Hardwood Flooring is probably the most practical of all flooring materials.  It is a natural resource so it qualifies as a top ranker in home décor.  Though these floors started out using only wood, there have been much "Greener" materials discovered.  They appear natural and some are even more sturdy and reliable than classic wood.  

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Hardwood has become one of the most popular types of flooring.  From its several types of wood and material to its variety of designs, colors, and stability.  GO GREEN by installing a new type of flooring that reduces the need to cut down trees!

SOLID HARDWOOD FLOORING—  Separated into two kinds: Exotics & Domestics
Exotics come several types of fancy wood such as Brazilian Cherry, Bolivian Rosewood, Golden Teak, and much more!
Domestics are usually the standard Red Oak, Birch, Hickory, etc. 
Exotics and Domestics are both available in different thickness & widths.

ENGINEERED FLOORING—
These floors are scientifically designed that appears and acts as real wood, however, are less effected from moisture and temperature change.  They do not expand and contract in hot or cold temperatures which reduces creaking and loosening of the mounting. 

LAMINATE FLOORING—
This type of flooring appears to be wood but is not at all.  The flooring is actually an image that is applied to it and then coated with an aluminum oxide to protect the surface.  They come in all the classic domestic looks, such as beech, oak, maple, cherry, or walnut. 
Save money and the Environment!  Not only are these floors affordable, durable, and long-lasting, but less trees are being used for real wood.  The installation is fast and easy- no need for messy glues or adhesives and it can be mounted on ANY kind of sub-floor! 

ECO-FRIENDLY FLOORING—
Yes, you can still have beautiful hardwood flooring without affecting the environment.  The two sources for these floors are Cork & Bamboo.  These products regrow from the same plant after harvesting, therefore, these materials are renewable and not damaging the eco-system. 

Bamboo is twice are hard as oak wood.  It's very durable and can handle a lot of foot traffic, active kids, and pets.  Available in an assortment of different colors and is finished with a high-quality coating to keep the floor looking new for decades!


Cork has very good insulating abilities, as well as being very durable and resilient. 
 

Mounting Mechanisms →  a proper sub-floor is necessary for effective mounting.  It must be a flat surface to decrease instability and warping. 
There are 3 main ways to mount your floor~  Gluing, Nailing/Stapling, or Floating

Glue~  Before installation, it's important that you choose the right glue based on the sub-floor to be mounted on.  A suggestion for a good glue is a water-proof adhesive.  This reduces moisture vapor transmission, and has good bonding strength and flexibility.  Glue is generally used to mount onto concrete floors and rarely used on Solid wood flooring, mostly for engineered flooring.  Fortunately, adhesives are no longer toxic and mostly eco-friendly.  The 3 main adhesives are water-based, urethane based, and acrylic. 

Nails/Staples~  A nail/staple gun uses air-pressure from a connected compressor to force the nails/staples into the floor.  Nails may loosen over time if they don't have a grip on a proper sub-floor.  Also, staples may secure the floor too tight which can create a squeaky floor. 

Float~  It is the quickest installation process of all.  A floating floor isn't nailed down, rather it's either glued or snapped together.  Which this procedure, you can mount a floor on any material such as, concrete, sheet vinyl, ceramic tile, and plywood.  The best choice of wood for this process is engineered since it is very stable. 
 

Types of Molding


Quarter Round~  used to blend the wall base and the flooring.  Also good for around cabinets.
Stair Nosing~  used to blend the step of a staircase with the floor.
Reducer~  used to transition from one surface to another one. i.e. hardwood to carpet
 Threshold~  used in doorways to transition the different floors in each room.
Base Shoe~ same as the quarter round, but it's used in limited spaces.
Baseboard~  a thin piece of wood that is glued up against the wall and is flush with the floor.

Electrical related directories               Able Group Inc.  610-853-8311
Call the Able Group for hardwood flooring installations -  Free Estimates for neighborhoods surrounding Philadelphia & Delaware County, PA.  Broomall 19008, Havertown 19083, South Philly, Devon 19333, Drexel Hill 19026,
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