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Buy Hardwood Flooring
Buy new hardwood flooring if you don't have access to other options. But if you can buy used hardwood flooring you are not only doing your part to recycle valuable resources, but also saving on your flooring budget. Used hardwood flooring, also know as reclaimed hardwood flooring, is available in many wood types. Go for reclaimed maple hardwood flooring, or even oak, and brag about how gorgeous your used hardwood flooring is.
Why should you buy hardwood flooring? Hardwood flooring is an exceptional quality flooring to use within your home or your business. The value of hardwood is typically more than most other types of flooring, partially because of its durability and styling. It adds beauty and increases your home's value. There are many reasons to buy hardwood flooring. The only drawback to purchasing it is its price.
There are various options available to you when you buy hardwood flooring. You can find a wide range of choices in color, quality, and price. First, you should choose the type of hardwood that fits your needs. Look for the color and the grain pattern that you enjoy and that will fit your home. Then look for durability in the protective coating, if you are considering pre-finished hardwood floors. If you are buying an unfinished wood flooring, then evaluate the finished that can be applied to your new hardwood flooring to keep it looking great for years.
Now look for the right price for the hardwood you love and decided on buying. One option that you have is to buy used hardwood flooring. That is flooring that has been used previously. In many cases, this wood has been removed from a home or business location because it is in such excellent condition and it seemed worth recycling in this manner. It is also called reclaimed hardwood flooring and is still exceptional in its quality. In many cases, this used hardwood flooring is less expensive but still durable and beautiful.
In fact, reclaimed hardwood flooring is also a great choice because it provides a antiqued or rustic look, or a patina typically found in older homes. To buy hardwood flooring, you should consider whether or not it will bring the right style and design to your home. Whatever your goal and desired look, hardwood you buy should provide.
A friend bought reclaimed maple hardwood flooring for her living room, and it looked exquisite! This type of hardwood flooring will maintain its great looks and value, with proper care, because of its hardness. The Janka hardness rating for maple ranges from 1450-1500. When you go to buy hardwood flooring that is used hardwood flooring, ensure that it is structurally sound and without major flaws so you can be assured of buying quality wood. Although it is common to find some damage to reclaimed hardwood, it shouldn't be in so much as to diminish its quality.
Whether you buy reclaimed or new hardwood flooring, you are buying a floor that you will enjoy for years, and one that increases your homes value and appeal. There is little doubt that when you buy hardwood flooring, it will provide you with a beautiful home you will be proud of.
Comments
Hi Barbara, I'm sorry, I cannot recommend anybody that sells used hardwood flooring in the DC area - I'm not located anywhere near there. You might try to see if there are any architectural salvage people in the area utilize a search engine (my favorite is Google!). Good luck!
The Flooring Lady at May 21, 2008 05:01 PM
Hi,
I am a new homeowner and know nothing about flooring. I would like to take out the old carpet that was in my new home and replace it with a wood floor. Under the carpet is concrete and this is on the ground floor. I have a 3 year old and I am so confused as to what floor I can get that will go on the concrete and be durable enough for my toddler. Please help.. I am not handy and have no idea where to begin.
Thank You,
Tina
Tina at June 5, 2008 04:27 PM
Hi Tina,
The first thing you need to do is learn about different options for re-covering your floor. There are many products that will work over a concrete floor. The most important thing is to make sure that there are no dampness issues with your floor and if there are to address that first, whether that means sealing, just using a good moisture barrier before you re-floor, etc.
Choices...........there's lots of them! Laminate planks or tiles, engineered harwood, vinyl, linoleum, ceramic tile, even painting or staining your cement. I suggest you read about your different options, sorta kinda make a choice (or two or three) and read more in depth about how to lay those types of flooring, how to care for them, etc.
Are you truly not 'handy', or do you just say that because you're not experienced in flooring? You just need to learn thoroughly what about what you're going to do before you do it. If you truly don't have a handly bone in your body you might want to have it installed rather than doing it yourself.
The Flooring Lady at June 6, 2008 10:56 AM
Do you know if I can buy used hardwood flooring --I added square footage to my 1930 home. Original/existing oak floor is made by Miller Bros.,Johnson City, Tennessee. I'd appreciate any assistance you can give me. Sally Jameson
Sally Jameson at June 7, 2008 12:01 PM
Hi Sally,
I haven't a clue. Only thing I can think of is to check to see if there are any architectural salvage businesses in your area. Have you checked to see if Miller Bros. is still in business?
The Flooring Lady at June 8, 2008 12:34 AM
Hi - I'm looking for 800 sf of used hardwood flooring. Mostly to save money. I'll recondition and finish it. I just need the raw product. I can pick up in the Portland Metro area. Do you have any recomendations for me?
curtis at July 23, 2008 12:22 PM
I found and removed some 2 1/4" Racket ball court hard maple, I need to store it in my hanger for 2 years, what is a good way to bundle and store the wood
Steve at July 23, 2008 09:53 PM
Hi Curtis, I'm sorry, I'm not familiar with the Portland area. Try doing a google search, perhaps you'll come up with a company that deals with reclaimed/salvaged products.
The Flooring Lady at July 24, 2008 12:06 PM
Hi Steve,
How long are the pieces? It would be best to put them in boxes, but smallish boxes. Think about the size of a box that new flooring would come in. You can stack the boxes on top of one another, but obviously, only if they're full so that the wood in the next box is still lying flat - you don't want the wood to warp.
Obviously though, I cannot tell you how well this will work over a 2-year period, especially since I have no way of knowing what the 'climate' is like in your hangar.
The Flooring Lady at July 24, 2008 12:31 PM
I've been storing bamboo in my garage for a few months, hoping it will acclimate for installation later this fall. It came as bundles wrapped first in plastic and then with a hardboard "sleeve" around that to protect the edges from the metal banding that holds the bundle together.
Since we're trying to let it acclimate we have cut the ends of the plastic wrapping to expose the bamboo flooring. When we move it into the house, putting the bundles in the rooms they'll be used, we'll open them up even more so they can get used to the rooms.
The only thing we're undecided about is whether we should clip the strapping or not. The strapping is what we think keeps the boards from warping -- in any direction. You may want to consider strapping your boards together to keep them from warping while you store them.
Good luck. The maple may be almost as pretty as our bamboo is going to be. But even more environmentally sound.
Anonymous at July 24, 2008 12:42 PM
