Black Walnut Species.
The Black Walnut Tree is a large deciduous tree, native to the Northeastern part of America, where it is usually found growing alongside rivers. The Walnut Tree can reach a maximum height of about 130 feet, with an average trunk size of 5 feet. In ancient European history, the walnut tree was used to symbolize fertility. Thanks to its great strength and durability, it has been used as a first choice species in the Hardwood industry for hundreds of years. The Black Walnut is such a valuable Hardwood species, that there are so-called ‘Walnut Rustlers’ who try to catch and steal these trees with their stealthy helicopters.
Botanical Name: Juglans nigra
Country of Origin: Northeastern areas of the United States, Southeastern region of Canada and in more southern States such as Georgia, Florida and Texas.
Species and Names: There are about 21 more Walnut Tree Species in the United States alone. Among these you can find: Brazilian Walnut, Mexican Walnut and California Walnut.
Look and Color: The Black Walnut is famous for its dark color tone Heartwood. The Black Walnut Heartwood has a very rich, deep dark brown color tone, with a somewhat chocolate brown resemblance, with a slight range of dark black and purple tones. The Black Walnut Sapwood is much lighter and at times may even look completely white. This color variation between the sapwood and the heartwood of the black walnut tree is one of the aspects which make it so beautiful, special and desirable. Some Hardwood manufacturers steam the Black Walnut wood in order to seep the heartwoods dark color into the lighter sapwood color tone.
Grain Texture: The Black Walnut grain is mostly straight and open. Some Walnut wood may have curly and wavy grain, which can result in a gorgeous, attractive Walnut Hardwood Flooring color pattern.
Hardness and Strength: The Black Walnut Hardwood is a moderately dense hardwood, yet it is very strong, durable and shock-resistant. On the Janka Hardness Test score the Black Walnut species received a score of 1010, which is about 22% percent softer than the bench mark Red Oak Hardwood species. The Walnut Hardwood species has an average Dimensional Stability score of about 7.8 – which is 9% more stable than the Red Oak species.
Uses in the Wood Industry: The Black Walnut Wood is a quite expensive hardwood species, due to its beautiful dark color and its strong, durable construction. Walnut Hardwood has been used for centuries, in fact people were using Black Walnut tree to make gunstocks, furniture and more. Today, the black walnut wood species can be seen used for furniture, cabinets, coffins and of course as beautiful Walnut Hardwood flooring. The Black Walnut species takes up about 1.9% of the United States Commercial Hardwood Flooring Industry.
American Cherry Species
The Cherry Tree has a very good lifespan, with an average age of 150-200 years. The oldest cherry tree ever studied was 258 years in age. The cherry tree is also a very tall tree, with a height that can reach up to 80 feet and a trunk size of 2-3 feet in width. It’s a tree native to the North Eastern American region and can also be found in certain areas of Central America. The Cherry Tree is known for its stunning red color pattern and high-end market value.
Botanical Name: Prunus serotina.
Country of Origin: The Cherry Tree grows predominantly in the north eastern parts of America, from Québec to Ontario in Canada, all the way down to Florida in the United States. In Central America, places such as Texas, Arizona, New Mexico and the Mexican-Guatemalan mountains posses the American Cherry species.Species and Names: There is a large variety of Cherry Tree species and names. Some other names used to describe the Cherry Tree are the American Cherry Tree, the Black Cherry Tree and the Rum Cherry Tree.
Look and Color: The Cherry Tree is known for the pink tone within its red color pattern. The heartwood of the Cherry Tree varies from a deep, rich red color to light reddish brown tone. The American cherry sapwood has a lighter tint, a somewhat pale brown color with a hint of pink. Some manufacturers steam the cherry hardwood in order to bleed the darker red color into the light sapwood. This results in a gorgeous uniform color that is pleasing to the eye. The Cherry Tree Hardwood look gets darker and richer as time goes by.
Grain Texture: Cherry Hardwood has a very clear satiny, glowing texture. American Cherry has a very fine, wavy, uniform grain. American Cherry has a very versatile pattern variation between its Hardwood planks.
Hardness and Strength: The American Cherry is a beautiful species of tree although it has been known to be extremely soft as a Hardwood. The American Cherry gets only 950 points on the Janka Hardness Test, which is 26% percent softer than the Red Oak standard. However, on the Dimensional Stability Test the American Cherry species reached an above average score of 7.1 points, 17% percent more stable than the Red Oak species.
Uses in the Wood Industry: The American Cherry Tree is an extremely valuable lumber. American Cherry is the most used lumber species for cabinets and furniture in the United States Hardwood Flooring Industry. It is possible to find Cherry wood doors, furniture, moldings, instruments and much, much more. The American Cherry Flooring Industry occupies about 3.9% percent of the entire U.S. Hardwood industry.
How to Install Laminate Flooring?
Laminate flooring is a multi-layer synthetic flooring product, which is fused with the help of lamination process.
It is specially designed to look and feel like real hardwood flooring, but is less expensive than hardwood.
Some laminate flooring imitates wood grains or ceramic tiles which are comparatively more expensive than it.
There are various reasons because of which homeowners opt for laminate flooring over other flooring options.
It is durable, affordable, versatile and resistant to scratches, denting, fading and stains as well.
Moreover, it is easy to install and can be done by homeowners themselves, which help them save money on hiring professionals for the job.
Lamination flooring is available in a slew of colors & styles and is a mainstay in the home decorating industry as it can be installed right on top of an old floor.
As a result, laminate flooring has emerged as prevalent choice for upgrading old floor.
What makes it more popular is that homeowners do not need any professional help and can install the laminate flooring themselves.
One of the popular Do-It-Yourself or DIY tasks is installing laminate floor, which is convenient and does not
require sanding, staining, nailing or finishing.
Before installing, there are certain things that they need to do, such as preparing the floor.
Homeowners should ensure that the subfloor is flat so that laminate flooring is installed properly.
Additionally, care must be taken to ensure that the floor is clean and dry, for which homeowners can conduct moisture test. Thereafter, homeowners need to measure the area where laminate flooring has to be installed.
It is advisable to buy a little more than that required in case homeowners make some mistake during installation.
After purchasing the lamination roll, homeowners should spread it on the floor for two to three days so that it settles down properly and there is no buckling.
Spreading the lamination roll gives a clear idea of how the room will look after installation.
Homeowners should ensure that the required tools like spacers, miter saw, jigsaw, right angle square, crowbar, tapping block as well as measuring tape and caulking compound are in good working condition and handy.
Another important thing that the homeowners should keep in mind while installing laminate flooring is that there is no overlapping and all the wrinkles are removed to get a perfect flooring.
Homeowners must also ensure that there is 1/4 inch clearance at each wall, which can be done by making use of spacer on the wall that can be easily pulled off after installation is completed.
Additionally, homeowners need to make sure that there are no gaps or spaces in between the boards and walls, and if there are some, it should be filled using caulking compound that matches with the color of the flooring.
Once all this is done, clean the installed laminate flooring with the help of damp mop.
Following these simple steps help in installation of laminate flooring, this is a versatile, durable and affordable flooring option that enhances aesthetics of any house.
Bamboo – Green Flooring Option.
In case you want to renovate your home and are thinking of installing new floor, there are various flooring options to choose from. Tiles, concrete, rubber, marble,
laminate are some of the traditional materials that are installed at homes. Hardwood, especially bamboo, is gaining immense popularity as it is a green
flooring option. Use of these environment friendly materials for flooring is more significant in the present scenario as deforestation has become a serious
problem in major parts of the world. These environmental friendly alternatives are renewable, durable and affordable, thereby prove to be a perfect choice for home flooring.
Hence, if you are looking for a green flooring option for your home, you should opt for bamboo.
Use of bamboo is generally preferred over other hardwood options, as it is considered more environment friendly. The major difference between bamboo and other.
hardwood flooring options is that if you cut a tree for flooring, it will take years to grow, but a bamboo plant grows in less time and can quickly be
replaced. Bamboo generally matures up to 50 feet and does not need to be replanted again and again like other trees, which generally take 30 years to
flourish. Therefore, bamboo proves to be a true environmental friendly flooring option as compared to other hardwood flooring options.
Bamboo has distinct advantages that make it popular among people in comparison to other variants. It is available in a wide range of options and is easy to install.
As bamboo is stronger than steel and does not expand or contract with the changes in temperature or humidity, the flooring made from it is extremely tough and durable. Bamboo flooring is gaining immense popularity amongst homeowners also because it is pocket friendly and beautifully imitates the look of wooden floor, which is expensive.
Being resistant to moisture, bamboo flooring is an ideal option for areas that are more exposed to water and tend to remain wet, like kitchen and bathroom.
It provides superior results and lasts longer, though some people complain that it may get brittle with time. However, it is not completely true; bamboo is a hard material but the floor made using it is soft and is a perfect option for people who spend hours standing in the kitchen.
Furthermore, bamboo floor is easy to clean and maintain, all you need to do is wipe it with damp cloth and let it dry.
It is not only the environmental concern that motivates people to opt for this green flooring option. Bamboo floor is available in wide spectrum of colors and
styles that complements well with the your home in any way you want.
It offers a stylish ambiance and makes you a proud owner of a beautiful and comfortable home.
This environment friendly flooring option not only makes your home appealing but also adds to the value of your property. All the various advantaged offered by bamboo have made it a preferred choice of many homeowners.
Hence, without having any second thoughts, you must opt for this durable, easy to maintain, and cost effective green flooring option.
Different Flooring Options for Your Home
common home improvement measure taken to enhance aesthetics of the house is installing new flooring. In case you are also planning to change your old flooring and are looking for new flooring options for your home, there are different flooring variants available in the market. Availability of so many different flooring options makes it daunting for you to choose the right one for your home. To simplify this task, there are certain things that you should consider while choosing the flooring for your home, such as the room where you plan to install it, comfort, degree of use, color, and your budget. Keeping these things in perspective, you can select amongst the different flooring options, ranging from elegant marble to durable stone flooring.
One of the extensively used flooring options is the hardwood flooring which can add to the appeal of any room. You can choose between the different types of hardwood flooring options, such as prefinished, unfinished, floating, and engineered hardwood flooring. Available in different finishes, stains and sizes, these flooring options are easy to install and durable, compared to other flooring options. Among the types of hardwood floor, bamboo is a green flooring option which is highly durable and last really long, without requiring much maintenance.
Another popular flooring option is the laminate flooring, which perfectly imitates the hardwood flooring. This inexpensive alternative to hardwood floor is resistant to moisture, stain, scratches, and fire. The laminate flooring is made using high density fiber and is highly durable and easy to maintain. Additionally, it can easily withstand heavy foot traffic and do not fade away with time, thereby offering value for money.
A flooring option that has become a preferred choice of many homeowners is tile, which is available in different sizes, designs, patterns, and colors. You can choose amongst different types of tiles, such as mosaic, terracotta, glass, porcelain, metal, and ceramic tiles. The availability of so many different types makes it easy for homeowners to choose amongst them as per their preference and budget. Tiles are great option for places that have humid and warm climatic conditions as these tend to remain cool, thereby adding to the comfort of the homeowner. These are durable, affordable, easy to maintain and can be easily installed over any kind of flooring.
In case you are looking for natural flooring option then you must go for stone flooring, which can make a place look more appealing. Among the countless varieties of stone flooring available, marble is a royal stone that adds to the grandeur of the place. Though a little expensive, marble can beautifully complement the interiors of any house. Granite is another stone which is highly durable and easy to maintain, making it a preferred choice for kitchen and bathroom counters. Apart from marble and granite, natural slate is also a great flooring option.
Besides these, you can also choose from other flooring options like vinyl, linoleum, rubber, and cork. Carpet has also emerged as a popular flooring option, which offers endless choice to you in terms of designs, patterns, material, color, and size. Depending on your choice, lifestyle, and budget, you can choose amongst any of these flooring options.
Rise in Popularity of Engineered Hardwood Flooring:
Installing hardwood flooring is a matter of prestige as it imparts a royal feel to any place. In spite of the
grandeur and superior appeal, people seem hesitant to install hardwood flooring
in their home, flat or condo. The reason for this is that the installation
process is cumbersome and time consuming. Understanding the changing needs of
the users there has been a significant change in the hardwood flooring industry
over the past few years. Among the various hardwood flooring options, there has
been a considerable rise in the popularity of engineered hardwood flooring over
the years due to technological and marketing wizardry.
Engineered hardwood floors are easy to install and does not demand too much effort or time. These pieces can
be glued just like laminate floors and each piece clicks to another optimally.
Engineered hardwood flooring was originally developed for climates where the
relative humidity levels vary. It is recommended for areas like basement,
bathrooms and kitchen that are constantly exposed to water. Ideal for places
where humidity levels range between 30-60%, engineered hardwood flooring can also be installed at other places like living room.
Nowadays, engineered wood flooring has become a popular choice among people especially those are looking for
strength and stability. Engineered hardwood flooring uses best wood species,
which makes it highly durable and sturdy. It is also the best floor covering
choice for radiant heat systems, for areas where the surface temperature do not
exceed 80 degrees. Engineered hardwood floors are also suitable in 3 season
cabins or summer homes that are subjected to fluctuations in climate.
Furthermore, it is an environment friendly option because for manufacturing an
engineered wood plank 3-6 times less face veneer wood is used.
Engineered hardwood flooring can be installed over any flat and firm surface like wood or concrete. If used with
sound dampening materials, it can provide extremely quite surroundings.
Moreover, this robust and sturdy flooring option adds to the structural integrity
and does not contract or expand like hardwood.
The popularity of engineered hardwood flooring is also because of wide range of choices it offers
users. The top layer of flooring can be made using different types of wood like
oak, pine, teak, bamboo, ash or maple. Moreover, this flooring is available in
various exotic styles, colors and grain patterns, which can be finished in
lighter or darker shades to complement the decor of the house. Additionally, as
it is already factory stained, sanded and finished, there is no need for site
sanding or finishing. This makes installation easier and less time consuming.
Engineered hardwood flooring looks radiant, is resistant
to moisture and is easy to install & maintain. Additionally, it
is less expensive than most of the other flooring options available in the
market. Engineered hardwood floor boasts of a life span of 40 to 80 years,
which is hard to achieve by any other flooring option. All the advantages
offered by engineered hardwood flooring makes it popular flooring choice that
many people are using to beautify their homes and offices.
Keeping Your Laminate Floor Clean.
Laminate floor is a synthetic product that looks exactly like hardwood flooring but is less expensive. Amongst the most sought-after flooring options, laminate flooring is durable, versatile and reasonably priced. One of the major reasons for its popularity is its hassle free installation and maintenance. Once the laminate floor is installed, it requires minimal care, which if done properly makes it lasts longer. Hence if you too have chosen laminate flooring for your home then you have made the right choice.
One of the most important things that make your floor stay the way it was installed is by keeping it clean. Though laminate floor can be cleaned in various ways, the best option for floor care is to follow the maintenance instructions prescribed by the manufacturer. For basic floor care you need just a soft broom, brush or a slightly damp mop to keep the laminate floor fresh and clean. For cleaning of baseboards, larger pieces of furniture or the edges of the room, you may also use vacuum cleaner to achieve better results.
laminate floor, you must test it on an out-of-sight area of the floor to see its effectiveness. If even after applying the product on the test area for about 30 minutes there is no damage done to the laminate then it is safe to use the cleaner.
While using water to clean your laminate floor, make sure that you do not use too much water as the mop needs to be damp and not wet. A damp mop does not unnecessarily wet the floor, and simply picks up dust and dirt. It is advised to avoid using too much water because it will wet the edges of the laminate boards that may expand and result in buckling. Further, care should be taken that wax and acrylic floor finishes or abrasives are not applied to the laminate floor. Instead, use of stain-removal products recommended by the flooring manufacturer should be used.
There are several products available in the market to keep the laminate floor clean. Microfiber cloth is one such product that is lint free and is specifically designed to pick up dirt and allergens from the floor. It can be used for both wet and dry floor cleaning, making it easy to keep the laminate floor clean. However, this is an expensive proposition and before purchasing the cloth you must check whether it can be laundered or not.
Once you have cleaned the floor, make sure to keep walk-off mats at the doors to avoid sand, grit or soil from entering the place. These simple measures not only help you keep your laminate floor clean but also increase the life of your laminate floor, maintaining its sheen for longer duration.
Different Flooring Options for Your Home
A common home improvement measure taken to enhance aesthetics of the house is installing new flooring.
In case you are also planning to change your old flooring and are looking for new flooring options for your home, there are different flooring variants available in the market. Availability of so many different flooring options makes it daunting for you to choose the right one for your home. To simplify this task, there are certain things that you should consider while
choosing the flooring for your home, such as the room where you plan to install
it, comfort, degree of use, color, and your budget. Keeping these things in
perspective, you can select amongst the different flooring options, ranging from elegant marble to durable stone flooring.
One of the extensively used flooring options is the hardwood flooring which can add to the appeal of any room.
You can choose between the different types of hardwood flooring
options, such as prefinished, unfinished, floating, and engineered hardwood
flooring. Available in different finishes, stains and sizes, these flooring
options are easy to install and durable, compared to other flooring options. Among the types of hardwood floor,
bamboo is a green flooring option which is highly
durable and last really long, without requiring much maintenance.
Another popular flooring option is the laminate flooring, which perfectly imitates the hardwood
flooring. This inexpensive alternative to hardwood floor is resistant to
moisture, stain, scratches, and fire. The laminate flooring is made using high
density fiber and is highly durable and easy to maintain. Additionally, it can
easily withstand heavy foot traffic and do not fade away with time, thereby offering value for money.
A flooring option that has become a preferred choice of many homeowners is tile, which is available in
different sizes, designs, patterns, and colors. You can choose amongst
different types of tiles, such as mosaic, terracotta, glass, porcelain, metal,
and ceramic tiles. The availability of so many different types makes it easy
for homeowners to choose amongst them as per their preference and budget. Tiles
are great option for places that have humid and warm climatic conditions as
these tend to remain cool, thereby adding to the comfort of the homeowner.
These are durable, affordable, easy to maintain and can be easily installed over any kind of flooring.
In case you are looking for natural flooring option then you must go for stone flooring, which
can make a place look more appealing. Among the countless varieties of stone
flooring available, marble is a royal stone that adds to the grandeur of the
place. Though a little expensive, marble can beautifully complement the
interiors of any house. Granite is another stone which is highly durable and
easy to maintain, making it a preferred choice for kitchen and bathroom
counters. Apart from marble and granite, natural slate is also a great flooring option.
Besides these, you can also choose from other flooring options like vinyl, linoleum, rubber, and cork.
Carpet has also emerged as a popular flooring option, which offers endless
choice to you in terms of designs, patterns, material, color, and size.
Depending on your choice, lifestyle, and budget, you can choose amongst any of these flooring options.
Beautify Your Home with Hardwood Flooring.
As the name suggests, hardwood is extremely durable and therefore finds varied applications in construction, furniture, flooring, and utensils. High quality timber is used for making hardwood flooring, which looks elegant and has a longer life. There are different types of hardwood flooring options that can be used for creating an aesthetically pleasing home.
Red oak is widely used for flooring purposes, though this is not the only option. You can uniquely decorate the interiors and floors of your home using hickory, cherry, walnut, white oak or maple as well. There are numerous color options available in hardwood that can be used for enhancing the decor of your home. However, some flooring species like hickory, cherry or walnut are naturally so beautiful that there is no need to add any color. Hence, depending on your preferences you can choose amongst any of the hardwood flooring options.
Some people are of the view that hardwood flooring can only be smooth, however, hand scraped, distressed and reclaimed flooring are the other variations available in the market. These add immense value to the decor of your home by imparting unmatched luxury and style to your place. The environment friendly hardwood flooring is durable and easy to install as well as maintain. It is generally preferred by people because it requires minimum maintenance and can be conveniently cleaned. All one needs is a damp mop and a soft broom or vacuum cleaner to remove dust or stain and keep the floor clean. After removing the dust from the floor, mopping can be done to make it shine. Moreover, it is less susceptible to wear and tear or scratches and in case the finish does get worn you can easily refinish it, which proves to be less expensive than installing new floor.
The natural charm of the hardwood floor adds to warmth and grandeur of your home. Real hardwood floors have a timeless elegance that never goes out of style. People whose tastes are unique with gravitate towards quality, naturally fall for its charm that cannot be duplicated by any other flooring option. Hardwood floor is a versatile flooring option as it complements both traditional and modern decor. This natural flooring option is ideal for those who suffer from any kind of allergies. Hardwood floor is also preferred by people because it provides great return on investment, which in most cases exceeds the initial installation cost. Moreover, it gives great satisfaction to install hardwood floors as these are environmental friendly and helps in conservation of resources.
Hardwood floor is completely natural, hypo-allergenic, appealing and stylish. It is available in wide variety of designs, patterns, materials, stains, and finishes, which offer great options. Hardwood floor is a rage among users as it is easy to maintain, affordable, durable and can last a lifetime, worth every single penny. It always proves to be a good investment option as compared to other flooring options present in the market. Hence, if you are looking for a flooring option that adds to the aesthetics of your home as well as its value, hardwood floor is the best option.
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Bamboo Species
From a Botanical point of view the bamboo species is not considered to be a Tree; instead it is seen to be a kind of Grass. The Bamboo Family is composed by a large group of about 1000 perennial evergreen species. Some of these species are relatively small and some of them run among some of the largest types of grass known to man. New Bamboo shoots can grow up to 3’ feet per day. The bamboo tree is a plant native to the Asian continent, but it may also be found in various parts of the world. The Bamboo species is extremely important within China and has been used for centuries in the production of things such as paper, construction materials and food.
Bamboo
Botanical Name: Phyllostachys spp.
Country of Origin: The Bamboo species which is used predominantly for Hardwood Flooring is found growing mostly in China and Vietnam. There are other types Bamboo species which grow all over the world, in areas such as Australia, India, Africa and the Americas.
Species and Names: There are over 1000 bamboo species in the world. Each Culture has its own unique name for the bamboo. For example, in China the Bamboo wood species is called Zhu, in Japan you can find it under the name Take and Tre in Vietnam.
Look and Color: The Bamboo is not a real wood and the process of making Bamboo Hardwood Flooring is unique and different from other hardwood flooring manufacturing. There are two looks available: Bamboo Natural and Bamboo Carbonized. The Natural Bamboo has a very bright creamy yellowish color, which is very similar to that of the Maple Natural color. The Carbonized Bamboo Hardwood has darker brownish color which looks somewhat similar to the color of the Oak species. Another kind of Bamboo Hardwood available is the Strand Woven style. This style comes in both Natural and Carbonized colors and is considered to be much stronger and durable than its Bamboo alternatives. This is because the Strand Woven Bamboo is layers upon layers of handcrafted Bamboo, which makes it even stronger and longer lasting than Classic Solid Hardwood Flooring.
Grain Texture: The grain pattern on Bamboo is derived from the specific manufacturing process used when creating the Bamboo Hardwood. There are two ways of laminating the bamboo strips: Horizontal Bamboo and Vertical Bamboo. Both of these Laminating styles come in Natural and Carbonized color. The Strand Woven Bamboo is a hybrid of the Horizontal and Vertical styles.
Hardness and Strength: In not being a “true” wood, the Bamboo species varies in strength and durability depending on the manufacturing process and the selected Bamboo stalks used. Usually, older Bamboo plants will result in a stronger and harder Bamboo Hardwood. On the Janka Hardness Test the Carbonized Bamboo received a score of 1180 while the Natural Bamboo is slightly harder with a score of 1380. When comparing to popular Hardwood styles, the Red Oak Hardwood receives a score of 1290, a way between the two Bamboo styles. Strand Woven Bamboo Hardwood is considered to be the strongest, hardest style within the Bamboo industry. As for the Dimensional Stability test, the Bamboo plant reacts very well to moisture, which is an effect of the specific engineered construction and manufacturing of Bamboo Hardwood.
Uses in the Wood Industry: The Bamboo plant is a very useful wood species that is growing in popularity around the globe and being used in a variety of industries. In Asia it is well known as a source of food and is used for all kinds of materials and constructions. Within the Hardwood Industry, the Bamboo species has nearly an infinite amount of uses. It is well used in residential construction, fences, bridges, toilets, walking sticks, canoes, tableware, furniture, chopsticks, food steamers, toys and much, much more. The Bamboo Wood has also been used for making musical instruments, skateboards and surfboards. The Bamboo Hardwood flooring industry is constantly growing, with new products made daily. Bamboo has had an increase in demand due to its fast reproductive features, unlike the “Tree” species such as Oak, Brazilian Teak and Maple, the Bamboo Hardwood takes a couple years to mature, making it one of the most environmentally friendly products.