Have your floors seen better days? Has the wear and tear that comes with everyday life finally caught up to them? Or are you just ready for something new? Well, shopping for flooring can be stressful, and when you don’t know where to start things can start feeling a little daunting. But have no fear…

 

 

It’s a bird, it’s a plane, no! It’s Florcraft Carpet One Floor & Home in Fairbanks and Anchorage, Alaska, your local flooring superheroes! We’re not just your locally owned flooring retailer and experts, we’re also your neighbors, we can help guide you through every step of the process and help you learn more about your options. We’ll do our best to help narrow down what flooring is right for you based on your lifestyle, home décor, and our local climate. And while you may be saying, how does the climate affect flooring? This is actually an important factor that we’ll get into below. Whether you are looking for something timeless, rustic, or modern, there is one flooring that can do it all – hardwood flooring.

 

Are There Different Styles of Hardwood Flooring?

 

Yes! We carry classic, modern, and traditional hardwoods as well as rustic hardwood flooring options that allow the natural character of the wood to stand out. The different styles of hardwood are categorized by features including plank length and width, wood grains, color, shine, and even texture. These are all important characteristics to consider when finding the perfect hardwood floor for your home. If you’re looking for farmhouse chic, consider a light-colored, wide plank hardwood. For a more modern look, consider a darker-toned hardwood.

 

 

In addition to fitting a variety of styles, hardwood also adds real estate value. Traditional hardwood flooring can be expensive, but for good reason – it’s durable and lasts a long time. This is one reason why we consider hardwood flooring an investment in your home. With hardwood flooring, you can transform a space into a warm and inviting retreat for yourself and your guests all while boosting your property value.

 

What Are the Different Hardwood Flooring Species?

 

Hardwood can be harvested from many different species of trees. Each wood option offers unique shades and character, and they also feature different strength levels and wear resistance. Our popular hardwood options include:

 

• Ash

 

• Cherry

 

• Birch

 

• Hickory

 

• Maple

 

• Oak

 

What Are the Different Types of Hardwood Flooring?

 

Not only are there different species of hardwood, but there are also different types. There are two main types of hardwood put simply, solid hardwood flooring is your classic, original hardwood option made completely of natural wood. Engineered hardwood flooring on the other hand is a newer, manufactured type of hardwood that is made of composite wood. But that’s not all.

 

• Solid Hardwood Flooring: This classic and simple construction allows the natural character of the wood to stand out. Many solid wood options can be refinished and stained to extend their life in your home and stay up to date with the latest trends. Solid hardwood is a timeless choice, and it can even add real estate value to your home. Solid wood is best for areas with low moisture because it will expand and contract with changes in weather and humidity.

 

• Engineered Hardwood Flooring: Engineered hardwood is made of multiple layers of composite wood that are pressed together cross-grain. This makes the planks more stable and durable, and they are less likely to expand and contract with changes in humidity. It is important to note that engineered hardwood is not the same as laminate and has a real wood veneer at the surface. Some engineered hardwood floors can be refinished if there is a thick enough layer of solid wood on top. Another benefit of engineered wood floors is that they can be installed in many areas of your home. They do not require nail-down installation, so they can be installed in basements and finished attics as well.
   

Where Can Hardwood Be Installed?

 

Where you want to install hardwood plays a role in the type of hardwood you should buy. Solid hardwood should be installed in cool, dry places. On the other hand, engineered hardwood flooring can be installed in practically every room in your home including basements and laundry rooms.

 

• Bedrooms

 

• Living rooms

 

• Dining rooms

 

• Hallways

 

• Staircases

 

• Basements (engineered recommended)

 

We advise customers to avoid installing hardwood in places like the kitchen and bathrooms where there is a lot of moisture and humidity. Our installation team will evaluate the subfloor and climate control measures before hardwood flooring installation to ensure it will work in your home.
 

How Does Humidity Affect Hardwood Flooring?

 

Believe it or not, humidity plays a big role in the overall performance and longevity of your hardwood flooring. Wood itself is moisture-prone, and hardwood flooring is no exception. You may be thinking I don’t plan on turning my living room into a swimming pool what do I have to worry about? While we’re happy to hear you don’t plan on flooding your house, it’s not just water spills that you should look out for when it comes to hardwood flooring. What you should worry about is relative humidity. Relative humidity relates to the level of water vapor present in the air in relation to the max at any given temperature.

Whether your room is bone dry or practically a sauna, high and low levels of moisture in the air can cause potentially permanent damage to your hardwood floors. Humidity can cause a lot of problems including:

 

• Warping

 

• Buckling

 

• Cracking

 

• Expanding

 

• Shrinkage

 

• Breakage

 

None of that sounds particularly exciting to us, especially considering the investment hardwood flooring can be. No stress though, there are two main ways to avoid this. One, of course, is to maintain the room where you want to install hardwood floors at the ideal relative humidity level of around 40%. Secondly, you can choose engineered hardwood flooring for the same look you love from solid hardwood but with added durability and water resistance.

Is There Hardwood Flooring Near Me?

 

Yes, right here at Florcraft Carpet One! we are proud to offer an incredible selection of hardwood flooring in Fairbanks and Anchorage, AK. In addition to our amazing selection of hardwood flooring, we also offer incredible services, including a FREE at-home estimate so you are not left with any surprises. Once we help you find the perfect floor, our installation team will step in to complete the job. While you can expect a bit of dust and mess during the installation process our team is detail-oriented and efficient – we will even move your appliances and furniture!

 

To shop and learn more about hardwood flooring, feel free to visit one of our showroom locations in Anchorage and Fairbanks, AK, to speak with one of our hardwood experts and check out our inventory in person. Looking to dive right into our hardwood flooring options? Browse our hardwood flooring selection online now!

Learn More About Hardwood

Why Is Quality Installation Important?   Learn how to make hardwood flooring last for a long time in your home with the right care and maintenance.

 

The Beautiful Guarantee®   No need to stress about finding the perfect flooring right away, if you don’t love your new floor, we’ll replace it for free.       LEARN MORE

 

Why Is Quality Installation Important?   We’re here to give you the answers to common installation questions like this and more.   LEARN MORE