Hardwood in North Bay, Ontario
Hardwood in North Bay, Ontario
When it is time for new flooring in your home, homeowners love choosing hardwood flooring because of its unique style and character. In fact, nothing seems to add style, luxury, and, more importantly, value, to a home more than hardwood. Stradwicks Carpet One Floor & Home in North Bay, Ontario, is your local hardwood expert, as we offer a great selection of high-quality styles. Our flooring professionals are your local hardwood experts.
Hardwood floors are an excellent long-term investment for your home. Hardwood flooring is a major selling point for homebuyers and often, the value added to the home far outweighs the cost it took to install them. We consider hardwood flooring an investment into your home, and we are here to help you choose the best hardwood for your home based on your lifestyle and home décor.
There's no one-size-fits-all when it comes to hardwood floors. You can choose the species, finish, colour, and style that suit your design needs and personal preferences. Not all hardwood is the same. We offer different hardwood constructions like solid and engineered. Depending on the needs and style of your home, our flooring professionals can help you pick out your new floor. Wood is a timeless and ageless material that never goes out of style. Also, many interior decorators swear by the look of hardwood floors because of its elegance, quality and the fact that it can make rooms appear to be more spacious.
To get the most out of your beautiful hardwood floors, it’s essential to understand how they’re impacted by humidity and temperature changes. Natural wood is hygroscopic, scientifically speaking, which simply means that it is prone to absorbing moisture from the atmosphere. When freshly cut, wood has a relatively high moisture content, depending on the species and the season it’s harvested, which is why green wood is a poor choice for the campfire.
Hardwood used for furniture and flooring is stored and seasoned for many months or even years after cutting. Then it undergoes a lengthy drying process in a kiln, leaving only a small amount of moisture. However, once your floor is installed, it can still warp in response to wet or humid conditions. This leads to issues like cupping, and even rotting in extreme cases. Dry conditions will cause the wood to shrink, leaving gaps between the floorboards.
Some moisture absorption, and the swelling and shrinkage that comes with it, is inevitable, but a few precautions and some careful consideration can largely mitigate the harmful effects.
Use correct installation techniques, like leaving expansion gaps between the hardwood planks. We offer professional installation services, and we’ll ensure the job is done right so your hardwood floors stay looking beautiful.
Avoid high-risk environments. Installing wood flooring in high-humidity spaces like kitchens, bathrooms, and basements increases the risk of problems, though it can be done with the right protections.
Choose flooring carefully. Some types of wood, like engineered and reclaimed, are better at handling moisture than others. Ask your flooring expert about the best product for your situation.
Use a hygrometer and climate control to regulate your home’s humidity and temperature levels. Avoid dramatic level changes and try to keep your indoor air moisture between 30 - 50%.
Solid hardwood, which many homeowners consider the traditional option, features a uniform construction, as the wood planks are made from a single piece of lumber. These planks are relatively thick allowing you to refinish them so they can last longer in your home. Engineered hardwood is made from multiple wood layers, so it is more dimensionally stable than solid hardwood. This type of construction prevents the planks from expanding or contracting due to changes in humidity and moisture. It can be installed below grade, can be refinished once or twice, and while not considered waterproof, engineered hardwood does offer a fair amount of moisture resistance.
Depending on the quality of the flooring that you choose, you can have floors that will withstand generations. Hardwood is extremely durable and therefore can stand up to high-traffic activity, including children and pets. Investing in high-quality hardwood will ensure that they last the test of time. Solid hardwood is best for rooms that are on and above level of your home like bedrooms and living rooms. If you choose an engineered hardwood, you can install it on any level of your home, including in a finished basement.
Hardwood flooring not only adds value to your home, but also creates a warm and inviting feel in your space. It is made to be durable and last for years in your home. Hardwood, however, is sensitive to humidity. If exposed to moisture or humidity, the planks can begin to expand and swell. This will eventually cause cupping and warping of the planks. With proper installation, precautions can be taken against this happening. Avoid installing hardwood in rooms in your home that have a lot of humidity like kitchens, bathrooms, and three or four season rooms.
Visit our store today to discover all the brands and options available. Visit our showroom in North Bay, ON and explore our collection of hardwood flooring. Our Carpet One Floor & Home exclusive brands include Rustic River™, Invincible™, and Voyager™. Want to learn more? Shop our hardwood selection online now!
 | Hardwood Maintenance
Caring for your hardwood floors is made easy when you come to us. We can offer professional advice and tips on how to keep your hardwood floors looking beautiful.
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