Blog Layout
Which Wood Floors are Real?
websitebuilder • November 14, 2019
The market has never had more choices in wood and wood-like flooring. With modern materials and the constant demand for wood floors, it can be difficult to figure out just which floors are right for you. And if you’re looking for real wood, it’s often confusing to figure out which options are actually wood instead of being some sort of composite.
Temple Johnson can help those who want high quality wood flooring, as this is we only install real wood flooring—not any of the substitutes that you might have seen moonlighting as wood.
Not Wood Flooring at All
Some of the wood-like options on the market are not real wood at all. Take, for instance, laminate flooring.
Laminate is one of the most popular "wood" options on the market today. It is composed of four layers: a bottom layer that balances the floor and protects against moisture from below, a core layer composed of fiber and melamine (formaldehyde) resin, a layer with a photograph of the intended surface, and a durable, clear aluminum oxide top layer.
The appeal of laminate for many homeowners is that it’s cheaper and much simpler to install as a DIY project. That comes with downsides too though. Just like real wood flooring, laminate doesn’t love moisture. But unlike wood flooring, if standing water is left on laminate and damages it, the entire floor will need to be replaced. Often real wood can just be refinished.
Wood-look tile is another option that many people are substituting for wood flooring. Although It is much more resistant to moisture than laminate flooring, it just doesn’t look quite like real wood and is cold to step on.
Vinyl plank and sheet vinyl are two more options that are on the market, but they are lower quality than either of the other two.
Hardwood Flooring: The Original
Hardwood flooring is the true, high-end flooring option that has been around forever. It is REAL wood. The beauty of hardwood flooring is its high quality finish, warmth, and the added value it brings to the home - that’s the thing that sets it apart from its competitors. Hardwood floors are made from naturally tough species of wood, so they are designed to stand up to the wear and tear of everyday life.
There are two options for hardwood floors when they’re bought: pre-finished and unfinished. Pre-finished hardwood is just what it sounds like. It has been finished at the factory with the surface sealed and protected and a stain applied. This has some installation benefits, particularly when it comes to a home that’s already being lived in. There are no odors or volatile compounds left in the air from finishing, which makes it much easier for a remodel. The advantage of unfinished hardwood comes from being able to see how it looks in the home, test any stains to make sure they match the decor and do the finish with it in place.
Solid hardwood is a great option for longevity, as it can be sanded and refinished for many, many years. Because it is the same all the way through, refinishers don’t have to worry about the material loss from sanding las they would with engineered wood.
Because wood is a living material, it does have some “special care” requirements that the owner needs to be aware of such as sensitivity to moisture and humidity. When real wood floors are installed in a home, that home needs to keep its temperature and humidity as constant as possible to avoid the shrinkage and warping that can come outside of those norms.
It is wise to refrain from using wood flooring in any place that’s likely to see a lot of water like a bathroom or a kitchen or basement. For those areas. it’s better to use tile, finished concrete or a more water-resistant real wood product.
Engineered Hardwood: Real Wood Remixed
Engineered hardwood is still real wood, unlike its laminate cousin. The difference with engineered hardwood is its composition. Where hardwood flooring is the same material all the way through, engineered hardwood uses a sandwich of materials, building a strong finished product that’s indistinguishable from the real thing.
The face of any engineered wood product is called the lamella, and it can be flat-sawn, quarter-sawn or rift-sawn for a different grain appearance. Underneath the lamella is a core of another type of wood laid perpendicular, often a softwood. Sometimes there are multiple layers of this laid in layers, or plies (hence the term plywood). Finally, there’s another layer of durable wood on the bottom. Some higher-quality engineered floors have only one ply in the middle and the same durable hardwood on top and bottom, especially in Europe. These layers are held together by various glues that add stability.
Engineered Hardwood
is much more flexible in its installation and application than regular hardwood flooring while still maintaining the warmth of real wood. It stands up to moisture, humidity, and temperature fluctuations much better than hardwood as well. This makes it suitable for installation over concrete and allows it to be placed in bathrooms and kitchens (though it’s still not always recommended). If extreme conditions occur, it can still warp or buckle, but overall it’s much more stable than hardwood flooring. This stability also makes it compatible with in-floor heating systems. It can be hard to find a solid hardwood product that will stand up to the temperature changes that come with radiant heating, but most engineered wood will handle it without an issue. If you want to combine heat with real wood, Engineered Hardwood is a great choice.
Engineered wood floors cannot be refinished as many times as solid hardwood floors because the top layer is composed of veneer. If refinished too many times, the sanding and finishing process will break through into the inner layers, making it necessary to replace the floor.
For the most part, engineered and solid hardwood have similar properties. They are both real wood, though they differ slightly in the flexibility of their applications, and they are beautiful and add value to any home.
Real Wood, Real Installers
Temple Johnson only installs real wood flooring, whether that be engineered or solid hardwood. With 92 years of experience and expertise, we can help our clients make the best choice for the environment their flooring will occupy, and the most pleasing look. Our installers have many years of experience and work with clients to achieve a beautiful end result. With our combination of experience and quality, Temple Johnson is Oklahoma City’s choice for real wood flooring.
Are you looking for a real wood floor
for your house? Whether it’s new construction or remodel, we have the tools, the expertise and the material to make your house glow with the warmth of real wood. Call us today or visit our showroom and see the real wood difference.
Upgrade your home with the timeless beauty and durability of hardwood flooring installation in Oklahoma City, OK. Learn about the top benefits and why it's a smart investment for homeowners.
Worried about your family's furriest member scratching up your wood flooring? Don't fret! Beyond the fact that all of us at Temple Johnson simply love dogs & cats, we also extend that passion to the wood flooring that they and the rest of your family live on. Although there isn’t any one specific way to curb the scratching that your furry friends can and will inevitably inflict upon your wood flooring, we’ve provided some tips and small strategies that can actually help keep your floor looking nice!
This is a wonderful write-up on 12 different common household situations that can very well lead to the degradation and destruction of your home's hardwood flooring, and the article was written originally by Mark Melendres of Home Decor Bliss, and the link to the article itself can be found at the bottom of this page!
A beautifully stained hardwood floor grabs our senses in the same way an extraordinary painting does. The artist’s subject, color choices and perspective pull us in for a closer examination. When studying handsome hardwood floor designs, our eyes are entertained the same way. We are fascinated by the way the light reflects different shades and even a sense of movement in the wood grain. The appeal of the room is enriched not only by the chosen hue of the stain but also the particular species of the wood flooring. All the customer’s personal preferences act together to form the impression they want the floor to make. Just as a painter juggles the elements of a canvas—the subject, size, tone, and effect—stain color choices start with the aesthetics of the owner/creator. Plenty of us “know what we like” and are ready to jump in on our own. And why not? Examples of wood floors are plentiful for us to check out. Websites like Pinterest, or hardwood flooring company’s sites offer inspiring examples that may be just what you are looking for. However, most people would rather have an experienced studio artist paint their portrait. Why not use a hardwood floor specialist as “a guide by your side” through the entire process? Temple Johnson Flooring, a century-old, family-owned business that has treated clients like family for decades, is the perfect place to find this support. Owners Bryan Jones and Matt Sparks are hardwood floor specialists who represent decades of experience. They have the talent to listen to what you want and make it happen.
The real world demands a lot of people’s time today. We’re asked to fill out endless questionnaires, for instance, before every doctor’s appointment. Ask yourself: how long did you have to sit on hold to speak to a real person at a corporation? It sometimes seems unreal, the red tape people are subjected to today. What may be surprising, and also real, is that a huge project such as buying engineered hardwood flooring today is simpler and more cost effective than ever. It’s amazing how many expenses have been removed from the process. In most cases it costs less than traditional hardwood flooring, but is also easier to install, so complex scheduling over several weeks has become a headache of the past. One common misconception about engineered flooring is that when people hear the term, they assume it is a man-made veneer, not real wood. At Temple Johnson Floor, after clients see the engineered showroom samples, owners Bryan Jones and Matt Sparks are always asked the same question. “Is that real wood?” And their answer is always, “It absolutely is.” Engineers and flooring specialists have come up with an ingenious new way to craft real wood floors. It is here and growing larger every day. For reference, traditional wood floors are solid hardwood planks installed over plywood decking, then sanded and stained on the job site. Traditional floors require more procedures that all have to be coordinated with the client and other workers on the premises (painters, electricians, for example). Engineered floors are constructed using several layers of real wood, which is uniquely configured. On top sits the real hardwood veneer, firmly supported by ¼” layers of crisscrossed different species of wood. It is available finished or unfinished.
It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of someone that was integral to Temple Johnson Floor Company, Jerry Sparks. As a family owned-and-operated company, this was a heavy blow. We would like to take this opportunity to reflect on the innumerable amount of people that he touched the lives of through his work here at Temple Johnson, and the flooring industry in general, customer or otherwise. While his servant’s heart led Jerry’s life, he also led by example with his hands, accomplishing a profound amount as a small business owner and as an inspiration to others through his hard work. Upon purchasing the company in 1978 from Pauline Johnson & Jimmy Martin, Jerry owned and operated Temple Johnson Flooring Company from 1979 to 1992. He then sold the business to his brother-in-law and promptly started his own home-building business, Chance Matthew Homes, named after his sons.
Hardwood flooring is enjoying a popular resurgence in Herringbone, a familiar and ancient pattern. The design gets its name from the delicate skeletal structure of herring. The fish’s bones slant in a V-shape pattern as they spread away from the spine. This is a fantastic example of the general structure we're talking about here:
Are you looking to upgrade the aesthetics of your home while adding a touch of elegance and warmth? Look no further than Temple Johnson Flooring here in Oklahoma City! We are thrilled to present our exceptional collection of hardwood flooring options to help you elevate the beauty of your living spaces to new heights. With our extensive range of high-quality hardwood materials and professional installation services, we are committed to helping you achieve the home of your dreams. Let's dive into the captivating world of hardwood flooring and explore why it is the ideal choice for homeowners seeking sophistication and durability. There's a reason why hardwood flooring has remained a timeless classic since the advent of human history. Its natural beauty and warm tones bring a sense of vibrancy and luxury to any room. We accomplish this with the help of a wide variety of wood species, grains, and finishes offered here at Temple Johnson, which in turn affords you the ability to choose a style that perfectly complements your interior design preferences and goals. From the rich, traditional hues of oak to the exotic allure of Brazilian cherry, all of our hardwood flooring options will create an ambiance that reflects your unique personality and tastes, and ultimately enhance the overall aesthetic of your home. Wood flooring has brawn to back up all that beauty, as well! Investing in hardwood flooring means investing in longevity. With proper care and maintenance, hardwood floors can withstand the test of time, maintaining their beauty and structural integrity for decades on end. Our hand-selected wood flooring brands that we've partnered with are crafted using the finest materials and expert craftsmanship, ensuring durability and longevity. Whether you have a busy household with kids and pets or you simply want flooring that can withstand daily wear and tear, our hardwood floors are designed to stand up to the challenges of essentially any lifestyle. With all of that in mind, it becomes quite clear that one of the greatest advantages of hardwood flooring is its versatility. It effortlessly complements a wide range of interior styles, from traditional to modern and everything in between. The rich undertones and different tones brought out by simply changing the wood floor stain can help it remain adaptable to your interior design changes over a lifetime. Because of this, here at Temple Johnson we offer an extensive selection of finishes, stains, and plank sizes to cater to your individuality and creative preferences for your home. Whether you desire a rustic farmhouse look, a sleek and modern contemporary vibe, or a timeless traditional feel, our hardwood flooring options can be customized to match your vision. Keeping your hardwood floors looking pristine is surprisingly simple! Regular sweeping and occasional gentle mopping with Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner is all it really takes to maintain their natural luster. A recent EPA study also found that hardwood floors greatly reduce the accumulation of toxins. Unlike carpet that trap dust, allergens, and pet dander, hardwood floors are hypoallergenic and contribute to improved indoor air quality, and in a state like ours with allergens abound, this increased air quality is truly a life-changer for many of us. With hardwood flooring from Temple Johnson Flooring, you can enjoy a cleaner and healthier living environment, perfect for individuals with allergies or respiratory sensitivities.
French Parquet wood flooring was originally designed to replace historic estates’ stone and marble floors. Those rigid surfaces eventually wreaked havoc on the mansions’ enormous wood frameworks. Parquet wooden floors, on the other hand, built using 3’ x 3’ square units, proved far more forgiving than the historic rock-hard surfacing. Not only did French Florentine Parquet prove architecturally functional, but also became universally famous for its eye-catching designs. Recently, Temple Johnson Floor was approached about a custom wood floor design. It called for scaling down a French parquet’s standard 3’ x 3’ squares to only 2’ x 2’. Clients could never order such a one-of-a-kind design through today’s big box, wholesale flooring stores, who depend on volume sales. It would be difficult to order them from anywhere, really, even though the clients had hoped to begin as soon as possible.
It’s once again the time of year when your wood floors become prone to cracks and separation, but there IS a solution! Below we’ve sourced some excellent tips to keep the humidity up and your floors looking as pristine and stationary as possible through the Winter months: Winter in northern, mountain and central areas brings more than the freezing temperatures. As the atmosphere cools down, the air loses moisture. Cold and arid days push outdoor humidity levels into the single digits causing days or even weeks to be at 20% RH or less. Consequently, we turn on the heaters and fireplaces, creating dry indoor conditions. With low humidity outdoors and indoors, is it possible these conditions are drier than the Sahara Desert? It is – the average humidity in one of the hottest places on earth is only 25% according to this reference. For areas that are dry and cold during the winter, if you don’t increase your home’s humidity, you could be living in a drier environment than the Sahara. And these are no conditions for a hardwood floor! Ever considered why there are so few trees in the Sahara? Trees need to absorb moisture from their surrounding environment. When the environment is dry, trees release moisture. As this happens, wood contracts from losing moisture. In humid environments, the tree will absorb moisture and expand. Same thing happens with wood floors! When wood floors get wet, they get wider. When they dry out, they retract. This seasonal expansion and contraction cycle is a natural process mimicking trees. And when they’re Sahara Desert dry, you’re bound to have problems. Keep reading for why winter and wood floors can be a problematic pair. What Happens When Floors Are Too Dry? Dry floors create a variety of problems: 1. Boards shrink, resulting in narrower widths than when installed. 2. Narrowing boards leave gaps . 3. Dry cupping : floors can appear rippled or wavy at the edges. 4. Loose boards and gaps cause boards to squeak . Fastener stress can cause squeaks. Flooring installed in the summer when humidity is high can later shrink to a greater degree during winter. Floors that shrink exert greater pressure on the fasteners, pulling the nail or staple away from the subfloor. Squeaks occur when walking on these loose boards rubbing together. What is Dry Cupping? One of the most common symptoms of a too dry floor, cupping boards occur when there is an imbalance of moisture between a board’s surface and bottom side. To put it simply, the top side is drier than the bottom side. Before a board becomes flooring, the lumber is dried. This process creates dimensionally stable flooring with consistent moisture content. However, this stability is not a guarantee. Any extreme changes in temperature and humidity will upset this equilibrium. Flooring that becomes wetter than its original acclimated state will curl at the edges. When this occurs in winter, it is called “dry cupping” . The surface layer is drier than the bottom layer against the subfloor. Damage can range from subtle to significant, depending on the amount of moisture or lack of it in the boards. In either case, the raised edges will be visually bothersome. If not addressed, the damage leads to squeaks, crackles, and pops. Floors fail in extreme conditions. What About Engineered Wood Floors? Solid and engineered wood floors react differently to moisture changes. Engineered wood flooring has more dimensional stability because of its design. Engineered floors are constructed with a real wood wear layer glued to plywood. This style of wood floor can better perform where moisture may be a concern. But, a little-known disadvantage for engineered flooring is an extremely dry climate. In these Sahara-like conditions, the wear layer may loosen from the plywood layer. The veneer wood fibers shrink and then tear away from the adhesive, causing board failure. And really, it’s preventable by keeping humidity at a level between 35-55%. A consistent environment in the home is the best way for wood – solid or engineered – to keep its beautiful appearance. Deviating outside the recommended range of the flooring manufacturer can lead to failure. Winter and Wood Floors Winter can be stressful for you and your hardwood flooring. Be kind to your wood floors by avoiding the “Sahara” treatment. Invest in a humidifier and maintain the ideal conditions for you and your floors. Check out our friends over at Portercraft Flooring's guide by clicking here for what to look for in a humidifier. We care about your home and want to help you find the best solution for keeping your floors looking great for years to come.
LEAVE US A REVIEW
Browse Our Website
Contact Information
Phone:
405-842-0112
Fax:
405-842-0147
Business Hours
Mon - Fri 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Our Location
Address:
405 West Wilshire Boulevard, Oklahoma City, OK 73116
Service Areas
Oklahoma City, Edmond, Norman, Yukon