Softwood
flooring is lower in cost but there are disadvantages as well. In addition, it
requires meticulous care in selecting and laying out softwood flooring, a
reason why many flooring experts will usually recommend hardwood or engineered
wood at a higher cost. However, there is no need to ignore softwood for
flooring purposes provided one can get an expert professional to handle the
laying process.
Why
softwood is not the first choice
Softwood,
as the name implies, is soft and vulnerable. While installing the floor, if the
workman is careless, the sanding machine can scuff the wood, leave spots and
create an uneven surface. It is likely that someone may drop a heavy item and
it can dent the soft wood. If the wood is left as it is in its natural state,
it can absorb liquids and this can create stains. Another reason why softwood
is not the first choice for floors is that it absorbs higher amounts of
moisture and can easily deform, warp, shrink or expand.
How
choosing the right flooring specialist can help
Expert
professionals with years of experience and expertise in laying floors know the
characteristics of each wood. You can easily find a Flooring Northumberland
specialist. Focused on quality processes and on choosing the right materials,
they start by choosing softwoods at a great price but wood that has been
properly cured and seasoned. The issue of moisture absorption is easily
addressed by pre-treatment to reduce absorption or nullify it. Laying the floor
is the next process in which care is exercised to install sub-flooring or an
underlay if necessary. Surface finishing by professionals with years of
expertise in sanding and polishing delivers floors with no blemishes. The floor
is ready for the next step of staining and sealing. Highest quality polymer
sealant and polishes when used on softwoods render them impenetrable to water
and moisture. Softwoods retain their shape and looks for years with the right
post-sanding and polishing treatment.
Softwood
for unique look
The grain
of softwood can be relatively simpler with long clean lines in comparison to
the convoluted grain structure of hardwoods. Expert finishers can stain the
softwood to achieve the desired tone or just leave it in its natural state and
apply an overcoat of polyurethane or epoxy for a wonderful, beautiful, durable
floor. It costs less but it is no less functional and beautiful compared to
hardwood floors. Just get a flooring Northumberland expert like Northumberlandfloorsanding.co.uk
for the job and one can save money while getting the rich, classic look.
