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most versatile floor covering there is,” Howard says. “It goes with contemporary and traditional and everything in between. A variety
of woods and finishes are available to complement the d
écor and style of any room. Oak and maple are the most popular woods, but some
homeowners are investing in exotics such as Brazilian cherry and purpleheart.
They are softer and more supple than other surfaces and provide greater
resilience, improved shock absorption and increased energy, all of which help
to reduce injury and body fatigue.
”
Wood floors can take a pounding and still look beautiful. Finishes on new floors
stand up to water and traffic, resist wear and stains and require no stripping,
buffing or waxing.
Trends
We asked Howard what trends the
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association is seeing in wood flooring. Following are some of her observations.
Distressed flooring is a unique floor unlike any other. There is a high demand for distressed
flooring. Its unique look and antiquated appearance make for a one-of-a-kind
floor. Hand scraping is the most common distressing technique. The end result
is a new floor that looks beautifully antiquated. Woods that adapt well to
hand-distressing include walnut, oak, hickory, pecan and pine.
Rustic species is also one of today’s hottest trends. Rustic flooring lends itself to casual decorating styles.
These floors tend to have a rich and varied grain with abundant knots, mineral
streaks and ingrown bark. The color palette ranges from medium to dark. The
most popular rustic species available include hickory,
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pecan, mesquite, antique heartpine, walnut and Australian cypress. No special
care is required to maintain rustic wood flooring.
Reclaimed wood floors are new floors created using old wood—sometimes very old wood from barns, abandoned factories or warehouses, deserted
Army barracks and even the bottoms of rivers. Reclaimed wood offers homeowners
a totally unique look. Each individual board is rich with character, color and
mineral variations creating a one-of-a-kind floor. Reclaimed wood products are
also environmentally-friendly. Instead of being discarded, the wood is
carefully recovered to minimize environmental distress and meticulously milled
to yield the most usable flooring material.
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with a fresh, new canvas.
Parquet traditionally has been defined using one pattern called a finger block. Parquet
wood flooring is any pattern that is geometric in shape rather than linear.
Parquet patterns can vary in size and can be simple, or extremely elaborate.
The patterns are subtle when created using just one species of wood and
elaborate when created using a variety of species.
Medallions - Today’s consumers want to reflect their own personal style. One of the ways to
accomplish that in a home or business is by adding a medallion to the new or
existing wood floor. Medallions are design elements that are installed in the
main field of the floor and provide a defined focal point. They can be
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incorporated anywhere to create unique visual appeal. Medallions can be composed
of multiple wood species, or can incorporate other mixed media, such as stone,
metal and leather.
Prefinished medallions can be purchased directly from the manufacturer and
routed into existing wood floors with minimal mess.
Exotic species can run the gamut of colors. African Bubinga can be pink, red or reddish brown
with purple streaks or veins. Australian Cypress runs from cream-colored
sapwood to honey-gold heartwood, with dark brown knot holes throughout. It
looks similar to knotty pine, but is much harder. Santos Mahogany, from South
America, is a dark reddish brown. Purpleheart from Mexico is brown heartwood
that will age to a deep purple or purplish brown.
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Asian Burmese Teak varies from a yellowish brown to a dark golden brown. African
Wenge will age to a very deep brown, almost black.
There are definite advantages to purchasing wood floors; they are ecological, affordable and easy to maintain. Wood floors are ecologically- friendly. Since wood is a natural resource, it
is both renewable and recyclable.
Today’s wood floors are affordable. Over time, wood floors maintain their value. When
other flooring options are looking tired and worn out, wood floors will still
look beautiful and timeless.New technology in stains and finishes call for
regular cleaning that takes little more than sweeping and/or vacuuming, with
occasional use of a professional wood floor cleaning product.
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