Colors, Finishes, and More

Hardwood flooring has many different colors, finishes, styles, and installation patterns to pick from. This type of flooring can be as unique as the people living or working in it. Choosing the color, the finish, the gloss level, the size of the boards, and the installation patterns become now a priority.

Color Choices

Hardwood has a various palette of colors it is available in. No matter what decor is going in the home or business, there is a hardwood to go with it.

Natural

This floor floor can be sealed with a protective clear finish that showcases the natural appearance of the wood. The unique grain pattern and characteristics of the species clearly shows with a natural finish. Species as Maple, Pine and Red Oak have a very light color. Others, such as Brazilian Teak, and Wenge, have a very dark color, while other species fall somewhere in between.

Most of the exotic species are sealed with a natural finish. They can be sealed with a lightly tinted finish.

Stained

A lot of looks can be created using the application of a colored stain to hardwood floor planks. Manufacturers can use a few different species with a variety of stain options to create a spectrum of color choices.

Light, Medium, and Dark

Sellers might categorize their flooring finishes in terms of light, medium, and dark or by color family such as yellows, golds, tans, browns, blacks.The dealer can this designation to help buyers find the exact color they want.

Light Sensitivity

Wood is a natural product and it can be sensitive to light and darken over time. Some species are more photosensitive than others. The following species are sensitive to light:

• American Cherry (aka Black Cherry)
• Australian Cypress
• Bloodwood (aka Muirapiranga)
• Brazilian Cherry (aka Jatoba)
• Brazilian Mesquite (aka Andiroba; Royal Mahogany)
• Brazilian Redwood (aka Massanarduba)
• Brazilian Teak (aka Cumaru)
• Brazilian Walnut (aka Ipe)
• Indian Rosewood (aka Sonokeling)
• Kempas
• Nyatoh
• Santos Mahogany (aka Cabreuva)
• Sucupira, dark
• Teak
• Tiete Rosewood (aka Patagonian Cherry)
• Tigerwood
• Walnut

Hickory and maple are both mildly light sensitive.

Deciding on a light sensitive species makes it important to move furniture and rugs on a regular basis for the first year. This allows an equal light pattern to reach the floor. When a part of the floor is covered, the area under the covering appears lighter. It takes a few months for the covered area to darken to an equal color.

Finish Options

A few different finishing options available play a role in how the floors should be maintained. Surface finishes are easily cleaned with soap and water, while penetrating finishes (penetrating seals), cannot be cleaned with water. If a lacquer, shellac, or varnish is used to finish the floor, floors must be treated as penetrated.

Surface Finishes

Surface finishes are commonly used finishes on hardwood floors. Most of hardwood floors have surface finishes which will make it look like there is a shiny layer of plastic on the floor. Options include:

• Polyurethane: which are highly resistant to moisture, and can handle spills while resisting stain. It is less likely they will show wear and tear over time. These can be used as a high gloss or matte finish, and are either moisture cured or oil modified.
• Urethane: Urethane wood floor finish is available as a Swedish finish or water-based. The Swedish finish should only be used by experienced professionals because of the high level of chemicals and odor it produces. People doing their own installation should use water based to avoid the chemicals, but beware of the fast drying time.
• Aluminum Oxide: Factory-finished or pre-finished floors have one or more coats of finish that include aluminum oxide, second in hardness to diamonds. This compund offers durability and a long lasting finish.
• Epoxy: Made of polymers, epoxy sealant is a strong and durable flooring finish. A skilled professional must be hired to apply this finish as it depends on proper mixing and application for best results.

Penetrating Finishes or Seals

Penetrating finishes sink down into the wood. They protect the wood from within. Water cannot be used to clean floors using this type of finish. These finishes will make it easy to feel the wood grain if the floor is touched. Options include:

• Oils & Wax: which give the hardwood flooring protection to prevent dirt from getting into the floors. They also provide a nice shine.
• Varnish: is not a very common finish these days. It scratches easily and it will show wear and tear soon, but can be found in both high and low gloss finishes.
• Shellac and Lacquer: is a hard resin that comes from Lac (a substance secreted by insects to make cocoons). It is also used in the food industry to protect food and add shine. Lacquer is a synthetic coating made using cellulose. Both finishes dry quickly. Since they are not very resistant to spills, they are not commonly used.

Need to Figure Out the Finish?

Knowing the finish is essential. Try one of these tests to determine what kind of finish is likely on the wood floors:

• Put a small amount of water on the floor and leave it sitting for about 10 minutes. If there’s a water spot, it is likely a polish or wax based finish. If not, it’s a surface sealed floor.
• Run a finger across the floor. If there’s a smudge mark left behind, it’s a polish or wax based finish.

Oil Based Versus Water Based Finishes

It is important to know the different between the oil based and water based options available. Due to rising health and environmental concerns, the use of oil based finishes is declining in favor of water based.

If the finishes are acid or moisture cured, they are oil based. This is not to say these finishes do not have a place in the industry, as they do cure hard enough to offer protection and a warm tinted appearance as it ages. The fumes may linger for a week or more, as it takes three to seven days for the finish to completely cure.

Water based finishes are perfect for the environment and those who have problems with allergies. They do not darken over time. Furthermore, when combined with a hardener additive, they come up being harder than oil based finishes. Unless they are used after the floor has been treated with an alcohol based sealer, they can raise the grain of the floor making it rough. Water based finishes work well and consistently for all three sheen levels. The coats dry within an hour, without harsh fumes.

Gloss Level

This refers to the amount of sheen visible on it. How shiny the floor is will have nothing to do with its durability. Wood species will display gloss levels differently. For example, a high sheen on one type of wood may not look the same as a high sheen on another due to fundamental differences in the wood.

High

This type of gloss will be extremely shiny and will reflect more light than other types of gloss. This will lead to a high glare, but will provide the most polished look. Finishes will be labeled with their gloss level. High gloss levels will also show dust more easily than a low gloss sheen will.

Semi Gloss

Medium gloss is between the high gloss and the low gloss, providing a compromise.

Low Gloss: Satin or Matte or Low Luster

Lower gloss finishes will reduce the appearance of minor scratches, while a high gloss will accentuate them.

Widths

Different width options that will determine the appearance and installation requirements of the flooring. If you learning about the width options, it will be easier to determine which style of hardwood floor to use.

Strip

This is a linear type of wood flooring in thin width boards, usually around 2 1/4″ wide. The thinner strips of wood are used to create the illusion of space in a room and are recommended for smaller rooms.

Plank

This is a linear type of wood flooring in thicker width boards than strip. Plank boards are anywhere from 3 inches to 6 inches wide and can also come in “wide board” where the widths are generally 5 inches or wider.

Random Width

Hardwood floors can be sold as random width. This means that each box of flooring contains a variety of widths.

Parquet

This type of wood flooring is used to create any number of geometric patterns on the floor when it is installed. Each parquet will detail the pattern it is meant to create when it is purchased.

Lengths

Lengths might vary. While some will include boards of all at one length, at a higher cost because of the quality required, others will include boards of random length, while indicating the shortest board and the longest board lengths. With random board lengths, all the boards in the box will fall in between those two lengths.

To the average eye, one length boards may appear as random length. One length boards will not be uniform in appearance because they will need to be installed randomly, cut to fit the dimensions of the room.

Edge Detail Types

Different edge types are available and they might affect the installation and appearance of the overall floor.

• Square Edge: create an even appearance blending the floor from board to board.
• Micro Bevel: are designed to hide irregularities in the flooring (for example uneven board height); keep in mind that it is hard to see a difference between micro and micron bevel.
• Micron Bevel: Boards have an even smaller groove than the micro bevel and it is hard to tell the differences from manufacturer to manufacturer; it hides irregularities in the floor.
• Eased Edge: These boards have a slightly less distinctive groove in them than the full bevel. There are some manufacturers that add the edge to the end joints as well as the length of the board; this creates a different visual effect when the floor is complete.
• Full Bevel: These boards have a distinctive groove in them, which creates an informal look. The area between the boards is sealed when the floor is finished to make it easier to clean between the boards.
• French Bleed Edge: These boards are distressed and the edges are stained with a dark or black color to make them stand out.
• Pillowed Edge: These boards have a soft and smooth edge.

Installation Patterns

Each installation pattern of the two of them, will provide different visual interest adding an element of decor to the room.

Plank Style

Most hardwood floors are installed with the planks laid end to end and the boards available in the same width. Random widths can also be used.

Parquet Style

The planks or strips are installed to create several different geometric patterns. The parquet pattern gives a very distinct and sophisticated look to a room. Traditional parquet installation is expensive and rare.

Herringbone

The hardwood floor strips are laid in a diagonal pattern that looks like a twilled fabric. Installers can lay it out manually or use pre-made squares (like parquet) in order to develop this pattern.

• Brick Pattern Half Bond: is laid down to look like bricks.
• Diagonal Basket: is laid in diagonal squares, with each square containing three boards.
• Square Basket: is similar to the diagonal basket, except it is laid in a linear pattern, rather than diagonal. One square is laid horizontally, and the next is laid vertically. This creates a visual interest.
• Square/Diagonal Herringbone: is laid in a diagonal zigzag, usually parallel with the walls.
• Single Herringbone: The boards are laid in an “M” shaped pattern, with one board per angle.
• Double Herringbone: The boards are laid in a “W” shaped pattern, with two boards per angle.
• Chevron: The boards are laid in a “V” shaped pattern, using one board per “V” shape.

Medallions and Borders

Medallions and borders will provide owners the satisfaction of knowing they have something different from others but will not only add value to a home.

Medallions

These are typically large circular designs placed in the center of a room. Common designs include: a compass, a sundial, a sunburst, or a mandala while ustom designs include a family crest, monogram, or animal (such as a lion).

Borders

These are similar to borders for wall paper, except the fact they are laid around the hardwood floor. They can be laid as a simple dark line or a more complex geometric pattern which can be installed at any point throughout the flooring. They are usually installed toward the walls or the center of the room.

Both medallions and borders are considered inlays, as inlays are designs or patterns that are to be “inlaid” into a hardwood floor installation.