Hardwood - kitchenandflooring

For hundreds of years hardwood has been the flooring of choice for homeowners looking for timeless elegance and low maintenance durability. The selection used to be limited to the trees growing in ones backyard. Today however, there is an almost unlimited selection of colors and grain patterns. One may also choose between narrow planks and wide ones, low, medium and high gloss finishes, smooth versus distressed and so on. Other options include bamboo, cork and many other environmentally friendly materials.

We Carry the Best and Latest Brands

The options can be overwhelming. Luckily hardwood flooring is our specialty. Our showroom staff has been trained by the most respected hardwood manufacturers in the industry.

So even though our selection of hardwood far exceeds that of our competitors, our friendly specialists know just the right questions to ask in order to guide you to the right product for your home. We are more than willing to share the knowledge necessary to help you make an informed decision.

Growing Popularity

The trend in the industry has changed dramatically over the last ten years. More and more people are turning to hardwood flooring for its aesthetic as well as hygienic properties. True the initial investment is greater than some of the other options, but over time a hardwood floor will prove to be less expensive than other floor coverings that require periodic maintenance and replacement, not to mention the resale advantages of a home with real wood floors.

We Carry the Best and Latest Brands

The options can be overwhelming. Luckily hardwood flooring is our specialty. Our showroom staff has been trained by the most respected hardwood manufacturers in the industry.

Low Maintenance

This is not your parent’s hardwood floor! Gone are the days of constant waxing and polishing. Today’s finish technologies have made hardwood a viable option for even the most “lived in” homes. From elegant “piano” finishes to rustic reclaimed textures there is a product made for every unique lifestyle.

Customer Satifaction is Our #1 Priority

For over twenty years Main Street Kitchen and Flooring has led Orange County in customer service and installation quality. By using our own employees to install every job, we have been able to maintain an unsurpassed level of workmanship. We know how many options there are these days when it comes to flooring stores and it seems as if a new one pops up every week. Our long term relationships with our distributors and our sheer volume of business allow us to compete price wise with even the smallest “Mom and Pop” shop or “Big Box” store. We are selling floors that last generations and we will be here to stand behind them.

We Are Here to Answer Tough Questions

Call us today or visit our convenient showroom that’s Open 6 Days a Week – Monday Through Saturday. Our In-store specialists have been through hours of training to educate our customers, answer tough questions, and provide the best customer service possible. We will show you why we deserve to earn your business!Come visit our Laminate Flooring Showroom in Santa Ana located near:

Anaheim Hills
Laguna Hills
Mission Viejo
Newport Beach

Hardwood how it's made
Hardwood Installation

Hardwood how it's made

Easy, concise knowledge about hardwood construction.

Understanding how hardwood is made is easy, and, here, efficient. We’ve explained all the basics in this section and urge you to check them out.

Knowing how hardwood is constructed provides you with an understanding of the hardwood floor right from its beginning.

That’s important information because these are the materials you’ll be living with and walking on for years to come should you choose this flooring product.

Knowing the different types that make up various hardwood floors also helps you understand and evaluate their performance aspects: why certain hardwoods are easier to install, why some wear better, longer, and why others are easier to replace.

Plus, perhaps most important, understanding hardwood construction and materials can make you a smarter shopper, help you better determine hardwood flooring value and keep you within the parameters of your budget.

Understanding hardwood sizes, species and types.

When we think of solid wood floors we generally are talking about a 3/4″ thick plank that is 2 1/4″ wide.

This is the classic strip wood floor, although it is possible to find a narrower width or a slightly thinner gage. The strips are generally in random lengths from 12″ – 84″. The most common wood species used for solid strip floors are red oak, white oak, maple, cherry, white ash, hickory or pecan. And the three common types of wood floors are Solid, Engineered and Longstrip Plank.

Type 1: think solid and expansive.Solid wood floors are one solid piece of wood that have tongue and groove sides. When we talk about solid wood floors, we tend to think of floors that are unfinished, but it’s important to know that there are also many pre-finished 3/4” solid wood floors. And you should also be aware of the moisture factor.Solid wood floors are sensitive to moisture and because so they are used in nail down installations and are not recommended for installation below ground level, or directly over a concrete slab. The good news is that these floors can be refinished, or recoated, several times, which adds to their appeal and to their long life in your home.
In fact, there are solid floors that are over 100 years old that are still in good condition with rich patina and character – enhancing the beauty of the home. Because they’re a natural product, hardwood flooring will expand and contract in response to seasonal changes in moisture. In the winter heating months, moisture leaves the wood causing the floor to contract, which creates small gaps between each plank. In the summer months, when the humidity is higher, the wood will expand and the gaps will disappear. If there is too much moisture it may cause the wood planks to cup, or buckle. Not something you want in your home. This is why it is important when installing a solid strip floor to leave the proper expansion area around the perimeter and to acclimate the wood prior to installation. This will help assure a lasting, beautiful application. Know that oak is a wood of choices. Oak is commonly used for solid unfinished wood floors and there are several different qualities of oak for you to choose from. These qualities are clear, select and better, #1 common, and #2 common. The clear has no visual blemishes or knots and is extremely expensive. While the select and better quality has some small knots and very little dark graining. The #1 common and #2 common have more knots and more dark graining. So be aware of that when buying an unfinished solid oak floor and make sure you know which quality of wood you are buying.

Type 2: the efficient, engineered solution.
Engineered wood floors are generally manufactured with 2, 3, or 5 thin sheets or plies of wood that are laminated together to form one plank. These wood plies are stacked on top of each other but in the opposite directions. This is called cross-ply construction which creates a wood floor that is dimensionally stable and less affected by moisture than a 3/4” solid wood floor. In the presence of moisture, solid wood planks will always expand across the width of the planks, rather than down the length of the boards. The advantage of cross-ply construction allows the plies to counteract each other which will stop the plank from growing or shrinking with the changes in humidity. The other advantage for you is versatility. You can install these floors over concrete slabs in your basement as well as anywhere else in you home. Most engineered floors can be nailed down, stapled down, glued down, or floated over a wide variety of subfloors, including some types of existing flooring. Engineered floors will range from 1/4″ to 9/16″ in thickness, and vary from 2 1/4″ to 7″ in width. The widths can also be mixed, such as 3-5-7-inch planks installed side by side. By varying the board widths you can change the total appearance of the floor. Create a truly custom look for your home. The lengths will be random and range from 12″ – 60″ in length.
For flexibility, engineered is top-notch.
Because engineered wood floors are made up of several layers of wood the top finish layer can be a totally different wood species. A variety of domestic or exotic hardwood species are available such as Oak, Maple, Hickory or Cherry.

Type 3: the easy-to-replace longstrip.
Longstrip plank floors are similar to engineered floors and have several wood plies that are glued together. The center core is generally a softer wood material and is used to make the tongue and groove. A hardwood finish layer is glued on top of the core. The top layer can be almost any hardwood species and is made up of many smaller individual pieces that are laid in three rows. Longstrip planks are approximately 86″ in length and 7 1/2″ in width. They generally have between 17 and 35 pieces that make up the top layer of each board.This gives the effect of installing a board that is 3 rows wide and several planks long. Each longstrip plank looks like an entire section that has already been pre-assembled for you. This alone can create a unique look all your own. Longstrip planks are designed for the floating installation, but most can also be glued-down, or stapled down. Because these floors can be floated they are extremely versatile – they can go over a wide variety of subfloors and on any grade level. Like engineered floors, longstrip floors come in a wide variety of domestic and exotic hardwood species. Longstrip plank floors have another advantage. When damaged, they are easy to replace. That can be an important consideration for active homes. Those are the ins and outs of hardwood construction. We hope this knowledge makes you a smarter shopper, helps you narrow down your options, or even solidifies your choice of hardwood flooring for your home.

Hardwood Installation

Know what to expect and do before installation day.

Be prepared. We want you to know what to do, and know what to expect, on that special day when the crew shows up to install your beautiful new hardwood floor. Being prepared will make the entire process go faster, more efficiently and hopefully eliminate any surprises. Knowing what to expect will also be a lot less stressful on you, your family and your home.
Our first advice is in the form of a question. Installing this type of floor is hard, exacting and detailed. Why would you have anyone but a seasoned, dedicated professional install it? That way you can be assured of a beautiful, efficient and correct installation. There are four methods of installing hardwood flooring.

1. Nail Down: 2” cleats do the job.
This method is typically used with the 3/4″ solid products, however there are adapters available for thinner flooring sizes as well. 2″ nailing cleats are used with a wood flooring nailer and mallet to attach the flooring to the subfloor. Please be aware that Solid Strip floors or Plank floors can only be installed on wooden subfloors on grade or above grade.

2. Staple Down: this method uses pneumatics.
With this method 1-1/2 to 2 inch staples are used versus nailing cleats to attach the wood flooring to the subfloor. A pneumatic gun is used to drive the staple into the wood flooring and subfloor. Not all wood flooring manufacturers recommend the same staple gun so using professional installers will insure that the right staple gun and right size staples are utilized.

3. Glue Down: adhesives are the rule here.
The recommended mastic or adhesive is spread on with the proper sized trowel to adhere the wood flooring to the subfloor. You should know that engineered wood floors and parquets can be glued down. Solid strip floors and plank floors can only be nailed or stapled. There are many types of adhesives on the market. Your installers will use the manufacturers recommended adhesive when installing your flooring. Not using the manufacturers recommended adhesive and trowel size could void any warranties you may have.

4. Floating: flooring on a bed of padding.
With the floating installation method the floor is not mechanically fastened to any part of the subfloor. A thin pad is placed between the wood flooring and the subfloor. Then a recommended wood glue is applied in the tongue and groove of each plank to hold the planks together. The padding has its advantages: it protects against moisture, reduces noise transmission, is softer under foot, and provides for some additional “R” value. Some engineered floors and all Longstrip floors can be floated. This is a very fast, easy and clean method of installing your floor. Acclimation. Understand that it’s a must. All hardwood products need to be acclimated to the new environment for at least four or five days prior to installation. The installers will open all the boxes to achieve this. Any loose product will be divided into smaller lots and stored in the designated room.

What to know and do before installation day

Work on your furniture first.
Remove all furniture and other objects and materials from the areas where the installation will take place. Some installers will move your furniture, but there may be an additional charge for doing so. Before moving, you’ll also need to empty the contents of china cabinets, closets and the like. Be aware that the area of installation must be climate controlled (heated or air conditioned). Indoor humidity should be maintained between 45-65%.

Now turn your attention to the old floor covering.
Please consider how your old floor covering will be taken up and disposed of. This can be a time consuming task. We recommend that you check with us about the cost and the method of disposal.
If you prefer to remove your present floor covering, do it at least one day prior to arrival of your hardwood product to allow for cleanup and floor preparation. If removing old carpet, please leave tack strips in place and pull the staples out of the floor from the original pad.

Have a plan in mind regarding your trim.
You should know that, in many cases, moldings and baseboards need to be removed for hardwood installation. Your installer may do this but at an additional charge and they will probably not be responsible for damage or breakage due to dry or brittle wood. Painted baseboards, woodwork and paint may need retouching after the installation is complete. If necessary, this is your responsibility.

The next subject: subflooring.
Your existing subfloor may need to be prepared to receive the hardwood, or a new subfloor may be required. We suggest you discuss this with us and, if subfloor work is necessary, that it be done by qualified professionals. It is important that the subfloor be as clean and level as possible.

Doors require special consideration.
When hardwood is installed, there’s always the possibility that the doors, especially closet doors, basement and bedroom doors, may not clear the new hardwood and swing free.
Some installers will remove doors in order to install the hardwood and re-hang them if possible. They probably won’t shave or cut down doors to insure clearance. Please check with us regarding our policy. You may need to arrange for a qualified carpenter to provide this service after the installation of your new hardwood floor.

Be clear about the clean-up.
Installing new hardwood will produce waste.
Usually these materials are collected by your installer and left at your trash collection site. Check with us before the day of installation so you’re clear about the clean up, if there are added costs to do so, and ask about the plan for hardwood remnants.

What to know and do during installation day

You need to be home on installation day.
Be prepared to be at home the day of installation and be available in case the installation crew has questions. Your presence will insure that the correct hardwood is installed in the right areas. Because it is difficult to estimate the length and circumstances of each job, some installers may not be able to give you an exact time of arrival. We will keep you informed on the schedule.

Your safety is our concern.
Your installers will use a variety of tools and techniques that can make the work area hazardous. Please make sure that your children and pets are kept out of the work area on installation day.

The walk-thru is an important step.
We recommend that, prior to the completion of the installation, you walk thru the job with the chief installer. This will give you the opportunity to ask questions and be clear on any final details.

What to know and do after installation day

Give your lungs a break.
If you are sensitive to dust and odors, good ventilation should be established for 48 to 72 hours after installation. Being prepared for installation day through careful planning and smart preparing will make your life and the installers a lot easier. It will also make your hardwood flooring experience beautiful and enjoyable right from day one.

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