Flooring, advice

[dolfan]

Okay, I've read about every hardwood, laminate, engineered, bamboo, carbonized, natural, aluminum oxide coated flooring surface under the sun. And, I'm going to install a hardwood floor in our living room, hall and kitchen/dining room. BUT, I'm not comfortable with our current preference of a vertical bamboo carbonized floor. Of course, I'm shopping around for the best deal, but I'm real suspicious -- no, I'm cynical, I'll admit it -- about everyone in the flooring business. So, give me your thoughts on moderately priced hardwood flooring.

[n2jesus]

Bradford Hardwood Floors LLC
1997 Nolensville Pike
Nashville, TN 37211

615-251-5384

My 1st cuz has a God given talent for interior design...she also got educated...Her customers are in one of the wealthiest areas around Nashville (Williamson County)...Some of her customers give her complete freedom and a blank check...She has a reputation of integrity...The above flooring company is who she highly recommends...She calls for advice also...Tell Jerry Bradford that you were referred to him by Teresa Talley of Talley Interiors...Good luck...Hardwood floors are absolutely beautiful...She also knows how to get the best for less...

[jinjer]

My family has been in the hardwood flooring/floor covering business for more than 50 years. Through all the trends, it is always best to buy real hardwood. One main reason is that you can almost always repair it. Laminates are like a counter top, while durable, if they ever get scratched they cannot be repaired. For hardwood, white oak is quite popular and fairly reasonably priced around our area. I don't know much about bamboo pricing, but it can be quite durable and give you the repairability of other hardwoods. My understanding is that the longer it has been growing, 6 years or so, it becomes harder.

Just my .02 worth.

Jinjer

[paul]

I agree that the laminates really aren't up to the task in durability. We have been looking also and have decided on the bamboo in the living room, halls and entry with natural slate in the kitchen, dineing and baths. Bamboo is extremely hard, very cool, and the almost unnoticable ridges of some actually massage your feet as you walk on it ( bare feet or socks )

It is also a replenishable resource .

[Ilovebigcats]

We had laminate hardwood floors. I HATED it!!! Avoid it!!!

[Full Quiver]

laminate won't scratch but it is loud

[Ilovebigcats]

laminate won't scratch but it is loud

Ours scratched (though not as easily as regular hardwood)! It also chipped up by the front door. And buckled in wet spots. Pshhh.

[rjc]

Bamboo is great and replenishable. My floors are slate throughout which I love in the kitchen and baths, but kind of wish I had done bamboo in the rest of the house.

[TW]

One word.


OAK


TW

[MacUser]

My parents just retired from a flooring business that they've run for over 30+ years. My brother is carrying it forward now.

Concerning picking the right floor.. I propose another option.. multi-colors (mines shows bruce, mannington, + others) all the same thickness and groove. It looks fantastic imho.









I recently put all this down in my shop's (man room) second story and it's 3/8 Hardwood. The lamp shot is typically how it appears to the eyes at night.

[one love]

dolfan I can answer just about any question you have. I own a hardwood buisness with 5 crews and growing. I also do inspections for many manufactures as well. The best reference period is the N.W.F.A. (national wood fooring association) or NOFMA.org

I hate to disagree with some here but oak is the most widely used because it is stable and durable and the cost yet really in hardness it is about halfway down on the list.
BAMBOO has come a long way but to say it is a very hard wood is incorrect. It is a Hard grass Sarcastic but the problems bamboo has had is it scratches easy, they have done better but it still scratches. It is priced well and if maintained well is a good floor just be sure you know what ot expect. Brazillian cherry is my favorite for many reasons , it is the second hardest wood in the world, Brazillian walnut (lapacho, epay) is the hardest.
Aluminum oxide is the second hardest substance that can be put in a finish in the world. Many products hold many different finish warranties 15 year, 25 year, 50 year And they are all basically the same. 7-9 coats of acrilyic water based finish with aluminum oxide so dont be fooled by finish warranties.

Laminates are what they are, durable, stable but they surely are not wood. So if you like wood get wood. Solid traditional hardwood expands 17 percent engineered or floating floors expand 4 percent so based on the amount of moisture your area has this should be a thought. Many enginered floors now look just like solid flooring when installed and can be sanded just as many times.

I could look and see if any of my distributors deliver or have a branch in your area if so I would be glad to help ya.

Any questions beyond this just ask..

Avoid maple in any high moisture areas and if you have a concern about a brand I can help there as well.