Frequently Asked Flooring Questions

For answers to all your flooring questions, Contact Hardwood Brokers!

Q. Why HardwoodBrokers.com?

A.  HarwoodBrokers.com has been an online flooring force for quite some time now. Dealing with hundreds of customers a day, and thousands a month, it is one of the most popular flooring websites on the internet. HWB offers a live chat feature which allows the customer to be able to immediately ask any questions they may have. If not, there is virtually an army of well-versed operators on standby waiting for your call. Furthermore, HWB not only offers a vast array of hard wood flooring choices, but they also provide laminate, green, vinyl, tile and engineered hardwood flooring (not to mention carpeting) for purchase. As if the exemplary service and selection weren’t enough, you’ll find that HardWoodBrokers.com has the most competitive prices on the net. Have more questions? Contact us.

Q. What is the difference between a solid hardwood, an engineered hardwood, and a laminate floor?

A.  A hardwood floor covering is typically made of 100% natural wood throughout the flooring material. Real hardwood flooring tends to have more unique striations in the wood than laminate or engineered hardwood. It is relatively easy to refinish multiple times because there is no non-wood material inside the product which cannot be sanded. Installation is typically a “tongue and groove” type. Engineered hardwood is generally made up of a combination of hardwood, plywood, High Density Fiber (HDF), and a veneer which is laid upon the top showing the design. Engineered hardwood has been constructed to deal with fluctuations in moisture and temperature better than most regular hardwood floors. This type of flooring may be refinished once, but generally no more than that because it allows for a minimal amount of sanding. Laminate floor coverings are generally composed of HDF. Its design is displayed by a photographic piece laid on top of the HDF which is intended to reflect the natural look of real wood. They are usually the easiest type of flooring to install because they fit together like pieces in a puzzle, locking in place (no glue is needed).

Q. Besides different species, what else accounts for the different appearances in hardwoods?

A.  The main factor in the appearance of a hardwood floor, other than its species, is how it has been sawn.  In general, there are four types of cuts: Flat Sawn /Plain Sawn, Rotary Cut, Off-Set Rotary Cut, and Sliced Cut. Flat Sawn typically offers a flat grain or a vertical grain effect. Rotary Cut generally offers more striking and wilder graining. An Off-Set Rotary Cut presents one with the appearance of a sliced cut, while maintaining cross stain stability. Sliced Cut presents a very fine and unique graining that comes from being sliced like regular lumber.

Q. What is the Janka hardness test and why should I be aware of it as a consumer?

A. The Janka hardness test is the test for determining how durable and hard a piece of wood is. This is determined by measuring the force required to embed a 0.444 inch steel ball into a type of wood to a depth of 1/2 the ball's diameter. This also indicates to customers how much wear and tear a species of wood may be able to undergo as well as how hard to cut, sand, or nail that wood as well. The weakest wood is from the Douglas fir tree, whereas the hardest wood is from the Brazilian Cherry tree.

Q. How do I obtain flooring samples?

A. To obtain flooring samples all you have to do is call or email us.

Q. What is your warranty policy?

A. For a detailed explanation of our warranty and purchase policy information please click here.

Q. Can I install a solid wood floor over a concrete slab?

A. Yes you can. But if you are going to install real hardwood floors in a basement you must first lay down a layer of plywood first. This way you have something to nail the floor into. This however, can pose issues with doorways, low outlets, and the like. Other options are to use an engineered hardwood floor which can be glued down directly onto the concrete, with the correct adhesives. Some recommend putting down a foam cushion first to diminish the affect of spills and moisture which may get under the wood over time and to take some of the structural wear and tear off the floor.

Q. How do I clean my wood floors?

A. If you know who the manufacturer is then your best bet is to closely follow their instructions. If you do not know, then here are a few tips and ideas. Vacuum your floor first to get the initial layer of dirt, dust, and crumbs off. Then, get relatively dry mop (too much moisture can damage the wood significantly) and some generic hardwood floor cleaner and proceed to wipe the floor clean in a circular fashion, quickly mopping up any extra moisture. Do not let puddles of water or cleaner get on the wood. If this happens you are using too much water or cleaner and they are going to damage your floors.

Q. Do you guys sell any “green flooring,” and if so, which kinds?

A. Indeed we do sell a variety of green flooring, from bamboo to cork. To find out more about our green flooring products click here for bamboo floors and here for cork floors.

Q. What makes flooring “green?”

A, There are several key characteristics which make a flooring product green. The first is sustainability. That word is thrown around a lot by those claiming to be eco-friendly but what does it really mean? In general terms, something is considered sustainable when it can be easily and quickly replenished. A great example of a sustainable material to be used in the manufacturing of a variety of products is bamboo. Since bamboo is the fasting growing plant on the planet, it is sustainable because it is easy to replace bamboo that is harvested for commercial use in a very short period of time. This is why bamboo flooring would be considered “green flooring.”

Another important factor is what emissions are released as the result of the creation of a particular good. So, for instance, during the creation of cork flooring are loads of CFCs released into the air or harmful chemical compounds? In general, the answer is no. On the other hand, laminate flooring releases all sorts of harmful chemical agents during its production which may not only harm the Earth's atmosphere, but also affect the lungs of the people who work in the manufacturing plant.

Although one could list important green considerations all day, the last major factor in the environmental-friendliness of flooring its decomposition. That is, when the product's lifetime is finished and it is laying in a dump somewhere, what are the consequences going to be? Will the flooring take hundreds or thousands of years to fully decompose? Will it release harmful amount of chlorine and lysergic acid into nearby water tables? If a type of flooring decomposes relatively quickly, and does so without leaving deleterious chemical compounds in our water and air, then it is considered in some respect to be green. If you would like to learn more about identifying green flooring products click here.