Domestic Or Exotic Hardwood? How To Find The Perfect Flooring For Your Fairfield, CT Home

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A qualified wood flooring professional can make this decision fun and exciting. There are more wood flooring choices now, than ever before. Do you want an exotic hardwoods like Brazilian Cherry, Santos Mahogany, Australian Cypress and, Wenge? Or, would you prefer the classic look of North American Oak or cherry. Before you get started there are a few questions which should be answered prior to making a decision.

Expertise of the wood flooring Contractor

Style/Taste

Type of hardwood

Design/Architecture

Budget

The most critical decision someone can make is, how qualified is my flooring installer/finisher. Selecting a qualified wood flooring professional, starts with a brief interview. The prospective flooring professional should be prepared to answer these questions.

1.) Does your company have a valid Connecticut Home Improvement Contractors License?

2.) Do you have a valid workers compensation and general liability insurance policy?

3.) How many years experience do you have?

4.) Are you familiar with the material specified for the job?

5.) Do you stand behind your work?

After this brief interview you should get a pretty good idea of the contractor´s credentials. If the potential contractor has any problem answering any of these questions, I would consider another company.

All wood flooring contractors operating within Connecticut are, required by law, to have a valid Home Improvement Contractor´s License. You can verify the license on-line, just go to ct.gov/dcp/. By dealing with a licensed contractor the consumer is afforded some protection from the State of Connecticut. Don´t let the contractor tell you that a valid license is not necessary.

Having a valid workers compensation and general liability policy is a must. Hiring a contractor without these policies exposes you to potential civil litigation. Worker injury and fire are major liabilities. A reputable contractor will be insured for both.

A contractor´s length of experience will speak volumes. Within the wood flooring trade there are many potential pitfalls. Only length of service will give the contractor a keen eye for spotting these pitfalls. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Not all hardwood flooring is the same. Unlike domestic oak, working with exotic hardwood flooring can be challenging. Installing and finishing woods like Ipe, Wenge and, Australian Cypress poses unique challenges. Exotic hard woods accept finish differently. Finish dry times or compatibility vary greatly. Be sure to ask your flooring professional if they have worked with the exact material specified.

One last question that should be answered, do you stand behind your work? The contractor should be able to look you in the eye and answer yes. The answer should also be followed by a firm hand shake.

What architectural style do you have? Is it Contemporary, Colonial, Victorian or, Classical? There is a wood floor for you. Contemporary architecture looks best with a closed grain material like Brazilian Cherry or North American Maple. Colonial architecture looks great with coarse grain materials like North American Oak or Ash. Victorian would look great with either course grain or closed grain wood flooring. Whatever the style there is a wood floor that will look beautiful.

When selecting a wood floor the overall design should be considered. Which direction should the floor go? Would you like a parquet pattern? Would you like a decorative border or medallion? Wood floors can be made into true works of art. Just ask your wood flooring professional what is available.

What´s in the budget? Weather it is a 20 million dollar estate or a dining room install there is a budget. There are more wood flooring choices than ever before. I´m sure there is a material to fit any budget. However, don´t get caught up with price alone. Would you want the largest piece of finish work in your home done by the lowest bidder? Many people would agree, the answer is no. My suggestion would be to get at least three estimates and select the one in the middle. A reputable, experienced wood flooring professional will be able to find the right product at the right price.

Written by Leo A. Robitaille, hardwood flooring specialist. Please visit our website @ www.masterpiecewoodfloor.com