Benefits of Real Wood Flooring
A Solid Investment Deserves a Professional Installation
For most people, their homes represent their largest single investment. Whether you have been in your home for decades, or weeks, the money you spend to improve your home is an investment in your future, so it is important that you research your options carefully to get the most value for your money.
When it comes to choosing flooring for your home, there is no doubt that real wood floors offer the best long-term value. The National Association of Home Builders recently compiled a “How Long Things Last” report for homeowners. While other flooring options generally had a life expectancy of about a decade, wood flooring’s estimated life was listed at 100-plus years. That’s value that stands the test of time.
The wood floors you choose today will last for generations, so you want to make sure that the wood flooring professional you choose has access to the latest industry information to provide you with the high-quality job you expect. By choosing a member of the NWFA, you can be certain that he or she has the knowledge and skills to deliver a beautiful wood floor that will last for the lifetime of your home.
Sawn-Cut Technique
Sawn-Cut Technique
Lumber is sawn straight through the log or lumber.
Appearance
Sawn-cut will have the natural variation in both color and characteristics.
Result
Real Wood Floors
Sliced Veneer Technique
Logs are cut down into squares that are called a flitch. These flitch’s are then soaked to soften the fibers of the wood. The flitch is drawn across a angled blade and the veneer is literally shaved off. This process is repeated until the whole flitch is turned into veneer.
Appearance
Similar appearance to sawn-cut veneers.
Result
Though the veneers maintain the natural variation of sawn wood, it is very difficult to make thick veneers using this technique.
Rotary Peeled Veneer Technique
Logs are positioned on a large lathe and spun against a sharp blade “peeling” the veneers off the log as you would peel an apple. The veneers vary in thickness but are generally very thin as the goal of this technique is efficiency. This technique also is prone to lathe checks which are small stress points in the veneer that can crack in dry humidity and cause the surface finish of the flooring to fracture.
Appearance
Rotary peeled veneers produce a grain pattern that looks entirely different than a traditional wood floor. The knife is peeling off the veneer in a circular direction so the end product does not have a the natural variation and beauty of sawn-cut. Rotary peeled veneer will have patterns in the floor that can often look very busy with many unnatural looking stripes or zig-zag grain patterns.
Result
Though an efficient way to saw veneer, the product is neither naturally beautiful or thick enough to withstand a lifetime of wear and tear