Q: We’ve been wanting to put solid wood floors down in our home, when it is time to replace the carpet we laid after building our home. Recently, we had some water damage on the second floor which damaged our 1st floor master bedroom and on down to the basement. Well, instead of carpet in our bedroom we want to install a hardwood floor.
Originally, we liked hickory for the strength. Since the damage, we are researching wood flooring and since we heat our home with a wood furnace in the basement, we aren’t too sure about hickory in our bedroom. The house gets very warm in the winter and our bedroom can range in the 80’s in the winter. Very warm. What type of hardwood floor should we install in our bedroom? We’re thinking Mesquite might do better in our bedroom, since it is the hottest room in the winter and coolest in the summer. In the next few days, we will have to make a decision. The restoration company will begin remodeling all the damaged areas. So we need to decide on a wood species for the floor and we are finding it difficult to make a decision because of the dry wood heat.
A: Mesquite isn’t a common species here in Canada, so I don’t really have any experience with it. It is fairly hard and I have noted that the harder, denser woods such as Hickory, Maple, Jatoba also tend to be more unstable with changes in climate, exhibiting greater shrinkage and gapping. Have you considered quarter sawn white oak? It is harder than red oak, has a unique tiger stripe sort of grain and stains well.
Related Questions
Breathable mats for hardwood floorsQ: We recently installed Azek boards for our outside porch floor. They told me at Azek that if I want to put an outside mat down where we exit the house, it needs to be a breathable mat and not a rubber mat. Do you have a suggestion for me?…
Can area rugs discolour hardwood floors?Can area rugs discolour hardwood floors? I was told by a rug salesperson that rugs could discolour hardwood floors, especially new hardwoods. She said carpet pads alleviate the problem.
Keeping hardwood floors in good conditionQ: Can you tell me what is the best way to clean hardwood floors? A: There are numerous cleaners on the market for polyurethane/varnished floors. Poloplaz makes one as does Basic Coatings, Mirage, Bona etc. Any floor retailer should have a suitable product. Keep on top of the vacuuming to…
Wood floors drying out the air?Our landlord just installed new oak floors in several rooms. They are beautiful. But ever since their installation, we have VERY dry air in the house and cannot get past the choking feeling in the air, despite running a humidifier as much as possible. How long will this last (it's…
How to clean hardwood floorsI have hardwood floors in my living and dining room. I have yet to figure out how to clean them. Just looking across the floor it looks fine, but if I sit down on the couch I can see spots all over the floor. Some are footprints but a lot…
Hardwood floors in bath and laundry roomsWe are currently remodelling our home and plan on putting wood flooring in both our master bath as well as our laundry room. I know wood floors are generally not recommended for these areas because of water, moisture, etc. However, we are unable to be perfectly happy with any other…