Category: Projects

Red Oak Vs. White Oak Flooring

Post author By Chris Verre
Post date June 30, 2023

The process of house renovation with changing of the floor from carpets to solid oak wood. Beautiful golden handscraped oiled European oak brushed for added texture and fine definition of wood grain

Hardwood flooring is a popular choice among homeowners. However, not all hardwoods are the same. Red Oak and White Oak are among the most popular hardwood choices; while they are both Oak, they have significant differences.

How exactly do they differ from each other?

Color

Despite what their names suggest, white oak is darker than Red Oak. White Oak has a mix of browns and tans, and Red Oak has salmon and red tones. While there are differences in their color, this difference is not as noticeable once a stain is applied. If the stain is a medium or dark color, the flooring will look similar. If the desired stain is gray, as this has become a popular flooring trend, White Oak will be the more appropriate choice.

Durability

Our home’s flooring is prone to scratches and dents with our busy lifestyles and pets; therefore, the durability of hardwood flooring is an important consideration when choosing new flooring. When determining the durability of a hardwood, its rating on the Janka scale is used to determine the hardness of the wood. According to this scale, White Oak is slightly harder, at 1360, while Red Oak has a score of 1290.

These scores can also impact how the flooring is used. Hardwood flooring with a higher score on the Janka scale is often used for high-traffic areas or outdoor spaces, as they are more prone to damage.

Despite their different scores on the Janka scale, both Red Oak and White Oak are great options for high-traffic areas.

Density

Wood flooring’s density has a strong correlation with its strength and durability. Therefore, White Oak has a higher density of 47 lbs/ft³as compared to Red Oak which has a density of 45 lbs/ft³.

Flooring Test to determine if flooring is red oak or white oak. — Floor Testing Kit used to determine the type of Oak flooring.

Many homeowners already have hardwood flooring in their homes, but want to refresh it. Knowing the type of hardwood installed is essential to establish a plan. It is often challenging for homeowners to know this if the home’s flooring was installed by a previous owner. However, Verre Flooring’s experts can help you determine the species of flooring in your home with a simple test. If you are considering making the change to oak hardwood flooring or what to refresh your existing floor, Verre Flooring can help you choose what is best for your home! Contact us today!

Tags hardwood of atlanta, hardwood specialists

Projects

Prefinished Vs. Unfinished Hardwood Floors

Post author By Chris Verre
Post date August 3, 2022

A lot of people wonder what the difference is between prefinished vs. unfinished hardwood floors. We’d love to tell you some of them!

Prefinished Hardwood Floors

Installing prefinished hardwood floors: Installing prefinished hardwood floors is a simple and quick process when compared to installing a traditional wood floor. The wood is already stained and finished so it is ready to use as soon as it is installed.

Types of prefinished hardwood floors: Prefinished Maple Hardwood Flooring, Hickory Prefinished Hardwood Flooring, Prefinished Oak Hardwood Flooring, Prefinished Wide Plank Hardwood Flooring

Prefinished hardwood flooring cost: The average cost runs somewhere between $6-$12 per square foot.

Prefinished hardwood flooring problems: Sometimes subfloor irregularities can show more than with other flooring options. Also, prefinished hardwood flooring has visible seams.

Unfinished Hardwood Floors

Installing unfinished hardwood floors: Unfinished hardwood flooring takes longer to install. Once the planks are installed, they are then sanded, stained, and finished. While this process is longer, it has more opportunities for customization and matching with existing floors.

Types of unfinished hardwood floors: Red Oak Hardwood Flooring Unfinished, White Oak Hardwood Flooring Unfinished, Unfinished Maple Hardwood Flooring, Unfinished Engineered Hardwood Flooring, Unfinished Brazilian Cherry Hardwood Flooring.

Unfinished hardwood flooring cost: The average cost runs somewhere between $3-$15 per square foot.

Unfinished hardwood flooring problems: The biggest problem is the installation process. Each step of the process combined with waiting for the floor to cure means that you will not be able to walk on the floor or move furniture back until it is completely cured. This can be especially difficult when you are trying to remain in the home during installation.

If you are still debating whether prefinished vs. unfinished hardwood floors would be best for your home, contact us today! We’d love to help!

Tags flooring experts, hardwood specialists, prefinished hardwood floors, prefinished vs unfinished hardwood floors, unfinished hardwood floors

Projects

Hardwood Flooring Acclimation – Did you know?

Post author By Nicole Kubon
Post date October 6, 2021

Handyman installing wooden floor

Were you aware that the wood used for the installation of your hardwood flooring has to acclimate before installation? What is acclimation?

>> ac·cli·ma·tion the process or result of becoming accustomed to a new climate or to new conditions

So, what does this mean to you or for you? It means that for a minimum of 72 hours prior to installation the wood that will be utilized for your flooring will need to sit inside your home, at a climate-controlled temperature. Not in your garage, not in your driveway; in your home, in the location where the installation will be taking place. The ideal moisture content for the best results of hardwood flooring installation is around 35-55% humidity and a temperature range of 60-80 degrees Fahrenheit. This will help so that the natural product will expand and contract properly, to eliminate extensive cracking or gaping.

Does your home sit on a crawl space? If the answer is yes to this question, we highly recommend placing a dehumidifier underneath your home, in this space, to keep the climate and humidity controlled. It can take up to a year for your new hardwoods to expand and contract, so it’s essential to keep your home at a steady climate, and controlled humidity level even post installation.

Failure to properly acclimate hardwood flooring, as mentioned, may compromise the integrity of your flooring. Extensive cracks, gaps, warping cupping and even buckling after the installation are common occurrences that take place without that proper acclimation timing. 72 hours is the absolute minimum, however, it’s best to leave it to your contractor to read moisture readings and access the job site before beginning any installation, as should the flooring not acclimate properly, you also run the risk of voiding the manufacturer’s warranty.

When you take the time to properly prepare the job site location and products to assure that the flooring is acclimated correctly you will never have a problem with your hardwoods!

Interested in learning more about the process or receiving a custom quote for your home in the Metro Atlanta area? Give us a call at 770-862-3716 or send us an email directly at verreflooring@gmail.com, and we’d be happy to talk with you!

Projects

The 101 on LVP Flooring

Post author By Nicole Kubon
Post date August 11, 2021

Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring, otherwise known as LVP, is one of today’s most sought-after flooring products on the market. Why is that you ask? Well, LVP is an extremely robust product that is perfect for high-traffic areas and is extremely easy to maintain. The product itself resembles a hardwood floor, but with all of the features and benefits of vinyl.

LVP consists of a backer board, which gives the product its stability, along with a central core that is “water-resistant,” followed by the next layer which contains the actual vinyl, giving the plank its printed pattern, texture, and color, typically comprising of a wood or stone finish. The plank is then finished off with a “wear layer” which is a thin, clear protective coating making the flooring stain and scratch resistant! Something we all could definitely feel comfortable with within our homes!

Some of the best places to install LVP are in your kitchen, bathrooms, and/or laundry spaces within your home. The best part is that they may be installed directly over existing flooring, making installation much less invasive! So whether you are looking to update your home for a new look or looking to install flooring into your new-build LVP is most certainly an option that you should strongly consider. With the scratch and stain-resistant feature, LVP is the perfect fit for families with children and/or pets.

If you’d like to view the plentiful options of colors, textures, and styles of LVP please give us a call at 770.862.3716 and we would be happy to come out to your home, show you some samples, and walk you through the process of installation. Serving all of the metro-Atlanta areas, in the state of Georgia.

Tags Atlanta Flooring Contractor, Floorin Contractor, Georgia Flooring Contractor, Georgia Flooring Installer, Harwood Flooring, Information about LVP, Luxury Vinyl Plank, Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring, LVP Flooring, LVP Flooring Installer, Newnan Flooring Contractor, Newnan Flooring Installation

Projects Tips & Tricks

What is the Best Flooring for Pets?

Post author By Chris Verre
Post date August 15, 2018

Our Furry Friends

Pets are an important part of any family. However, with these furry bundles of joy comes a not-so-joyful side effect: accidents. Whether your pet is litter box trained, or flawlessly house trained, there is always a risk of accidents. If you are considering new flooring in your home, an important question to consider is: “What is the best flooring for my pet?” Verre Flooring offers several easy solutions to this question.

Solid Hardwood vs. Engineered Hardwood

Of course, the first thought in many people’s minds is “hardwood is the best flooring for pets!’, as hardwood is easy to clean, durable, and not prone to stains. However, in many cases, that may not be true. To further break it down, let’s discuss the differences between solid and engineered hardwood. Solid hardwood (“real” hardwood) is long-lasting, versatile, and durable. It can be sanded down and refinished to remove stains. However, this can be expensive and time-consuming. Don’t let your pet’s stains be the cause of a refinishing project. Opt for something less porous and easy to clean, like engineered hardwood. This is a man-made product consisting of a thin sheet of solid hardwood laid on top of compressed layers of plywood. A budget-friendly option, however, still porous, and if your pet’s waste isn’t cleaned properly, it can lead to smells and stains.

So What is the Solution?

A flooring solution that’s non-porous, durable, easy to clean, and liquid-resistant? Sounds like laminate vinyl flooring is the best flooring for pets! A durable, liquid-resistant option, vinyl flooring is laid down over your existing flooring and creates an airtight seal, removing any chance for pet waste to get into the cracks of your floor. Check out our blog post here for more info about vinyl flooring. If you still desire the wood grain look, our luxury vinyl flooring comes in a variety of wood grains and patterns to give you the same aesthetic.

In Conclusion:

Check out all of the patterns and styles of hardwood, engineered hardwood, and vinyl that we have available. We are passionate about providing excellence in flooring and flooring services. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and to receive your estimate.

Projects

My Wood Floor is Cupping…Now What?

Post author By Chris Verre
Post date July 18, 2018

It’s Hot, Y’all

Atlanta is known for many things, Coca-Cola, Chick-fil-A, and The Varsity, to name a few. But what it’s probably most known for is the heat. “Hotlanta” is not a name given lightly. The humidity in Atlanta and the surrounding area averages in the eightieth percentile during the summer. What exactly does that mean? How Stuff Works defines humidity as “the mass of water vapor divided by the mass of dry air in a volume of air at a given temperature. The hotter the air is, the more water it can contain.”

The Flooring Professionals write, “Wood is a hygroscopic material. This means that when wood is exposed to air, it will dry or pick up moisture until it is in equilibrium with the humidity and temperature of the air. Moisture absorption causes wood to swell. Moisture loss causes wood to shrink. “

An unfortunate side effect of an abundance of moisture in your home is cupping. The sooner you realize your wood floor is cupping, the sooner you can resolve the problem. What is cupping, how does it happen, and how can it be prevented?

Creaking and Cupping

You may have noticed in the winter that your flooring tends to creak more or you may notice thin gaps between your floorboards. These are both caused by the shrinking of the wood in cold temperatures.

In the summer, you may see that your wood floor is “cupping”, (more commonly known as warping) or bending. If your wood floor is cupping, the sides of the planks are lower than the middle, creating a cup-like effect. These are all normal, but if you would like to avoid these things, there are a few simple fixes.

The first is installing a simple humidity monitor in the rooms with hardwood and keeping an eye on it once winter and summer come. You can find an inexpensive one here. The best humidity levels for hardwood floors are somewhere between 40 and 60% is usually best. Any lower than 40%, and you will begin to notice creaking and gaps between your floorboards. Any higher than 60%, you may notice some cupping and uneven levels in your flooring. In extreme cases of cupping, the wood may expand and press against the other floorboards so much that it causes cracks to form. If you notice your wood floor is cupping, it’s time to bring in the professionals.

How to Avoid Problems with Humidity

Now that all of this info has been presented, how do you prevent problems with humidity and moisture from arising in your home? There are several solutions. Purchasing a humidifier for the dry months and a dehumidifier for the wet months is the first, most obvious, solution, but there is important maintenance that you as a homeowner can do to preserve the integrity of your flooring. Using a wood-safe cleaner that is not water-based is important. We recommend Bona floor cleaner, as well as using a duster or soft-bristle vacuum brush. It’s important to place mats in front of sinks, dishwashers, bathtubs, showers, anywhere there is water being used, and if the mat becomes wet, immediately remove it from the floor to avoid moisture getting trapped beneath the mat. Do not wet mop your floor with water, and never let spilled liquids dry on the floor. If you allow too much moisture to sit on your floor, you will notice that your wood floor is cupping.

In Conclusion

Hardwood floors are a beautiful, durable addition to any home, and if properly maintained, can last your family for years. Keeping the moisture and humidity levels in your home in check is a great way to maintain your floors. If you have concerns or questions about your flooring, our experts are available to answer any questions you may have.

Projects

Coastal Luxury Vinyl Plank

Post author By Chris Verre
Post date June 8, 2018

How to Upgrade Your Hardwood Floors on a Budget with Luxury Vinyl Plank

Check out this recent job we did. This customer wanted a new look from their outdated floors but without breaking the bank. Here we installed Elite Luxury Vinyl Plank in this Atlanta, GA home.

Coastal Luxury Vinyl Plank

Benefits of Luxury Vinyl Plank:

Cost-effective alternative to traditional hardwood floors
Thicker, harder material than other vinyl products
Waterproof
Dent resistant
Can be installed over existing floors

Projects

How to Maintain Your New Wood Floors

Post author By Chris Verre
Post date August 24, 2017

What is my favorite question from customers?

How to maintain new wood floors!

There’s nothing like that new car smell. If you’ve ever gotten new wood floors put in then you can appreciate the sense of pride and joy that comes with the luxurious appeal it adds to your home or place of business. With literally thousands of possible combinations of grains, patterns, textures, and colors available you want your unique floors to shine through for many years to come. So we thought we’d provide you with a few tips on how to maintain new wood floors to keep them looking like new for as long as possible.

Simple Steps to Maintain New Wood Floors

•We recommend using Bona floor cleaner. You can purchase this at Home Depot or Lowe’s.
•Use a dust mop or soft bristle vacuum cleaner.
•Felt tips should be used on all moving furniture.
•Door mats and placemats in front of all doors. Most of your scratches come from grit on shoes coming in from outside.
•Mats in front of sinks, dishwashers, bathtubs, showers, anywhere there is water being used.