Hardwood flooring is considered the ultimate interior accent. For discriminating homeowners seeking something unique, natural hardwood planks provide unique graining, and no two are exactly alike. With proper care and maintenance, your hardwood floor will last decades. At Modern Flooring Carpet One Floor & Home in New Orleans, we’re proud to be your local hardwood flooring store. We offer the best hardwood brands, and our professionals can help you make the best choice for our moist, humid climate.

Our Top Hardwood Flooring Picks

• Anderson hardwood flooring is known for rustic hand-scraping, pebbling, wire-brushing, and other textures. No two boards are the same, with each made by skilled artisans. Anderson hardwood is committed to sustainable hardwood flooring that’s environmentally responsible.

• Mannington hardwood flooring puts a twist on classic wood looks. Most feature a sturdy engineered hardwood for dimensional stability. Like Anderson, Mannington is dedicated to reusing mill waste for energy and using half the trees.

• Kahr’s hardwood flooring calls on a diverse range of wood species, including birch, maple, cherry, red oak, beech, and ash. Kahr’s hardwood is unique for each tree is never the same. Choose between three types of surface treatments (silk matte, matte, natural oil) for the ultimate protection.

What Type of Wood Is Used For Hardwood Flooring?

Hardwood flooring is made using wood species from all over the world, so shoppers can expect diverse options to choose. Choose between exotic ebony and down-home pine, lush mahogany, and oak…and everything in between.

Is Engineered Hardwood “Real” Wood?

Today’s flooring consumers will be asked to choose amongst two major hardwood flooring families as they begin the shopping process.

• Solid hardwood is made from solid wooden planks and is more traditional. It can be refinished countless times and has a long shelf life. However, solid hardwood can be pricey and isn’t a good fit for basements, humidity, or rooms below grade.

• Engineered hardwood is a modern-day alternative that looks identical to it traditional cousin, but since it’s made in layers of natural wood, is denser, with a waterproof or water-resistant core. It tends to be less costly and can also be installed in finished basements.

Hardwood and Humid Climates

Wood tends to absorb moisture until its coordinated with the humidity and air temperature. Swelling increases when moisture does, and wood shrinks when moisture lessens. Shrinkage begins when the moisture content reaches 25 to 30 percent, and wood swells when the moisture content is between 0 and 25 percent. To prevent future moisture issues, you can: • Use a cloth lightly dampened by a recommended cleaning product when it's time to shine the hardwoods.

• Use a humidifier, furnace, and air conditioner

• Install a humidifier that takes care of the entire house. This is one of the best ways to ensure the longevity of your hardwood flooring. Don’t forget the annual inspections!

Before and During Your Hardwood Flooring Installation

Certain details are critical when installing hardwood flooring. We always recommend professionals to get the job done. An in-home measure and moisture test are critical steps that should never be skipped. Moisture testing ensures that your subfloors are suited to handle hardwood flooring. A damp subfloor can cause damage to your hardwood over time. Your subfloor should be flat, clean, dry, and free of imperfections.

Be sure to leave a gap between the planks and the walls to allow the hardwood to naturally expand. There should also be no gaps between the planks themselves, to ensure a seamless surface. Different hardwood constructions require different installation methods, which can help in your purchasing decision. Solid hardwood should be nailed or glued down to the surface so there is no shifting during use. Engineered hardwood comes in floating floors and can lock together without needing any adhesives.

A New Look For Old Hardwood

The type of refinishing you need for your floors can depend on how damaged they are.

• Buffing removes the top layer where the scratches exist and eliminates them. Once the scratches are gone, a new finish is applied without requiring hardwoods to be stained again. Once the finish is dry, your hardwood floors will look new again.

• Sanding removes scratches or wear below the top layer. Once sanded past the original finish, wear, and stain, we can begin the process of refinishing the floors. A new stain is applied in whatever color you prefer, which can be different from the one previously used. A finish is layered on top of the stain, usually water or oil based. The results are a floor that appears as it did when it was first installed.

Experience Our Hardwood Floor Selection

As members of the world’s largest flooring cooperative, we’re able to close to our locally-owned-and-operated roots, and still offer you top quality products. Stop by our showroom today and learn if hardwood flooring is right for you. We proudly serve the Greater New Orleans area including Metairie, LA.