BRUCE HARDWOOD FLOORING

Solid Hardwood Flooring Information

Moisture and extreme temperature changes can cause solid wood to shrink and expand, potentially causing gaps between boards during colder or dryer seasons. 5/16" thin profile solid wood can be installed directly over concrete; 3/4" can't. All solid hardwood can be sanded and refinished if needed (required every 15-20 years). All urethane coated floors can be recoated as needed to renew the surface of the floor. This is more economical than sanding and refinishing.

Site-Finished vs. Prefinished

Prefinished
A pre-finish, or factory finish, creates a no muss, no fuss installation. There's no dust from sanding, no fumes from chemicals, no waiting for the finish to dry. These floors are warranted to last longer than site-finished floors–typically 15 to 25 years, versus three to five years. This is because factory applied urethane finishes are much tougher and longer lasting than site-applied finishes.

With all the color choices available in pre-finished hardwood flooring, there's no need to custom stain site-finished floors to get just the right look for your home.
If you like the look of site-finished flooring, but want the durability of prefinished flooring, choose a product with a square end and edge.

Site-Finished
Advocates of site-finishing like the fact that the floor can be sanded after it's installed to even out any imperfections. Site finishing also gives you the widest selection of stain colors to choose from. However, on-site sanding and finishing can produce heavy fumes, messy dust and significant waiting time from when the floor is laid until it can be enjoyed. In addition, labor costs for on-site finishing may drive up your installation costs.

Keep in Mind:

• Prefinished floors are warranted for a longer time period than site finished floors.

• Floor Score™ is a trademark of the Resilient Floor Covering Institute.

Species

Species influences appearance. Traditional oak has pronounced variations in grain and shade, while maple's grain is cleaner and more understated. Today, there are many exotic species available, such as lapacho, tigerwood, and Brazilian cherry, that have a distinctive combination of origin, color and surface characteristics.

Keep In Mind:

Different species have different hardnesses that affect durability. If your floor is likely to take a lot of abuse, consider oak, maple, ash or Brazilian cherry for extra resistance to indentation.

Traditional Species – Natural color with no stain
ASH	Birch	Cherry	Maple	Oak	Pecan	Walnut
Exotic Species – Natural color with no stain
Merbau	Kona	Cabreuva	Jatoba	Pradoo	Kempas	Brazilian Cherry

Many species of hardwood change color over time, after exposure to sunlight. The degree of change depends upon the species of the wood: for example, cherry changes color quickly and dramatically when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light

Edge Detail

The way the edges and the ends of the boards are cut is called edge/end detail Edge/end detail options include square, eased, and microbeveled.

If you are looking for a dramatic effect, select a beveled edge/end detail that emphasizes the definition of individual boards. Square edges/ends create a smooth and seamless appearance and give a prefinished floor the look commonly found in traditional site-finished floors.

Square

Microbeveled

Eased

Where Can I Use Hardwood?

Versatile hardwood floors look and perform great in virtually every room of your home, with a few important exceptions.

Bruce Hardwood Floors Lifestyle/Performance

Durability & Life Expectancy
Both solid and engineered hardwoods are among the longest lasting flooring options and, with proper care may never need replacement. However, hardwood is susceptible to scratching, especially in high traffic areas, or in households with children or pets. Different types of wood are more durable than others. If you want a floor that stands up to heavy use, choose a species equal to or harder than oak, such as maple, Brazilian cherry, or ash. Another option is to choose a floor with a distressed visual that simulates an aged look, or a handscraped product.

Typical Warranties
Prefinished hardwood floors typically carry a lifetime warranty on structural integrity. Finish warranties can range from three to 25 years. If you're looking for the best warranty protection, prefinished floors are warranted to last longer than site-finished floors–typically 15 to 25 years, versus three to five years. This is because factory-applied urethane finishes are much tougher and longer lasting than site-applied finishes.

Care & Maintenance
Waxing, once a necessary evil for wood floor owners, is not necessary on floors with a polyurethane finish. Simply sweep and touch up periodically with a no-wax floor cleaner, in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations.

Any solid hardwood or an engineered hardwood floor with a top layer 1/10" thick or more:
When these floors begin to scratch or gouge, it's time to sand and refinish. Refinishing can make a floor look brand new. It also presents an opportunity to change the look by choosing a different stain color. Refinishing should only be necessary every 15 to 25 years.

Engineered wood with a top layer thinner than 1/10" thick:
These floors cannot be fully sanded and refinished. However, they can be recoated with a fresh layer of polyurethane whenever necessary. This will refresh the look of the floor and eliminate surface scratches. With this process, you cannot change the color of the wood.

Keep in Mind:

• Thin profile solid hardwood (5/16" thick) can only be fully sanded and refinished once, but, it can be recoated multiple times.

Pros and Considerations on Bruce Hardwood Floors

Pros

• Appearance Improves with Age
  Hardwood improves with age because it acquires a desirable patina over time.

• Long Lasting
  Hardwood is among the longest lasting of all flooring types.

• Great Investment
  Although hardwood can initially cost more than some other flooring options, it's an investment that pays off, increasing the value of your home.

• Can Be Recoated
  All hardwood can be recoated, allowing you to refresh your floor to its original look.

• Easy Care & Maintenance
  Hardwood is as easy to care for as most other floors – waxing is not necessary for urethane finishes.

Considerations

• May Scratch
  A hardwood floor's finish is susceptible to scratching from traffic or pet nails.

• Limited Below Grade Installation
  Solid hardwood cannot be installed below grade level; engineered hardwood can.

• Full Bath Installation Not Recommended
  Hardwood should not be used in a full bathroom because it is sensitive to humidity and pooling water.

• Transitions to Other Floors
  A new hardwood floor may be a different height than the floor it adjoins. Thinner profile wood and transition strips will help to equalize the difference

Information provided by Armstrong Flooring

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