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susanlynn2012

RunningInPlace Question & Update on Hardwood Floors Quest

susanlynn2012
15 years ago

RunningInPlace, Can you tell me what Species of Wood and stain your engineered wood is? Your floors are nice and light but not boring so that may be good for me also.

Right now I have tried several samples of Mannington's Engineered Wood and I have had no allergies to it ( I called today to confirm they do not use formaldehyde in any of their adhesives) but just can't seem to find something I love unless it is because I am so used to beige carpeted floors with cherry wood on top for contrast. Also putting a sample on my beige rug makes it difficult for me to envision the floor covered with wood. I know I had this problem with paint on my walls and thought BM Bone White paint was too dark but now that it is on the wall, it is perfect for my family room making it so warm and it is definitely not too dark. I guess anything darker on top of white or a very light rug, looks very dark.

The 5 samples I have of the BR111 engineered wood all have a corrugated pressed cardboard attached (not part of the product but part of the display) and my allergies have been acting up ever since I brought the samples into my home.

I had thought I was tired of oak since my bedroom set had been golden oak for about 15 years and my TV stand and my kitchen cabinets are golden oak. I love my cherry furniture and my maple furniture.

But now I am wondering if an oak floor in a light color would have been nice to sample after seeing your floors.

I called about the Bruce Laminate today and they do use a very small amount of formaldehyde in their product so I ordered a sample of what Brutuses had on the floor that looked so beautiful to see how I react to it. I like the shade of Brutuses floor despite them being dark. They are pretty and look real to me.

The BR111 Amendoim 3.25" planks Engineered Wood Sample(Mannington has this species in the Engineered wood wider planks that was very pretty but the other store would not let me bring the sample home and Mannington does not mail wood samples) is starting to grow on me and despite it being dark but lighter than the other 4 samples I have brought home today (I guess I am used to light beige on my floors) it is pretty since it has many light boards in it also and a touch of red on some of the boards. I wish it had more golden and red boards. It does look nice in all my rooms and is interesting with so many variations. I like the look but wonder if I would tire of it. I am going to see how it looks in my home tomorrow in the light and have a few friends look at it before returning the samples to the store before noon like I promised.

The Tiger wood is so rich and beautiful but even darker so I am not sure. Again, I really did not try oak samples but now I am reconsidering.

I also have BR111 Brazilian Cherry and BR111 Santos Mahogany samples here that are both so beautiful but seem so dark but do look nice.. The BR111 Tiger Wood has some darker boards than both of these two species but has some much lighter boards also and is rich, beautiful and interesting. I wonder if I go with such an exotic species hardwood floor would this be a problem if I resell my place?

I want my furniture to stand out and not be lighter than my floor.

Comments (10)

  • organic_smallhome
    15 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Not runninginplace, but just fyi: Consumer Reports recently gave this the highest marks, for durability and environmental safety. :)

    Here is a link that might be useful: Teragren

  • organic_smallhome
    15 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Better link (with more info).

    Here is a link that might be useful: Teragren Bamboo

  • susanlynn2012
    Original Author
    15 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Thank you Organic. I printed the information and will look into it tomorrow.

    The Amendoim is starting to look nicer and nicer next to my credenza.

    I loved the Bamboo planks in the stores but I was worried about the laminated process so it is good to know this particular brand has hardly any outgassing per the link.

  • organic_smallhome
    15 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    lynn: It's an extremely environmentally responsible company. Good luck with your choice. :)

  • runninginplace
    15 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Lynn, my floors are Hartco Westin Plank oak in Cinnamon, and I've linked below to a site selling them so you can see all the details.

    I was trying to match existing Hartco flooring that had been down for 20 years(!). That particular line isn't being made anymore, and it turned out that my guesstimate wasn't exactly a perfect match. But I like it a lot and am finishing out my hallway and bedrooms with it this summer.

    Aside from the color, the 'permion' finish is aluminum oxide and I've found it to be extraordinarily strong. Nothing scratches my floors! And the edges are square, which eliminates that mysterious bevel that so many people complain about w/engineered wood. Actually my original engineered floors didn't have the beveling either so I've never been too sure why that is such a problem for so many folks but that's another topic...

    Hope this helps. Picking flooring can be challenging; there are so many varieties from which to choose.

    Ann

    Here is a link that might be useful: Hartco Westin Plank Oak-Cinnamon

  • msrose
    15 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    runninginplace - Can you post a picture of your floors?
    thanks

    Laurie

  • susanlynn2012
    Original Author
    15 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    MsRose, Running In Place's beautiful pics of her hardwood floors was in the thread regarding carpet versus hardwood floors. Hers was in the middle post. I love her floors.

    Here is a link that might be useful: Running In Place's beautiful pics of her hardwood floors- middle post

  • runninginplace
    15 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Well, how nice to hear people like my floors :). I still love them and I still occasionally stop just to admire them!

    Here's a picture that shows the older flooring; it is at the top of the photo, in our foyer. That is oak also but has darkened over the years...you can see the break point at the doorway. We decided to switch the direction of the wood there too in hopes of minimizing the visual effect of the different shades.

  • susanlynn2012
    Original Author
    15 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Ann (RunningInPlace), I never knew Oak floors had so much beautiful variation in color. That is what I am looking for in a floor for it to be beautiful and not boring. The engineered oak floor in my foyer area that came with my townhouse is so blah with no color variation and no shine at all. What stain and finish are your beautiful floors? Thank you for letting me know they are Engineered Oak floors from Hartco Oak Flooring.

  • susanlynn2012
    Original Author
    15 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    RunninginPlace, On the Hartco Site it says that the North American Oak plank you chose is in a Matt finish but in your room the gloss seems to be what I like (a little bit of gloss). Did you add a coat of gloss to the floor or is their Matt really a satin? I am now thinking of going with a wood that does not get much darker from the sun so my room will match in the front with the back of the room that has no light since there is no windows there and the sun is blocked with the half a wall high. At least oak is not real sun sensitive like all the beautiful exotic species I keep looking at and love if they would stay the color when they are installed. I alway thought I would not want oak again since I had oak in all my furniture and cabinets most of my life but I see that an oak floor is nice afterall or maybe even maple.