is by far the best on the market to handle the dry conditions experienced in our heating season. It is the perfect balance between having a thick surface layer, but not one that overpowers the plywood below. The surface layer is 3/16”, with the total board thickness of ¾”. This makes it a perfect match with your tile and if you ever want to refinish it, you can. We have never experienced “dry cupping” in our engineered flooring, but it will certainly check and crack. While dark shiny floors look beautiful in magazines, they are the worst possible choice in a condo. Floor to ceiling windows give brilliant light. This extreme natural light magnifies every little blemish, making any imperfections in the wood highly visible. A rustic, matte finish, wire-brushed if possible, will make these natural occurrences blend in and add to your floor’s beauty.
Most hardwood flooring companies have fixed length boards giving the floor a repetitive pattern or tiled look. Gaylord engineered flooring is random lengths giving your floor a beautiful flowing look.
Our ultimate goal is to supply you with the information needed to make the right choice. We aim to be accurate, honest and transparent in our products and our pricing to ensure you know exactly what you are getting, with no surprises.
“Good things are not cheap and cheap things are not usually good.” This is especially true with engineered hardwood flooring.
You can’t go wrong doing things right and purchasing a floor from us is the long term best choice.
See our helpful links!
Site Conditions for Hardwood Floors https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqxziYcv6S0
Engineered Flooring and nstallation https://gaylordhardwoodflooring.com/pages/engineered-hardwood-flooring-information.com
Engineerd Hardwood Flooring Comparison https://gaylordhardwoodflooring.com/pages/engineered-hardwood-flooring-comparison.com.
Radiant heating systems are very popular and though more expensive to install than conventional heating systems they are very energy efficient with a long term payback. These systems provide a very even consistent and comfortable heat.
Only engineered flooring can be used over these radiant heating systems. Most carpet and box stores promote engineered hardwood as being bullet proof and able to handle all situations. It must be realized this product is manufactured to be more stable than solid wood, but is still composed of 95% wood and 5% glue, and is not without issues. Choosing the wrong type of engineered hardwood to put over your radiant heat can be a costly mistake. Even the highest quality flooring will fail if put in the wrong environment. (Quick Video: engineered hardwood flooring comparison. )
By choosing a radiant heating system you’ve obviously thought ahead and considered long term performance. Don’t make a mistake now by choosing a cheaper, inferior flooring to go over it. Take the time to ask the right questions and consider the facts before making your decision. If you are shopping elsewhere check the manufacturer’s specifications to be sure that it is recommended for radiant heat. In our industry price competition has forced good North American manufacturers to compete with the poor quality manufacturers from China, forcing them to use a lower quality of lumber. Gaylord hardwood flooring is 100% North American, made by us for us, and all of it done within a 300 mile radius. We are proud of this fact, and proud to have been chosen by The National Hardwood Flooring Association’s “Wood Floor of the Year” award in the Best Manufacturer Factory Finished Category in 2015.
Our engineered flooring is by far the best on the market and can handle the dry conditions during the heating season, as well as the high humidity of summer. It is the perfect balance between having a thick surface layer, but not one that overpowers the plywood below. The surface layer is 3/16”, with the total board thickness of ¾”. We have never experienced “dry cupping” in our engineered flooring, but it will certainly check and crack. A rustic, matte finish will make these natural occurrences blend in and add to your floor’s beauty.
Proper installation of your engineered flooring is essential. Your radiant heating system must be turned on for 7 days before installation and then moisture testing done. Not doing the right preparations and turning the heating on only after installation will be disastrous for your floor. You must maintain a relative humidity of 30 to 50% before and after installation. After installation the floor cannot be disturbed for 48 hours, to allow the glue to set. If the floor is walked on before the glue has cured, the bond will be weakened; the boards will separate and possibly cause squeaks in the future. See our video Engineered Flooring over Radiant Heat
Quite often the original hardwood flooring in century homes would be narrow or very wide boards in a single width or in random widths. Whether the width was wide or narrow the lengths were long making our flooring the perfect fit for your century home. The species of wood was something harvested in the local area usually oak, maple, or ash.
We have many choices that work well in these homes from our live sawn white oak, wide plank engineered series in any 1850 stain, or a more traditional red oak or maple strip flooring. Everything old is new again and recreations of these century old floors are setting the trends. All these floors will capture the historic, vintage vibe of your century home giving it that authentic feel.
We tell customers before installation can occur the subfloor must be level within a ¼” over 10’. Century homes will never fit in this category so don’t be concerned with the 1 or 2” gradual dip over the length or width of a 16’ room. Leveling the low spots between the joists with a plywood will help in avoiding a bouncy, squeaky floor. If you try levelling the subfloor your vintage baseboards may end up going from 10” in one area down to 8” in another. Removing old wooden baseboards is not recommended as they were put on to stay and can’t be easily replaced. Leveling can also create height differences in adjoining rooms. Installing hardwood flooring over an up and down subfloor can add stress to the wood and possibly result in squeaks throughout the seasons. For these areas Wide Plank Nail & Bead Installation is recommended. This will lessen the chance of squeaks, but if there are some squeaks - that is what we call character!
Basements in century homes are typically crawlspaces, or an environment similar to a crawlspace. They are dark, damp, musty smelling, and can have ground water seeping in between the footings and walls. Air rises and this excess moisture can migrate into the subfloor, this could cause your hardwood floor to cup. 40 to 70% of the air you breathe comes from your basement. You should take measures to stop this moisture and prevent it from entering your home. We suggest viewing our video Crawlspace and Hardwood Flooring.
Not all century homes are built the same and not all hardwood flooring will work in them all. We have many different options available, and years of expertise in the industry, to provide the best flooring for your home. Take a few minutes of your time to tell us about your home’s atmosphere, then let us supply you with our expert knowledge and information needed to keep you from making costly mistakes. Even the highest quality flooring will fail if put in the wrong environment. Our goal is to gather information that will prevent this from happening to you.
Gaylord’s is a small family owned and operated business and, unlike large corporations, we care about you, your family and the environment. Our flooring products are an environmentally-friendly flooring choice. We are the manufacturers, the sales people and the complaints department. We take responsibility for our products and our actions, and don’t pass it on to others. Greg and I are always available to answer any questions you might have about hardwood flooring. Our customers can rest assured knowing that the product they have purchased not only looks great and performs well, but is a “green choice”. Our prices are not going to be the cheapest, but that’s a small compromise for a high-quality product that will last in excess of 40 years. A product you will enjoy through the times and if you re-sell your home the floor will still look like new.
]]>Radiant heating systems are very popular and though more expensive to install than conventional heating systems they are very energy efficient with a long term payback. These systems provide a very even consistent and comfortable heat.
Only engineered flooring can be used over these radiant heating systems. Most carpet and box stores promote engineered hardwood as being bullet proof and able to handle all situations. It must be realized this product is manufactured to be more stable than solid wood, but is still composed of 95% wood and 5% glue, and is not without issues. Choosing the wrong type of engineered hardwood to put over your radiant heat can be a costly mistake. Even the highest quality flooring will fail if put in the wrong environment.
By choosing a radiant heating system you’ve obviously thought ahead and considered long term performance. Don’t make a mistake now by choosing a cheaper, inferior flooring to go over it. Take the time to ask the right questions and consider the facts before making your decision. If you are shopping elsewhere check the manufacturer’s specifications to be sure that it is recommended for radiant heat. In our industry price competition has forced good North American manufacturers to compete with the poor quality manufacturers from China, forcing them to use a lower quality of lumber. Gaylord hardwood flooring is 100% North American, made by us for us, and all of it done within a 300 mile radius. We are proud of this fact, and proud to have been chosen by The National Hardwood Flooring Association’s “Wood Floor of the Year” award in the Best Manufacturer Factory Finished Category in 2015.
Our engineered flooring is by far the best on the market and can handle the dry conditions during the heating season, as well as the high humidity of summer. It is the perfect balance between having a thick surface layer, but not one that overpowers the plywood below. The surface layer is 3/16”, with the total board thickness of ¾”. We have never experienced “dry cupping” in our engineered flooring, but it will certainly check and crack. A rustic, matte finish will make these natural occurrences blend in and add to your floor’s beauty.
Proper installation of your engineered flooring is essential. Your radiant heating system must be turned on for 7 days before installation and then moisture testing done. Not doing the right preparations and turning the heating on only after installation will be disastrous for your floor. You must maintain a relative humidity of 30 to 50% before and after installation. After installation the floor cannot be disturbed for 48 hours, to allow the glue to set. If the floor is walked on before the glue has cured, the bond will be weakened; the boards will separate and possibly cause squeaks in the future.
New Home Build
Building a new home is very exciting, but it’s also very stressful picking out hundreds of products that look good when put together. Consider the hardwood flooring as a permanent fixture in your home and make your choices around it. Pick a hardwood floor that is timeless and will outlast all the trends. Dark shiny floors look great in magazines but are almost impossible to keep looking good. Large windows and LED lighting highlight scratches and dents from pets and children’s toys making dark shiny flooring look used and abused. This may hurt your homes resale value. With today’s fast pace of life people don’t have time to waste cleaning floors. Hardwood flooring for pets and busy families is our specialty.
Most new builds in our region are above grade on a wood based subfloor. If you haven’t chosen your subfloor yet we would recommend plywood over OSB. Both have arguable advantages but when exposed to rain OSB loses its ability to hold fasteners causing the flooring to squeak. The subfloor in this video had been exposed to continuous rains, ruining the subfloor . The picture tells it all. The stacks at the front are new product never been wet. The samples behind are ones that were wet and re-dried. When OSB gets wet it doesn’t shrink back to its original size while the plywood will. For more detailed information watch our OSB vs Plywood video. (Link Below)
On wood based subfloors we recommend following our nail down installation guidelines. For boards 5” & wider follow our wide plank nail and bead install. On the wider boards this will prevent squeaks as you have less nails holding the boards down.
Manufacturing both solid and engineered we will give you the true options of what product you can use. Most carpet and box stores will push you toward engineered representing it as the bullet proof trouble free option. Gaylord engineered is the highest quality product on the market and performs well in our climate but is not bullet proof. Unlike most engineered on the market Gaylord’s is full ¾” thick and comes in lengths up to 10 & 12’. It is still a product made of wood which reacts to the conditions it is exposed to. Controlling humidity is very important. An engineered product 3/8” thick fastened to a flimsy OSB subfloor over time in traffic areas will likely squeak.
Quite regularly people come in and tell us they are building a new home and need hardwood. Unfortunately when they tell us the hardwood flooring allowance the only flooring to fit into the price range would be a made in China product. As we are all aware Made in China products are not known for quality or longevity. In most states and provinces the builder legally has to warranty the new home for a one year period. Even the poorest quality floor will get the builder through one year. Hardwood flooring should be deemed a lifelong fixture in your new home. Although you are just building your new home and the last thing on your mind is selling, the North American average reselling of new homes is 5 years? This makes what your floor looks like in 5 years very important. You are building a beautiful home and hardwood flooring is a huge part of that beauty so choose a product that will outlast all the others. Paying $2-3 more now for a quality product is well worth it. Good carpet will outlast poor quality Chinese hardwood flooring. If your builder is not willing to negotiate take the carpet option and put in a quality hardwood floor when you take possession. It may delay your move in a few days but you will have a floor that will be there for the long term.
Above grade most of our solid and all of our engineered flooring will perform. New homes are being built with energy efficiency in mind and are very tight. Vapor barriers meant to stop air movement are trapping and holding the excess moisture which can be damaging to any wood products inside the new home. According to the National Wood Flooring Association 78% of hardwood flooring issues are in new homes of which 95% are moisture related.
We manufacture our flooring to be compatible with your new home after all the new home moisture is removed, which can take 1.5 to 2.5 years. New homes are saturated with moisture as you will see in our videos “Hardwood Flooring and Moisture – Wet Houses” (Link below)
As the videos stress this moisture must be removed during the build and continue after you take possession. Hardwood flooring is the driest product in the new home and will absorb this moisture like a sponge. Wood loses every battle with moisture. Wood absorbs moisture very gradual and in most cases issues are not noticed until they are obvious.
As the health chart indicates hardwood flooring enjoys the same temperature and humidity conditions as humans. That being 30-50% for solid between and 35-55% for engineered with a temperature between 60 & 80F. Depending on your location you may require either a humidifier or dehumidifier or both to keep within these humidity ranges. Being in the Northeastern region we are exposed to very dry conditions in the heating season and very high humidity in the summer which makes both a humidifier and dehumidifier necessary to minimize movement in the wood. If controlling your humidity is not likely we can steer you towards products that can better handle your specific conditions.
We have stressed how damaging moisture is on wood. All wet trades, dry walling, painting, masonry and tiling must be done before considering having the wood on site. Quite often we are asked to deliver the flooring to jobsites early so the wood can acclimate. You want the wood to acclimate to “Normal Living Conditions” which is not the conditions of a house filled with moisture. Having the wood at the jobsite before the wet trades are done is very damaging to the hardwood flooring. We take great care producing and storing our products and all that can be lost if the product is left or installed in unacceptable conditions.
Watch Are you ready for your hardwood flooring video (Link Below)
Have your HVAC operating as well as a commercial dehumidifier in the basement capable of removing at least 10 gallons per day. An HRV is an air exchanger only and does not remove moisture from the air.
Don’t finish your basement ceiling until the subfloor and joists are within 2% moisture content of your wood flooring. This traps the moisture under your floor causing long term cupping. Moisture and humidity can’t be seen, making it a silent killer to any wood products. See Finishing Your Basement Ceiling video (Link Below)
Occasionally builders, contractors and installers find our guidelines and recommendations to be too severe and unnecessary. They may tell you they have been doing their jobs for a long time and have never heard this before. People who follow what we say have very few issues. Others take short cuts and blame the product when they have issues. A short cut today may not show up for 8 months or more.
Taking the time to view the product description, watch our videos and go through our information will save unnecessary problems down the road. Pass this information to your builder, contractor or installer so they know what product was purchased and how it should be installed. Not all floors are installed the same so it is important they visit our website and view the guidelines.
We are the manufacturers, the sales people and the complaints department. We take responsibility for our products and our actions, and don’t pass it on to others. It is very important to us that you be happy. How can you go wrong buying the highest quality product from people who understand each and every aspect of what they do?
Please call or email if you would like more information concerning your project.
USE OUR 'MY PROJECT' APP HERE!
https://www.journey.gaylordhardwoodflooring.com/
Plywood vs OSB Sub-Floor
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzBZ82vukzI
Hardwood Flooring and Moisture
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMOtUoUHn24
Watch Are you ready for your hardwood flooring video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDwpL3n-m7g&index=3&list=UU-rHVbhy2ZwDXOSNu9k_53Q
See Finishing Your Basement Ceiling video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBYwF_Aoz18
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Before scheduling your flooring delivery, you must be sure of the following:.
1. Is the sub-floor moisture content within 2% of your hardwood flooring? Are all of your wet trades 100% completed? Some examples of wet trades are: drywalling, painting, tiling, masonry, and concrete. Having these completed prior to the hardwood delivery will minimize the exposure to "wet conditions" and reduce the exposure to harsh conditions.
2. What humidity controls do you have in place? Do you have HVAC equipment running and have the ability to maintain humidity levels between 30-50%. HRV's are air exchangers are do not readily control humidity levels.
3. Do you have a dehumidifier running in your basement to remove the excess moisture? A new home will have between 1000-2000 gallons of moisture which needs to be removed in order to minimize the exposure of the hardwood flooring to humidity. A significant percentage of this moisture is in the basement so we always recommend having one running in the basement. It's important to be diligent with the emptying of the dehumidifier, consider creating a schedule or utilize a system that automatically empties.
Not sure if you are ready for your flooring delivery, feel free to reach out! We'd love to hear your thoughts and any tips and tricks you have!
The Emerald Ash Borer was first detected in North America in 2002, but probably arrived on the continent a decade earlier. Native to Asia the beetle has been highly destructive in North America. Since its arrival it is estimated to have infected and killed in excess of 40,000,000 ash trees. Within 6 years of an infestation arriving in a wood lot 99% of the ash trees will die.
Have you always used Ash for Hardwood Flooring?
Yes, Ash has been a large part of our product line for more than 30 years. We've always loved so many properties of the Ash - it's durability, beautiful graining, and colour variation throughout. It has a similar look to oak, in terms of graining but takes on stains in its own unique way.
With the Ash trees coming down, we want to rescue and reuse as much of this beautiful wood as we can. Ultimately, we are giving it a second life as flooring.
Will I notice a difference in my Ash Hardwood Flooring?
With the normal logging process most of the mature trees are harvested leaving a selection of smaller trees to develop. In the case of the infected ash trees all sizes are being harvested, which includes many of the smaller logs. When these smaller logs are sawn, livesawn grain is unintentionally produced in the flooring. What does this mean? Your flooring ends up having stunning sound character and is more stable than lumber that is plain sawn. With the smaller lumber being used, you will notice the lengths in the ash are not as long as some of our other products.
Does anything get rid of the Ash Emerald Borer?
The only predator to the emerald ash borer is the woodpecker! (Cool right?) Unfortunately, by the time the wood pecker arrives to help combat these bugs - the trees are already infested! Fun Fact: The woodpeckers are able to hear the larvae and mature bugs moving under the board!
We'd love to hear your comments, thoughts, and interesting facts in the comments if you have some!
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If you are installing Gaylord Wide Plank or have an OSB subfloor, we strongly recommend following our nail and bead installation guidelines. Wider boards have less fasteners per square foot than narrower ones and OSB has less holding power on the fastener. Following this installation method will lessen the possibility of annoying squeaks. The main ingredient to a successful installation is the glue used. Wood floors move due to seasonal changes in humidity. High humidity conditions in the summer cause the wood flooring to absorb moisture and expand, while in the winter heating season the wood becomes quite dry and contracts.
We recommend Bona R850T Urethane adhesive as it has elastomeric properties that allow the wood to move through the seasonal humidity changes. The urethane adhesive is user friendly and comes in a sausage container with an aluminum skin. Any additional adhesive will remain usable while contained.
Construction adhesive typically comes in cardboard cartridges. The glue in these cartridges tends to ooze out of the applicator causing problems if it gets stepped on and tracked over the hardwood flooring. Cleaning up construction adhesive can be a very di cult task, especially once it has dried. Urethane adhesive is specially formulated to be easy to clean up with mineral spirits up to one week later.
With the Bona R850T applicator you can typically get 60 lineal feet with a 1⁄4” bead out of one sausage tube. Another key feature of the Bona R850T is its “Green Grab” which is how quickly the adhesive will bond to the wood. After 15-20 minutes the glue secures to the wood while construction glue can take more than one hour. The urethane adhesive has much lower VOC’s than Construction adhesive.
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Live Sawing is a method of sawing lumber borrowed from European craftsman of past centuries. It provides a unique rustic look while providing incredible stability making it a great choice for your home or cottage. We just finished a 15,000 run of 5” hickory with incredible character and lengths up to 10’.
When it comes to Hickory nothing compares to its rustic charm which includes streaks, spots and indentations from the woodpeckers. Woodpeckers have an amazing sense that allows them to hear bugs and larvae moving in and under the bark of a tree. The loud pecking noise that can be heard up to a mile is from its beak pounding the tree in search of bugs. This pounding creates T shaped bruises deep into the tree.
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Reaching out and connecting with Designers is such a fun part of this industry! You get to meet such fun, inspiring people who make you want to fall in love with everyone's home over and over again! I had a chance to meet and chat with an awesome woman in Minneapolis, Renae Keller. We chatted about some different trends for 2018, her favorites, and things to keep your eye out for! How could we not share this with you?
Opting for a stain color that ranges from light to medium tones will allow the wood highlight the natural beauty of the wood floor. Let the wood speak for itself in your floor. This can be achieved through using a hardwood flooring with knots, grain, color variation, and by using different cuts of wood. [Plain Sawn, Livesawn, and Quartersawn cuts will generate completely different looks in your hardwood floor]. She also loved that these tones help keep maintenance to a minimum!
Renae mentioned that she has been playing with edge details lately, and has been loving this! Refined wire brushed finishes gives the floor some detail. This helps to add texture without drastically changing the look or tone of the wood. Her Clients (and ours too!) are looking for a durable finish the helps to reduce maintenance. [After all, who really wants to spend endless amounts of time cleaning their home?]. Naturally, this textured finish depends on the style of the home. An extremely rustic flooring with a great deal of texture, might not be appropriate for each home.
It's important to remember that not all projects or homes fit into the same style. Sometimes, you have the opportunity to switch up styles in the home and sometimes it not feasible. Sticking with a consistent width on the main and upper level helps to achieve a more refined look. If your project is a casual area then you have the opportunity to switch things up. Mixing different hardwood widths can look stunning in a rustic area, boat house, or in lower levels of your home.
Hands down - LOVE patterns! (Me too!) Patterns such as herringbone, chevron, and parquet style will still be used throughout 2018. Patterns are wonderful because they help to create interest in your space. They can draw your attention to a specific architectural detail, highlighting a wow factor. They also work great to transition from one room to another. Renae loves the creative use of materials to help enhance beauty and create character throughout the home.
Renae let us in on her favorite design trends for this upcoming year. So make notes:
We love hearing the different perspectives and getting some pro-tips, and know you will too! What trends are you loving these days?
Be sure to check out some of her STUNNING work.
Designer Spotlight:
Fall in love with her work, check out her website
Follow on Instagram: @rkid_inc_
Well, I'm here to give you the inside scoop and all the pieces that go into understanding the price of hardwood flooring. Factors like waste, quality, finish, manufacturing company, and so on.
Pricing for hardwood flooring can range from as low as $3.99 per square foot to as high as $25.99 per square foot. This is a wide range, but it makes sense once you get into the details.
Key reasons
It's common to see hardwood flooring priced around the $3 - $6 mark. This is fine, but there are some important things you need to look out for.
Trap #1 - Poor Quality / Made in China / Environmental Impacts / A Lot Of Waste
Watch this video to understand the poor quality of hardwood flooring made in China. Did you know? -- 70% of flooring is made in China. Be aware!
In addition, if you buy a floor that's of poor quality you likely need to buy additional product since the amount of waste needed will be very high. Consider this -- you'll buy a hardwood floor that will require 20% wasted flooring, that's crazy.
Trap #2: Short Boards & A Bad Finish
It's common for a sample to look beautiful, but installing a floor with short boards will make it look choppy and cheap -- No one wants this! In addition to this, you need to be really careful about the finish quality. It's easy for someone to say "10 coats of...", but in reality, you need to understand what's in each coat and how thick it is.
Believe me, it's actually hard to find good quality -- North American made hardwood floor for only $3.99. You'll want to look for quality Canadian or USA manufactures that have overrun sales. Since we manufacture all of our hardwood flooring in the USA and Canada we've create a discount outlet site www.gaylordflooringonline.com. Since we manufacture we will get our additional unfinished planks and make a large batch, giving you as the consumer a great deal.
Here's a beautiful $3.99 floor:
This is a common range for prefinished hardwood flooring prices. You'll really have to do your due diligence to find out what the product is really like, though. Consider this -- there are some flooring companies with "Canadian" or "USA" in their brand names, but all of their floors are actually shipped and manufactured in China. Ask the flooring sales person a few questions 1) Where is the wood milled? 2) Where is the wood prefinished and 3) Are you sure?
Length & Quality at $4.99 +
Make sure you understand the quality of the products before going ahead. Length of board is a very easy to miss question. At the $4.99 + range you should be able to get flooring that has lengths that don't average 2 feet. You want long boards -- ask what length of box the floor comes in is. If it's a 6 foot box, you know the longest piece is max 6 feet, that's not great.
Here's a beautiful floor starting at $7.50:
It's not uncommon to find hardwood flooring that's $10 to $25 per square foot. This may seem like a lot, but you really do get what you pay for.
Range of Selection (Width, Lengths, Finish, etc)
At this price point you will be looking at many more flooring options. Below $10 per square foot you will have a limited selection of wider boards, as this brings the cost of production up. Additionally, flooring in a higher price category should have longer lengths. Consider this, at Gaylord Hardwood Flooring we manufacture a beautiful wide plank white oak flooring in lengths up to 10 feet and widths up to 10 inches -- It's incredible stuff.
A Beautiful Wide Plank White Oak Floor:
Speciality Cuts of Flooring
At a higher price point you are able to get more speciality cuts of hardwood flooring. There are few important cuts 1) Livesawn and 2) Quartersawn.
Livesawn Cut - This is where they slice directly through the log. In the center of the wood you get a linear quartersawn look, but on the ends you get the plainsawn look. It's incredibly rustic, but also the speciality cut gives you a stable board. This allows you to have a wide wide plank, without worrying about it cupping. In addition, livesawn is one of the most desirable looks of flooring.
Quartersawn Cut - This is where they cut the wood in quarters and cut through vs. the plain sawn method. Quartersawn is by far the most stable cut of wood, so you don't have to worry about cupping. It's also a unique look that's very sought after. Consider this -- quartersawn flooring is typically the choice in high end museums.
See Lewis Gaylord and the various cuts below:
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Clients often ask us whether prefinished or unfinished flooring is better. I would typically only recommend site finished flooring if you are trying to match an existing site finished floor and are refinishing the entire area. We do not recommend it for boards over 2-1/4” wide.
There is a misconception that site finished flooring is completely sealed and will not move. The fact is, wood will shrink and expand with changes in humidity, and gaps in a site finished floor are far more noticeable than prefinished. When site finished flooring shrinks in the winter, the gaps that develop will crack the finish, which is especially the case in wider boards.
Also, since the boards in a site finished floor are stuck together by the finish the gaps will develop at the weakest point in the finish which may be every 3- 4 boards. This is called “side bonding” and doesn’t occur in prefinished floors. In a prefinished floor the boards are free to shrink individually so you have small gaps between each board, rather than large gaps randomly throughout your floor.
]]>Polyurethane finishes can look beautiful on hardwood flooring, and there are an array of different sheen levels available when opting for a polyurethane finish. The sheen level can range from semi-gloss to a very matte finish. Often when comparing oil finishes and polyurethane finishes, you are looking for a very matte looking floor. When the matte finish is combined with our wire-brushed technique, it creates a very natural ultra matte floor. (Same look with less maintenance....win/win!)
As you know, not all finishes are created equal on hardwood floors so it is important to understand the differences when you begin shopping around for hardwood flooring. All Gaylord Hardwood Flooring comes with 10 coats of titanium oxide finish that is UV dried in between each layer. It does not require continued maintenance or additional finishes to be applied to validate the warranty (...which is a 40 year finish warranty!) When you opt for a wire brushed, matte finish this makes touching up any marks very easy with a small amount of stain and a rag or paper towel.
Oil finishes can look absolutely stunning on hardwood flooring. Typically, the oil finishes have a super low sheen and are ultra matte looking. This matte finish provides a very natural looking wood floor, adding to their popularity. Often oil finished floors have beautiful colors and samples, although they may not always look this way. Typically, oil finished floors are marketed as a very forgiving, durable, low maintenance option for your home. This can be misleading as oil finishes on a hardwood floor are actually quite high maintenance for a home owner.
It is important to review the warranty that is included with your hardwood flooring. Sometimes oil finished floors have a lifetime warranty included with the product which seems fabulous right? It's important to dive further into this, and realize that this warranty is valid with the periodic re-oiling of your hardwood flooring. What is periodic? How often will you have to do this? How long will this take and will I have to move my entire home around? These are important things to consider when looking at an oil finished hardwood floor.
Both polyurethane and oil finishes over time will develop small scratches or marking in them, it is wood after all! Polyurethane finishes can be easily touched up with a small amount of stain or with a stain pen to hide the scratch. This is especially easy with a wire brushed finish as it blends in seamlessly. An oil finished floor can have the scratches repaired by using a small amount of oil and working it back into the hardwood.
This really depends on the type of finish and sheen level that is applied to your hardwood flooring. A matte or wire brushed finish on a polyurethane floor will handle high traffic extremely well. The stain color will look the same in the high traffic areas as it does in the lower traffic areas of your home. The low sheen reduces visibility of heavy traffic and dirt and dust. Oil finishes tend to fade over time and loose the beautiful color that you fell in love with, you will notice this in your heavy traffic areas. It can create a very patchy looking floor, as the low traffic areas will still look beautiful where the high traffic areas will look run down and abused.
Sometimes a client has fallen in love with the stain on an oil finish floor (and usually we love it too), but they don't want the maintenance level of re-oiling or the color fading with the product. We offer a custom color program and can match to these samples, we can come very close to the oil finished floor. Clients love this because the floor will remain true to the color that they fell in love with over time, and they have a very durable finish over time. It often is very important that there flooring has an outstanding warranty, without the upkeep of an oil finished floor.
Of course, it will always be the age old question which one really is better? It's important to think of your maintenance level, and your flooring in 5, 10, and even over 30 years. This will help in deciding which option is right for you. Do you have any pros and cons of either finish? Which finish option would you choose?
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Of course there is no specific rule to deciding on what works for your cabinetry. First off, it really depends on your personal style and the style of the home that you are working with. Each house is unique, and the design should reflect. Soft tones & creamy whites are among Chantal's top color choices. These colors are very classic and have the ability to be adaptable over time. You aren't super committed when you go with a classic color for your cabinetry, commenting when you start working with a grey pallet for your cabinetry/textiles you become very committed to this color scheme. She recommends if you love the greys, use this as an accent in your home rather than basing the entire design around this element.
There are endless possibilities for different kitchen floors for your home. It is important to have some contrast in your kitchen if you have wood floors & wood cabinetry. Going lighter or darker is a good rule of thumb, the last thing you want in your kitchen is for it to look like you tried to match, and completely missed comments Wendy. Painted cabinets can help make your wood floors stand out, and provide a face-lift to your kitchen. Don't be afraid to paint your cabinets, it might be exactly what you are looking for! If you are opting for cooler colors throughout, incorporate some warmth with your floor to provide some balance. It is recommended to go with a hardwood floor that has some grain, and texture throughout to help handle the traffic in your kitchen. Need help understanding the species? Review this quick guide!
If a wood floor is not suitable with your space, there are ample different tile choices that can work for your space. Try laying them in a pattern to give some visual interest. Chantal suggests cork flooring as an alternative in your kitchen, because it handles well. It comes in some unique fun colors, and allow you to add some personality to the space if desired.
Wood floors were popular choices across the board. Wood floors have this ability to add warmth, life, and character to your space, Wendy Comments. They are timeless and allow both traditional and very contemporary settings to benefit from a beautiful wood floor. Hardwood floors are her anchor in the space and the entire room can be built around this feature. (We can't help but side with her on this one!)
"It is my favorite kitchen floor. Hands Down!" - Wendy Jilek
Obviously the look in your space is important, but function is also extremely important. Wood floors are both warm aesthetically and practically... they feel nice even on your bare feet mentions Wendy. Often people are worried about opting for a hardwood flooring in their kitchen, but reality is hardwood floors are extremely practical. If your wood floor is damaged in your kitchen, it can actually be replaced or refinished if necessary, unlike any other textiles. If you have wood floors in your kitchen currently, consider giving them a face-lift to fall in love with them again, says Chantal. It helps to tie the old and the new together in your space, staying true to the original style of your home.
It is also a perk that certain hardwood floors have the ability to go over radiant heating systems. With these systems becoming increasingly popular, having the ability to work with wood over these systems is an absolute bonus, Chantal comments. Who doesn't love the feeling of a heated floor! (We are all about this with our cold climate and snowy winters!)
Of course we promote... "to each their own" with choosing the right tones that work for the right space. Warm tones were popular across the board, staying with a classic look. Light neutrals and blonde tones are definitely increasing in popularity as they are both low maintenance and a trendy choice. However, dark floors are the least practical in your kitchen, as they tend to show everything and are a much higher maintenance option than a lighter tone, suggests Chantal. Of course, dark floors have their place (and are still incredibly beautiful)...it just may not be the best choice in your kitchen. (Want to learn some more downsides to dark floors?) Opting for a wirebrushed, distressed style floor is definitely a great choice as it has an incredible ability to hide wear and tear(...and crumbs!). Wendy encourages her Clients to opt for a textured finish in their wood floor, regardless of stain because after all...every ding has a story and a memory attached. (I mean, how cute is that?)
Neutrals have definitely been on the rise and for good reason. Both clean and soft whites help to create a very calm and relaxing atmosphere while remaining classic and timeless. Depending on your layout these light paint tones can help to brighten up the space. Going with these tones throughout provides endless opportunities to add in a splash of color throughout your kitchen.
If neutrals aren't for you, and perhaps you are feeling like opting for a bold tone...go for it! Paint is one of the easiest and most economical ways to upgrade and change the look of your space, mentions Chantal. Opting for black accents throughout is a fun way to change up your space when you don't want to stick with just white. After all, black is almost everyone's go to neutral right? (At least in clothing anyways!)
Don't be afraid to be bold with your design, after all "bold is beautiful" suggests Wendy. If you love a pop of color (she loves clean blues), embrace it! Opt for a punch of color in your island or feature wall, embrace a bold light fixture or pendant, or try unique hardware. All of these can be easily adjusted if you are ever grow tired of them.
The addition of bold accent rugs (Wayfair literally has 1,000s to suit your needs) throughout can pack a punch if you are sticking with a neutral color scheme. They are an inexpensive way to switch up your style, if you have "commitment issues" (I loved this comment! Who doesn't when it comes to deciding on materials for your home?) suggests Chantal. These also can be changed up seasonally which is a great way to add some personality to the space. After all, the kitchen is the heart of the home and your style should reflect you.
It is important to consider how your kitchen will perform for you in the present, but it is also important to consider how your kitchen will transition when you are aging as well, comments Chantal. She encourages Clients to consider adaptability in the future, and if modifications will be possible with your design. She mentions this is also something to consider if you ever have an injury. It's important to consider the practicality of your design, without having to sacrifice style in your space. This is likely something that you hadn't thought about (I know I hadn't), but is definitely a good point. Going with a hardwood floor throughout really reduces the transitions, and a wire brushed finish will be able to handle whatever wear and tear you throw at it!
So there you have it! Some awesome tips for your kitchen upgrades or renovation that you have on your wish list for 2018. I'd really recommend heading over and checking out these two ladies (Information below), you will be thankful you did as you will get loads of inspiration from them!
Chantal Devane
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Wendy Jilek |
So many times you find yourself searching for a good deal or purchasing a product, without even thinking about the environmental impacts that the product has. As you know, pretty much EVERYTHING is made in China.. but do we really think about the environmental impacts of these products?
As you really dive into other products and businesses trying to find out if a product or company is green, it can be completely overwhelming. Unless of course, "being green" is a specialty of this place! Cafes, restaurants, and bistros around are promoting locally sourced items, no animal products, and having a green space. This is awesome, and we love the transparency of these businesses! I think we get so used to getting false information, that it is really nice when places actually let you in on their sourcing and environmental efforts.
Doing this research, I began to realize that we are even more of a green business than we thought! Our showroom is incredibly green! Of course we know that everything we use is sustainable, 0% VOC's, and sourced in north america..but how we were doing more and didn't even realize!
"How can we be this green and not realize it? We are so green we didn't have any idea!" - Lewis Gaylord
LED's don't contain toxic mercury and help to reduce your CO emissions. The lifetime of LED bulbs is far greater than any other lighting on the market! They can last up to minimum of 5 times longer than any other bulbs! They use much less electricity reducing our overall energy consumption. Less used = Less produced.
We have these on the roof of our showroom and sometimes we even forget that they are there! Who doesn't love a little solar generated power? This was an awesome investment and works incredibly well for our showroom. We love that we reduce our carbon footprint by using reducing our utility consumption and opting for clean solar power. Electricity without the pollution! Win, Win!
Our showroom is completely heated by two wood pellet stoves. We purchase the pellets from a local farm supply store, where the pellets are made locally. The two stoves are incredibly cozy and incredibly efficient at heating our entire showroom. You also get a a small workout when you fill the stoves, so there is an additional perk while being a green option!
Most of the LED bulbs throughout the showrooms are on automatic switches. This is a great feature as it allows spaces that are not being used to be turned off. As customers (and employees) enter certain areas the lights begin to turn on and remain on while customers browse and make selections for their home. Once inactive, the lights shut back down conserving energy and reducing consumption! After all, this is a huge showroom and we want to show off the floors, but we don't need to have continuous bright lighting during down times.
It is important to recognize small changes that can help to reduce your carbon footprint! Do you inquire about the products that you are purchasing? Do you have any tips that will make it easier for shoppers? We'd love to learn more!
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Here are a few things that need to be considered with your condo that you wouldn't consider with your standard home:
As most condos have a concrete subfloor, engineered hardwood flooring is required for your home. It is important to consider the condition of the concrete prior to installation as well. If possible we recommend taking up a piece of the current flooring to view and understand the subfloor better. Concrete subfloors also absorb airborne and structural noises and will require a sound barrier underlayment or glue with a sound barrier with your hardwood flooring. It is important to check with your condo board and review the classifications - Impact Insulation Class and Sound Transmission Class Rating.
It is important for you to confirm the maximum height that will fit in the elevators prior to ordering your hardwood floor. Typically, these are 8' or 9' in some situations. This is important as our engineered hardwood flooring has extremely long lengths, with boards up to 12' long. We will ship materials with maximum lengths in order for a smooth delivery of your hardwood flooring. The long lengths in the engineered will help to create a nice solid feeling looking floor. It will also help to provide visual continuity in your space while providing a natural looking hardwood floor.
There are three different types of installation that can be used in your condo:
Full Glue down- you can learn more about a full glue down here. Simply put, the engineered hardwood floor is glued directly to the concrete
Double Glue down - The approved underlay is glued to the concrete sub floor and the engineered hardwood is glue to the underlay.
All three of the different installation types have their pros and cons, so its important to understand the differences of each method. Overall outcome, Cost, and Project time are factors to consider when looking at the different methods.
Living in a condo means that sometimes it can be very hard to have temperature and humidity control in your unit. Often there are central systems that can contribute, making it very difficult to control the relative humidity in your home. This is especially important as engineered hardwood flooring is not a bulletproof option! Your engineered floor has a solid hardwood surface on the top, which will still move and behave like a solid wood product. If your condo unit becomes too dry and well below the recommended relative humidity range it can crack. It's important to choose a product that will handle and hide any cracking that may occur. Check out the realities of engineered flooring.
It's important to compare some different engineered hardwood flooring options on the market. As the majority of the products available are manufactured in China, they are not made to stand up to our climate or perform for long periods of time. To learn more about engineered flooring, check out some Engineered Hardwood FAQs to help with your decision making process. Check the wear layer, inquire about lengths, warranty, and if your hardwood flooring has the ability to be refinished as a good rule of thumb.
So go for it! Have that dream floor that your condo is begging for!
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Okay, the first pro-active approach to reducing scratches and marking in your floor is to opt for a floor with a grain. Choose something that can be wire-brushed to give you that textured finish. Not only is it extremely low maintenance, but it will help blend and scratches and marking. A nice feature is you may have small scratches throughout, but can't see them due to the textured finish. If you do have a small scratch, use a little bit of stain on a paper towel or rag and work it into the scratch. Voila! A little bit of stain goes a long way and can save your sanity!
As 2017 is wrapping up, it is a good time to start looking towards the new year. Who doesn't love the feeling of starting fresh with a new year? The flooring trends for the upcoming year align with this! The idea of a bright fresh home is what we are talking about!
These wire brushed textured finishes are not unique to 2018, but we will continue to see these on the rise. We notice people craving that "lived-in" look and feel when it comes to your hardwood flooring. Getting a hardwood floor that will be able to handle to your lifestyle, while looking stunning at your next get together is at the top of the list!
We noticed a high demand for neutral tones during the last few months of 2017. Opting for a muted neutral tone helps to create a beautiful canvas throughout your home. It also gives the opportunity to add pops of color throughout your space, whether it is through paint colors or unique accessories. In addition, natural wood tones and features are something to keep your eye on. Subtle variation, unique knots and character, and warm tones look beautiful with crisp finishes if you are going for a farmhouse interior.
Muted grey tones will continue to stay strong throughout 2018, especially on species like white oak, hickory and ash hardwood flooring. The muted grey tones combined with beautiful wood grains and character, creates a very unique looking wood floor for your home. The subtle variation throughout boards helps to provide visual interest while remaining muted enough to let your personal style shine through. Monochromatic and simplicity will continue to stay strong throughout 2018.
Adding rustic elements throughout your home with your hardwood flooring will continue to be a personal favorite. Opting for wide plank hardwood flooring, wire brushed textured finishes and knots and character set the tone throughout your space. We can't help but love letting the floors speak for themselves in any space! Adding circular saw marks or band saw marks add some unique visual interest and help achieve that "lived-in" look that is sought after. We've notice clients want a look that is anything less than "perfect" and this will definitely achieve that.
We've noticed a major shift throughout 2017 which will continue to carry through 2018 and hopefully forever. Having a floor that is low maintenance and easy to care for is a chart topper for Client's flooring wish list! Realistically, no one wants to spend every day cleaning their hardwood flooring, and want to be able to sit back and relax without seeing every speck of dirt & dust on their hardwood floor. Opting for a light stain colour and a textured finish will be your best friend when looking for low maintenance.
"We make floors that suit the lifestyle of a busy home" - Lewis Gaylord
With your hardwood flooring being a major investment and purchase for your dream home, it is only natural that you want to ensure that your flooring can handle your lifestyle.[Check out this article] We've noticed a major shift in clients looking for a floor that will be able to handle the wear and tear of every day life. Whether you have pets, kids, or are the go-to for hosting special events, we've got you covered. Going with character, knots, light tones, and wire brushed finishes will give you the durability you are looking for.
What about you - What trends are you loving for 2018?
After deciding on a beautiful hardwood floor for your home, it is important to ensure that you include some of our amazing accessories to make your floor look next level! We offer a variety of different options to bring that wow factor to your hardwood flooring.
These are an absolute must! These custom flush vents are handcrafted to order to match your hardwood floor. They are crafted in the same wood species (Still undecided? Check out this guide to choose your wood species) and finished with your hardwood flooring to ensure a beautiful match. Each vent is made with individual quarter sawn pieces, which create a very attractive vent with a high level of durability.
These vents are installed with a gorgeous frame, where the height matches up with your existing flooring. These help to create a very seamless looking floor and provide continuity in the space. With the vents being flush with your hardwood flooring, it eliminates any tripping hazards, in your busy lifestyle. Did I mention that they make cleaning a breeze? (No, I'm not joking..you will appreciate this too!)
All of our floor vents are custom made to order. Standard vent sizes are kept on hand for finishing purposes, although we have the ability to create most custom sizes for your floor. Older century homes sometimes have unique vents and cold air returns, which can be hard to find in box stores. Our cold air returns are stained by hand to create a very close match to your hardwood floor. Realistically, you don't want to invest in your hardwood floor to put in a giant metal cold air return!
Sizing your floor vents is actually quite easy. You need to size the physical opening that is in your floor. With these measurements, we have the ability to build you a custom floor vent. (Told you it was easy!) Want to see how, watch our quick vent sizing video.
Looking for a transition strip for your home, but not sure what you need? We offer a variety of different options to transition from your hardwood flooring to an alternative textile in your home. We offer t-mold pieces when matching up with the same height and reducers when transitioning to a textile less than 3/4" in thickness. These are all stained by hand to match your hardwood flooring. If you are looking to transition into a stairway, we can provide custom stained nosing to match.
Still unsure about sizing your hardwood vent? Unsure what transition piece you really need? Give us a call, we'll help you out!
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