Choosing the type of hardwood floor that best fits your home or space in Alameda County, including the larger cities of Oakland, Fremont, Hayward, Berkeley, and San Leandro, is an important step in planning for the installation of your new floor. Hardwood flooring is available in both a pre-finished and unfinished version.
Pre-finished flooring is sanded and finished at the factory, meaning it only needs to be installed in your home. The unfinished version must be sanded and finished after being installed. Wood floors look great and, with proper care, will often last the lifetime of a home. Though they are susceptible to scratches, dents, and moisture, they can be refinished time after time. Though they are expensive initially, wood floors can add to the value of your home.
What to Look for When Considering Installing New Hardwood Flooring
So which type of wood floor will best suit your needs? There are several factors to keep in mind when choosing the appropriate flooring for your home. Solid hardwood floors may require a little more maintenance than engineered wood flooring; however, they can always be re-sanded and refinished. If they are well-maintained, solid wood floors will retain their value better than engineered wood floors.
Deciding between strip wood, plank wood, or parquet wood is simply a matter of taste. Strip flooring has an appearance of thin, long planks of wood. Plank flooring has very wide planks of wood. But if you prefer a more decorative look, parquet floors with their geometric designs might be your flooring of choice.
Steps Involved in Choosing a Hardwood Floor Company in Alameda County
Figure out what style and type of hardwood flooring would suit your needs. Some considerations include your lifestyle, the time you spend cleaning, whether you have young children, whether you have pets, etc.
Consider the finishing/coating options available and discuss them with the contractors. For instance, do you have children or pets who make greater protection a priority?
Call local hardwood floor companies and ask about installation prices. Keep in mind the following tips:
- Wood prices are similar throughout a region
- Most companies hire sub-contractors for installation and finishing jobs. This means that you may compare offers from three different stores, but the contractors coming to your home to install the wood floor are working for all three companies. This translates into this fact: the contractor himself/herself is the one person who can get you the best deal on the cost of the project.
- Many hardwood floor company owners have never installed or refinished hardwood floors.
- Small, family-owned flooring companies offer the same products and warranties and often much better prices on installation. Be sure to contact them directly for a quote.
Set aside time for professional contractors to come in and provide a free written estimate. Arrange to have a minimum of three to five quotes. Make sure that the prices are guaranteed for a minimum of 30 days from the date of the estimate.
When making a final choice for your wood flooring company, make sure that you choose a company that is well-established within the community, has good references that can be checked, and offers a reasonable price.
The lowest price does not necessarily mean a better deal. For example, a lower quote could mean that you are getting a cheaper varnish. However, the more expensive varnish may last four times longer than the cheaper version. In this case, a little extra expense is worth it in the long run.
Draw up a contract with the Alameda County hardwood flooring company you've chosen. Specify the work to be done, price and payment schedule, start date and estimated date for completion.
Important Factors to Consider When Selecting a Hardwood Floor Company in Alameda County
Installing new wood floors has many benefits, including:
- Wood is a natural, renewable, sustainable, and environmentally friendly building resource.
- It improves the quality of indoor air.
- Wood floors last hundreds of years and won't need to be replaced nearly as often as other flooring options.
- Houses with real wood flooring sell quicker than houses without real wood floors.
- Wood floors save natural resources as they use far less water and energy to produce.
Other Factors to Consider: Wood Floor Problems and Cures
Potential problems with wood floorng and their fixes include:
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Buckling of wood flooring
Sometimes moisture can cause a wood floor to buckle. This can be remedied with a dehumidifier, ventilation, or fans. If moisture has caused the wood floor to expand, relieve the pressure by removing the flooring along the wall
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Cracks and unevenness in hardwood flooring
A lack of moisture can cause the wood floor to crack and become uneven. This can be remedied by adding moisture to the air space during dry periods. Boil a pan of water or install a humidifier.
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Loose, noisy, squeaky wood floors
This is usually caused by inadequate nailing of a weak sub floor system. Add face nails or strengthen the sub floor from below by injecting adhesive or pull-add-relay.
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Excessive, early wear on wood floor finishes
Correct maintenance will help maintain the wood floor finish. Clip the dog's nails; apply felt to chair leg glides; use area rugs in high-traffic areas such as in front of the kitchen sink.
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Pet stains on wood flooring
For the most part, minor pet stains will get lighter or lessen with sanding. Repeated stains, however, will not sand out. For best results, the wood floor will need to be refinished or removed.
