How much hardwood should i buy

Are you installing over in-floor radiant heating? Solid hardwood cannot be installed over radiant heating. However, most engineered hardwood floors are suitable for installation over radiant heating. What will the traffic be like in the room? If the room is one expected to receive high traffic volume, the species of flooring will likely need to be a harder wood. Are there children or pets in the home? Children and pets are likely to be hard on the flooring, so choosing a durable species is important.

Take extra precautions to ensure the floor is protected. Does the room contain a door to the outside? If the room contains a door to the outside, dirt and other debris will make its way into the room, scratching the surface of the flooring and making it show wear and tear much sooner than other rooms without a door to the outside.

Be sure to use non-staining rugs and doormats in the room to lessen the chance of damaging debris being strewn throughout the room.

If the room is casual, certain hardwood choices and grades will be better than others, and the same is true if the room has a more formal feel to it. Two examples of different styles are smooth, elegant select and better grade versus a hand scraped, more antique look. This, in combination with the colors and styles, will help make a final hardwood choice. How much exposure to sunlight does the room get?

If there are many different windows where sunlight will come through, this is important to consider because extended exposure to sunlight will lead to discoloration of certain light sensitive hardwood species over time.

How much do I need? Determining what you need is relatively easy. This will cover off any boards that come damaged or become damaged during the installation process.

It also provides you with some extra in the event you need to make a future repair. Second on our hardwood buying checklist is options.

The seller should be able to tell you the various hardwood options they offer and at what price range. Do they offer solid and engineered hardwood? Solid hardwood is all hardwood. Engineered uses a plywood or high density fiberboard core with a layer of real, solid hardwood on the top.

While engineered hardwood flooring, is better suited for areas subjected to additional moisture and, unlike solid hardwood, can be installed below grade or over concrete, it can only be sanded and refinished a limited number of times before it must be replaced, depending on the thickness of the wear layer. Consider which room of the home where the flooring will be used before making this choice.

Do they know how the flooring is manufactured? For solid hardwood, is it flat sawn, quarter sawn or rift sawn? The way it is made will affect price, but it will also have an impact on durability. Flat and quarter sawn planks have an increased chance of trying to revert to their natural shape, which leads to cupping and crowning of the flooring over time. For engineered, how. Do they offer formaldehyde-safe engineered hardwood? Engineered hardwood is made by gluing together a plywood or high density fiberboard core with a real hardwood veneer.

The adhesives used must meet safe emissions standards for indoor air quality, such as E1 or E0 class or be CARB-compliant. The seller should have this information. What species do they have? Some people prefer a certain species of hardwood regardless of the other factors. Narrowing the spectrum down to one or two different species will help the hardwood buying process along. Each species has a different hardness, as measure by the Janka Hardness Scale.

What does the seller recommend for your situation? What grades do they have? While there is no universal grading system in place for hardwood flooring, each manufacturer usually sets one in place to describe the appearance of the hardwood in the box. If pinholes, knots, and color variations are not a concern, lower grade floors are the way to go.

If people are looking for flooring with little color variation, and little natural character with knots and pinholes, higher grade flooring will be necessary. Discuss the grading system in use with each manufacturer with a sales representative. Do they offer different surface textures? Besides a smooth, machine milled texture, there are a few other options which will add a touch of decor and character to the room.

Distressed hardwood, either by hand or by machine, gives the wood an antique , character look which may be the perfect choice for you. Extra special care should be considered when burning pine. Creosotes can build up in the chimney, if not cleaned regularly and potentially cause a fire.

Doug Fir is another excellent softwood that can be burned as firewood. When searching for firewood, I often encounter cords of Douglas Fir for sale. While it generates more heat than some hardwoods, it is a low-density wood, so the oxygen content in the fire is elevated resulting in a faster burning fire. Maple is another excellent hardwood for fires that produce little smoke. However, I find it more difficult to split than Oak. Though it burns slower than Oak, it does so at a lower temperature.

Birch is a quick starting hardwood that generates a lot of heat. Unfortunately, it also burns rapidly and requires more attention and maintenance. I try to use it as kindling or mix it with other logs for a more sustainable fire. One time when I was searching for firewood near me, I had the good fortune of stumbling across a cord of Black Locust. It forms hot coals as it burns and radiates sufficient heat for an extended period. Moreover, the Black Locust coals eventually consume themselves and leave very little ash to clean up.

However, while burning, Black Locust tends to pop and throw sparks, and some users complain that its aroma is unpleasant.

Black Locust firewood is rare, but can be found, and are native to Eastern North America. A comfy fire in the living room is one of the great pleasures of winter, and while artificial logs and gas fireplaces have encroached on firewoods honored position, the number of households in America that utilize firewood as the primary heating source is actually increasing. According to the US Energy Information Administration, in , approximately 2 and a half million homes relied on firewood as their primary energy source for home heating.

This total had increased from only 1. Americans are buying a lot of firewood these days, and with all of the new buyers out there, the question gets asked more every year. How much is a cord of wood? The earliest record for the term of a cord of wood first appeared in the s when wood was measured and sold by the length of the cord that bound it, though we have no record as to how long their cord was.

In section 2. This mandate means that both the buyer and seller should ensure that the wood is not stacked haphazardly to increase the volume. We all know that it is next to impossible to take a product out of a box and then make everything fit back into it. We can find the room because great care went into placing all of the pieces into it in such a way as there was no wasted space — no air between the components. Exactly how much is a cord of wood? Square footage refers to the product of the length times the width of some space, so a cubic measurement merely adds one more dimension to the equation.

We need to multiply the length x width x height to get our 3-dimensional measurement. While this configuration could theoretically be put together in any number of configurations, most professionals I find selling firewood near me will assemble a cord 4 feet wide, 8 feet long, and 4 feet high.

However, if the wood is short lengthwise, it might be better to arrange it as 2 feet wide x 4 feet tall x 16 long. It is not uncommon to hear stories of firewood buyers ordering a cord of wood and receiving a truckload. Some firewood sellers apparently think that they can offer a cord and deliver a large pile.

By the way, for those of you who would prefer to keep all Ten Fingers when cutting your firewood into Kindling, check out this Super Cool — and much safer tool you can use:. The weight of a cord of wood depends on the type of wood. Hardwood can weigh twice as much as pine, so a cord of Oak firewood is approximately 5, pounds while a softer wood, like Pine, can be as little as 2, pounds. The age and dryness of the firewood will also affect the weight.

Their are approximately pieces in a Cord of wood. This is of course, dependent on how the firewood has been split. If you do decide to gather your own wood, make sure you check with local authorities or landowners first, to get a permit or permission first. Looking to Harvest your Own Wood? Or, enter these numbers into the lengths and widths in the wood flooring calculator above. Calculate Square Footage of A Triangular Room : Multiply the base length of the triangle by the height of the triangle.

Then, divide this number in half. Then, multiply that number by 3. Calculate the total square footage of each shape and add them together. Molding: Linear feet measures molding.

To calculate, determine the perimeter of the room. As such, add together the lengths and widths around the room.

Our wood calculator above automatically adds molding materials if you select it. Why Hardwood Flooring Carpet and tile used to be the dominant flooring choice across the U. Beyond being on trend, hardwood flooring brings a host of other advantages: Durable : Hardwood floors are very durable to everyday wear and tear. Low Maintenance : Hardwood floors are very easy to clean, unlike carpet. Cleanup is as simple as wiping down the floors with a rag or a light dusting after having people over.

Spills, if you clean right away, do not stain. As anyone with carpeting knows, a stain is never easy to remove on carpet. Sadly, the same can't be said for certain types of tile. Options : You have plenty of flooring options when it comes to wood.

From oak and pine to maple and walnut, there is a hardwood flooring type out there perfect for your home and budget. Potential homeowners value real solid , hardwood floors and will pay more for it. Therefore, if you plan on selling in the next five years, a hardwood flooring installation is a smart move.

Red Oak : This is a very popular type of wood. Its red color certainly makes it stand out compared to other wood floors. Red oak is very dense, which hides signs of wear and tear. White Oak : Unlike its red sister, white oak resists wear and tear much more.

If you need a durable flooring option, white oak is your answer. You can purchase different grades of pine. Higher grades mean fewer knots appearing in the wood.

Walnut : This is an especially dark wood that is very durable and requires very little maintenance. Many homeowners install walnut floors in modern or traditional homes.

Brazilian Cherry : As you might expect, this flooring comes from its natural cherry color. When exposed to light, the colors darken. Maple : Maple is one of the strongest hardwoods on the market. In fact, it can withstand almost anything you throw at it. The traditional maple shade is a light tan color. Ash : This type of wood is popular for rustic and contrasting patterns in homes.

The harder durability of ash is found in garden tools and other tools that take daily abuse. Reclaimed Wood : No two pieces of reclaimed wood look the same. Many homeowners enjoy this unique characteristic. Reclaimed wood adds character like no other wood can. Buildings using reclaimed wood may be eligible for LEED certification.