Should I expect color variations in my floor?
Yes. Wood is a natural material with variations from board to board. Therefore, each plank will take stain differently. Darker stains mask the natural variations in the wood. The lighter the stain, the more prominent the natural characteristics. A white stain shows the most variation from board to board. And no two boards are ever the same.
What kind of wood is the most durable?
Generally speaking, the harder the wood the more durable the floor. However, grain and color must be considered because light floors with less grain may actually show wear more than "softer" floors. The hardest woods for flooring include Brazilian Cherry, Brazilian Teak, Kempas, Merbau and Pecan while American Cherry and Walnut are softer “hardwoods”.
What is the difference between an engineered floor and a solid hardwood product?
Solid wood floors are one solid piece of wood that have tongue and groove sides and come in either prefinished or unfinished styles. Solid wood floors are sensitive to moisture and it is not recommended to install these floors below ground level, or directly over a concrete slab. You can refinish, or recoat solid wood floors several times, which adds to their appeal and to their long life. There are solid wood floors that are several centuries old and are still in good condition today.
Engineered wood floors are generally 3, or 5 thin sheets of wood that are laminated together to form one plank. The top finish layer can be cut from a variety of domestic or exotic hardwood species. In the construction of engineered wood floors the wood plies are stacked on top of each other in the opposite directions. This creates a floor that is dimensionally stable and far less effected by moisture than a solid wood floor. This is why you can install engineered wood floors over concrete slabs below ground level, as well as anywhere else in the home.
How do I choose a species and color that is right for my home?
Decisions abound when selecting just the right floor for the rooms in your home. There are several species, colors and grain variations to consider. Your floor should compliment the fabrics, furnishings and accessories already present in the space, as well as enhancing the unique personality of the room as a whole.
In today's eclectic style anything goes. Darker colors are most often used in formal or traditional interiors, while lighter colors work best in country, casual and contemporary settings.
Can I have hardwood installed in my bathrooms?
It is not recommended, due to the high moisture associated with these areas. It may cause unfavourable conditions for hardwood flooring.
What can I do about a floor that has not aged evenly?
Any area of a floor that is covered with an area rug, a piece of furniture or even a table leg, will not age as quickly as an exposed area of flooring. However, once the covering is removed, this area of the floor will eventually darken to the same shade as the previously exposed area.
What about prefinished versus unfinished?
Most hardwood flooring sold today is prefinished. That is, several coats of UV-cured urethane with aluminum oxide are applied at the factory. These factory finishes are tough and durable. Installing a prefinished floor eliminates the time, the dust and the odours associated with the on-site sanding and finishing of an unfinished product. A prefinished floor can be installed in a day. An unfinished flooring installation may require up to days, depending upon the space.
Why do my flooring boards shrink and expand?
Wood is hydroscopic, which means it is affected by seasonal changes in your home. As your home experiences seasonal changes, spring and summer the wood will expand. In the fall and winter, during heating seasons, the wood flooring will lose moisture and shrinking will occur .
How hard is hardwood? Will my floor dent?
All species used for hardwood flooring are durable enough to withstand the wear and tear of daily life. However, this does not mean wood will not dent. As a natural material, wood is made of thousands of cells. When the tree is in the forest, these cells are filled with water. Once that tree becomes lumber, the moisture in those cells is replaced with air. Therefore, if you drop a heavy object on the floor, the floor will compress, forming a dent or gash. In addition, heavy furniture and appliances, over time, will compress the fibre in the wood.
Will my floor change color? Are color changes covered by manufacturer’s warranties?
You can expect to see shade differences in your floor over time. The cause is usually from exposure to the ultra-violet rays of the sun, whether direct or indirect. These changes are due to the natural characteristics of wood and are not covered by most manufacturers’ warranties.
What are the natural characteristics?
The natural characteristics of wood include the grain pattern, black marks and knots of various sizes. They are a result of the growth process of a particular species and are influenced by sunlight, soil and climate. Minerals can appear in several forms such as a light gray streak across a board to black lines in the grain. The same holds true for grain patterns and knots.
Is my CanTrust’s products warranty transferable?
The answer is no. The warranty is good only for the original purchaser. [BACK] |
