Hardwood Flooring Company in Virginia and Metro DC Area
Here at Floor U, we want to make sure you choose the right flooring for your home or business. Due to its extreme popularity, hardwood flooring is a primary choice among homeowners in northern Virginia. However, there are many different kinds of hardwood flooring to choose from.
When discussing wood floor options, you may hear the terms “on grade” and “above grade”. The different levels of the home are often referred to as “grade levels”. In most cases, when you walk into a home through the front door, the ground level is known as “on grade”. Every floor located above the main floor is considered “above grade”. Basements are “below grade”. Knowing these simple terms will help you determine which wood type is best for you.
There are many kinds of wood, but some are better than others for homes or office spaces, high-traffic areas, durability, color and more. First, you would need to choose between solid wood flooring or engineered hardwood floors.
In Northern Virginia, hardwood floors are a huge staple in homes. Typically partnered with carpeted bedrooms and tiled kitchens, choosing the right hardwood floor for your Virginia home is the key to creating a gorgeous and inviting space.
Wood flooring in Virginia provides warmth, beauty, and value. You can elevate your home or office by selecting a beautiful wood plank. Nothing compares to the style of a gorgeous wood selection.
The first decision you must make is whether or not you want finished or unfinished hardwood floors.
Contact us today to schedule a FREE hardwood flooring estimate.
Unfinished vs. Finished Hardwood Flooring
Unfinished hardwood flooring is the best option if you are looking to create a custom look and color. Unfinished hardwood allows the flooring company to apply a custom stain or if you want to match the color of existing flooring.
After hardwood flooring installation and staining, the flooring is given several coats of protective finish. If you’re thinking of adding hardwood flooring in your kitchen, unfinished flooring is a good choice because the finish will penetrate and seal the seams between boards, helping to prevent water from seeping between boards.
Prefinished hardwood flooring comes from the factory already sanded and sealed, meaning the whole installation job goes quickly. There are no odors from finishing on-site and the floor is ready to walk on immediately. Typically, this option is more cost-effective as well.
Choosing between unfinished and finished hardwood flooring may come down to budget and preference for staining.
Types of Hardwood Floors
There are two types of wood floors available on the market today: solid and engineered.
Solid Wood Flooring
Solid wood flooring is exactly what the name implies: a solid piece of wood from top to bottom. The thickness of solid wood flooring can vary, but generally ranges from ¾” to 5/16”. One of the many benefits of solid wood flooring is that it can be sanded and refinished many times.
Engineered Hardwood Flooring
Engineered wood floors are real wood floors that are manufactured using three to nine layers of different wood veneers. The sub-layers can be of the same species, or of different species. The grain of each layer runs in different directions, which makes it very stable. This means that the wood will expand and contract less than solid wood flooring during fluctuations in humidity and temperature, which may be important for some Virginia homes.
While this type of flooring can be sanded and finished, it cannot be done as many times as solid wood flooring. Engineered wood flooring can be installed above, on or below grade.
Our Hardwood Flooring Experts Can Help!
When you are ready to choose the perfect hardwood floor for your home, get a free quote from the experts at Floor U. Since 1984, our company has proudly served home and business owners in the metro DC area, as well as Springfield, Arlington, Fairfax, Vienna, Fredericksburg, Great Falls, Mclean, Sterling, Ashburn, Prince Georges County, and Montgomery County.
We’re one of the few local companies who get our supplies directly from big industry leaders like WE Cork, Mirage, Bruce Hardwood Floors, Shaw Floors, Mercier Wood Flooring, Mullican Flooring, and Triangulo. By choosing Floor U you get high quality choices and exceptional customer service.
With industry-trained installation experts and a team of on-site supervisors, you never have to worry about how to care for your hardwood floors. No matter which wood type you choose, we will supply you with the knowledge you need to properly care and maintain your wood floors so they stand the test of time.
Contact us today to schedule a FREE hardwood flooring estimate.