Several factors come into play when choosing hardwood flooring in Maryland. Some of these factors include color, species, hardness and price range. First, you will have to choose between solid wood flooring and engineered wood flooring:

• Solid wood flooring features one solid piece of wood from top to bottom (no layers).
• Engineered wood flooring features multiple layers of wood, with the top layer being the highest-quality wood.

An engineered wood flooring offers less expanding and contracting than its solid counterpart, but you can’t sand and finish engineered wood flooring as many times as you can with solid.

Additionally, you can also categorize wood by its grade. What type of grade you select will depend on whether you’re interested in a uniform or rustic look. Different wood grades include:

• Clear wood features minimal character marks.
• First Grade wood features limited character marks and some color variation.
• Select wood contains color variation, knots and streaks.
• Common wood contains more knots and color variations than select wood.
• Second Grade wood has some knots and some color variation.
• Third Grade wood features rustic character marks, knots and streaks.

Next, you can decide what style of wood you want, which will determine the width of the wood as well as the way the wood is laid out:

• Strip (or traditional) flooring has a linear design with thin planks.
• Plank flooring has a linear with wide planks.
• Parquet flooring has a non-linear, geometric design.

Other decorative options are available, including staining, painting and borders.

Please contact us today if you’re interested in installing hardwood flooring in Maryland. We install hardwood floors in Maryland cities including Bethesda, MD, Potomac, MD, Silver Spring, MD as well as Washington, DC and nearby areas.

Hardwood floors are typically made to be durable, long-lasting, and beautiful. But the second you spill water on hardwood floors, they’re prone to become warped and may face permanent damage. Luckily, you may be able to repair your water damaged hardwood floors, depending on the extent of the damage and how quickly you are to act.

No matter what your damage is, Elegant Floor Service can help! We can determine whether your floors can be repaired or if they need to be fully replaced. Call us at (800) 417-3172 for a consultation.

How to Address a Water Leak or Spill on Hardwood Floors

The first thing you should do is assess the extent of the damage. How much water is on your hardwood floors? As soon as you notice a leak or water that’s spilled on your hardwood flooring, dry up any remaining moisture immediately and allow your floors to dry to minimize any damage. If the spilled water on your hardwood floors is minimal, you should be able to clean your hardwood floors yourself with a cloth or water vacuum. Here are other tips to follow to minimize the water damage on your floors:

• Remove any wet items from the area. They will only contribute to further damage. Clean the items if necessary, and dry accordingly.
• Use a wet vacuum. You should continue to use the vacuum even after all visible water is removed to ensure as much as water is sucked out of the wood’s pores as possible.
• Use a dehumidifier. A dehumidifier on full blast will help to further dry out the room. Leave it running for at least 24 hours to dry out any moisture remaining in the floor boards.

Your water damaged wood floors and subfloors can take months to completely dry if the leak is substantial. Have a professional flooring company check like Elegant Floor Service for any remaining water damage before you opt to have your floors repaired or refinished.

Wood Flooring Repairs in MD, DC & VA

Do you have a significant amount of water from a leak on your hardwood floors? If you do, you may need more extensive wood flooring repairs from a professional flooring company. At Elegant Floor Service, we can use industrial-sized fans to dry the subfloor, preventing any more permanent damage to your floor’s infrastructure. Be sure to contact us immediately—the longer water stays on your hardwood floor, the more damage it can cause. However, if you notice any mold in your space, a possible result from the water damage, contact a mold removal specialist before you do any wood flooring repairs.

After we fix your water damaged wood floors, we can also provide hardwood refinishing services. Call us for wood flooring repairs or finishing if you live in Washington, DC, Maryland, or Virginia.