DOUGLAS E. SMITH
        Smith Custom Builders

When choosing your hardwood floors, it is of your best interest to bring in an expert in the field. There are so many different varieties of wood, designs, inlays, and finishing techniques, many things should be considered before moving forward.

It is always recommended that the colors of your furniture, cabinets, ceiling beams, paneling, countertops, wood blinds, all be considered so your hardwood floor will add to the overall elegance of the home.

Visiting a supplier of hardwood products, like Trinity Hardwoods will give you and your builder endless ideas. Do you want thin or wide plank flooring? How about the length of hardwood strips, long or short? Types of wood? What about adding borders? How about combining stone inlays with your hardwoods? Types of finishes?

Installation can be done by nailing the material to a 1 x 4 strip of wood, which is attached to the concrete with tar. These nailing strips are called screeds; they are on 12-inch centers. The hardwood is turned 90 degrees and nailed to these strips.

If there is a Pattern or Medallion, then plywood can be used under the design, allowing the installer a way to nail each small piece. If stone inlays are to be added, your tile layer will have to be involved.

If you are installing any of these designs, and you have a height restriction, meaning your carpet must meet the top of the new hardwoods at the same height. Old foundations were not built with lowered areas for future hardwood installation. Most hardwoods are ¾” thick, and the screeds are ¾”, which is 1 & ½” total. That means you cannot install the hardwoods in the manner described above.

There are products on the market designed to be glued down to the concrete, which will match up to the carpet height. These engineered floors are designed to give long life, and can be refinished. The biggest concern is what builders call, “Hydrostatic Pressure”. This is moisture under an old foundation being forced up through the concrete, which will destroy a glue down floor.

This is a simple problem to over come; your builder or installer must seal or cover the concrete with a waterproof membrane. This will insure long life of your new hardwood floor. This step “Must” be done, to skip this important membrane, your floor will be destined to fail.

One of the most common problems we see on older homes, is the weep holes in the brick that are lower than the landscaping. When it rains, the water will flow into the weep holes, instead of out. The water then can find its way under the hardwoods, buckling and warping your new floors. This is another “Must” to check before your new floors are installed.

Finishes on floors, is another one of the questions left up the experts in the industry. Floors can be Sanded or Hand Hewnd, Hand Hewnd is a process of hand scraping instead of sanding. It gives the floors a very special look, that again must be considered in the initial design.

Floors also can have very shiny, or a flat Matt finish, and every thing in between. So when making the decision to install your new hardwoods, consider all the options.

Douglas E. Smith

President Smith Custom Builders