Types of Hardwood Floor Choices 
 

Common choices are oak, birch, hard maple and pecan. Some beautiful foreign hardwoods, like Jarrah and Jatoba are also available. Some parts of the country use soft woods like pine. Imported Russian Pine is also gaining in popularity in some parts of the country. The choice is up to you, however in our opinion,  American hardwoods can not be beaten for beauty, longevity, and value.

Just as important as the species of wood you select, is the quality of wood from which your floor is made. The Oak Flooring Institute (OFI), an affiliate of the National Oak Flooring Manufacturers Association (NOFMA), has developed official flooring grading rules for NOFMA Certified floors1.

Their guidelines state that Unfinished Oak Flooring be made of the top four grades, Clear, Select, #1 and #2. Sometimes the top two grades are combined into a batch called “Select and Better”.

Unfinished Hard Maple, Beech, Birch and Pecan are divided into three grades: First, Second and Third. The top two grades are commonly combined into a batch called “Second and Better”.

The top grade of Prefinished Oak Flooring that is readily available is called Standard Grade. Another grade of Prefinished Oak is called Tavern Grade, because of its rusticappearance. It is sometimes combined with the Standard and Better. These bundles are called “Tavern and Bet- ter”. The same is true for Prefinished Beech and Pecan Flooring.

In almost all cases, if you want the very top grade of these hard woods, Unfinished Oak Clear Plain or Clear Quar tered, Unfinished First Grade White Hard Maple, First Grade Red Beech and Birch, First Grade Red or First Grade White Pecan, or Prime Grade Prefinished Oak Flooring, they have to be Special Ordered. Interestingly enough, Tavern and Better Prefinished Oak and Prefinished Beech and Pecan flooring must also be special ordered.

Pre-finished Hardwood floors v.s. Unfinished Hardwood Floors

Both have advantages, both are beautiful. The choice is up to you. You can have a much wider selection of wood and have more

 control over the final look of the floor by having it finished on site. The wood you select can be stained to your exact specifications. On the other hand, f

actory finished hardwood is manufactured under rigid quality control conditions by firms such as Mulican, Hartco, Robbins, and others. Bruce, Hartco, and a few smaller firms also use sophisticated high pressure techniques to create impregnated laminated hardwood flooring with exceptional beauty and wear characteristics. 

Although prefinished hardwoods are initially more expensive than unfinished hardwood, much of the difference in cost is eliminated because the wood does not have to be finished on site. There are many quality national and regional brand names. Just because a brand is not listed here does not mean that its product is not of the highest quality. Some manufacturers make their flooring avail able in both factory finished and unfinished forms.

What are the differences between factory finished and job finished hardwood floors?

On the positive side, factory finished hardwood flooring has a much stronger and more durable finish. Factory finished hardwood floorings are often laminates, with the top hardwood layer attached to three to four layers of wood. These engineered woods offer a more stable foundation and add a range of use, that would be impossible for natural hardwood. Factory finished flooring is also quicker to install. On the negative side, factory finished hardwood flooring has a more restricted selection of woods, is slightly more expensive, and, if an accident happens, is a lot more difficult and costly to repair. 

Job or site finished hardwood flooring is less expensive and gives you a broader selection of woods and finishes. The beautiful imported hardwoods like maple, brazilian walnut, and the different rosewoods, are only available as unfinished lumber. If the wood is finished on site, you can have any finish you desire. Furthermore, repairs are less costly and easier to do. Also, site finished hardwood floors will show off the beauty of the wood a lot more than a pre-finished hardwood floor. 

Hardwood Floors Sub-Floor Choice 

A hardwood floor can be ruined if it is installed on the wrong surface. Hardwood floors must be laid on clean, solid, flat, dry surfaces. Anything else is an invitation to disaster. Water and hardwood do not mix.  If you want to lay a floor on a concrete slab, be sure to test the concrete for moisture before you lay the floor. New concrete has to cure for a minimum of sixty days up to two years before it is dry enough to lay hardwood. Also remember that a waterproof barrier, such as polyethylene film, paper felt, or vinyl moisture barrier, may have to be placed between the slab and the hardwood. Prefinished flooring has a definite advantage in problem areas. Many are specifically engineered to stay strong and beautiful under very harsh conditions.

Are hardwood floors in the basement a good idea? 

The rule always was that wood floors were not to be laid below grade because of the moisture problem. Now a number of manufacturers such as Boen, Bruce, Hartco and Robbins have heard your pleas and developed revolution- ary prefinished hardwood surfaces, methods of sealing con- crete slabs to block moisture and other installation tech- niques that permit some of their brands to be laid below grade.