Something You Should Consider Before Purchasing Wood Flooring

Expectations are extremely important with large purchase items like flooring. This is especially true with hardwood floors. There is no question that a new hardwood floor will add a dimension of beauty and warmth to your home. Many consumers do not know that wood flooring has some unique characteristics that make it not the perfect choice for everyone. This article is by no means meant to discourage you from buying a hardwood floor, but you do need to take into consideration this information about hardwood floors before making a purchase.

Wood Floors are Guaranteed to Indent

Wood floors are by no means a soft product, but they may be susceptible to denting from heavy use or drops. No wood flooring is dent proof, but different species of wood do have different degrees of hardness. The Janka Test is used to measure the hardness of a species of wood. Using this test, wood species are given a score based upon the force required to embed a steel ball into the wood. It is said that the higher the score, the better the species of wood is at withstanding denting and wear. Northern Red Oak, the most common species of wood used in flooring, is the standard to which all other species are measured against. It has a score of 1290. There are species of wood that score over 3000 on this test, and while they may wear better with everyday use, they still will probably dent if something heavy like a hammer or can of food is dropped on the wood. If you are really concerned with your floors ability to withstand indentations, you do have other options. There are wood look, high pressure laminate and porcelain products that are much more resistant to pressure and wear. In addition, a distressed or hand scraped wood floor will do a better job at hiding dents and other wear on your floor.

About This Article

Atlas Floors San Antonio has been a family owned flooring store since 1948. We serve San Antonio and South Texas with 3 beautiful showrooms. Whether its Carpet, Tile, Wood, Laminate, Vinyl, or Area Rugs that you are looking for, Atlas Flooring San Antonio has what you need! We pride ourselves on being San Antonios flooring professionals.