An introduction to wood flooring including historical development, its place among other flooring types, and options to consider.

1. An Introduction to
Wood Flooring

2. A Brief History of Flooring
-Dirt
-Dirt with Covering (Hay, Straw,
Sand, Trash, etc.)
-Stone
-Wood

3. Early Wood Floors
-Boards were rough
-Many of the boards were wide
-Sizes of the planks were irregular
-Gaps were prevalent in the floor covering

4. The Rise of Other
Floor Coverings
-Carpets & Rugs
-Resilient Flooring
-Tile
-Laminate

5. Today’s Wood Flooring Options
-Wood Species & Origin
-Wood Grade & Cut
-Solid or Engineered
-Strips, Planks, or Parquet
-Finish

6. Wood Species & Origin
Domestic:
-Red Oak
-White Oak
-Maple
-Hickory
Exotic / Imported:
-Brazilian Cherry
-Brazilian Walnut
-Santos Mahogany
-Tigerwood

7. Wood Grade & Cut
-Clear
-Select
-No. 1 Common
-No. 2 Common
-Plainsawn
-Quartersawn
-Riftsawn
-Livesawn

8. Solid or Engineered
Solid:
-Can be sanded &
refinished many times
-Cannot be installed
below grade
Engineered:
-May not be able to be
sanded & refinished
-Like other engineered
wood products, it is
relatively more
dimensionally stable

12. Finish
-Light
-Medium
-Dark
-Gloss
-Semi-gloss
-Satin
-Matte
-Wax
-Water-based
-Moisture-cured
-Conversion Varnish
-Natural Oil
-UV
-Oil-based

13. References:
-NWFA. (n.d.). Retrieved January 16, 2018, from https://www.nwfa.org/nofma-manufacturers.aspx
-2016-2018 Wood Flooring Styles and Trends. (n.d.). Retrieved January 16, 2018, from http://www.nwfa.org/ConsumerLookBook_final.pdf
-Scoring Flooring: Industry Stats for 2015. (n.d.). Retrieved January 16, 2018, from
http://www.fcnews.net/2016/06/scoring-flooring-industry-stats-for-2015/
-Sidler, S. (2017, October 18). A History of Wood Floors. Retrieved January 16, 2018, from http://thecraftsmanblog.com/a-history-of-wood-floors/
-Lewitin, J. (n.d.). Learn The Complete History Of Flooring. Retrieved January 16, 2018, from
https://www.thespruce.com/history-of-flooring-part-one-1315058
-A Short History of Floors. (2011, December 05). Retrieved January 16, 2018, from
https://janeaustensworld.wordpress.com/2011/12/05/a-short-history-of-floors/
-Cooper, D. (2012, October 22). The History of Wood Flooring. Retrieved January 16, 2018, from
https://www.oldhouseonline.com/articles/the-history-of-wood-flooring
-Janka hardness test. (2018, January 16). Retrieved January 16, 2018, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janka_hardness_test

14. Or contact me:
Jonathan K. McGehee, P.E.
jonathan@jonathanmcgehee.com
+1.615.781.3844
For further reading
and information:
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