In 2023, the hardwood flooring industry is taking things one step forward!
Hardwood may very well be the most aspirational flooring product (next to stone or ceramic tile). However, that doesn’t mean suppliers are relying solely on the category’s solid reputation to get retailers and consumers alike excited about wood flooring, especially in the face of intense competition from hard surface alternatives like LVT and laminate.
To that end, hardwood suppliers across the board are leveraging emerging innovations designed to enhance both the visual characteristics as well as the performance attributes of the product. These include advancements in core materials, including waterproof cores/hybrids; promotion of low-sheen finishes that still provide durability and wear protection while allowing the natural characteristics of the wood to come through; application of innovative surface treatments such as reactive staining, fuming and texturing; and the utilization of locking systems for engineered products that keep water from penetrating through the planks.
Following is an overview of some of the products incorporating these innovations.
Waterproof wood/hybrids
GeoWood from Cali touts dimensional stability and waterproof attributes.
With the increasing popularity of genuine wood floors that feature naturally water-repellant, non-wood cores, along with innovations in engineered hardwood flooring products that feature enhancements and installation systems designed to prevent the incursion of moisture, consumers no longer have to make tough choices between the real thing and resilient look-alikes. They can literally have the best of both worlds.
Examples include hybrid floors such as GeoWood from Cali. The high-performance product boasts the durability and visual appeal of real hardwood, combining the waterproof qualities of SPC with wear layer options (oak, maple or bamboo) bonded to a 100% waterproof limestone composite core. This combination, according to Cali, makes the product exceptionally strong and dimensionally stable.
Another wood/SPC hybrid that’s making noise in the market is the patented HDPC/SPC waterproof hardwood and strand bamboo product lines from Wellmade, a company that pioneered the popular hybrid flooring category. Featuring the natural beauty and warmth of real hardwood coupled with the performance virtues of rigid core, HDPC/SPC represents the next generation of engineered flooring with extreme durability and waterproof performance.
While some waterproof wood floors feature hybrid technologies or alternative cores, others utilize special edge treatments and finishes to keep water on the surface of the planks. Case in point is the new BelleLuxe Waterproof Wood line from Mohawk. All products in the BelleLuxe line have been enhanced with waterproof attributes. The enhancements, according to Mohawk, are designed to protect the product from the top surface of the planks to the subfloor below. These enhancements come courtesy of the company’s proprietary WetProtect technology, which works by ensuring water-tight joints keep ordinary household spills and accidents on the surface of the plank, where it cannot damage the tongue or groove area or seep down onto the subfloor. BelleLuxe hardwood products are further protected by a proprietary waterproof finish, offering consumers peace of mind via a lifetime surface and subfloor warranty.
Another notable hardwood line that was designed to repel water comes from Bjelin (formerly Välinge Innovation). The Hardened Wood Floor collection, developed using its patented Woodura surface technology, boasts the company’s signature 5G Dry fold-down system. The end result, according to the company, is a real wood floor that’s not only waterproof but also much stronger (up to 5x stronger) than the average hardwood floor based on internal testing.
Finishes
Triangulo Hardwood Floors features nine layers of transparent, low-gloss, UV-cured polyurethane.
Hardwood flooring coatings have come a long way from the mirror-finish, high-gloss wear layers that were popular 25 years ago. Nowadays, the lower the sheen the better. Also, technological advances allow for fewer coats, which often translates into greater finish clarity. But if you thought that fewer coating layers equate to a finish that’s not as durable, you would be sorely mistaken. In fact, much of today’s low-matte finishes are tougher than previous iterations.
A case in point is Triangulo Hardwood Floors, which employs nine layers of transparent, UV-cured polyurethane that sports a 10% gloss level to enhance the natural beauty of the Brazilian hardwood species, according to Philip Key, vice president of sales and marketing. Plus, the coating is imbued with antimicrobial technology designed to provide long-lasting protection against bacteria and mould. To top it off, it’s all environmentally friendly. “Triangulo is also proud to have a zero-carbon footprint while providing unique and distinctive hardwood floors,” Key added, citing compliance with ISO 22196, ASTM G21 and ASTM E2180-07 standards.
Other major manufacturers are also leveraging their manufacturing prowess to develop finishes that are both extremely durable and clear. Mercier Wood Flooring, a pioneer in the field of prefinished hardwood, continues to impress with its Generations Intact 2500 coating, which is used in conjunction with a special process featured on its signature Naked Series. “With this new finishing technology, we are able to apply a coating to the wood, seal the wood and then apply the Generations coating on top of it without changing the make-up of the look,” said Wade Bondrowski, Mercier’s director of sales, U.S. “With most other wood flooring finishes, once you put a urethane finish it really does change the look of the graining of the natural wood species. What we have been able to do with the Naked Series is seal that visual with a finish without changing the natural sawn look of the wood.”
While the concept behind the Naked Series seems simple, the application process is quite complex. “It’s not an easy process to replicate,” Bondrowski said. “It’s very delicate and temperamental. If you don’t seal it correctly, then any part of the finish where you apply it is going to pop that graining.”
Some of the latest finishes have such a low gloss level, in fact, that at first glance one might suspect the floor has been finished using an oil rub, a method dating back centuries. Again, with today’s advanced technologies, suppliers can achieve this look (all done at the factory) and still provide a high level of wear.
Then there are those hardwood flooring suppliers that have taken coating/staining technologies to a whole new level. A deeper level, in fact. We’re talking about Hallmark Floors, which continues to dazzle and innovate with products like its True Hardwood Collection. Utilizing a revolutionary, “all-through” colour process, the raw wood material is treated with salt and minerals to achieve a 100% natural colour, with no dyes or stains whatsoever. Rather, this innovative technique replicates the naturally occurring “bog-wood process,” a phenomenon that occurs when hardwood logs lie buried deep in lakes and rivers where they are deprived of oxygen and sunlight, in many cases for hundreds of years. The end result is an array of deep, saturated colours and weathered patinas that span the spectrum from pale grays and browns to dark, golden browns and grays and charcoal hues with a platinum sheen. The collection also features the company’s Nu Oil hardwood matte finish, which provides a protective layer despite its low sheen.
The company’s eye-catching innovations haven’t gone unnoticed. For seven years running, Hallmark has earned recognition as a winner, Best of Houzz in Design and/or Service. Most recently, the company took home honours in both design and service for 2023. In addition, the company earned a Good Design Award. All totalled, that’s 13 Houzz Awards since 2019.
Generations Intact 2500 by Mercier wood flooring
Generations Intact 2500 by Mercier wood flooring is an innovative hardwood flooring finish that benefits homeowners who want more than just standard hardwood floors. This finish comprises plant-based oil, and micro-fragmented aluminum particles (AL2O3) in suspension in a UV-cured polyurethane resin. It has been tested with the TABER test with 2500 cycles, boasting superior scratch-resistance, anti-perforation, superior flexibility under impact, water repellent, superior stain-resistance, non-yellowing qualities and easy maintenance. It also has antimicrobial properties and Greenguard Gold environmental certification to ensure it’s hypoallergenic. This extraordinary product allows homeowners to create unique designs tailored to their tastes and lifestyle.
This finish provides homeowners a range of benefits beyond standard hardwood floors: extreme durability, scratch resistance, anti-perforation capabilities, water-repellent qualities, superior stain resistance and easy maintenance. And the best part is its antimicrobial properties and Greenguard Gold environmental certification make it hypoallergenic!
Generations Intact 2500’s sensational features have revolutionized the flooring industry and given homeowners a reliable resource for durable, long-lasting floors designed for maximum satisfaction.
Re-engineered cores
Some hardwood floors, namely hybrids, have been modified to include non-wood cores to deliver increased dent resistance and overall durability. Others employ a complete, top-to-bottom wood construction to achieve this goal. AHF Product’s signature Dogwood Densified Engineered line is one such innovation. Following on the heels of the launch of Dogwood in early 2022, AHF unveils Dogwood Pro for independent retailers. Based on the same, sturdy densified technology as its predecessor, Dogwood Pro is as hard as ceramic tile but much warmer underfoot.
“Compared to standard engineered wood, laminate and SPC, it’s much harder,” said Milton Goodwin, AHF Products vice president. “And the best part is it’s all-natural hardwood. It’s a product that’s going to stand the test of time.”
References:
By: Reginald Tucker
Title: Hardwood enhancements bolster category’s lasting appeal
Sourced From: www.fcnews.net/2023/03/hardwood-enhancements-bolster-categorys-lasting-appeal/
Published Date: 03-25-2023
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top hardwood brands in Canada that you would recommend?
For the best results, hardwood flooring should only be made in Canada and Europe. You’ll be grateful that you choose one of the following brands.
- Purparket– Made in Croatia and completed in Canada
- Mercier– Made in Canada
- Lauzon, Made in Canada
- Preverco – Made in Canda
- Boen — Made in Europe
What type of flooring is the best in Canada?
Wood flooring is considered the best option for flooring in Canada by most flooring professionals. Wood floors are timeless and stylish. They can also be easy to maintain. The beauty in wood is unmatched, and it can add value to your home. There are many styles and types of wood flooring available, so you can find the right match for you.
There are many options for wood floors, from solid hardwood to engineered, so there is a floor that suits your needs. Wood floors are great for people with allergies because they don’t trap dust and other allergens as carpets.
Do cork and mold attract each other?
Cork, a natural product, is resistant against mold and mildew. If there’s too much moisture, the cork will act as food for mold and mildew, so keeping the area dry is essential.
How long do I need to allow my flooring product and its adhesive to air before it can be installed?
Acclimate your flooring product at least 48 hours prior to installation. Acclimation or conditioning aligns your flooring product with the environment where it’s being installed. Be aware that certain species of wood such as exotic species will require more time to adapt. It’s because of their higher density and resin content as well as interlocking structural.
It will absorb or release water until it reaches equilibrium with its surrounding environment if the flooring product has not been properly acclimated. This could lead to cracking or cupping.
To ensure proper acclimation, store the flooring product in the room where it will be installed. If this isn’t possible, store your flooring product in a room with similar humidity levels. Avoid using fans or any other device that artificially dry the air. Keep the flooring product in its original packaging to protect it from damage.
Please get in touch with a flooring specialist if you have any questions about acclimating your flooring product.
How To
How can you make sure your job site is ready to be used for flooring installation?
- Check and document the conditions at your job site before you deliver the flooring material. This includes temperature, relative humidity and moisture content. Your job site must be prepared for flooring material delivery. Subfloor MC should contain between 6 and 9 percent. The temperature at your job site should be between 17 and 25 degrees Celsius. This temperature should be your preferred temperature. The relative humidity must be between 30-50%.
- Upon delivery, the conditions must be re-checked. These conditions should be maintained throughout the year. This is particularly true for laminate and wood flooring.
- A minimum of 40 moisture meter locations must be tested for every 1000 SF. An additional four testing should be performed per 100 SF. Your flooring company needs to keep all these results.
- You must immediately isolate any unusual moisture readings and address them. These areas should be tested again until they fall within acceptable limits before installing.
- Your subfloor needs to be leveled. The subfloor should be leveled by either grinding or pouring a self-leveling agent.
- If your job site is not ready for installation, please communicate this to your flooring company as soon as possible.
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How to remove glue residue from hardwood floors
Methylhydrate is an effective way to remove glue residues. You can find this at your local hardware shop. Place a small amount Methylhydrate on the glued surface and allow it to rest for five minutes. To remove the glue, use a putty knives. For any residue left behind, you can clean the area with damp cloth.
A product called “Goof Off” may also be available. You can find this product at most hardware shops. Follow the directions. You may need to apply it several times to remove all the residue.
It is important to remove dust particles before using a cleaner. A vacuum works great for this job. Next, clean the floor with a high quality cleaner. If you still have too much residue, apply another cleaner until it is gone.