An Expert Guide to Hardwood Flooring Style…
Style
Gone are the days when getting a hardwood floor meant 2 1/4″ wide red oak. Today’s hardwood flooring offers styles suited to every taste and budget. . . from traditional to exotic . . . casual to formal. Most hardwoods are now milled in various plank widths, usually from three to five inches, resulting in a “richer,” more substantial look. Likewise, edge finishes present a variety of choices, from the more traditional square-edge flush finish . . . to the slightly angled micro bevel edge . . . to the more rustic full bevel edge that creates a hand-crafted look.
The selections are endless
- Traditional hardwoods like oak, maple, or hickory . . . each with unique coloring and grain patterns.
- Exotic hardwoods from outside the US, which have more unusual grain patterns and are often highly colored.
- Rustic hardwoods that are distressed and textured, giving them an aged or hand-milled look.
Today’s hardwood flooring choices offer an infinite variety of grains and colorations to suit any homeowner’s taste. In fact, designers agree . . . hardwood flooring complements any decor. And homes that feature hardwood floors often sell faster – and for more money, assuring you lasting value and a lifetime of enjoyment. Whatever look you’re trying to achieve, today’s hardwood flooring products will help you get there in style.
More to consider . . .
Square edge planks create a more traditional look and are easiest to clean. With pre-finished square edge woods, there is a slight risk of “overwood,” where the edge of an adjacent board may be higher than the surrounding boards. This situation, while not common, is very rarely seen in beveled edge finishes.
Micro bevel and full bevel edges give a more hand-crafted, textured look but can be harder to clean because dirt settles in the bevels.
Square Edge
The edges of all boards meet squarely creating a uniform, smooth surface that blends the floor together from board to board. The overall look of this floor gives a contemporary flair and formal feeling to the room.
Eased Edge
Each board is just slightly beveled. Some manufacturers add an eased edge to both the length of the planks as well as the end joints. Eased edges are used to help hide minor irregularities, such as uneven plank heights. Eased edge is also called microbeveled edge.
Beveled Edge
These products have a very distinctive groove in them. Beveled edge planks lend themselves to an informal and country decor. With the urethane finishes applied at the factory today, the beveled edges are sealed completely, making dirt and grit easy to be swept or vacuumed out of the grooves.
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