Millions of homeowners have already discovered that wood flooring is not only beautiful and dust-free, but it is an excellent way to invest your new construction or remodeling dollars. You and your family are able to enjoy its beauty every day of the year, but the value that it adds will remain and even escalate for the life of your home. Unlike the majority of floor coverings, the right wood floor can be something that lasts a lifetime and beyond.

The most traditional form of wood flooring is called an unfinished solid. This is a solid piece of wood that’s been milled into flooring that will be sanded and coated in your home after it’s been nailed or glued down. It’s generally considered the most “high-end” of wood floors because of the ability to customize the end product but also because of higher installation costs (man must do what the finishing machine would in a factory).

Prefinished solids are a whole piece of flooring, but the sanding and coating is done at the factory using sophisticated methods such as UV curing. The only work done in your home is to nail or glue it down. Your floor is ready to live on almost the minute it goes down.

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Lastly, there is engineered wood flooring such as Kahala Floors, which is made especially for Hawaii’s unique climate. Engineered flooring involves taking a precisely cut slice of the flooring wood and pre-installing it onto plywood. Contrary to popular assumption, this is not done to be stingy on the wood! Rather, it is done to provide a more versatile, stable form of wood flooring. Engineered woods can be installed below grade (whereas solids cannot) and they can also be floated (whereas solid woods must be nailed or glued down). Most engineered flooring is sanded and prefinished in a factory, and with the right brand of engineered, you are looking at a lifetime product that can be refinished several times, just like a solid.

Wood flooring can be nailed, glued or floated and finished off with a variety of moldings including reducers, end caps, tmoldings, base shoe, quarter rounds and base boards.

This is just a sampling of what you can learn at Pacific Imports International’s free monthly seminar, “Wood and Stone Flooring 101.” The next session is on Saturday, Oct. 20 at 10 a.m., and will be held at the Kalihi showroom at 926 Kohou St. Enjoy a continental breakfast while you become an expert on what your flooring options are, how they are installed and what might be right for your budget. Best of all, the company offers a private sale only for attendees where you are promised lower-than-contractor’s discounts on high-quality flooring products. Space is limited, so call 847-7711 to save your seat today.

contact // 847-7711
address // 926 Kohou St.

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