Engineered Wood Flooring Vs Hardwood Flooring

Engineered hardwood flooring sure has made a name for itself. Some people won't even look its way, preferring traditional hardwood flooring, but there are of course advantages to both. What advantages does engineered flooring have over regular wood flooring you ask? Let's look at both sides of the equation and compare these two types of flooring so that you get a good look at the complete picture.

First of all, engineered hardwood has a better reaction when it comes to both temperature and humidity. There are many reasons why companies prefer engineering flooring, it can be built and modified to be longer lasting, more durable, and more cost effective then some of its contemporaries. That's not the end of the story, however, so let's take a look at more of the differences.

In order to install Hardwood flooring, it is required that the floor be nailed into the ground. This is not the case with engineered floors however as glue can be used, or in some cases, staples. So far, we are painting a picture together that highlights engineered flooring as the winner of this battle but there are still two sides to this story.  

Let's say that you have been using a hardwood floor for over 20 years in your home. The chances are that by then it may start to lose its original finish. A tremendous benefit to Hardwood floors is that they can be easily sanded and refinished. This is not the case with engineered wood floors as the amount of true wood surface that on has to work with is limited in comparison.

Hardwood flooring will typically cost more money than its engineered counterpart. However, this is not always the case as there are many different kinds of materials that can be used to construct an Engineered Wood floor. One of the benefits of Hardwood is that it has a reliable material that one can expect to last for decades on end. This is not to downplay engineered hardwood however, as there are many brands that offer tremendous quality and value for the product.

Now you know have a little more knowledge on what you can expect from both types of flooring, you may see why engineered flooring is making such a splash in the market. With more flexible installation options, an engineer’s design palette and reliable companies backing the product, we believe Engineered Floors offer something of great substance and value to the consumer.

At the end of the day however both hardwood and engineered wood flooring both have many advantages and neither is strictly better than the other. Different situations call for different types of flooring and what matters most is choosing the ideal product that will not only help your floor, but also make you happy. Flooring is a big decision and there should be no bigger criteria than customer satisfaction.

If you are in the Edmonton area and are looking to upgrade your flooring to Hardwood or Engineered wood, you lay your expectations on Touchtone Canada to get the job done! We are Alberta’s Largest Flooring Store and are entering our 25th year of business. We have options for hardwood and engineered wood flooring from all the trusted and high-quality brands, ensuring your floor will look amazing and be durable for a long, long time! We offer same day delivery & pick up as well as next day installation.

Give us a call at 780-414-0862 or email info@touchtonecanada.com for more information. At Touchtone Canada: We Floor, You Adore.

Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing a Wooden Floor

Deciding on the materials to use on a new wooden floor can be a complex process. You need to figure out a variety of things, including what colour should you go for? Is this the right style for your room? What finish is best for you? Once you have made these decisions and figured out the obvious things, there are some less obvious factors that you need to think about which are just as important if you want your floor to provide you with years of trouble-free enjoyment. Here are a few common mistakes that you will want to avoid when choosing a wooden floor.

Make Sure that You Measure the Space Correctly
Make sure you measure the space that you plan on laying your new floor correctly. This can be done by ensuring that you are taking accurate measurements from the longest and widest parts of the room. If you are working with a room that is an irregular shape,  be sure to split it into separate sections, and then measure each of those sections individually. Once that is done simply add the total together at the end.

Find Out Which Underlay Works Best for Your Situation
People who are unfamiliar with laying flooring down, often incorrectly assume that underlay is simply a trivial addition that comes in a standard size and spec. This is a mistake that can result in a major headache. This is because having the right underlay can extend the life of your new wooden floor, as well as offers noise insulation and needs to be compatible with your heating choices. If you have not already considered what sort of underlay you need, here are some of the primary factors to consider:

• How thick do you need the underlay to be?

• Is the underlay going on to a concrete or wood sub-floor?

• Do you need the underlay to provide a moisture barrier?

If You Plan on Installing Underfloor Heating Make Sure that it is Compatible
There are so many potential issues that could potentially arise when you install your wooden floor over underfloor heating if you have not made sure that it is compatible first. Most people don’t know that many solid wood floors are not compatible with underfloor heating due to the expansion and contraction of the wood as the temperature changes. Having the wrong flooring installed with underfloor heating can result in cracking, warping, as well as bowing and excessive drying out of your once beautiful hardwood floor, which can completely destroy it.

Not Giving the Floor Enough Time to Acclimatize
Are you aware that different wooden floor types require different periods in order to properly acclimatize to your home’s conditions? The humidity and temperature of your home both play a large part in how your wooden floor will contract and expand. In order to lower the risk of gaps and warping in your floor once it’s been installed, the installers would leave the floor in the room in which it is due to be installed for anywhere from 2 to 7 days.

The Janka Hardness Scale

Hardwood flooring is one of the best decisions you can make when it comes to interior home design, as it is a product that never goes out of style. It’s easy to assume that all hardwood flooring is the same when it comes to durability, but this is actually quite far from the truth. Hardwood’s actual hardness is measured by something called the Janka hardness scale. Let’s take a look at what the Janka scale is and how it works.

What is the Janka hardness scale?

The Janka hardness scale is a way of measuring the hardness of a given piece of hardwood. It was invented in the year 1906 by an Austrian wood researcher named Gabriel Janka, and it is an adaptation of the Brinell hardness test for metals. In order to better understand the Janka scale, you first need to know how the Brinell test works. The Brinell hardness test is used to test metal materials that are too coarse or rough to be tested by other means. The test involves a steel ball with a 10mm diameter being pressed into the material’s surface under 3,000 kgs of pressure. The resulting indentation is then examined to determine the hardness of the material.

How does the Janka hardness scale work?

The Janka hardness scale works in a very similar way to the Brinell test. It measures the pounds of force (lbf) it takes to drive an 11.28 mm diameter steel ball halfway into the surface of a slab of hardwood. A test done on the surface of a board, perpendicular to the grain is called a test of “side hardness”, while the same test being performed on the cut surface of a stump is called a test of “end hardness”. Every hardwood board will not yield the same test result, seeing as the hardness of wood varies with the direction of the wood grain, and will be different from one board to another. While durability issues come up when we look at different types of wood grains, there is usually not much deviation when it comes to differences in separate types of wood material, as estimates usually find the difference to be about plus or minus 10%.

Why is a Janka hardness rating important?

Hardwood flooring is a big investment and will typically cost you a pretty penny, so you’ll want to make sure you are getting top quality wood that is not going to deteriorate or wear down after a few short years. While wood with a low Janka rating can still serve you just fine, it is only going to do so if you live a quieter lifestyle that does not involve your home seeing heavy foot traffic. If you have children and/or pets, try to find hardwood with a higher Janka score. A Janka hardness rating is going to give you a great indication of what kind of wear and tear your hardwood is going to be able to handle, helping you make a smarter decision when it comes to making a purchase. Come visit Touchtone Canada and browse our collection of high-quality hardwood flooring today.

What to know When Buying Hardwood Floors with Dogs

When you install hardwood flooring in your home, you want to make sure it stays beautiful for years to come. Hardwood that is damaged or worn is never going to give off the same appearance as newly installed hardwood, so you need to make sure you are avoiding any and all damage. A fairly big cause of scratched and damaged hardwood these days is dogs’ nails. As dogs run across a hardwood floor, their nails can easily dig into the wood and create scratches and deep gouges. To better prepare yourself for having a pet in your hardwood home, there are a number of things you can do.

Choose your finish wisely

When looking to buy hardwood for your home, you should know that wood with a glossy, shinier finish is far more likely to make every dent and scratch show. This is because these types of finishes reflect light a lot more than their non-glossy counterparts, making it much easier to see scratches and dents. If you are a pet owner, it’s probably a good idea to stray way from the glossy finishes and go for something a little less shiny.

Try using a two-toned finish

Some hardwood companies offer a flooring option that is “two-toned”, which means it is stained black, then sanded, then stained again to give it the completed look. The end result is an “old” look in which black soaks into the grain and edges. This style of flooring is extremely popular with homes that contain pets because it does a great job of camouflaging any small scratches or dents that may happen to occur.

Keep your floors clean

No matter what type of hardwood you decide to put in your home, you will not be able to avoid scratches and gouges if your floor is consistently dirty. When your floor is dirty, your pet’s paws can just drive that dirt into the hardwood and cause it to dig deep scratches and gouges. Try and sweep your hardwood floors regularly in order to avoid this from occurring.

Trust your hardwood supplier

When it comes to making the right choice concerning your hardwood floor, there is no better way to get the information you need than by asking an expert for their opinion. Your hardwood supplier is likely a good candidate for this, so make sure you ask all the questions you need answered before you purchase any hardwood. An experienced professional is going to be very informative when it comes to buying hardwood that is safe for pets, so make sure to ask!

Use mats and rugs

If there is a stretch of hardwood that you know is going to be seeing a lot of pet traffic, it may be a good idea to consider setting up a couple of mats or rugs in that area to avoid any damage all together. This will ensure that your hardwood stays beautiful at all times.

5 Great Home Interior Styles

Are you looking to completely redo the interior of your home and are yearning for a great new style to work with? There are countless options out there when looking for interior styles, so it can be a little overwhelming when browsing for your home’s new look. Do you stick with a more modern style, or do you go vintage? Do you want to add as much of your own personal touch as possible, or do you want to keep things simple? Here are 5 trendy home interior styles that just might do it for you!

Eclectic

The eclectic interior style is for those of us with a creative flair. This style borrows from a number of different periods, styles, and trends. It’s meant to be twisted and moulded in different and unique ways, allowing for maximum expression! While it can be tempting to let loose and add all sorts of patterns, colours, and textures, it’s still important to keep a sense of balance between these things, while also blending old with new.

Minimalist

Minimalism is a trend that is fairly new, starting in the early twentieth century. This style was originally influenced by Japanese design and its simplicity, and it involves interiors being stripped down to their basic elements to create as little clutter as possible. The idea behind the minimalist style is that less is more, therefore any empty space is a design statement and is meant to be empty. Minimalist style should always be done with colour being used sparingly, since too many colours will just be a distraction from the simplicity.

Scandi

The scandi style is becoming more and more popular around the globe. This style is inspired by the snowy landscapes of the Nordic countries and is characterized by heavy use of the colour white. Too really feel like you’re warm and cozy in the Nordics, consider adding white wools, fabrics, and furs to wooden frameworks. The scandi style is all about sharp lines and lots of texture; it’s perfect if you’re looking for a clean and vibrant style.

Vintage

The Vintage style is most likely to create that home-sweet-home feeling we all know and love. While not old-fashioned, Vintage style seeks to evoke feelings of comfort while treating the eye to versatile design choices that can be either Charming or edgy, pretty or retro. A concept of open shelves leaves plenty of room for knick-knacks and more as you customize your vintage space.

Contemporary

The beauty of the contemporary interior style is that it is constantly evolving. This style is modern and current at heart, but there are constantly new additions to its essence, and what is considered a contemporary interior now will likely change as time goes on. As it stands today, contemporary interior styles include clean spaces, furniture with exposed legs that create a feeling of space, a lack of intricate details, and lots of metal and glass.

These are just 5 of the many beautiful and unique styles dominating the world of interior design today. A whole world of style and beauty is waiting for you, so get decorating!