I would like to replace the carpet with engineered wood. Approximatley 1,000 sq ft with a concrete slab. With so many manufacturers on the internet, it’s difficult to decide what would be the main things to look for as far as quality.
I was considering some exotic wood (i.e. Santos Mahogany, Kempas). What should I be looking out for? Should I looking at wood that has lifetime structural warranty? How thick should the surface layer be at a minimum? Some internet sites state “random” lengths which turn out to be 18″ to 48″. Are these standard lengths? Or is it preferable to go to a flooring store and stay away from internet vendors?
Any ideas before I spend a lot of money would be appreciated.
Replies
I've done both. Internet vendors can be fine, but you should buy a sample before you lay out $1000's of dollars on the material. Different vendors have different wear layers and you want that as thick as you can get it. I have samples from both Lauzon and WFI and they are pretty good, thickness wise. Also, when you go for exotics you need to be careful about the lengths as well. 18" is pretty darn short, which is why we didn't go with Lauzon - at the time all the exotic we thought we wanted was only available in 24" length.
Thanks. I checked with a couple of local vendors in the Austin area; and they stated that the lengths normally range between 1 foot and 4 feet with a lot of the manufacturers. It just depends who is making the strips. I am still leaning towards Hartco.
P.S.
I have Hartco Pattern Plus and have had very good results with it. Just a note - Pattern Plus is considered a commercial rated floor and even with this rating, I have to be careful with it.
Watch out for short lengths. I've always heard that the reason they are short is because they had a lot of defects in them that had to be cut out. Engineered wood usually has a very thin finish wood layer - I'm talking paper thin and therefore can't be refinished. Once a wood floor is installed it can be a mess to replace, so think about being able to refinish to floor.
Jeff
"Engineered wood usually has a very thin finish wood layer - I'm talking paper thin and therefore can't be refinished."
I think it must depend on the brand you are using. Of the several brands we looked at prior to putting a floor in our basement (hence the need for engineered) we saw show layers ranging up from just under 1/8". That is not paper thin and can be refinished once or twice. Plus the finish on these is intended to last 25 years or more, so refinishing happens a lot less.
Frank, I noticed you want to install over concrete. Wood floors require special consideration over concrete. Concrete can sometimes mean moisture issues. Some wood floors are not recommended for below grade installation (think basements or the lower level of a tri-level home). On grade, if there is good grading and drainage, with good gutters, you may still need a moisture barrier between the concrete and wood. If you are above grade, like a second floor, it should not be much of a concern.
Someone in the post mentioned Hartco's Pattern Plus. They also have Patterm Plus 5000, which is a 5-ply product vs. the regular 2-ply. The 5-ply offers greater dimensional stability. This product is acrylic impregnated. I don't recall if the 5-ply was recommended for below grade installations. I seem to remember that this particular floor could be refinished, but that should be verfied as I'm not 100% certain. Hartco has a good, long-term reputation for quality flooring, as I'm sure do many others. Also, their product has been used in many commercial settings like Outback Steakhouses, so it would have to be durable in that type of setting.
As to internet vs. a store, which ever way you go, remember to do your homework. Check the manufacturer's site and look at the installation recommendations and warranties, which should help you assess the moisture consideration better.
One thing with internet suppliers that concerns me is that if you do have a problem, do they have someone local to come out and do an inspection if a problem comes up? Most regular flooring stores will come out with the manufacturer's representative to inspect any problems. Also, unless you are installing yourself, you will need to find a good installer experience with the product who will follow all manufacturer recommendations. If they don't and a problem comes up, it could void the warranty. In the case of a good flooring store, it is their job to be the experts and stand behind what they sold and installed so they have more on the line to be sure it is done correctly. I wonder, with internet orders, does a truck just drop it off in your driveway on pallets? If so, can you get it inside very quickly and easily. Can anyone who received a large wood flooring order tell us about that?
When looking at warranties, usually there is one from the manufacturer that the product is warranted to be free from defects. Another type is a wear warranty which will indicate how it should perform under specific conditions. Structural is new to me, but sounds similar to the first warranty mentioned here. I think there are also fade and staining warranties. For example if you have a large glass window, with an area rug over the spot, will the sun fade the area around the rug?
Check this wood flooring industry link that will address many of your questions, and though geared toward Oak flooring, the principals still would be applicable. Bear in mind that their recommendations do not supercede those of the manufacturer you choose.
http://www.nofma.org/faq.htm
Just some important things to consider. I hope it did not cause you more difficulty in making your decision. Good luck on selecting the right wood floor for your situation and enjoy it! Post a picture if you can!
Thanks for the info. You are right about doing your homework. I thought I had done mine - reading up on products and looking at samples at local stores. I purchased 1,000 of Bruce Kempas from an internet retailer, and what I got was clearly not Kempas. Fortunately, after sending the retailer pictures of the samples compared to their product; the retailer is taking the wood back at their expense (1,000 sq.ft.)
I am leaning towards Hartco Valenza Collection (Santos Mahogany); although I am getting samples from FastFloors (Stepco) and BlackRivers (Signature) to compare the Santos Mahogany.
I am also having a professional with good references to install the floor. Why invest thousands on a product and mess it up installing it?
Thanks.