Enhancing our dwelling spaces with its rich textures and luxurious tones, hardwood flooring is the ultimate value-enhancer. Boasting options for all types of residential and commercial settings, the hardwood flooring collection at Rusmur Carpet One Floor & Home with locations in Pittsburgh, Bridgeville, and Moon Township, Pennsylvania, truly offers up something for everyone. With our incredible selection of both solid and engineered hardwoods, including plenty of options suitable for our hot, humid summers, rainy springs, and freezing winters, we can help you narrow down your selection. Here, you’ll encounter all the latest hardwood innovations, including beautiful flooring made by Rustic River and Invincible.

 

Hardwood Styles

 

Right now, there are more hardwood flooring options than at any prior time in history. With looks ranging from ultra-trendy to tried-and-true traditional, it’s easy to make it your own, combining all your favorite hardwood species, finishes, sizes, and shades.

 

Types of Hardwood

Hardwood flooring is offered up in a wide range of tree species, both exotic and traditional. Traditional hardwoods, such as pine, oak, and maple, offer a more classical look, while exotic hardwoods, like mahogany and Brazilian cherry, lend a distinctive touch. One general rule of thumb: each hardwood species has its distinctions in terms of hardness and durability, so it’s important to do your research well before scheduling an installation.

 

Solid vs. Engineered Hardwoods

Solid hardwood and engineered hardwood are inherently identical in looks, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some major distinctions happening beneath the surface.

 

Solid Hardwood Flooring

 

Solid planks of natural wood:

 

• Variety of hardwood species

• Long lifespan

• Increases property value

• Can be refinished multiple times

• Prone to moisture

• Should not be installed below grade and in bathrooms and basements

• Can shrink or expand

 

Engineered Hardwood Flooring:

 

• Manufactured planks

• Combination of hardwood and resin layers pressed together

• Tight, cross-grained format

• Moisture resistant

• Does not shrink or expand

• Can be installed below grade and in bathrooms and basements

• Cannot be refinished

 

How does Humidity Affect Hardwood?

 

A glossy hardwood floor can last for generations, and if properly installed and situated, it could very well remain in place for your grandkids to crawl around on. Still, it’s important to choose your hardwood carefully, while conducting your just research. Most importantly, you will want to consider your home’s inner climate before making any permanent decisions. Seasons change, along with the climate, and that means that your home’s overall, or relative humidity can fluctuate too. Relative humidity, which is the level of water in the air, should be closely considered as you choose your new flooring.

 

When the humidity level soars, a solid hardwood floor will absorb much of the moisture from the air and those planks will swell up. The opposite occurs when the humidity level plummets, which in turn causes floorboards to shrink down, causing them to sometimes split or gap. If you do opt to install hardwood, our experts advise using a hydrometer to keep watch on air quality. Ideally, your room should maintain a degree of 42% humidity. Running air conditioners during the hotter months, as well as installing climate-controlling window dressings will also help. During the cooler months, we advise using a humidifier.

 

Where to Install Hardwood Flooring

When buying a hardwood floor, you should consider the current style of your home. It’s important to pinpoint the style or look that you’re going for in a room before you begin shopping for hardwoods. This will help you narrow down characteristics like wood species, gloss, and shade. For example, dark, high-gloss woods add a warm, traditional feeling to a room while lighter, subdued shades have a casual, cozy flair. Hardwood flooring can open a room while making it feel warm and inviting to your guests. Hardwood flooring succeeds best in rooms that are dry and on the quieter side. Solid Hardwood won’t work well in the bathroom or laundry room, but if chosen with care and interior climate issues are addressed, it can beautify the remainder of your home. Engineered hardwood is generally a smarter option for rooms prone to extreme climate shifts and frequent moisture and can be installed in places like bathrooms where solid hardwood isn’t usually an option.

 

Our Hardwood Selection

 

Rusmur Carpet One is proud to be partnered with Carpet One Floor & Home: North America’s most comprehensive cooperative of independently owned and operated flooring stores. Combining local expertise, incredible value, and an ever-expanding inventory, we’re proud to be your neighborhood source for all things hardwood. To learn more about our many hardwood flooring options, visit one of our locations soon or start browsing our hardwood flooring selection online today.

 

 

Learn More About Hardwood

 

 

Hardwood Maintenance With proper care and maintenance, your hardwood floor will stay beautiful for generations. Take the proper steps to ensure your hardwood floor’s unique beauty and grain is properly preserved.   LEARN MORE