Beautiful Wood Floors For Much, Much Less
Richard Kuritz
If you like the look of wood floors, there are many more options today—from money-saving imitation wood flooring to exotic woods, such as bamboo. Here are the best options now…
IMITATION WOOD
Plastic laminate or vinyl “wood” floors look and feel very much like real wood but have unbeatable durability. They’re a smart choice if you’re finishing a basement and want a woodlike floor that won’t be ruined if a pipe bursts. Some home owners don’t consider these floors appropriate for the main living area of the home, since they don’t look 100% natural.
Prices can be as low as $2 per square foot, but it’s better to spend $3.50 to $6 for a quality brand, such as Pergo (800-337-3746, www.pergo.com) or Wilsonart (800-710-8846, www.wil sonart.com).* They are easy to install yourself, but follow instructions carefully. Floor prep is critical, since the vinyl will show most imperfections in the subfloor.
ENGINEERED WOOD
Engineered wood flooring is made from multiple thin layers of wood glued together. This sturdy floor looks just as good as solid wood…is available in a wide range of wood types…and often is the cheapest way to buy an exotic hardwood floor.
Example: Flooring made of Merbau, a wood from southeastern Asia, can cost $5 to $7 per square foot. An engineered product consisting of a 3⁄16-inch layer of Merbau glued on top of layers of cheaper woods might cost $3 to $5 per square foot.
A quality engineered wood floor should come with a warranty of at least 20 years. Many are designed with “V grooves” or “microgrooves” between the planks. These make floors easier to assemble, and some people like the look, but dirt and dust can collect in the grooves, meaning you must vacuum grooved floors before you mop.
Drawback: Engineered wood can’t be sanded and recoated as many times as solid wood, but a skilled expert should be able to refinish an engineered floor once, assuming that the top layer is at least 1⁄8-inch thick. Avoid engineered flooring products with a surface layer thinner than 1⁄8 inch, and avoid low-quality engineered woods that use a particleboard laminate rather than plywood in any layer. They are very sensitive to moisture.
SOLID WOOD
While red oak remains the most popular choice for its low price ($3 to $4 per square foot prefinished) and durability, there are dozens of other great solid-wood options. Prefinished floors are finished in the factory and should come with a warranty of 15 to 20 years. Among the newer choices…
Bamboo. Bamboo floors are a bit like engineered wood floors, since layers of bamboo must be glued together. The resulting surface is sturdy, available in a range of tints and distinctive in appearance—it has uniformly thin lines rather than a wood-grain pattern. Bamboo floors are environmentally friendly because bamboo trees regrow quickly. Price: $3 to $5 per square foot prefinished.
Brazilian cherry (also known as Jatoba). This durable and increasingly popular wood has a wonderful reddish brown tone and lots of grain. Price: $4 to $6 per square foot prefinished.
Brazilian walnut (also known as Ipe). Ipe has long been used for outdoor decks and truck beds and is only now coming into use as flooring. It’s an extremely durable, water-resistant South American wood with a rich brown color. Price: $4 to $7 per square foot unfinished. (Ipe is so new to the flooring market that it’s sometimes difficult to find prefinished.)
Maple. Maple is an affordable hardwood that wears well. Some consider its light-blond coloring a bit boring, but it can be stained or prefinished in many colors. Price: $4 to $6 per square foot prefinished.
Merbau. If you are looking for something distinctive, try this beautiful, durable, Asian red-brown wood. Price: $5 to $7 per square foot prefinished.
White pine. This light-colored softwood floor is susceptible to dents and dings, which contribute to a rustic look. Price: $2 to $3 per square foot prefinished.
Helpful: Not sure how durable a wood floor will be? Consult the Janka Hardness Scale, available on many flooring Web sites, including www.countyfloors.com/about_janka.html. The higher the number, the harder the wood.
*Listed prices are available at low-cost flooring providers, such as lumber warehouses. Retail flooring stores might charge more. Add about $3 per square foot for professional installation and another $1.50 per square foot for finishing unfinished wood.
Bottom Line/Personal interviewed Richard Kuritz, an independent home designer and builder in the San Bernardino region of California. He has been involved in home renovations and restoration since the 1970s.
Reprinted with the permission of:
Boardroom Inc. and Bottom Line Publications, Inc.
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