What To Know Before You Purchase Timber
Should you choose timber for your renovation project? Before you make that decision, there are a few things that you should consider. Timber can make your home appear inviting and elegant; however, the coloring between timber wooding can vary depending on the type and price. The amount of money you have to spend on a timber supplier in addition to the look you are going for in a room can both be reasons to buy or not buy timber for your flooring. Consider these pieces of advice about budget, maintenance, quality and durability.
Budget
Timber is nice wood. It will provide long lasting floors that will make a room more warm and inviting than tile can. However, a price comes with that. While price can fluctuate depending on how much, the quality, and the type of timber, it will generally be in the higher cost range of flooring anyway; however, you can sometimes find cheaper timber.
Maintenance
Timber floors require regular maintenance. As a homeowner, you should sweep these floors on a regular basis so that dirt and dust do not form a crust on the wood. Most importantly, you need to be careful that you do not spill a lot of water on this floor. Even though the timber may be treated against moisture, it will not be so treated that the wood will not absorb and expand. For this reasons, timber would not be a good flooring for your kitchen where frequent spills may occur.
Quality
If your budget is not a problem, then you will want the highest quality timber that you can find. You will find three types of timber commonly sold: Select Grade, Character Grade, and Standard Grade. Select Grade is the highest grade of timber and will provide consistent coloring and texture throughout the room. Character Grade gives your room a little character by using the parts of the timber that characterize the tree: the knots, holes, and gum veins. Standard Grade is a combination between the two types of flooring.
Hardness
Depending on how often the room will be used and by how many people, you should consider having a higher Janka rating. The Janka rating is a number that describes the hardness of the wood. Surprisingly, bamboo is a wood that holds a higher Janka rating than woods such as oak. Compare the Janka ratings before you decide which timber you shall purchase for your flooring.
