Are Wood Floors Right for Us?
Our customers definitely wonder this as they make a decision, and we understand it is a BIG decision. There are so many engineered floors on the market that promise perfection; wood floors aren't perfect, they have quirks their own little bits of imperfection. How do I know which one fits us and our lifestyle?
Below are the pros and cons of both:
The Pros and Cons of Engineered Floors
The Pros
Engineered floors are much easier and faster to install.
With Engineered Floors, you know exactly what you are getting before you receive it.
The Cons
They do come in a wide range of qualities, but at the low to middle-end, the edges fray.
They are hard to repair, as product models of flooring tend to be discontinued quickly.
The low end qualities come in short boards, The products with the long boards are very expensive.
They tend to come in trendy colors and finishes, and can appear out of date within 5 years.
The Pros and Cons of Trinity Valley Wood Floors.
The Cons
They take longer to install.
They can end up costing more than engineered floors.
They move and shift slightly (a lot of this depends on how you install - nails only, or glue and nails. Also, some people consider this a plus)
We use antique wood to make our flooring. Our products have knots, nail holes, and often gap when installed. (Again, our customers see this as a plus)
The Pros
The beauty, depth and individuality of each board is unrivaled. Each board is different, and we offer boards up to 12' in length.
They are very repairable. For example, if you have a dishwasher leak and it damages only a specified area, we can remove the old wood and add in new. Or sometimes, all you need to do is sand and refinish that spot. Engineered floors typically need to be redone throughout because that flooring is no longer available. Or you can do a preventative maintenance touch up every 10 years by buffing and applying one fresh coat of polyurethane.
Wood Floors are timeless. Their traditional and natural beauty will always be classic. If you need a style update, they can be sanded and refinished more than 10 times in their lifetime. (refinishing is much more cost effective)
Trinity Valley Floors are most definitely better for our planet's carbon footpirint. Not only are they made from reclaimed that would have otherwise ended up in a landfill, they aren't a product that taxed our atmosphere to create.
We are obviously "Wood Floor" people, and love everything about them, but also acknowledge that they aren't the right fit for everyone. If you have any more comments of questions, reach out to us.
Installation
1. Do you install?
Yes! We offer installation within 500 miles of Dallas, TX, but we will also give you hints and tricks on how to install yourself. See hints and tricks below.
2. How much does installation cost?
It starts at $4 a square foot and averages around $6.50 depending on the wood you select, if there is any demolition needed ( for a remodel, for example ), if you want to nail and glue the floor down, the number of polyurethane layers you apply, etc. We are happy to discuss to give you an accurate quote.
3. Does the wood need to acclimate to my house before installation?
Yes! Absolutely it does to prevent shrinkage. The moisture levels in your home are probably lower than our storage. The moisture level of our wood is about 10%, but your home may be less. For best results, we recommend you acclimating the wood in your home for a minimum of one week, or as long as possible.
How Much to Order?
1. How do I calculate how much I need?
You will need to determine the square footage to know how much to order. Measure the length and the width of your area, and then multiply the 2 numbers. For example, if you're installing in your living room, and the room is 20 feet by 33 feet, do this. 20 x 33 = 660 feet is the square footage.
2. Do I need to order extra for waste?
Yes! We recommend ordering at least 10% more. Some companies recommend ordering 20% more.
To calculate ordering 20% extra, do this: 660 x 1.2 = 792 square feet is the total amount needed.
If you want to order 10% extra, do this: 660 x 1.1 = 726 square feet is the total amount needed
For 15% square feet, do this: 660 x 1.15 = 759 square feet.
3. What about for patterns like herringbone?
If you are making a pattern out of the wood, such as herringbone, double the amount you need. There is a large amount of waste associated with laying pattern. If you are doing 660 square feet in pattern, 660 x 2 = 1320 Square Feet.
Shipping
1. Do you deliver?
YES, yes yes!! We love to deliver, and offer in-house delivery all over the DFW metroplex. We love making this process for you as easy as possible. Once your order is ready, we need about 1 day to deliver - give us a call and we will set it up! Plan to budget about $100 for DFW deliveries.
2. Do you ship outside of the DFW area?
Yes Yes Yes!! We also love shipping. For distances up to 500 miles from Dallas, we will probably deliver by in-house truck. Call us to get rates. We also can ship via LTL Truck and also Fedex. Call us to schedule what is best for you. Typically, we see about $1 per square foot transit charge, but please call for an accurate quote.
3. What is the turnaround time on an order?
We have lots of products in our inventory. If your order is in our inventory then it is typically shipped out within 1-2 business days. If we need to custom mill it, we will need more time, possibly a week or two. For custom orders and timeframes, please call us for an accurate estimate.
Hints & Tricks about installing Trinity Valley Flooring yourself.
We have lots of DIYers that purchase our flooring and install it themselves. This is what we tell them:
First, let your wood acclimate in its new home for as long as possible, this allows the wood to have the same moisture level as the home or building. 1-3 weeks is ideal. Then, make sure you have a sub-floor to apply it to. Most of the time, a subfloor is plywood. Next, add moisture barrier fabric and check to make sure your floor is level. Then, you can start laying the wood. You may use nails and wood glue. We typically install with both, unless our customers want nails only.
After your floor has been laid, it needs to be sanded. We sand 3-4 times, and start with a 65 grit, and work our way up to 10 grit. At this step, you will need to make sure your floor is kept spotless! Water marks will stain and damage your floor at this stage, and make sure to vacuum up any and all dust and debris. You are now ready to stain. We use commercial grade stains, but you may find their cousins at any big box home improvement store under the brand Duraseal. Apply the stain and let dry per the instructions.
We typically use water-based products, but occasionally customers will request oil based. Water based dries much faster and is less odorous. After staining has dried, you will need to finish with polyurethane. Again, you can find a water-based polyurethane at the big box stores. We recommend 3 coats of polyurethane. Apply 2 coats, and then buff, and then apply a 3rd. The 3 coats will help make it last longer.
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If you have any questions that we haven't covered, email ask@trinityvalleyfloors.com or call us at 214.381.1500 - We look forward to hearing from you!