If you are thinking about upgrading your home in the Triangle, hardwood floors are one of the best choices you can make. They look amazing, they are easy to clean, and they can increase the value of your house if you ever decide to sell. But buying hardwood in Raleigh is a bit different than buying it in a place like Arizona or New York. Because of our local environment and the way our homes are built, there are three main things every Raleigh homeowner should know before they start their project.
1. Picking the Right Species
Not all trees are built the same. Some wood is very “stable,” meaning it doesn’t move much when the weather changes. Other wood is very “reactive,” meaning it grows and shrinks a lot. In Raleigh, the most popular choice is Oak—specifically White Oak and Red Oak. Oak grows locally in North Carolina, so it is already used to our climate. It is also a very hard wood that can handle the busy life of a family with kids and pets. If you choose a more exotic wood, like Brazilian Cherry, it might be beautiful, but it can be more sensitive to our humid summers.
2. Solid vs. Engineered Hardwood
This is a big question for Raleigh residents. Solid hardwood is exactly what it sounds like: a single, thick piece of wood. It is great because you can sand it and change the color many times over the years. However, in Raleigh’s humidity, solid wood moves a lot.
Engineered hardwood is a bit different. It is made of several layers of wood glued together in different directions. This “cross-grain” design makes the boards much stronger and prevents them from growing or shrinking as much. If you have a basement or a house built on a concrete slab, a hardwood flooring service in Raleigh, NC will usually recommend engineered wood because it is much safer in those areas.
3. The Acclimation Rule
The biggest mistake people make is trying to finish the job too fast. When you buy wood, it has usually been sitting in a warehouse. Before it is nailed to your floor, it needs to “live” in your house for a few days. This is called acclimation. In Raleigh, you should let the wood sit in the room where it will be installed for at least 3 to 5 days. This allows the wood to match the temperature and humidity of your home. If you install it right away, the wood might swell or shrink a week later, causing cracks or bumps that are very hard to fix.
4. Maintenance is Simple but Important
Once your floors are in, you don’t need fancy tools to keep them looking good. The most important thing is to keep “grit” off the floor. Raleigh’s red clay soil can be very abrasive. If you walk on your floors with dirty shoes, that dirt acts like tiny pieces of sandpaper that rub away the finish. Use rugs at the doors, sweep often, and never use a soaking wet mop. A damp cloth and a wood-safe cleaner are all you need to keep your Raleigh home shining.