Now that New Year’s has come and gone, it’s time to start thinking about the condition of your hardwood floors.
With the New Year about to begin, you might be thinking about sprucing up your home. Getting a fresh start will probably involve plenty of cleaning – but don’t do any laundry on New Year’s Day! But once that has come and gone, it’s time to start thinking about the condition of your hardwood floors. This has been a brisk and chilly winter, which can affect the structural integrity of the wood. So, how are stable are your floors? Let’s find out.
Stability
The wood in your home will change depending on the environment inside, and the weather outside. Humidity and moisture will cause the wood to expand and contract. Stability is the measurement of how well your hardwood floors can resist this natural process. When it comes to brand new hardwood floors, you should choose the wood with higher stability scores. This means that they aren’t as prone to gapping and cupping as other types of wood are.
Gapping
Two common problems with most species of wood are cupping and gapping. If there is too much moisture present, then the wood begins to cup, which means that the center of the plank will start to slide lower than the edge. A similar issue is when hardwood floors start gapping. This happens when the wood gets too dry. Gaps can present a hazard to anyone walking on your floors and could lead to higher costs for repairs and replacements if left unaddressed. There will be some small gaps when it’s cold outside, and you don’t need to worry about them. That’s because these gaps will go away once warmer weather returns. If you find gaps in the spring and the summer, however, then you know for sure something is wrong.
Different Species
When you want some new hardwood floors, you will need to consider what species of wood they are made of; it might be better to switch from one species to another. Red oak, white oak, and ash are the most stable. Maple, hickory, and cumaru, however, are far less stable. Then you need to think about if you want engineered hardwood floors or solid hardwood floors because that makes a difference as well.
Ready for a Beautiful Hardwood Floor? You Can Trust John K Eareckson & Co.!
When you work with John K Eareckson & Co., Flooring, we will ensure your hardwood floors undergo a stress-free acclimation process and that they sparkle for years to come; from a seamless and beautiful installation to years of maintenance, John K Eareckson & Co. Flooring has the expertise to care for your home’s hardwood floors. For a consultation and more information visit us online or give us a call at 410-788-4200. You can also look for us on Facebook, Google+, Twitter, YouTube, and Flickr.