SVB Wood Floors Blog

Category Archives: Tips for Homeowners

Wood floor tips for homeowners. SVB Wood Floors helps Kansas City area homeowners properly care for their wood floors.

Getting Wood Floors Installed – Here’s What Happens in 4 Easy Steps

April 23, 2019Tips for Homeowners, Wood floor installationNicole Ventura

Posted by Nicole Ventura on April 23, 2019

You may be considering hardwood floors for their beauty, their low maintenance, their allergy-friendliness or the value they add to your home. Whatever the reason, at SVB Wood Floors, we’ve been installing beautiful hardwood floors for decades and we’ve got it down to a science. We have found that when homeowners are familiar with the process, everything goes a little more smoothly, and we end up with happier customers, so here’s what you can expect when we install wood floors in your home.

Step 1: Free Wood Floor Consultation

You’ll notice our entire process starts with the most important thing – a free, in-home consultation. It’s important because we want to make sure we are on the same page with our customers to ensure that we deliver exactly what they want. Because there are so many choices when it comes to hardwood floors, we want to make sure you know all of your options so you can make an informed decision down to the smallest detail.

We Create Custom Colors and Designs for Your Wood Floor

We offer many different types of wood floors – different species, plank widths, stain colors, patterns, etc. You can check out flooring samples from our showroom so you can see them in your home with your cabinets, other flooring, etc. to make sure that it will blend with your home. We can even custom mix stain to give you exactly the shade you want. If you’d like to make your floors unique to your home, our expert installers can create any kind of custom wood floor design you can dream up. We can add beautiful inlays, intricate medallions, decorative borders, and more.

Step 2: Room Preparation

The only thing you need to do before the installation is to prepare the room(s) getting new floors by removing as much as possible. To minimize the risk of any of your furnishings getting bumped or broken during the installation process, we require that you remove the furniture, drapery, and anything hanging on the walls. We will let you know when to expect us so you’ll have time to get ready.

Step 3: Hardwood Floor Installation

This is the most disruptive part of the process. Expect some noise and traffic in your home as our crew installs the planks. We make sure the wood planks we are installing have been acclimated in our temperature controlled warehouse so they fit perfectly.

Once the planks are in place, they are sanded for smoothness. Our BONA dustless sanding system removes the dust while we sand. With dustless sanding, the dust is whisked away to an outside container before it has a chance to spread all over your home. The great thing about our dustless sanding process is that it is very convenient and leaves virtually no mess in your home.

Step 4: Staining and Finishing Your Hardwood Floors

Our multi-step staining & refinishing process ensures a fabulous final product. We carefully apply the stain which really brings out your floor’s personality. When the stain is dry, we finish the floor with several coats of an environmentally safe, durable, and quick-drying topcoat. You can choose from low luster to high gloss or anywhere in between. We screen, buff, and vacuum between refinishing coats for the absolute best results possible. You can walk on your new floor (with stocking feet) two to three hours after the finish is applied. No pets for 48 hours or furniture for 7-10 days (until the floor is fully cured).

2 Other Things to Consider before Having Wood Floors Installed

If you’re thinking of enhancing your home with wood floors, some options you may not have even thought about yet:

Solid or Engineered Hardwood Floors?

Solid:

Hardwood floors are made from a solid piece of wood from top to bottom and end to end. Engineered hardwood floors are created by stacking multiple layers of wood together in various directions and binding them into a solid form with heat and pressure. A thinner hardwood veneer is glued on top. Both wear evenly (since both are solid hardwood on top) and some of today’s engineered planks have a deep enough wear layer to allow them to be sanded and refinished like a solid hardwood floor.

Engineered:

The main advantage of engineered hardwood is its strength and stability, especially when exposed to moisture. Solid wood will warp along natural grain lines when exposed to excessive moisture. Engineered wood does not contain natural lines and therefore won’t be be as prone to warping or bending. Engineered hardwood floors (both unfinished and prefinished) are best used in lower levels and areas where moisture or humidity might be present.

Prefinished or Unfinished Wood Floors?

Both have advantages. It depends on what you’re looking for.

Prefinished:

Prefinished has a more durable finish because it is created in a controlled environment in a factory. You will also know exactly what color and finish your floors will have before the installation. With prefinished planks, you have no fumes, less mess, and a shorter wait time to walk on your new floor. Prefinished floors are more tolerant to humidity changes.

Unfinished:

Unfinished may work best if you are repairing or expanding an existing wood floor and want to “lace-in” or seamlessly match the existing floor or if you want to match cabinets or trim because the color isn’t pre-determined. Also, if you are looking for an unusual wood species or width, it may not be available in prefinished. Lastly, you may not like the beveled edges that accompany prefinished planks, so unfinished would be best for you.

Our wood floor installers are experts in the industry. In fact, we’ve won many local and even a national award for our wood floor designs and installations. For our installers, it’s not just a job, it’s an art form.

If you’re thinking of installing hardwood floors in your Kansas City area home, call us for a free in-home consultation. We’ll help you choose the wood floor with the perfect color, style, and price range for you. Don’t wait. A beautiful new hardwood floor can be yours usually within a couple of weeks. Call us today at (816) 944-3150.

Drop-In vs. Flush-Mount – Let the Venting Begin

December 18, 2018Tips for Homeowners, Wood floor installationfloorSteve Brattin

Posted by Steve Brattin on December 18, 2018

Installing and refinishing wood floors involves a few detail-oriented decisions. One of those decisions is the kind of floor vents you want. Most homeowners haven’t given much thought to their floor vents, but you basically have two choices. To get you started thinking about which you might like, the experts at SVB Wood Floors have some facts about drop-in versus flush-mount wood floor vents.

Consider Floor Vents before Installation Is Done

Deciding which type of vent you’d like is one of those details that you’ll want to consider from the start. That’s because it’s much easier better to install them during the design process rather than trying to fit them in afterward. Fortunately, our free in-home consultation will cover all aspects of your floor design – including vent options.

Drop-In or Self-Rimming Vents

These vents have a slight rim all around the edge. That rim fits neatly over the cut edges of your floorboards. Unlike flush-mount vents, these can be installed with ease and at any time during the installation process, and even afterward.

Pros of Drop-In Vents

These are very easy to install because they literally just ‘drop’ into the floor opening. They’re generally also a less expensive option than flush-mount vents.

If you decide on this familiar style, we can install them for you or you can choose to do it yourself later. In either case, we can stain them to match your beautiful new flooring.

Cons of Drop-In Vents

The raised rim of these vents sometimes gets in the way of furniture placement or floor traffic. As small as that rim is, it can topple toddlers who aren’t steady on their feet yet!

It’s particularly important to keep the area around the rim of these vents free of damaging grit. Grit has a tendency to gravitate towards them – especially when you’re sweeping. It’s a good idea to vacuum around each vent after you’ve swept in order to keep them free of that grit.

Flush-Mount or In-Floor Vents

These vents mount flush with your floor so there is no rim. It’s much easier (and less expensive) to install these along with your new flooring. You can have these installed retroactively, but you’ll need to hire an expert. This is definitely not a project for the average DIYer!

Pros of Flush-Mount Vents

These vents fit smoothly and seamlessly into your new floor. Your new hardwood floor takes more of the spotlight when the vents are inconspicuous.

Since they sit flush, they won’t negatively influence furniture placement or traffic patterns. No more wobbly side tables or tripping toddlers!

Cleaning is easier without that grit-trapping and vacuum or broom-deflecting lip.

Cons of Flush-Mount Vents

These are difficult and expensive to retrofit. That means they’re difficult to change later on, too.

Fitting them in after the fact requires a careful layout and precision cuts. It’s also a bit nerve-wracking watching holes being cut in your beautiful new floors!

Even when installed along with the flooring, these are generally more expensive than drop-in vents.

Can’t Decide? Let Us Be Your Guide!

Our family-owned company is committed to providing you with the quality results you deserve. Whether your job is large or small, we want to give you the kind of high-quality, professional service that helped us win the award for the 2016 Wood Floor of the Year from the National Wood Flooring Association. That includes paying attention to every detail – including the vents!

Base Shoe or Quarter Round – What’s the Difference?

December 10, 2018Tips for Homeowners, Wood floor installationinstallNicole Ventura

Posted by Nicole Ventura on December 10, 2018

When we refinish or install a hardwood floor, we replace the baseboard molding. Baseboard molding installations are finished off with a small piece of molding that covers the gap between the bottom of the baseboards and the floor. There are two types of molding that can be used – base shoe or quarter round. So what’s the difference?

Both Types of Molding Are Very Similar

Base shoe and quarter round are almost identical. In some situations, they can be used interchangeably, but they both have their own specific uses as well.

Quarter round (shown in two sizes in the picture on the left and the right) is exactly as its name implies, one quarter of a round dowel. It has a 90° angle on the backside with a perfect quarter radius on the side that shows. The quarter round comes in a variety of sizes, which makes it versatile enough for a wide range of applications, as well as an ideal solution for eliminating the gap between trim and moldings and to fill corners.

Base shoe also has a 90-degree angle on the backside, but the front of base shoe is slightly more square and does not follow the radius of a circle like the quarter round does.

Does the Base Shoe Need to Be Removed before Refinishing or Installing a Wood Floor?

Yes, it should. There are a couple of reasons why you should remove the base shoe before installing a new floor. It is most likely that the existing base shoe molding has been in place for quite some time, so it may be dented or damaged in places. Plus it probably has several layers of paint on it from over the years. More importantly, however, removing the base shoe will allow you to butt the new flooring up to the wall. If we are refinishing a floor, and the base shoe is left in place, it will prevent us from getting the sander along the edge of the existing floor.

Should the Base Shoe Match the Trim Color or the Floor Color?

This is really a matter of preference. Traditionally speaking, the base shoe color should match the trim color, however, the choice is ultimately up to the homeowner. We suggest matching with your trim color to add contrast and emphasize the beautiful stain color of your hardwood floors.

Do I Really Need Baseboard Molding?

One of the most common questions people ask is if they really need the base shoe, or if it’s just an add on. The answer is a simple yes. Without it, there is typically a gap between the trim and flooring, which is not only unattractive but makes it extremely easy for dirt and debris to build up under the base trim. At SVB, we give you your choice – you can remove the existing shoe base on your own, purchase pre-primed replacements from SVB, stain it, and install it yourself. Or you can leave this tedious task up to us. We will remove the existing shoe base, and stain and install the new base shoe.

If you are considering refinishing, replacing or installing a new wood floor, call us at (816) 965-8655 or contact us online to schedule a free, in-home consultation.

Hardwood Floors and Humidity

November 24, 2018Tips for HomeownershardwoodSteve Brattin

Posted by Steve Brattin on November 24, 2018

Water and wood floors is never a good combination. Wood floors are porous and absorb moisture. That’s why it’s important to watch the humidity level in your home. The humidity level, whether too high or too low, of your home can affect your wood floors. So how do you know if you have a humidity problem and what’s the magic humidity level?

The wood floor experts at SVB Wood Floors have a few tips about how to control the humidity in your home in order to maintain your beautiful wood floors.

Why Is Humidity Bad for Wood Floors?

Because wood is a porous material, it soaks up moisture which can damage it. Depending on how much moisture, and how long the hardwood floor is exposed to it, it can do irreparable damage.

The humidity levels in your home are extremely important for maintaining your wood floors because moisture loss causes wood to shrink and moisture absorption causes wood to swell. Here are some warning signs that suggest you may need some help with humidity.

Symptoms of Not Enough Humidity in Winter

In the wintertime, the most common symptom you see in hardwood floors is gapping between the planks.

What happens is that, when we turn our furnaces on, the humidity level inside our homes plummets.

This causes the wood to shrink. Hardwood floors do not shrink consistently in all directions. When humidity levels decrease, the boards will shrink more from side to side than end to end.

Thus, the distance between the planks grows larger causing gaps. This also means that wider boards will shrink more than narrower boards.

Symptoms of Too Much Humidity in Summer

Excess humidity in the summer can cause the wood planks to expand and press against each other. This increase in pressure can cause the boards to cup or become higher on the edges than in the center.

Just as in low humidity cases, the boards swell more from side to side than end to end. In extreme cases, the pressure can cause the boards to crack.

What Should My Humidity Levels Be in My Home?

So what’s a safe humidity range for your wood floors? Most experts agree that an ideal level of indoor humidity is around 45%, although anything between 35% and 55% is acceptable.

Summer is usually not as big of a problem as winter. As long as you run your air conditioner, it will remove excess humidity from the air. Winter is when we see the worst problems with a lack of humidity. The relative humidity of indoor air during heating season can be as low as 10%-15%. To put that into context, consider that the average relative humidity in the Sahara Desert is 25%!

Think about that. Your home can be drier than the desert during the cold winter months! That’s not good for you and it’s definitely not good for your wood floors!

Humidifiers Put Moisture Back in the Air

Your home needs extra humidity in the winter, but how do you add it and control it to maintain an optimal level. Here are a few humidifier tips to help you do just that:

Purchase a Hygrometer

This device measures relative humidity so that you can easily monitor humidity levels in your home. It will tell you when your humidity is too low so you know you need more moisture to keep your wood floors (and furniture and woodwork) healthy. It is inexpensive and you can pick one up at your local hardware store.

Have a Humidifier Installed on Your HVAC System

A humidistat that’s built into the unit will let you set humidity levels rather than leave it to chance. This is an ideal solution because it allows you to control humidity levels year-round so you can avoid damaging your wood floors with humidity levels that are too high in the summer or too low in the winter.

Portable Humidifiers

While portable humidifiers aren’t as convenient as a whole-house system that’s integrated into your HVAC system, they’re better than nothing. You’ll have to clean the moisture that may gather around them and refill them every few days. Most manufacturers recommend using distilled water rather than tap water which can cause mineral deposits that affect the humidifier’s efficiency.

If you’ve experienced a humidity-related problem with your wood floors and need advice on how to repair them, give us a call at (816) 965-8655 or contact us online to get your free quote.

Keep Your Hardwood Floors Scratch Free with These 10 Moving Tips

November 20, 2018Tips for Homeowners, Wood Floor Maintenancehardwood, tipsSteve Brattin

Posted by Steve Brattin on November 20, 2018

No one likes to move heavy objects like furniture and refrigerators, but sometimes, it just has to be done. Unfortunately, many times moving heavy items results in terrible scratches on hardwood floors. At SVB Wood Floors, we get hardwood floor repair calls all the time when homeowners scratch their floors while moving furniture. Next time you’re in a pinch and need to move something heavy, use these tips:

1. Clean It Up

One of the most common mistakes homeowners make is moving furniture before cleaning their floors. Sure it’s a pain, but it will save you some grief later. Small pieces of gravel and even general dust buildup under your furniture can wreak havoc if caught between a heavy piece of furniture and the floor. Always sweep your floors and make sure there is no grit especially in the pathway you will be using.

2. Move Furniture Slowly

It may sound silly, but don’t be in a hurry when moving heavy objects. If it slides off of its padding, damage can happen fast. It’s best to keep a close eye on the part that is on the floor to avoid damage. If something feels or sounds off, you can stop easily and reduce any scratches that may have started.

3. Never Drag Furniture

First things first, if you can avoid dragging furniture, do. If it can be lifted and moved, it is always safer for your hardwood floor. But sometimes you don’t have the luxury of a burly friend or the time to find additional help. If lifting is out of the question, be very careful when dragging or sliding. Always make sure there is a cushion of some sort between the furniture and the floor.

4. Lighten the Load

First things first: shed the weight. If you have a heavy object, you’ll want to make it as light as possible before making the move. For instance, remove the drawers from dressers or the contents from your refrigerator or the books and knickknacks from your bookshelves.

Additionally, if you have a piece with a mirror attached, take the time to unscrew a few screws and set the mirror aside to avoid potential damage and some seriously bad luck. Not only will removing drawers and other objects make the piece lighter, but it will also prevent them from sliding out and hurting your hardwood floors and toes.

5. Soften the Surface When Sliding

Once again, this should be a no-brainer, but always put something soft between the floor and the object. Choose something that will easily move across the floor like folded towels, thick moving blankets, small area rugs or carpet remnants with the fuzzy side toward the wood floor.

One thing to remember, if you do choose to use rugs or carpet leftovers, make sure to shake them out to avoid any grit or debris. Also, avoid using cardboard as it can be abrasive and leave dull spots.

6. Try It on Its Side

If it’s not too big or heavy, consider laying the object on its side or back to slide it. Make sure it is on something soft and easily slidable, but extra thick and durable for the added surface area that’s needing to be covered.

Distributing the weight over a larger area will reduce the chance of scratching. This will also put less stress on the object’s legs if it has them. Just be careful to watch the corners and legs when you lift it back up to its upright position. (We suggest having help for this option.)

7. Get Some Gliders

If you haven’t used these yet, you’re gonna love ‘em. These special pads, called gliders, fit under your furniture and make moving heavy objects a breeze. There are tons of nifty options online that come in different sizes and variety packs, and all at great prices! These are reusable and super convenient if you’ve been known to do a little feng shui rearranging from time to time.

8. Refrigerator Trick

Refrigerators are notorious for scratching hardwood floors. When installing a refrigerator, we suggest laying two pieces of hardboard just in front of where the back wheels will be when it is in its final position, slide it back into place on the boards, and then carefully lean it backward to remove the boards.

9. Don’t Trust the Wheels

Always be careful of wheels. They tend to give us a bit too much confidence. Just because a piece is on wheels, doesn’t mean that those wheels won’t scratch or dent your wood floors. Wheels can also get stuck in a sideways position and not roll at all, but rather scrape the floor. Place a piece of 1/4” thick hardboard on your floor and roll the wheels over it.

10. Don’t Use Dollies with Hard Rubber Wheels

Dollies are great for moving heavy objects, but certain kinds can be a nightmare for your hardwood floors. If you use a dolly, make sure it has inflatable rubber wheels, not hard rubber. Hard rubber wheels, plus the weight of the object, can create the perfect storm for dents and damage.

We hope these tips help keep your hardwood floors looking great. If you accidentally damage your wood floors, give us a call and our experts can make them look new again.

Call us at (816) 965-8655 for wood floor repairs. If you’d like to learn more ways to keep your hardwood looking great, download our free guide below:

SVB Introduces a Better Way to Shop for Wood Floors

October 25, 2018Tips for Homeowners, Wood floor installationhardwoodSteve Brattin

Posted by Steve Brattin on October 25, 2018

If you haven’t visited our new gallery-style showroom in Grandview, Missouri, you’re in for a treat. It’s not like other wood floor showrooms. It features large samples of wood floors hung gallery-style in an open and spacious setting that allows you to get a better feel for the look of a particular type of floor.

Customer-Centric Design

One of the best things about hardwood floors is that they are timeless both in style and endurance. With proper care, they can last for centuries. That’s why choosing a wood floor is not a decision you want to rush. You want to be able to see what the floor will look like in your home. You want to see more than a five-inch square of it to decide. That’s the inspiration behind the new showroom design.

We wanted to create a space that allows customers to really get a feel for different wood varieties, stains, styles, and finishes. We took a very customer-centric focus. We didn’t want it to look like the typical wood floor showroom with small spaces crammed with tiny samples. We wanted a relaxing, spacious environment where people could take their time making a decision on a wood floor they will be thrilled with for years to come.

Relax and Enjoy Choosing Your New Wood Floor

The showroom is over 5,000 square feet. The large gallery room is surrounded by offices, a large conference room, and a full kitchen. The sample sizes are much larger and much more representative of the way it will look in your home. You’ll really like how we organized our sample room too…by price point so it’s easy to stay within your budget. Our customers really appreciate how easy and convenient we’ve made it to shop for wood floors.

Come to visit our new showroom located at 4200 Main Street in Grandview, MO. If you need a new wood floor installed or an existing wood floor refinished, call us at (816) 965-8655 to schedule a free, in-home estimate or contact us online.

Not All Dustless Refinishing Is the Same

October 3, 2018Tips for Homeowners, Wood Floor Maintenancedustless refinishing, refinishingSteve Brattin

Posted by Steve Brattin on October 3, 2018

When you hear dustless refinishing from a wood floor company, be aware that not all dustless refinishing systems are the same. At SVB Wood Floors, we use the BONA dustless refinishing system. Why BONA? Where other “dustless” sanding systems empty the dust into a container inside your home where it can escape, our dust containment system pulls all the dust out of your home and straight into the containment unit in our truck outside, keeping the inside of your home clean and 99.8% dust-free. Thanks to this incredible system, refinishing your floors is easy, painless, mess-free, and most importantly very quick! With less mess and hassle, your family and pets don’t even need to leave the house.

How Does It Work?

It’s simple, the handy machine sucks up any and all dust that occurs from refinishing your floors. Immediately the dust containment system accumulates all of the dust that’s in the air and sucks it directly out into a containment unit that’s sitting outside in our truck. Instead of all of the dust getting kicked up into the air to spread all over your belongings and floors, the BONA dustless system, eliminates 99.8% of the dust. There’s no need to cover furniture, take the day off work, board your animals, send the kids to grandmas, or even close off any rooms! Everything can continue on in your home as usual.

Incredible Benefits

– State-of-the-art floor finishing is right at your fingertips. You won’t find an easier process anywhere else.

– You can stay inside your home during the entire process – start to finish

– Leave your pets safely at home – there’s no need to spend extra money to board Fido

– Leave rooms just as they are – no sealing or fuss

– There will be no risk of dust getting into your ductwork

– No lingering dust will ruin your perfectly new refinished floors

– No strong odors from stripping agents

– Environmentally friendly

– Absolutely no dangerous respiratory effects (using other methods microscopic dust particles can linger for months afterward)

– Faster job completion – there is no time-consuming hanging of plastic or cleanup involved

Since the dust is never loose in your home, the entire process of refinishing your floors is faster, safer, and cleaner than ever before. You have to experience it for yourself as the end result is truly flawless. Having your hardwood floors refinished doesn’t have to be stressful or chaotic. With our incredible dustless refinishing system you will have shiny, new, breathtaking hardwood floors in no time at all.

If you would like more information about having your hardwood floors refinished, give us a call at 816-965-8655 or schedule a free in-home consultation online today. We’re ready to help!

3 Hardwood Floor Refinishing Tips for Pet Owners

September 24, 2018Tips for Homeownersdustless refinishing, refinishingSteve Brattin

Posted by Steve Brattin on September 24, 2018

Hardwood floors are a beautiful feature in any home. When you have pets, however, they make keeping your hardwood floor looking their best a challenge. At SVB Wood Floors, we install and refinish hardwood floors for lots of people with pets, from Dachshunds to Dalmatians. The good news is that you can make some choices that will help you keep your floor looking good. Here are a few wood floor refinishing tips you can follow to keep your floors looking their best:

Choose a Lighter Stain

Choosing a lighter stain will help to hide any minor damage your pet can cause. It also hides the dust and dirt they tend to bring in from their outings more effectively. You could also consider getting a shade that is relatively close to your dog’s fur to help conceal that as well!

Avoid Glossy Finishes

While a glossy finish can be tempting, pet owners should steer clear. Satin or matte will hide scratches or dings much better and they still look great. While we all tend to think the scratches in the floor are all from our pets, you might be surprised to learn we do just as much damage ourselves. High heels, pebbles stuck in the treads of tennis shoes, and moving furniture can cause a lot of the scratches and dents in the floors. Picking satin or matte will keep your floors looking their best for much longer.

Trim Those Toenails

Keeping your dog’s nails trimmed will go a long way toward protecting your floors. Dogs should have their nails trimmed once every one or two months. Use this simple rule of thumb – if they click when they walk, it’s time to get it done. Also, putting mats in front of doors will also help. The mats can collect dirt and small rocks that would otherwise scratch your wood floors.

Dustless Sanding Makes Wood Floor Refinishing Fast and Easy

Getting your floors refinished is easier than you think! With our new BONA dustless system, There’s no dust in your home. It sucks it up as we sand and sends it to a containment unit outside your home. You and your pets don’t have to leave. The dustless system also means no plastic sheeting to section off rooms is needed, and there will be no dust settling in your ventilation system to be recirculated later!

If you are thinking about getting your wood floors refinished, call SVB Wood FLoors at (816) 965-8655 or contact us online to schedule a free, no obligation in-home consultation!

The One Secret to Installing a Wood Floor in a Finished Basement

March 19, 2018Tips for Homeowners, Wood floor installationfloor, hardwoodNicole Ventura

Posted by Nicole Ventura on March 19, 2018

Finishing a basement is one of the most popular home renovation projects among homeowners in the U.S. It’s no wonder because basements house a large amount of unused space that can be turned into a wide variety of options to fit your lifestyle. With a basement renovation, it’s possible to add a family room, an extra bedroom, a bathroom, recreation room, home gym, home office, toy room, craft room, or just about anything you desire.

A key part of your basement renovation is choosing a great flooring option – something that will look great, be comfortable, and work on a concrete base, where moisture can sometimes be an issue.

If you thought hardwood floors weren’t an option, because of excess moisture, we have great news for you! For homeowners who love solid hardwood floors, we have a solution – engineered wood floors.

What Are Engineered Wood Floors?

Engineered wood floors are designed for use in places where moisture cannot be controlled, such as on a concrete slab. As opposed to a solid piece of wood, which will warp when exposed to moisture, engineered wood planks are composed of multiple layers of wood that are glued, pressed, heated, and then covered with a thin veneer of wood on top. This process makes the flooring less susceptible to warping. An engineered hardwood floor looks every bit as beautiful as a solid hardwood floor and is typically pre-finished and ready to use right after installation is completed.

Engineered Wood Floors Cost Less Than Solid Wood Floors

Another benefit is that engineered wood is less expensive than solid wood because less expensive woods are used for the lower layers. Some engineered floors with a thin veneer typically cannot be refinished, however, many modern engineered wood floors are made with a thicker veneer that makes refinishing possible. If you’re looking to add the warmth of wood floors to your basement, without risking moisture damage, engineered wood floors are a great option.

Why Install a Moisture Barrier to Wood Floors?

Engineered wood floors should be installed over a moisture barrier and underlayment. Humidity levels below ground are too inconsistent to risk skipping the extra protection afforded by a moisture barrier. There are glue-down options that are designed to protect the finished floor from fluctuating moisture levels below the finished floor. An even better option is to have them professionally installed.

With all of the beautifully engineered hardwood flooring choices on the market today and professional installation methods that include a moisture barrier and underlayment, there’s no reason you can’t enjoy the beauty of a hardwood floor in your new basement living space!

SVB Wood Floor is Kansas City’s premier custom hardwood specialists and we’d love to add you to our list of satisfied customers! For more information give us a call at (816) 965-8655 or get a free quote now!

4 Design Tricks to Make Your Wood Floor Unique

March 10, 2018Tips for Homeownersfloor, hardwoodNicole Ventura

Posted by Nicole Ventura on March 10, 2018

Choosing new hardwood flooring for your home is an exciting step in the home renovation process. Perhaps you’ve already made those crucial decisions regarding species, size and finish, but now it’s time to talk design. If you’re looking for a simple way to dial up the wow in your wood floor, consider the angles. Check out these four examples of floors that refuse to follow the straight and narrow and by doing so, create some unexpected drama.

Take a Different Angle with Diagonal Wood Floors

It’s amazing how much energy is added to a wood floor simply by shifting the angle it is laid out in. Instead of following the natural line of the wall, these planks are installed at a 45º angle to it. Sleek and simple, this design element adds breadth to your room by drawing your attention out to the corners. It creates interest without being busy or overpowering, which means it can be the perfect choice for those who want to focus the attention on other design aspects of a room. This classic pattern deserves far more credit than it receives.

Chevron Wood Floors Refuse to Be Ignored

The chevron design uses a series of angle cuts to form a consistent “V” pattern. This “V” pattern is then repeated, which creates a stunning 3D effect. In addition, it has the ability to make a smaller room appear larger, plus you’ll appreciate the longevity obtained from its high structural integrity. A beautiful, yet simple pattern, a chevron wood flooring design is an ideal choice for anyone looking to make a statement.

Herringbone Wood Floors Zig While Others Zag

Often confused with chevron, herringbone is similar in that a “V” pattern is also achieved, though no angled cuts are present. The square edges simply butt together creating a timeless, symmetrical zigzag design which has made a name for itself all over the world. Though better suited to larger rooms, with its many small boards tightly woven together, the herringbone pattern also has superior structural stability due to its precise dimensions and alignment.

Mixing Wood and Tile Really Packs a Punch

The design is simple, but the effect is breathtaking. Mixing square tiles with long planks of wood at an unexpected angle creates a dynamic design that will have eyes turning and tongues wagging. With so many tile and wood options, the design possibilities are endless!

At SVB Wood Floors, we love the challenge of working with interesting patterns and making your dream floors come to life. If you have an idea you’d like to try to make your floors really unique, we’re all ears!

Kansas City’s Custom Hardwood Flooring Specialists