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Board Size
Strip |
flooring is 2-1/4" wide and narrower |
Plank |
flooring is 3" wide and wider |
Random Pattern |
a mixture of various widths |
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We supply custom widths and lengths in domestic species faster than just about anybody, depending on availability of the lumber. 6" and wider flooring can look pretty "blocky" in 1 1/2' to 2' lengths. Our most commonly asked for custom length is 3' and longer, which can reach up to 12' with end-matching (ready to lay). Longer lengths may be supplied without end-matching, which may require squaring each board before it is laid. Hand-scraping, contour sanding, saw marks, etc. are also available in varying degrees. Top
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Installation Installation of a wood floor is not complicated in most circumstances, just hard work. If you are a do-it-yourselfer, we can furnish you with an instructional brochure. If you're not inclined to tackle the job, we would be happy to recommend a professional, independent installer who does quality work. Before the flooring is delivered to the job site, humidity in the home must be stabilized and the wood delivered a few days before installation so it may acclimate to that stabilized humidity level (see "Care of Your Wood Floor"). Storing the wood in a home environment where the humidity levels will change significantly from water leaks, drying paint or drywall mud, fireplace, mortar, etc., only serves to defeat the purpose of kiln-drying the wood at the factory in the first place and ensures poor flooring performance. Top
Care of Your Wood Floor You should be aware that wood is a dried, fibrous product that acts like a sponge, which changes width with humidity changes. Before the wood is installed, it should acclimate to the conditions in your home for a few days. Before and after delivery, you should control the humidity swings in your home with an air-conditioner in the humid summer months and a humidifier in the dry winter months. This will keep the wood movement in your home to a minimum and your comfort to a maximum. Storing the wood in a home environment where the humidity levels will change significantly from water leaks, drying paint or drywall mud, fireplace mortar, etc., only serves to defeat the purpose of kiln-drying the wood at the factory in the first place and ensures poor flooring performance. The wider your board, the more attention you need to pay to humidity control because wider boards have more fibers per unit (board) to react to moisture changes. A range of 35 - 50% relative humidity is desirable.
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Packaging Generally, flooring pieces range from 1 - 7ft long, in nested bundles, or boxes in the case of prefinished flooring, which contain boards of differing length to make up the same square footage in each bundle or box. Top
Milling Milling, or machining, is not specified in great detail in grading but it is very important in the assembly of your floor. Flooring is a mass-produced, natural product which lends itself to imperfections and it is very common to use wood filler on a new floor; however, some mills are better than others in this regard. The quality of the milling has a lot to do with how easy or difficult the floor will be to lay, its final appearance, and the amount of waste. We buy from the better mills because we get a lot of "word-of-mouth" business from satisfied customers and we want to keep it that way. Top Finishing Ask about our specially formulated floor polyurethanes with high solids. Some imported woods may require special sealing. Our model brand of prefinished flooring has what we consider to be the best finish in the industryTop |
 Clean your floor with a dust a mop or, when necessary, a slightly damp mop. Do not clean with vinegar, as the acetic acid in it will "etch" or dull the polyurethane over time.
Polyurethane was developed to be a low-maintenace finish and does not require waxing. Waxing your floors or using a cleaner which contains wax or oil ingredient will turn a low-maintenance product into a high-maintenance one. In addition, wax, oil, and other chemicals will attract dirt and make it extremely difficult, if not impossible, to easily apply another coat of polyurethane, should you want to renew the appearance of your floor a few years down the road.
Polycare is an excellent polyurethane cleaner which will not interfere with recoating your floor. Top |
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Lancaster Hardwoods, LLC & Henson Flooring
