Questions You Might Have About Residential Timber Flooring
If you're thinking of getting timber flooring for your home, you need to ensure you take time with an installer to get all your questions answered properly, before even shopping for a wood variety or species. Note a few of those questions you might have here, so you can more quickly narrow down your options of timber, and know what to buy and how much, so your home's floors look their best after the installation job is finished.
Why is it recommended that you order so much extra flooring?
Wood floor slats are cut to fit the room precisely, and to work around obstacles like columns, heating registers, and so on. Once a floorboard is cut, it usually cannot be used in another area of the room. This is why it's often recommended that you get several more square feet of flooring than the actual layout of the room, to ensure you have enough material to finish the job properly. In some cases, you can return excess material that isn't cut to the store or manufacturer, but you might also simply keep excess boards on hand, for use when a floorboard gets damaged or otherwise needs replacing.
Which is better, high shine or matte finishes?
There is no finish that is actually "better" than another, meaning more durable or longer lasting. As with choosing wall paint, choosing between a high-shine, semi-gloss, or matte finish for your floorboards depends on the appearance you want from the boards themselves.
However, note that floors that are exposed to direct sunlight will have an even shinier finish than those in a darker room, so a high-shine finish may look very glossy and even a bit wet when installed under large windows. Also, the higher the shine, the more you'll notice small scratches and other imperfections in the floors. Opt for a matte finish for homes with pets or lots of foot traffic, to hide unsightly marks on the floors.
Will the wood floor change in appearance over time?
The colour of wood flooring will fade or otherwise change in appearance over time, even if it's treated with a sealant. You can slow down this process by ensuring your timber floors are always coated as needed, and avoid direct sunlight, which speeds up this process, by keeping your home's curtains closed. You can also have timber floors painted, so that they remain a particular colour over time, but even this paint will need a fresh coat on occasion, to keep the colour from fading over the years.
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