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American elm (Ulmus americana) and slippery elm (U. rubra), two of six species of elms found in North America, are known together as soft elms. Rock, winged, cedar and September elm are known as hard elms. Hard elms are 25 percent heavier, and stronger and stiffer, than the soft elms.

American elm is certainly known for the wonderful shade trees of years past. It would not be unusual to have these trees rapidly grow to 100 feet tall and spread out to shade a 60-foot radius in the cities. I can remember elm streets that appeared like a dark tunnel when the elms on both sides of the street touched. In the spring, the little propeller-like seeds would spin down. I remember the neighborhood kids splitting the seed open lengthwise about ½ inch and then sticking the propeller on our noses, so we had a nose longer than Pinnochio! I also remember parking under an elm tree and sappy drips all over the car. What a mess!

Then came the Dutch elm disease, actually a fungus, that essentially destroyed all these beautiful city elms, as well as the forested American elms as well. The good news is that some fungal-resistant trees seem to be located and could be used for breeding. Time will tell.

To hockey fans, elm is their favorite wood, as most hockey sticks are made of elm. Why use elm for these sticks? The wood is very tough and has extensive interlocked grain. Interlocked grain means that the lengthwise grain from year to year goes in different directions instead of being perfectly vertical in the tree, basically intertwining. As a result, it is very difficult to split the wood; a characteristic obviously desired for hockey sticks — the wood has high shock resistance. Likewise, interlocked grain means splitting elm for firewood can be nearly impossible.

When used above ground, the wood is resistant to decay even when permanently wet. In fact, hollowed trunks were widely used as water pipes during the medieval period in Europe.

The heavy ring pattern (ring porous grain like oak) combined with interlocked grain results in a very bold appearance or character to the wood, which is why it finds widespread use in paneling. I am surprised that more furniture and cabinetry makers don’t use elm; it certainly has a nice appearance. The elms are also excellent bending species as they are quite easy to bend, due to the interlocked grain, without breaking or cracking. However, this interlocked grain also means that warp is likely when drying if drying isn’t perfect, and machining requires special care.

Processing suggestions and characteristics

Density
Soft elms weigh about 34 pounds per cubic foot, which is roughly 3 pounds per board foot, 1 inch thick.

Drying
Soft elms are moderately hard to dry. Mild drying schedules result in slightly more warp, so stacking must be perfect. Weights on the tops of piles are strongly encouraged for flat lumber.

Gluing and Machining
Elms glue without much difficulty. Interlocked grain results in machining defects if the feed is too rapid, knives are dull, or angles are poor.

Stability
Soft elms change size by 1 percent if the moisture changes approximately 3 percent MC.

Strength
American elm has a strength (MOR) of 11,800 psi. The bendability (MOE) is 1.4 million psi. Hardness is 830 pounds.

This post appeared first on http://www.woodworkingnetwork.com

Hard maple is a wonderful, expensive, nearly white wood used for almost every application imaginable both today and even prior to the colonization of the U.S. Uses include cabinets, furniture, bowls, bowling alleys, bowling pins, flooring, piano frames, dulcimers, spinning wheels, cutting boards, tool handles, veneer, pallets, particleboard, paper, firewood, and even railroad ties. What is this ubiquitous wood that we call maple?

Hard maple lumber, which is also called sugar maple, sweet maple, black maple and rock maple, comes from two species. Most lumber comes from sugar maple (Acer saccharum) and a small amount from black maple (Acer nigrum). Once hard maple lumber is manufactured, it is impossible, even under magnification, to separate the lumber into the two individual species. The name “hard” actually means that the lumber is substantially harder than the other maples, including the grouping called soft maple.

What person hasn’t had pancakes topped with wonderful, sweet maple syrup? Sugar maple is the tree that produces maple syrup. A grove of producing sugar maple trees is called the sugar bush. Also, did you know that it takes about 40 gallons of sap to make a gallon of syrup?

Processing suggestions and characteristics

Density
After drying to 7 percent MC and planing to 13/16 inch, maple weighs 3-1/3 pounds per board foot.

Drying
Maple is subject to blue staining and also chemical staining if not dried promptly and aggressively. Chemical staining occurs when the starches and sugars oxidize to pink or gray colors. For whitest color, maple must be stacked promptly after sawing using dry stickers. Maple is not exceptionally stable. Moisture content when the lumber leaves the kiln must be very close to the in-use moisture content. For most uses, 6.5 percent MC is the ideal final target, with almost all pieces being within + or – 1 percent MC.

Gluing and Machining
Maple requires surfaces to be glued to be freshly prepared and perfectly flat. Small errors will result in low strength joints. Because the grain in maple swirls quite a bit, planing and other machining operations will frequently be planing against the grain. To avoid chip out and torn grain, knives must be very sharp. Avoid over-drying the lumber (under 5.5 percent MC is over-dried), as brittleness and poor machining will be increased.

Stability
Hard maple changes width and thickness when the RH changes…about 1 percent size change running parallel with the rings (tangentially) when there is a 3 percent MC change, and 1 percent change across the rings (radially) when there is a 6 percent MC change.

Strength
Sugar maple is a little (10 percent) stronger, stiffer and harder than black maple. The bending strength is 15,800 psi, stiffness 1.83 million psi and hardness is 1450 pounds.

Color and Grain
Maple is a wonderful, nearly white wood. Unfortunately, there is no definition of “how white is white” so different suppliers will have different whiteness. In addition to the standard grades, some markets will also ask for “No.1 white”, which means that both edges and faces must be all sapwood (no brown heart). “No.2 white” means that one face and both edges will be sapwood. Hard maples frequently develop small little burls or curls in the wood, which we call bird’s eye. Bird’s eye maple is attractive and valuable.

This post appeared first on http://www.woodworkingnetwork.com

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We’re excited to share our collaboration with YouTube star Freddy Cousin Brown. Freddy is in the process of renovating her London flat, and we are happy to have helped with the process of transforming her home. 

Let’s look at what flooring Freddy My Love loved and opted for in her kitchen and living room, and how you can get the ‘Freddy look’ in your home too. 

 

Farmhouse Chic With Freddy My Love

 

Where kitchen designs are concerned, Freddy My Love has a modern yet homely feel – Let’s go with farmhouse chic for this humbling interior. 

 

Initially she was looking to install solid wood due to the beauty of the organic features and authenticity of natural wood. However, because solid wood can expand and warp with the temperature and moisture fluctuations, we advise not installing this in a kitchen. 

 

“I got advised against solid wood in a kitchen, so I had to find another nice option”

 

And that she did! After browsing our fantastic range of laminates, she opted for one from our hyper realistic wood Vintage Narrow range. 

“It’s literally like wood, I can’t believe it. It’s not like laminate at all. It’s got a realistic grain and texture with knots in it like real wood has. I never thought laminate would be this nice.”

 

This range beautifully replicates real wood thanks to a high quality bevel and has a host of other amazing benefits to offer too:

 

• Highly durable
• Low maintenance 
• Scratch guard
• Stain-guard
• Slip resistance
• Impact resistance
• Underfloor heating 

 

The result is simply charming, and fits perfectly with her kitchen décor. 

 

“I’m beside myself, it looks so beautiful! I can’t believe how affordable it was either.”

 

Not only is this range stunning and excellently replicates wood flooring, but it is also a cheaper alternative to your typical real wood flooring options. So you can achieve that luxury feel without breaking the bank. 

 

Traditional meets Contemporary

 

Along with collaborating on her kitchen floor, we also helped Freddy My Love create her dream living room too. 

 

Choosing an elegant traditional style engineered wood flooring, she has completely transformed her living room into a perfectly balanced contemporary yet traditional space.

 

Our Avignon Natural Oak Versailles Tile Engineered Wood flooring, adds a magnificent statement piece to her large living room, creating a grand luxurious and inviting space. 

 

Just ask Freddy herself:

 

“It looks so elegant and so unique. I am just speechless. I can’t believe it. I think it looks absolutely incredible!”

 

This distinguished flooring not only provides a lavish conversation piece but offers a wide range of benefits for the space you lay it in. 

 

• Highly durable
• Easy to fit
• Can be refinished
• Looks just like solid wood 
• Great temperature resistance 
• Amazing warranties 

 

So if you’re looking to revamp your home and add a touch of luxury and elegance. This may be the flooring for you. 

 

If you like any of the flooring ranges from Freddy My Love and her collaboration, then you can order Free Samples today from our site. 

 

The post Freddy My Love X Direct Wood Flooring  appeared first on Direct Wood Flooring Blog.

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Are you one for bringing out your personality through your interiors? Then our Sister brand, Flooring Superstores’ collaboration with I Love Wallpaper might peak your interest. With quirky and stylish designs offering a wide range of aesthetics, you’ll be able to easily take inspiration and replicate these in your homes. 

Bold and Beautiful Interiors

 

If making a statement is something you want to achieve with your home décor, then you might want to take out your notepad and take down some tips on this bold and beautiful interior design. 

 

 

Using eccentric wallpaper as a feature piece, such as I Love Wallpapers Paradise Floral Wallpaper, can help to create a statement in your space, and tell your guests you have bold style, and you’re not afraid to use it!

 

Additionally, using eye-catching designs delivered through your wallpaper, can offset the rest of your room, where you can opt for more subtle pieces to tie together the design as a whole. 

 

Neutral furnishings and flooring is perfect for pairing with distinctive wallpapers. Flooring Superstore’s Studio White Laminate Flooring is the perfect companion for eccentric designs such as this. 

 

This helps to balance out the beautiful and striking patterns on the wallpaper. It also ensures that the design resonates with style and rather than chaos. 

 

The Modern Minimalist Interiors

 

This next interior style is one that is making a rise in the interiors industry. The modern minimalist. 

The modern minimalist design sees the cutting down of furnishings and accessories to a minimum, allowing you to focus on bringing out style and beauty, without having to overdo it. 

 

One way to execute this design is to stay in touch with nature. Extract all of the natural beauty of elements such as real woods and plant life. 

 

Flooring Superstore’s Studio Vanilla Engineered Wood Flooring exquisitely demonstrates the beauty of nature, showing off natural grains and knots. 

 

This provides a more organic style. These elements are what help to bring the aesthetic to life when having minimal furnishing and accessories. 

 

Using a wallpaper that also encompasses the natural and organic aesthetic is a great way to complete this design. 

 

I Love Wallpapers Banana Leaf Wallpaper does this flawlessly, offering a black and white leaf design to further match the ongoing nature theme.

 

Sleek and Sophisticated

 

Looking to show off a sleek and sophisticated style when welcoming guests into your home?

Then this versatile design might be to your taste. 

 

Thanks to a neutral grey palette, the main components of this design are reflected in the Milan Metallic Wallpaper from I Love Wallpaper and Loft Midnight Grey Laminate from Flooring Superstore, you can easily alternate furnishings around this design. 

 

Not only that, the grey tones throughout this design add a chic modern tone to any space in your home. 

 

So when attempting a contemporary yet sophisticated decor, grey is certainly the way! 

 

If you liked what you saw in this fantastic collaboration between I Love Wallpaper and our Sister brand, Flooring Superstore, head over to their sites.

 

The post In Collaboration With I Love Wallpaper appeared first on Direct Wood Flooring Blog.

There are many different types of hardwood flooring, and they all have different levels of general durability. Durability in what specific areas is another question, as there are many metrics to consider. Some are strongest against the everyday wear and tear of foot traffic, while others may scuff more easily but be more resistant against stains. How do you know what kind is best for your situation? 

In this article, we will discuss the different types of hardwood flooring available, compare and contrast the durability differences between them, then wrap up with some advice on how to maximize the life of whatever flooring you choose.

Traditional Solid Wood

Source: Unsplash

When it comes to hardwood flooring, regular solid wood is likely going to be what comes to mind first. Real wood is going to be the most expensive, but have the best resale value when selling your home. Assuming the wood isn’t badly damaged in some unrepairable way, when it comes time to replace it, you will likely be able to get a good amount of money back for it. Speaking of repairs, it’s also the easiest to repair since it’s real wood all the way through.

Regarding its durability, it’s going to vary wildly between the countless species of wood you can buy. Luckily, the industry has a tool they use to eliminate confusion here. The Janka Hardness scale was specifically created for this reason. This scale tests the hardness of the wood by measuring how much force it takes to embed a .444 inch steel ball halfway through an average-sized plank of the variety in question. The higher the number, the stronger the wood. By using this scale, you can get a good idea of how tough the wood you’re buying is. 

Note that you don’t necessarily want to just go out and buy whatever has the highest number, as maintenance activities like sanding will be much more difficult the higher the value gets. Pick something that’s a good middle ground between strength and repairability.

Laminate Wood

Source: Unsplash

Laminate wood flooring is the cheapest of the three and has the lowest durability. It has a look that resembles real hardwood floors, but it’s typically just a picture that’s been printed onto it. It’s created from high pressure, heat, and binding chemicals. The result of that is turned into very attractive floor coverings. There is a wear layer, image layer, and base layer. This means that in the event of damage, you won’t have any real method of repairing it that isn’t incredibly obvious to the human eye.

That said, it isn’t all downsides. When properly taken care of, it is very easy to clean due to it being completely flat, versus having a beveled edge. Laminate is typically sold in four-foot strips or even as tiles, meaning it can be much easier to transport and install than the 10+ foot lengths that real hardwood typically comes in. It also doesn’t actually need to look like wood. Anything can be printed onto it, so there are plenty of stylish designs that wouldn’t be available for real wood. If you’re looking to install your flooring by yourself, getting laminate wood may be the easiest option for you due it being designed to easily lock together with other planks.

Engineered Wood

Engineered wood rests in the middle when it comes to price. It’s usually cheaper than real wood, but it’s more expensive than laminate. It’s also more durable in some ways than real wood due to how it’s made. The exterior is made of layers of real wood that have been pressed together under intense hydraulic pressure with a veneer added afterward. This wear layer is designed such that it eliminates the problems that laminate flooring has with maintenance. It can be sanded down to remove scuffs, just like real hardwood can.

It also has good resale value thanks to it again having layers of real wood on the outside. While laminate isn’t really meant to be reused, engineered wood will usually have plenty of life left in it after being taken out of a building.

Engineered wood usually comes prefinished, with a durable coating put on right at the factory. This means that you typically won’t need to spend time and money doing it yourself and hiring somebody to apply it for you. 

One particularly great thing about engineered wood that makes it stand out is that it can be used in any moisture environment. Regular hardwood flooring and laminate flooring are susceptible to moisture penetration, eventually causing the floor to twist, bulge and swell. For this reason, they may not be a good choice for your kitchen if your dishwasher has a tendency to leak. When this happens, you may have to replace the flooring entirely. Not having to worry about that is just another great way it saves you money down the line.

Finish Is Important

If you want to maximize the durability of whatever floor you choose, you will want to put a good quality finish on it. There are some common mistakes that homeowners make when cleaning their floors which are also important to know about. There are many different types of finish to choose from and it can be overwhelming if you don’t know what you’re looking for. It helps to establish a clear set of guidelines for what you’re looking for. Let’s briefly go over some potential scenarios to help get the ball rolling for you. 

What kind of traffic do you expect to be going through the area on a regular basis? If you expect the floor to be in constant use, you may want to consider an oil-based polyurethane. It offers middle-of-the-road protection for an affordable price.

If this is a home, do you have animals and/or children and expect lots of spills? A water-based polyurethane may be best due to its high moisture resistance. 

Do you really just never want to see scratches ever again? Aluminum oxide offers far and away the strongest protection and lasts for decades before needing any kind of maintenance, but comes with the cost of being the most difficult to reapply. It’s also somewhat infamous for making the floor so strong that it may not even be possible to properly sand it when you need to.

Is this a historic location or do you just want to have a more retro look? Penetrating oil sealer is what homes used for ages before newer finishes were invented. It takes a very long time to dry, and requires touching up every few years, but you wouldn’t be considering it for sheer practicality in the first place.

Conclusion

By now, you should have a good understanding of the different flooring options. The history of hardwood flooring is actually very interesting. Each option has its own unique pros and cons that make them best for different situations. In the end, all flooring needs maintenance, but knowing the timeframe for these things will save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars, something that is definitely worth the investment. If you still have questions, our experts are here to help – just give us a call or fill out a contact form. here.

Just like anything else in your house, nothing lasts forever. Floors are no exception, especially when you consider the fact that you’re constantly walking on them. With proper care and cleaning, you can extend that life, but eventually, you will need to replace it. The question is, how do you know exactly when that time is? Furthermore, what materials have what kind of life expectancy, and what sorts of problems should you expect to see in them? 

In this article, we will discuss everything you need to know to be able to make an informed decision about your floor, whether it’s layered with carpet, tile, or an existing hardwood floor.

Source: Unsplash

Carpets have a lifespan that can greatly vary based on how they’re treated. A good quality one that is in a fair condition when purchased typically lasts around 20 years or so, but a poorly treated one may start looking and feeling awful after only a year. For example, the carpeting on the floor of a college dorm room will usually pale in comparison to the carpeting of a household family room.

Of the flooring listed here, carpets have the easiest signs for when they’re starting to lose their luster. Their colors will fade, they’ll start feeling rougher, and in general, it will just be pretty evident that something needs to be done about them.

Signs

Visible stains are the first and most obvious giveaway that something needs to be done. This doesn’t always mean that it needs to be replaced, as sometimes just putting an aesthetically pleasing rug over it and decorating around it may be sufficient, but other times it’s just too much to cover up without making it obvious.

Physical damage is another, like rips and tears. This is something that could technically happen at any point in its life if it’s treated badly enough, but happens especially when it gets older, as the fabric simply becomes more brittle and fragile.

Lastly, and probably most fatal, is a bad odor. If after even repeated cleaning with chemicals and using a steamer fails to remove the unpleasant smell, then it’s probably time that you look into something new.

Tiles

Source: Unsplash

The life expectancy for these is going to vary based on type of material. Ceramic tiles are fairly unique in that they, under even average conditions, can be expected to last for generations. In these cases, when you replace them is less about when they’re worn out and more about when they’re “worn out”, as in when they’re just not the style you want to go for anymore. They’re simply dated rather than being broken or damaged in some way. Other types of tiling are a bit more fragile. 

Tiling has the innate advantage of not being one big sheet. Because every tile is inserted separately from one another, you only need to replace the tiles that are damaged.

Another common household tile type is porcelain. The appeal comes from the way that it looks very similar to brick, wood, and even natural stone. It’s elegant and requires little upkeep. You can get it in different colors and styles which makes it very flexible. It won’t crack or fade over time. The installation of porcelain tile is somewhat difficult and requires some things in advance like adhesives, making the cost a little higher.

Signs

Cracking and chipping is something that can be caused by a number of things. Obvious causes can be dropping something heavy onto them, but even a sharp blow from the right angle may cause damage when you wouldn’t expect it. This may not be immediately evident to you depending on where this damage happens.

Tenting, or when some of the tiles begin to partially come up in an arch shape, is usually less the fault of the tiles themselves and instead of the adhesive used to attach them either not being sufficient to begin with or just wearing out. This frustrating and particularly ugly problem can happen as early as just a few weeks after installation. In scenarios where this does occur, it may not be good enough to just replace the adhesive where it came up. You may need to have the entire work redone, as it could later tent in different places as time goes on.

Loose tiles are usually an immediate deal breaker. Nobody wants to be accidentally kicking around something that sharp. The best solution is usually to redo the entire floor’s adhesive, as tiles may continue to come up as the adhesive wears down. If many tiles in the same general area are all coming up at the same time, then it could be a sign of a dangerous structural issue. It may be wise to have somebody take a look at your building’s foundation. The last thing you want is an avoidable catastrophe.

Hardwood

Source: Unsplash

Hardwood flooring is another durable choice for flooring. With the right care, hardwood floors can easily be expected to last 25 years before needing any kind of work done on them. Oftentimes, you won’t even need to replace it when it does start to look a bit worn, instead just needing to have something like their coating refinished or resanded.

Of course, this isn’t always the case. Sometimes you really will need to have it ripped up and replaced, but there’s plenty of occasions where you will be able to save a bit of money. Hardwood has a lifespan like anything else.

Signs

Squeaking is something that varies in annoyance and severity. A small amount of it may just become routine and not bother you. Louder squeaking, on the other hand, may quickly become unbearable. Unfortunately, this is not usually something that makes for a simple repair, as refinishing processes become more difficult to perform and may not look very good afterward.

Sloping (floors that aren’t level), like squeaking, may be a cause for replacement based on how annoying it is. A little bit of it may just be dealt with and ignored. However, a large amount of sloping may again suggest a structural issue and necessitate somebody taking a look at your foundations.

Conclusion

In the end, floors aren’t designed to last forever. No matter what they’re made of, whether it’s carpet, hardwood, tile, or any other type, there will eventually come a time when they’re going to be replaced for one reason or another. It may be because it’s worn down or broken, or it may just not be the style you want anymore. Make sure that when the time comes, you’re going about it in a way that makes the most sense for the situation.

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Are you finding that transforming your home is proving costly? Then you’ll be pleased to hear about our Big Bank Holiday Sale!  Working to budgets and promotions is a great way to save on renovation costs. If you’re planning on purchasing flooring as part of your renovation, then you won’t want to miss this bank holiday sale!

This bank holiday weekend, we’re giving you an extra 10% off site wide until 30th August 2021. So if you’re renovating on a budget, or even if you’re not, why not take advantage of our Big Bank Holiday Sale and save a few pounds on your journey to your dream home. 

 

We’ve got amazing deals on our flooring across our site, including our best sellers!

 

Best Seller Bank Holiday Sale Savings

 

Let’s take a look at some of our best seller savings and get the ball rolling for your house project.

 

EvoCore Light Meadow Oak

 

EvoCore flooring is one of the most innovative flooring types on the market today, with a tonne of amazing benefits including: 

 

• 100% waterproof
• Anti-slip surface
• Pet-friendly
• Durable and hard-wearing
• No glue needed for installation, due to its easy click-lock installation feature
• Real wood look and feel
• Scratch-resistant

 

This list is just a few benefits this amazing range of flooring offers. 

Our EvoCore Light Meadow Oak is one of our best sellers due to these amazing practical qualities combined with its stunning appearance. 

 

Its shades of sand and light browns, hits the neutral trend, and allows for a versatile setting to alternate interiors around over time. 

 

So if you have had your eye on this best seller, make sure you take advantage of our Big Bank Holiday Sale now!

 

Unfinished Parquet Oak Solid Wood

 

Our next best seller on the list is a natural beauty from our solid wood collection. Our Unfinished Parquet Oak Solid Wood flooring. 

 

This best seller makes for a stunning traditional statement piece, styles in a parquet pattern with striking wood knots and grains for authenticity. 

 

As this solid wood is unfinished you can reap all of the benefits of its natural appearance, and pattern whilst having the ability to further intensify with an oil or lacquer finish. 

 

This solid wood will stand the test of time, so your home will have added character for many years to come. 

 

If you want to make a statement with your flooring, then opt for this charming solid wood flooring, and save a few pounds with our Big Bank Holiday Sale. 

 

Herringbone Palazzo Oak Laminate

 

Another amazing flooring you have the option for big savings on, is our popular Herringbone Palazzo Oak Laminate. 

 

This beautiful herringbone design makes a great addition to both modern and traditional homes, regardless of lifestyle. 

Laminate has great practical qualities including:

 

• High durability 
• Easy to maintain 
• Scratch resistant 
• Stain resistant
• Hygienic

 

There is a reason this fantastic flooring is among our best sellers!

 

Grab yourself a bargain on this practical and stylish selection, and transform your home less. 

 

As you can see we have an amazing array of flooring types, styles and colours to suit any décor and aesthetic. There really is something for everyone, and we’re certain adding a great discount makes them all the more attractive when it comes to renovating your home!

 

Got questions surrounding flooring or our Big Bank Holiday Sale? Get in touch with a member of our team today.

 

The post Big Bank Holiday Sale – Wood Flooring  appeared first on Direct Wood Flooring Blog.

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Let’s talk 2021 trends that have taken the interior industry not by storm, but by hurricane. In particular; New neutrals and the neutral interior trend. Where colour is concerned mustard is out and greige, and beige are in. Our Sister Brand Flooring Superstore has partnered with interior specialists, Baytree Interiors to help with inspiration when it comes to getting the style with this popular trend. 

Greige Is In

 

You may have been familiar with the grey trend that has entered the homes of millions over the last few years. Well, this neutral trend has evolved even further from your typical grey, to greige. 

 

Greige blends the popular interior colours of grey and beige, creating the perfect balance of cool chic tones, and warm inviting tones. Due to the neutral qualities of this trend, it is easy to introduce brighter colours or metals and woods to accentuate and accessorise with. 

 

This level of versatility is what has seen this trend become widely adopted by homes across the globe. 

 

Just look at this hallway inspired by the greige trend using Flooring Superstores Salvador Range. 

 

Introducing this trend in your hallway sets the tone for the rest of your home and can create a calm and welcoming space to invite your guests into. 

 

Using side tables, side boards, lamps and ornaments are the perfect way to set off your entrance hall. Baytree Interiors are stockists of some amazing options to match this trend. Their Scandi-inspired Nordic Collection Console Table effortlessly complements this decor. 

 

Go a step further and inject fascinating talking points with modish embellishments such as the Hudson Adjustable Large Table Lamp and Large Metallic Bamboo Lantern.  

 

Earthy Tones 

 

Earthy tones are another interior trend that won’t sound like they’re something new, and to be truthful. They’re not. The browns, the beiges, the pale greens have always been around. But not like this. 

 

When paired with the right furnishings, accessories and complementing design materials (e.g wood, metal) using these earthy tones can create a beautifully stylish and soothing environment to relax in.

 

Previously, neutral carpets have been a play-safe option. Primarily used as a base to easily pair with any design whilst bringing a comfortable homely tone to your space. 

 

Now, these neutral shades of carpet are very much a foundational aspect of your interior should you adopt this trend. 

 

When coupled with natural wood tones, easily introduced with furnishings such as coffee tables, side tables or even chairs, this can bring a luxurious aesthetic to your home. 

 

 

Flooring Superstore’s collaboration with Baytree Interiors demonstrates this design perfectly, using the Toffee Silk carpet from their Mont Blanc range, and the Live Edge Collection River Coffee Table from Baytree Interiors. 

 

Grey Is Still The Way 

 

Now we couldn’t leave this one out of the list. Whilst grey has been in for the last few years in interiors, in accessories, paints and furnishings and seems to be making its way out, where flooring is concerned, grey is still very much in. 

 

This is because like the rest of these neutral trends, it is extremely adaptable. You pretty much have free reign when it comes to the interiors that surround a grey flooring. 

 

So if you’re one for changing up your interiors frequently, a neutral grey flooring might be a great option to include in your design. 

 

 

The grey trend is perfect for those who enjoy a chic design. This pairing of Flooring Superstore’s Everest Satin Dream, with tasteful accessories such as Baytree Interiors’ Farah Collection Silver Coffee Table makes for a classy, contemporary result. 

 

And there we have it! The rundown on all things neutral in the interiors department. Hopefully we offered some home inspo, and at the very least introduced the word ‘greige’ into your interiors repertoire. If you have any questions regarding flooring, then get in touch with one of our experts today. 

 

The post In Partnership With Baytree Interiors appeared first on Direct Wood Flooring Blog.

If you are someone who is lucky enough to live in a home with hardwood floors, you should be thankful. Hardwood floors are the epitome of class and elevate a home’s look and feel that is tough to replicate.

But if you are deciding upon the type of hardwood floor you want in your home, you have options. There are many selections for your home flooring but when it comes to hardwood floors, most people start with selecting the tone: light or dark? Yet, even those two options might feel overwhelming and impossible to choose between.

Getting Started

Light, cool, dark, warm – these are the tones of hardwood that can alter the overall look and feel of a floor. There are many factors to consider. In the end, it all depends on what type of homeowner you are and what sort of things you value. What type of cleaner are you? Are you a pet owner? Do you have children? All of these things will come together to help inform if your hardwood floors are going to function better in a dark tone or a lighter one. 

Before you really get into the pros and cons of dark and light hardwood floors, it is important that you make a commitment to decide upon the option that you like the most. At the end of the day, the final choice should always be the one that makes you happiest. It’s your home and it should look the way you want it to. 

When the time comes to make the final decision, here are the things to think about when choosing between light or dark hardwood floors.

Which is Easier to Keep Clean?

While some of the competing topics between light and dark hardwood floors end up with neck-and-neck results, this one isn’t really close. The truth is that lighter toned hardwood floors are much easier to keep clean. Light hardwood floors tend to show less dirt than their dark alternatives. This is important if you have a home that has a lot of open windows, fans, or pets. An open window, for example, will bring in dirt and dust from the outside world. That will show up pretty readily on your hardwood floor. 

The same dirt and dust will also get all over a carpeted floor too. However, it will show up much more on hardwood. Thankfully, seeing a mess easier on hardwood can actually be a good thing because that means you will be able to tend to it faster and get it cleaned. People who have carpets are often walking around on dirty ground without even knowing it. Meanwhile, homeowners with hardwood are able to spot and fix these problem areas much faster. 

If you are looking for a floor that is easier to clean, you should go with light hardwood floors.

Which Shows Scratches More?

Hardwood floors are striking in their appearance, there is no doubt about it. But it is also undeniable that hardwood floors are more prone to scratches and little damages more than most other flooring methods. This makes sense when you think about it, wood is more susceptible to little imperfections over time. Hardwood floors are still strong, don’t misunderstand that. However, there is a good chance that your hardwood floor will receive some dings and damage over time. 

Since some minor damage is unavoidable, the question becomes which shows scratches more: light or dark hardwood? Most people agree that dents, dings, and scratches show up much more on dark hardwood. Why is that? Because most wood floor species are light, so when you scratch through the dark-colored surface, the contrast of the light underneath is more obvious, meaning that the scratch shows up much easier than it does on a light-on-light hardwood floor. 

This is something to consider if you are a parent or pet owner. Children and animals are the two biggest culprits when it comes to damage to hardwood floors. They bring a lot of love into your home but they also can bring in a lot of roughhousing and damage. If you have children or pets – or both – you should seriously consider having a light hardwood floor for your home. 

If you still decide to get a dark hardwood floor knowing that your scratches will show up more, there are options for you. There are many ways to clean your hardwood floor, no matter how dark it is and how many scratches it has.

[Source: Unsplash]

Which One Will Cost You More?

You may be wondering which one, light or dark toned hardwood floors, will make a larger impact on your wallet. The truth is that in this case, both light and dark hardwood floors are about the same when it comes to pricing. In some markets, that may be different. However, generally, the difference in pricing is minimal. 

Personal Preferences

While maintenance and cost are common deciding factors, one thing that can’t be neglected is considering one’s personal preferences. 

A home’s style is unique. Depending on the color schemes of the rooms in your home, there is usually an optimal choice. There is actually a science that revolves around floor color. Here are some highlights. 

• Floor colors impact the way we perceive the size of a room. Some colors make a room look larger, while others make the room feel smaller. 
• Brown has a feeling of comfort and inspires nature.
• White has a feeling of cleanliness, innocence, and happiness.
• Black has a feeling of sophistication and power. 

Specific colors are used by interior designers in numerous ways. 

• Bring attention to a specific part of a room
• Convey emotions
• Create contrast
• Create connections
• Alter perception of space

Final Thoughts

No matter which you choose, light or dark hardwood flooring, no choice is wrong. Although, each has their own unique benefits. To make the final choice, you should think about what type of homeowner you are, who lives in your home, and how often you want to clean. And of course, don’t forget to consider your own personal preferences, which is the most important factor in deciding which tone is right for you.

Carpet vs. Hardwoods – Which Is More Sanitary?

Carpet versus hardwood: it’s a debate that feels as old as time. New homeowners have dealt with this issue for ages now and people come down hard on either side of the debate. 

When you are trying to decide between carpet and hardwood, you need to ask yourself one major question: which is more sanitary? Are hardwood floors or carpet more sanitary for your home and the people living in it? This is a vital question to answer because if you end up with the option that is dirtier and more prone to getting messy, you will have to clean it more often. Over time, this will cost you a lot of time, energy, and money. Additionally, you want the option that is going to be cleaner because that is better for the health and well-being of everyone living in your home, especially children or pets. 

At the end of the day, there is a cleaner, more sanitary choice, and it might surprise you.

Sanitary Properties

We all know what it’s like to get stains on our carpets. Not only is there the problem of getting the stain out, but it’s almost impossible to completely remove the effect that takes place within the fibers themselves. Dirt, urine, smells, and funkiness are brought out even more when stepped on, so the issues are never actually completely resolved. 

What’s more, the bigger problem is the allergens that come from infected carpets. Even if your family has a tolerance or lack of allergies from these things, the guests that you bring into your home may experience them. 

If you insist on carpeting part of your home, the best thing you can do for safety is using a vacuum that has a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. Note that you will need to vacuum every week or two regardless of visible pollutants to maintain your carpet and enable the ability to get rid of major issues when they do arise. 

Steam cleaning is a popular choice, and this is an okay option, but it’s very important to dry the carpet after use. Opening windows and using fans are great tools at your disposal here. If the carpet isn’t dried, mold and pests show up. 

The beauty of hardwood floors is the ease and effectiveness of cleaning. A simple mopping gets the job done for good. No more dealing with things like nasty pet dander or dust mites. Bacteria is not a joke.

Visible Messes

One of the benefits of having a hardwood floor is that you are able to see messes on it much easier. If you stay on top of cleaning, that means that a hardwood floor will be a cleaner floor because you will quickly take care of any damage or mess that you see.

[Source: Unsplash]

Keep in mind, hardwood isn’t always the best choice when it comes to this aspect. There are times when you might not see a mess because it is on hardwood. A liquid spill, for example, often shows up easier on carpet, which means you will notice it sooner and clean it up faster. Depending on the coloring of your hardwood, you might not see a spill of any liquid and that might lead to it sitting, drying, staining, or doing long term damage. 

However, most messes will be much more visual on a hardwood floor. Whether it be a dropped piece of food, mud and dirt, or a mess from your pet, it will show up clear as day on hardwood. If you clean your floors once a day – even if it’s just a quick sweep – you will see the latest mess that needs to be addressed. 

For this reason, hardwood floors are often cleaner simply because the messes that end up on them are so much more obvious and don’t fall into the many nooks and crannies of a carpet, forever lost below the surface. 

Which Costs More to Clean?

This is a tricky aspect of the debate between carpet and hardwood floors. Many people want to know which one is more expensive when it comes to professional cleaning. Will you be spending more money on a hardwood floor or will you be spending more on a carpet? The answer isn’t that surprising: hardwood floors will set you back far less than a carpet.

Just because cleaning a hardwood floor is cheaper than cleaning a carpet doesn’t mean that tending to hardwood won’t be cheap. It will still cost you a pretty penny. Actually, it can cost a lot because most people will clean their hardwood floors far more often than they clean their carpets. Many homeowners who have hardwood floors keep a bottle of wood cleaner handy and pour a bit on the floors and mop it up at least once a week. The best wood cleaners that will really get the job done don’t come cheap. So while hardwood floors are going to cost less than carpets when it comes to cleaning, it will still cause a hit to your wallet. But staying clean is always worth it.

Cleaning a carpet is much more expensive than cleaning a hardwood floor for multiple reasons. For one, you will need a vacuum and those are usually quite expensive if you are looking for one that will actually achieve everything it’s supposed to. A vacuum is vital for a carpeted floor, otherwise your home will soon be filled with germs, dirt, grime, and other things that can do long term damage to the carpet as well as to the people living in your home. 

However, everyone who owns a home with carpet inside also knows that there will come a time when you will have to purchase the services of a professional carpet cleaner. Whether you are renting the tools yourself or hiring a firm that will do it for you, professionally cleaning a carpet is quite the process. First of all, it can cost more than $100 per visit. Secondly, you need to be home when the professional team arrives to clean. Thirdly, you need to do a lot of prep before someone comes to clean your carpet. Generally, you need to remove all of the furniture from the floor and have it totally bare so that the cleaning can take place. Plus, after your carpets are professionally cleaned, they can remain damp or wet for about a day more. 

The truth is that carpets get dirty much faster and much easier than hardwood floors and the cleaning process to take care of them is a lot more of a hassle too.

[Source: Unsplash]

Dirty carpets are breeding grounds for allergies. For those reasons alone, buying a hardwood floor over a carpet is probably the right approach when you are trying to choose the more sanitary option. 

Final Thoughts

Of course, you can still have a very dirty hardwood floor, even if it is usually cleaner than a carpet. However, carpets are higher maintenance and it’s harder to tell if they are actually clean or not. Hardwood floors are more sanitary and cost-effective when considering the time and money that goes into most carpet-cleaning products. 

The truth is that no matter which option you choose, you need to make sure that you are always attentive to your floor and buy the right products and spend the appropriate amount of time making sure it is as healthy, bright, and clean as it can be. Cleaning a floor, whether it is hardwood or carpet, is an essential part of owning a home.