When people consider wood floors in NYC, they usually don’t realize all the choices they have available to them. It’s not just as simple as picking a type of wood and going with it.
When choosing wood floors in NYC, it is important to think about where the wood will be going. If you have two stories in your home, you may need to use two or more different types of wood. Anything below the ground level (basement) is considered below grade, while floors that are even with ground level are on grade and second or more stories are considered above grade. You are generally not supposed to use solid wood below grade, because there is a lot of moisture in basements. Instead, use engineered wood.
You will also need to take into consideration what the subfloor is made of. Common types of subfloor include concrete, plywood and particleboard. Concrete flooring should only use engineered wood, though plywood can use solid wood. If you are intent on using solid wood floors in NYC, but have concrete, you will either need to install plywood over the concrete or glue down the solid wood, though this will make the wood permanent, which could be problematic if there are leaks or floods.
If you have particleboard, you will need to first replace it with plywood and then you can use solid or engineered wood.
You will also need to consider the living habits of your family members. If you have a lot of high traffic in your home, or your family members walk heavily, you will want to use a harder, solid wood. You may also get away with using a softer wood if it has a natural pattern, and play around with finishes and stains that will hide scratches or dents.
Wood floors go with almost any décor, but it is important to choose the right kind of wood. If you have a more modern house, you would want to use maple or something similar, such as gray-stained oak. If you have a more traditional home décor, you will want something such as hickory or similar. However, you can always get a small piece of the wood you want to use and compare it to the home to see if it will look great.
Each type of wood works great in specific areas, and New York Wood Flooring can help you choose the best type of wood floors in NYC.