How to Recognize Quality Engineered Hardwood Flooring in Oakville |
Posted: September 30, 2013 |
If you’re shopping for engineered hardwood flooring in Oakville, you’ll want to know how to recognize quality. The fact is, not all hardwood flooring is the same, and understanding how to recognize quality gives you a major advantage over other consumers. Many people are swayed by slick advertising and hype, ending up with less than stellar quality flooring. Taking the time to read through this article will ensure that you are not among those who “settle for less” because of succumbing to clever advertising. By the end of this article, you will be fully equipped to recognize and purchase quality engineered hardwood flooring in Oakville.
Check for Uniformity
A simple exercise that takes a few minutes can help you to make sure you are purchasing a quality product. Take a few planks. Lay them down on the ground and assemble them. It is important that the tongue and groove joints fit together easily and without any spaces. Similarly they should be level with each other, the surface they make being uniform and flat. Making sure of these two things will ensure that you receive a level and comfortable walking surface, and that dirt and grime don’t build up in uneven joints.
Understand the Finish
One of the major mistakes consumers make when purchasing hardwood flooring in Oakville is thinking that multiple coats make a durable finish. It is not the number of coats that flooring has that makes it resistant to water and scuffing, but the quality of the material it is finished with. One sign of a quality finish is the uniformity of color between different boxes of flooring. Additionally, check that the finish extends to the joints; this will ensure that they don’t absorb dirt or liquids that will darken them.
Make sure before purchasing hardwood flooring in Oakville; that the finish has been applied in the factory. Factory finishes are much more durable than varnish applied by hand as they are applied in ideal conditions, and usually dried under ultraviolet light. They easily last between 15 and 30 years, and if you properly maintain your floor, will last well beyond the warranty.
Identify Unusual Imperfections
The natural knots and mineral marks in hardwood flooring add to its beauty and elegance. Such things don’t affect the quality of the flooring and add to its natural elegance. Keep a keen eye out for unnatural flaws such as broken joints, or grain that is rising though; such imperfections can be an eyesore, and cause personal injury as well. Any competent and conscientious contractor involved in hardwood flooring and installation in Oakville will themselves look out for such things, but you should as well, even if just as a second pair of eyes.
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