When setting up a new office or renovating an old one, the choice of flooring material remains an important concern. Of course, hardwood flooring is an ideal match for the specific needs of a work or home office. But the broad range of options available in this category of flooring will simply overwhelm you – even if you have installed hardwood flooring in a house or apartment before.
While you may choose to lay down other flooring materials in the office, hardwood flooring is an accepted standard. Before you go ahead with this material and have it installed in the office, you should consider some key factors to make a well-informed buying decision. Of these factors, form and function are the two most important ones to always keep in mind. Also, remember the fact that not all hardwood flooring is of the same quality. And it is not just the product color, based on which you should pick a hardwood product. So, let us discuss how to make it easy to pick the most suitable hardwood flooring for the office.
Why Install Hardwood Flooring
There is no doubt about the many benefits that installation of hardwood offers. Given below are some of the key benefits.
Appearance: First of all, hardwood gives your office a brand new classy look. If you plan to make a brand statement in terms of style and elegance, you can always rely on hardwood material. Once the flooring has been installed, you can also lay down carpets over it for a soft and warm feel under the feet. You can further enhance the look of the flooring by placing matching furniture in the office. All in all, hardwood offers a broad range to transform the look of your office.
Durability: Hardwood floors do not just look eye-catching, but they also remain in good shape for a long time. This does not mean that this product will never wear and tear. But, compared to other materials such as carpet and vinyl, hardwood is much more resilient. Above all, you can get it refinished for a brand new look anytime you want once it starts to show signs of wear. If you choose to install this product, you will be able to avoid expensive replacements.
Air Quality: For an office to remain comfortable, the air quality has to be better. Thanks to hardwood flooring technology, the material does not capture a lot of dust and dirt. There are many other flooring materials that attract plenty of dirt and require too much maintenance on a daily basis. With hardwood, you don’t have to worry about dust and allergens. The flooring material offers safety and comfort for those employees who have some kind of allergies.
Maintenance: Among other benefits, hardwood floors are also very easy to clean and maintain. Since an office gets a lot of foot traffic on a regular basis, any flooring material will attract dirt and dust. Once you have hardwood installed in your office, you don’t need to worry about accumulation of dust in the office space. All you need to do is follow a simple weekly cleaning routine and your office will shine just like it did on the first day of the flooring installation.
At the Minuteman Floors, we remain highly committed to hardwood flooring installation in a work or home office. If you have planned the installation, have a discussion with one of our experts to get started.
Tips: How to Choose Hardwood Flooring
Have you had a hardwood installation on your property before. Whether you have or you haven’t, selecting the right product is not going to be easy. Here are some of the most useful tips for your help.
Solid or Engineered Hardwood
Hardwood material is available in two types – solid and engineered. So, you will first need to choose between the two, as to whether you want to install solid hardwood or engineered hardwood in the office.
Initially, hardwood flooring was made up of only solid timber. Over the years, as the technologies evolved, manufacturers came up with a new version of hardwood called engineered hardwood. In engineered hardwood planks, the top layer is made up of solid wood whereas the other layers are designed using other materials in a bid to prevent a range of air and moisture issues.
Natural wood has the property of moving in various directions. Engineered hardwood does exactly the opposite of this. This material is manufactured to restrict the movement of wood in any direction. Plus, engineered hardwood planks are more suited for spaces such as apartments and basements. If you want installation over concrete, engineered hardwood is an ideal choice. However, you need to be very careful when selecting engineered hardwood products, as many of these come with very thin top layers. Unlike solid hardwood, the thin top layer of engineered hardwood can wear and tear, making refinishing in future impossible.
It is always a good idea to seek the help of a flooring expert to distinguish between low quality and high quality material. Top quality engineered wood will have a thick top layer of wood, as if it was solid board.
Raw Face or Prefinished Hardwood Planks
Two types of hardwood planks are available in the market – site finish and prefinished. Site finish planks have a raw face, which need to be finished after the material has been installed. Or else, you can purchase prefinished hardwood planks, which have the top coat already done.
So, you need to understand how these two planks are different and what they mean for the overall decor of the office. With prefinished planks, you will have more clarity in terms of your office space’s color palette and design. In short, you will have an exact sample to lead the overall design and renovation work in the office. Raw face hardwood planks pose a little challenge, as you will need the flooring contractor to finish it in a way that is a perfect match for the office design. If you hire a skilled installer, you can have them create a unique look with raw face planks. While prefinished planks work as an exact sample, raw face planks offer you more control and freedom to customize the look of the office floor as per your choice.
Wood Types
Hardwood material is manufactured using different types of wood. So, you need to take the wood type into consideration as well.
Which type of wood hardwood will be made of depends on the geographical region we talk about. If you live in North America for example, you will find hardwood material made of oak in most cases. This particular wood is quite well-known for its natural color and staining qualities.
Likewise, you will come across hardwood flooring made of walnut, maple, cherry, ash and hickory among others. Each of these wood types has some unique properties of its own. Most importantly, these wood types vary in terms of natural tones. Some of these are lighter whereas others have darker or deeper tones. Based on your specific needs, you should choose a wood type which offers a matching tone for the overall color scheme and design of your office.
Type of Finish
Hardwood flooring material is available in a broad range of finishes. Whether you talk about raw face (finishing done on site) or prefinished hardwood planks, the types of finish will simply overwhelm you.
Broadly speaking, the type of finish in regard to hardwood can be categorized into oil and polyurethane. Most of the finishes will fall into one of these categories. Here, you need to understand how wood reacts to various finishes. For example, hardwood with an oil finish has a unique look and feel of its own. It feels soft as well as looks very natural. But the oil finish doesn’t have much resistance to wear and tear. On the other hand, polyurethane finish is more resilient to wear and tear. Likewise, various finish types also vary in terms of maintenance.
Width of Hardwood Plank
At one time, all hardwood planks came in a small, fixed size. But that is not the case anymore. Today, you have wider planks available as well. Bigger planks enhance the specialty of an office space.
What plank size is ideal for your needs depends on the size of your office. If you have a large and expansive office, you should go for wider planks measuring 6-7 inches. You will also find planks wider than this. What is important is to understand the most ideal width for the size of your office. Also, wider hardwood planks are costlier than smaller planks. It is best to seek the consultation of an experienced flooring contractor to choose the perfect plank width.
Style Options
The appearance of the office floor is one key consideration. Hardwood planks come in a wide variety of styles and patterns.
When trying to achieve a unique look, you should consider the color, the texture, the edge style as well as the options for surface treatment. Some hardwood planks have a unique character while others offer a more uniform look. The type of wood you choose will affect the overall style in a big way. Many flooring contractors have their own unique collection of surface treatments. So, you will need to weigh in all these crucial factors to create your desired flooring style.
Hire a Pro to Install Hardwood in Your Office
Installation of a beautiful and functional hardwood floor requires lots of knowledge, skills and experience. If you are planning to design or renovate your office floor, head over to the Minuteman Floors. Located in Manchester, NH, we offer top quality hardwood in a broad variety of styles, colors and patterns as well their professional installation in offices, homes and other properties. Our experts will also help you select the most ideal hardwood floor for your office.
For your free consultation, give our office a phone call or write us an email with a brief description of your flooring needs.