Month: March 2021

Solid wood flooring will last lifetimes. Homes around the world with solid wood flooring date back into BC’s, and the most recent in our state of Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC, dating back to 1500, 1600, 1700, 1800, 1900’s and up-to-date in newer homes.

Now, why or whom installs engineered wood flooring or bamboo in their homes? Typically, condominiums, apartment buildings or areas that are built with a concrete underlayment. Engineered wood flooring are made of millimeters thickness; starting from 4mms > and up. Meaning, sometime you just CANNOT sand really thin engineered wood flooring. A handful can be sanded once or twice depending on the sanding sequence your wood flooring specialist approaches when sanding. And; if you hire a non-specialist good luck. You might end up damaging the engineered flooring and sanding it too far down past the wood veneer and creating spots that seem like brown cardboard.

Bamboo flooring is also installed for the above-reason referenced on the prior paragraph and typically clients install it for its look and bamboo feel. We seem to find bamboo engineered flooring or simply solid Bamboo in higher end condominiums near the White House or in Arlington Virginia, Clarendon, or Bethesda Maryland high rises. Bamboo is part of the grass family. Mostly produced in South Asia. It’s made of compressed Bamboo strand. Giving the flooring the Natrual bamboo appearance of knots and horizontal lines. Generally a uniform and pale yellow. Bamboo is marketed as hard/medium hardness rating by janka hardness. However, it seems to mark and dent easier than oak. Meaning; if you’re going to throw a party or special venue, and if people are dancing or walking around in high heels and or hard heels shoes, or boots, it will become damaged and you will see heel dents throughout the Bamboo flooring.

In conclusion solid oak or solid wood flooring is always better than engineered or bamboo flooring. It’s thicker, it will last for decades, centuries and it’s much harder. Engineered flooring is made of a nail thick wood veneer and the remaining bottom end of the plank is typically made of composites, or cork flooring and other substrates in the market. However, sometimes if you desire wood flooring in a condominium or apartment, or a concrete underlayment area, engineered wood flooring becomes the only options on installing real wood flooring.

What is the difference between on-site refinishing and pre-finished wood flooring?

Well, exactly as it is referenced. On-site refinishing happens when we sand and refinish the existing wood flooring in your home. Most homes in Maryland, Virginia and the Washington DC area, usually have oak floors or pine wood flooring. And these existing wood flooring can last lifetimes. Dating back to 1500, 1600, 1700, 1800, 1900’s and up-to-date.

A pre-finished wood flooring is typically already pre-finished and manufactured pre-finished from the factory. In different colors and sizes. Popular brands such as Bruce, Mohawk are readily available when repairs of such wood is necessary. Pre-finished wood flooring is popular amongst a small fraction of clients. Typically, the ones wanting to avoid the sanding process. Or, when matching another pre-finished wood flooring area(s) in the residence.

Now, which one is better? Pre-finished or un-sanded wood flooring? The answer is both per-finished and un-sanded wood flooring is better than carpet or tile. They both bring a warmth of natural beauty and eco-friendly environment within the home. Un-sanded and pre-finished wood flooring are also available in a number of width and thickness. The un-sanded flooring is typically 2 ¼ width and ¾ thickness. The pre-finished wood flooring is also manufactured in the same size or wider and less thick planks. Other sizes available are 4 inch, 5 inch, 6 inch, and so on; and, if needed, Refinish My Floors can process a special order of a desired Length. The method of installation for un-sanded and pre-finished wood flooring can be glue-down on below grade or concrete underlayment. And for above grade, staples and nails.

Call Refinish My Floors at 240.277.5953 to discuss your wood flooring pre-finished install or to install and sand and refinish your existing wood flooring. Or, if you have any wood flooring related questions I’m here to help. Give me a call or send me a brief text.