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Answers to Your Flooring Questions

• Q: What is the difference between solid and engineered hardwood?

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  A: Solid hardwood is exactly as it sounds - one solid piece of wood. An engineered product is still considered to be a hardwood, however instead of one solid piece, it is made up of multiple plys of wood that are adhered together. The engineered structure allows the product to be more versatile as far as where it can be installed. Engineered products (barring a few exceptions) would be safe to install over radiant heat, as well as below grade.

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• Q: What exactly is laminate flooring?

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  A: Laminate is a composite structure that is made up mostly of a high definition fiber board (HDF). This board is then covered with a melamine soaked cellulose paper with aluminum oxide. Both wood and stone visuals are available. Laminate is a product that can be installed on any grade level of the home.

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• Q: Will my hardwood change color over time?

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  A: Since hardwood is a natural product, all hardwood undergoes a process called Patina. This process involves a change in the color of the wood over time. Exposure to light is normally what will cause this to happen. Certain species will change color faster than others and also may have a more pronounced color change. It is important to understand that if a portion of your floor is covered with a rug or a piece of furniture, over time that portion of the floor will not change color the same way as the remainder of the floor. Since that area is not exposed to as much light, the process of the color change will not be nearly as drastic.

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