News — hardwood

New Trend of European Oak

Europan Oak Flooring is the most popular flooring choice in the US. It is abundantly available, durable, and easy to work with. It is also very popular among builders as lumber. American Oak is distinguished into two main categories: Red Oak and White Oak. Both are very popular hardwood flooring choices in the United States. Both are very durable, take stain beautiful and is relatively easy to work with, meaning that their oil content does not typically interfere with finishing this wood and they do well with different finishing methods(i.e. polyurethane, or oiled).

White Oak hardwood is a bit denser than Red Oak hardwood with a Janka rating of 1360 and Red Oak with a Janka rating of 1290.

Both Red and White oak trees grow in many states across the US and Southcentral Canada. You will find both trees as far down as Texas and Louisiana to as north as Nova Scotia and Maine and as far west as Minnesota and many states in between.

These are old growth trees and can be as old as a couple of hundred years. When installed as flooring, Red and White Oak hardwood have the ability to last more than a lifetime.

White Oak and Red Oak differ in color and graining. White oak has a tighter grain pattern and is a bit darker than red oak. While white oak can have some pinkish hues, its hues are more brown/grayish in color. Red Oak graining is a bit more prominent, open and less linear than white oak. Red Oak will have brown hues but its most notable hue is pinkish/red.

Now that we have summarized the difference between the American Oak, let’s take a look at another Oak that has been trending recently, European Oak.

What exactly is European Oak?

It is an absolutely beautiful hardwood originating from various countries in Europe- most commonly used European Oak comes from France, England, and Germany. You’ll often here interchangeable terms for European oak such as French Oak or English Oak.

European Oak has the same Janka rating of 1360 as American White Oak.

What is the difference between American Oak and European Oak?

Aside from its geographical difference, which in and of itself automatically makes the hardwood look different, the color, hues, and graining are different from American Oaks. European Oaks will have a softer, wavier grain pattern than American oaks which tend to have very pronounced graining.

American Red Oak has a pinkish hue with some brown tones to it. While American White Oak hues are more brown/grayish in color but can have some pinkish tones to it. European Oaks, on the other hand, are darker with a warm brown tone to it.

Miling

European Oak is known and sought for it’s longer lengths and wider widths. Because of the way in which the tree grows, the sapwood of European Oak is wider and thicker than its heartwood vs American Oaks. If you remember from a previous blog post, the sapwood of the tree is clearer with fewer discrepancies than the heartwood of a tree. The heartwood is the area of the tree where you’ll find knots, wormholes, and darker wood. Because the sapwood is thicker in European Oak, you will find clearer and more select pieces in a wider width.

Also, the way the hardwood is milled is quite different than the way American Oak is milled. In fact, many American mills have become keen on the way European Oaks are milled and they have started milling the hardwood in the same manner.

European Oak is Live-Sawn. Live-sawn is when the log of the tree is cut right through from the front to the back. The beauty of live sawn is that all the different cuts of hardwood are incorporated into this particular type of cut. This gives the flooring a beautiful look with the natural graining showing through from the entire log. This cut of flooring yields a very stable hardwood floor.

American Oak is typically cut using three main sawing methods, plain, rift or quartered.

Finishing Method

European Oaks are finished using an Oil which is absorbed into the wood itself. This is not to be confused with an Oil Based Polyurethane. Technically speaking, an oil or water-based polyurethane is a URETHANE finish.

The oil that is applied to European Finished Flooring is penetrated deep into the wood and seals it by closing the pores of the hardwood. Once the oil comes in contact with the hardwood, the seal is more or less instantaneous. An oil finish has a more natural appearance than finishing with an oil or water polyurethane. An oil finish penetrates the wood as opposed to sitting on top of the hardwood. The graining is felt and you have the ability to walk and use the actual hardwood. Apply a water or oil polyurethane, on the other hand, does not absorb into the wood but rather acts as a protective sealant. When using the floor with an oil or water based polyurethane, you are walking on the finish rather than the hardwood itself.

Oil or water-based polyurethane finishes, which is the most popular finishing method is American, does not absorb into the wood in the same manner as an oil finish. It is applied using multiple coats to protect the floor to create a barrier-like surface.

Oil finishes ARE becoming much more popular in the US and many manufacturers are creating wonderful products to finish your floor.

You can finish an American Oak floor using an oil. A skilled finisher should be hired in doing so. The application method is different than apply a urethane(whether oil or water) base finish.

As with anything, there are pros and cons to consider when choosing between an oil finish vs. a urethane finish.

DO'S & DON’TS For Your Hardwood Flooring Maintenance

Cleaning and caring for your hardwood flooring is simple.

But there are a few guidelines you should be aware of to keep your investment in tip-top shape.

If you ever have any questions regarding our products, maintenance, installation, cleaning, and care DO reach out and ask us. We’re happy to help.

Below are some pieces of advice on how to do maintenance of your hardwood flooring:

DO consult with a licensed installer, the finisher or the manufacturer if there is any doubt of the kind of floor finish.

DO placemats and throw rugs at doorways, exteriors, and interiors to help prevent the tracking of grit, dirt, and sand.
DO put plastic or fabric-faced glides under the legs of furniture to prevent scuffing and scratching.
DO trim and file your pets claws regularly to help prevent small scratches.
DO place an area rug in front of the kitchen sink to catch water.
DO sweep, vacuum or dust mop.
DO clean spills with cloth, paper towel or napkins.
DO close curtains and blinds during the day when possible as direct sun exposure for an extended period of time can dry and/or fade natural wood.
DO maintain with a leading brand of prefinished hardwood floor cleaner.*

DON’T move heavy furniture without protecting wood flooring by slipping a piece of cloth or pile under the legs or covering each leg.
DON’T ever wet-mop a wood floor; standing water can dull the finish, damage the wood and leave a discoloring residue.
DON’T wear cleats, sports shoes and high heels on your wood floors as they can dent any floor surface.
DON’T allow abrasives such as sand and glass to sit on your floor as they can damage your floors finish. Sweep or vacuum regularly.
DON’T use oil based soaps.

PROTECT YOUR FLOOR INVESTMENT
Hardwood floors are a lifetime investment and you have spent a considerable amount of money to add value to your home. The first thing you should understand about caring for your new floor is that you are not actually cleaning the wood. You are actually cleaning the polyurethane. The wood is beneath a protective layer of polyurethane. It is important to keep this protective coating in good condition to protect the wood. Routine maintenance should include protecting the surface finish from moisture and heavy wear, which creates scratches.

Flooring Installation

Real estate agents across the country agree that some of the most sought-after features for potential homebuyers are updated bathrooms and kitchens, fireplaces, open floor plans and large closets.

Perhaps the sole feature that tops the “must have” list is hardwood flooring. 

Hardwood floors produce an aesthetic beauty that simply cannot be matched by carpet. The decision to install hardwood floors is an ecologically friendly one and can reduce the allergens in your home significantly.

With proper care, hardwood can last a lifetime and give a home a sense of warmth and charm. 

Flooring installation may seem like a do-it-yourself job. Websites, books, hardware stores, clinics, and Internet podcasts make it seem like a task that requires little knowledge or experience. However, wood flooring installation is a job that requires expertise and precision.

From sourcing and storing the wood to maintaining proper moisture control prior to transport and installation, it’s a worthwhile investment to utilize the experience of Evergreen Hardwood Floors' flooring installation service. 

Our sister company Evergreen Hardwood Floors located in the Bay area is the premier hardwood flooring installation service. The custom work they do is impeccable and each client is offered an array of hardwood flooring options.

Domestic or exotic planks can be mixed and matched to create a floor that is nothing short of a work of art. The unfinished hardwood floor can be customized by color or finish using the most advanced and cutting-edge technology to add a unique flair to your home.

Decorative borders and modern patterns can be created with hardwood flooring by utilizing a variety of textures and techniques. 

Their philosophy is simple; each job is done according to the client’s specifications. The Evergreen Hardwood Floors experience begins with a free in-home visit with a site manager.

Understanding the array of wood choices is a crucial first step when working with a flooring installation service. Another essential aspect when choosing hardwood is the method by which it will be installed. Self-installation can produce costly errors, subfloor damage, and reduce the life of your hardwood. 

Call Evergreen Hardwood Floors for a FREE HOME ESTIMATE today!

Evergreen Hardwood Floors

Ph. (408) 509-8627 

Email. info@evergreenhardwoodfloors.com

Solid Hardwood vs Engineered Hardwood

Things you need to know before you decide to buy hardwood flooring

Don't be confused because of many sales associates or contractor that try to sell what will cost you a lot.

Hopefully, this blog can help you find out what's the best for your need and your pocket.

Which one is better between Solid Hardwood vs Engineered Hardwood?

The answer is it depends on what kind of subfloor you have.

For some people, engineered hardwood floors may well represent a better option. Here’s why:

Engineered Hardwood

Engineered Hardwood floor is the great option for moisture especially if you have a concrete subfloor. Engineered Hardwood Floor is made by gluing a top-layer or veneer of solid hardwood onto another layer of hardwood. This makes the floors less dense and therefore more resistant to elements like moisture and heat.

A common misconception about engineered hardwood floors is that they aren’t real. This is not true. Engineered hardwood floors are made from 100% genuine wood. They are called ‘engineered,’ because they are designed for performance.

While it is true that engineered hardwood floors can sometimes be cheaper than solid hardwood, this does not mean that they represent a worse choice. In fact, engineered hardwood floors generally require less maintenance, are easier to install, offer a wider array of choices to the consumer, and perform better than solid hardwood.

This performance-level mainly has to do with water. Solid hardwood is very responsive to moisture in the air. Changes in temperature and humidity cause solid hardwood floors to expand and contract with the seasons.

To help minimize this movement, manufacturers cut solid hardwood thin in width and thick in height. You don’t need to cut engineered hardwood this way because it can better accommodate changes in humidity and temperature. This means that planks of engineered hardwood can be cut much wider than solid hardwood, offering more choices to the consumer.

Engineered hardwood is also much easier to install than solid hardwood. Again, this has to do with moisture. The fact that solid hardwood changes its shape means that you can only install it on certain types of surfaces and in a very specific way.

Solid HardWood

Solid Hardwood represents a luxurious and traditional method of homemaking. This practice hearkens back to the days of the hand-crafted hardwood flooring that graced the halls of Versailles and the palaces of Europe.

If you are looking for traditional flooring, there is no better option than solid hardwood; people have been using it for hundreds of years. Solid hardwood flooring has stood the test of time. If properly cared for, nothing beats its longevity.

Further, depending on where you live, moisture levels may not be an important consideration. If you live in an area with relatively stable humidity and temperature levels, you may not need to worry about your floors changing with the seasons.

Finally, there are some advantages to the thickness of solid hardwood floors. Namely, it gives you the ability to refinish your floors again and again. Sometimes, people sand their floors down in order to remove scuffs and scratches. After you sand the floor down, you can then refinish it with different stains. Because solid hardwood floors are thicker and come in one whole piece of wood so you can sand and re-stain them multiple times. Usually, you can only re-finish engineered hardwood floors one or two times.

If you plan on redecorating often and want to change the color of your floor without completely replacing it, then solid hardwood may be the better option for you.

The decision between engineered hardwood and solid hardwood mainly comes down to personal preference. However, certain factors should affect your decision-making process. These include humidity, temperature, the type of subfloor you are installing on, and whether or not redoing your floor is a DIY project or a project for a professional contractor. 

Email us at info@evergreenwoodfloor.com for more questions.