The Best Hardwood for Radiant Heat Systems

Radiant heat systems have been around for years, but they are gaining popularity in homeowners that want to cut down on their energy consumption and save a little money in utility bills. However, floor radiant heat systems can really mess up a hardwood floor. These types of heat systems can cause your wood flooring to dry out quicker than other heating systems, which can lead to warping and buckling. Luckily, there are certain types of hardwood flooring you can install that are less likely to experience the negative side effects of radiant heat systems.

The key to using hardwood flooring over radiant heating systems is to choose a product that is very dimensionally stable. Dimensional stability is the measure of wood's tendency to shrink and swell as it gains and loses moisture. Because radiant heat systems pump heat directly through the floor, it's very important to find boards that are less likely to move around as their moisture levels change.

Low-Density
Domestic hardwood species with a lower density tend to have better dimensional stability than their more denser exotic counterparts. North American oak, American walnut, and American cherry are all great known for their natural stability.

Engineered Flooring
People prefer engineered flooring over solid hardwood for a lot of reasons — it's easy to install, it's versatile, it's light-weight — but what a lot of folks don't know is that it is also much more stable than solid flooring. These reasons combined make it a perfect match for radiant heat systems.

Narrow Boards
Fact: wide hardwood boards are inherently less stable than narrow ones. In fact, any board over three inches wide is frowned upon for installation over radiant heat systems. Stick to the industry standard: 2 1/4".

Quartersawn
We could go on and on about the differences between quartersawn and rift-sawn floors, but for this post you really only need to know one thing: quartersawn is more dimensionally stable. Done and done.

Questions? Read Radiant Heat Installation of Hardwood Flooring on our website or give us a call at 1-888-448-9663.

Fantastic Floor Presents: French Connection White Oak

Welcome back to your favorite hardwood spotlight series on the web, Fantastic Floor Presents! This week we're straying from the traditional format a bit and taking a look at not just a species of wood, but an specific line of flooring products. Namely, the White Oak French Connection from the Garrison Collection. Enjoy!

We've talked about white oak hardwood flooring before. A lot. But the French Connection line from Garrison is special. Why? For starters, there are fifteen styles to choose from in the series, making matching your floors to your current or planned design scheme a breeze. I mean, take a look at some of these beautiful examples:

Beautiful, right?

The flooring also comes prefinished, so the wire-brushed oil finish that gives the flooring its allure and luster is built right in to the boards — no onsite finishing required. And because the line is engineered, the boards are ready to go right out of the box. Engineered flooring is lighter and generally easier to install, meaning you can use French Connection White Oak flooring in any room and any floor of your home. It also features enhanced dimensional stability, making it less likely to bend and warp than standard solid white oak floors.

On a broader note, white oak hardwood is one of the most popular, beautiful, and durable hardwood flooring products on the market today. It's light tones and pale heartwood complement almost any design scheme and lend themselves quite well to different color finishes. It is also extremely resistant to wear. In fact, white oak hardwood used to be used as mine timbers and boat planks. That's pretty tough.

Want to learn more about the White Oak French Connection line at Fantastic Floor? Call us today at 888-448-9663 or send us an email at customer.service@fantastic-floor.com. We look forward to hearing from you!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We have a lot to be thankful for this year, and we hope you do too! From all of us here at Fantastic Floor, we want to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving! Now, get back to the table. That turkey ain't gonna eat itself!

Superstorm Sandy Victims: We're Here to Help!

It was just a few short weeks ago that Superstorm Sandy devastated the Northeast, and people in communities affected by the storm are still trying to put the pieces back together. At Fantastic Floor, we want to do everything in our power to help Sandy victims rebuild their homes and get their lives back on track. In that spirit, we're excited to announce some of the ways in which we're doing our part in helping people affected by the massive storm:

Freight costs can be one of the most expensive aspects of purchasing new flooring. Large floor remodeling or replacement projects often require hundreds of pounds of hardwood, and getting those boards from the manufacturer to the work site often costs a pretty penny. This is a legitimate expense, but it's also one that can prevent homeowners from getting the new floors they want in a timely manner. In our opinion, that's unacceptable. For a limited time, Fantastic Floor is offering free shipping to all victims of Superstorm Sandy. There are enough expenses you have to worry about during these tough times; shipping and handling shouldn't be one of them.

In addition to free shipping, Fantastic Floor is also offering deep discounts on some of our most popular hardwood flooring products. We feature one of the largest selections of hardwood flooring in the country, and we're prepared to offer Sandy victims discounts on as many different varieties as we can. Discounts and availabilities vary - call a Fantastic Floor representative today to learn more.

One of the hardest things to find when shopping for replacement hardwood flooring is an honest answer. Most companies want to sell you whatever flooring variety they're trying to move. Not us. At Fantastic Floor, we're dedicated to finding you the hardwood floor that fits your lifestyle and your budget. No high-pressure sales talk here. Just honest answers to all of your hardwood-related questions.

We're dedicated to helping all of our friends affected by Sandy. Call us today at 1-888-448-9663 to discuss your hardwood flooring replacement needs, or learn more at Fantastic-Floor.com.

Don't forget to vote!

"The continuing health and vigor of our democratic system depends upon the public spirit and devotion of its citizens which find expression in the ballot box.
- Franklin D. Roosevelt

'Nuff said!

Our Top Green Certified Hardwoods

As you well know, Fantastic Floor takes a strong stand on environmental practices in the timber industry. We pride ourselves in selecting only legally harvested hardwood flooring products. We're certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and require our suppliers to be the same. We believe selective harvesting in tropical forests can be a benefit to local economies, and we're firmly opposed to the real source of Amazon deforestation - forest clearing (or clear cutting) for farming and ranching purposes.

That said, we often get asked if we have a favorite green-certified hardwood flooring product. While everyone at Fantastic Floor has a personal favorite, we all agree that the following five hardwood varieties are the best-of-the-best. Enjoy!

1. Brazilian Cherry
Also known as Jatoba, Brazilian Cherry is the most popular exotic hardwood flooring material in America. It features reddish-brown heartwood and beautiful dark striping, giving the wood eye-catching depth and contrast. It is also incredibly durable, featuring a Janka hardness rating of 2,350 lbs. and a density of 800 KG/m3.

2. Ipe
Ipe is the toughest exotic hardwood flooring material you can find. It has a cell structure so dense that it boasts a Class A fire rating, the same class of fire-retardant materials as steel. Its density makes it naturally resistant to moisture and wood-boring insects. It's also quite beautiful. The natural variations in color give the wood an eclectic yet sophisticated look.

3. Purpleheart
For those wanting a one-of-a-kind hardwood flooring material that is also green-certified, look no further than Purpleheart. With its deep purples and rich browns, Purpleheart flooring is definitely one of our most talked about hardwood varieties. It also has a high level of durability, with a density of 1,057 KG/m3 and a Janka hardness of almost 2,000 lbs.

4. Tarara
Tarara hardwood flooring is a colorful exotic that features bright yellow and orange heartwood with streaks of brown, red, black, and even purple. It has a tight, irregular, interlocked grain pattern and has hardness and density ratings similar to other durable exotic hardwoods.

5. White Oak
White Oak has been a standard flooring material in U.S. homes for years, and for good reason. Its light, crisp tones and complementary deep brown heartwood make it suitable for nearly any flooring purpose. Its versatility is matched only by its durability - a Janka hardness rating of 1,360 lbs. and a density of 900 KG/m3.

What is your favorite green-certified hardwood flooring material? Leave us a comment and let us know!

Questions? Contact us today to speak to one of our knowledgeable flooring representatives. We look forward to hearing from you!

Fantastic Floor Presents: Acacia

Welcome back to Fantastic Floor Presents, the one and only hardwood spotlight series of its kind. Last time we shone our spotlight on the rustic reclaimed Heart Pine. This week we're taking a look at the ever-popular Acacia. Enjoy!

Acacia is one of the most popular hardwood flooring varieties in the country and around the world, and for good reason. It's strong, sophisticated, and carries a reasonable price tag. The Acacia hardwood at Fantastic Floor is a tasteful flooring choice that features a beautifully blended assortment of dark browns, light yellows, and vibrant reddish oranges. Its deep, smooth grain pattern gives the wood an alluring appeal, sure to draw the attention of any houseguest. It's also quite versatile - the combination of tones, colors, and grain pattern makes it complementary to nearly any design scheme.

But let's stop gushing over how beautiful Acacia is for a moment and discuss how tough it is. Because it's tough - really, really tough. It has a hardness rating of 1,750 pounds, which is almost twice as hard as some domestic alternatives. It also has one of the best densities you can find in a hardwood, meaning it will stand up to every day wear and tear and last longer than other species.

Fantastic Floor offers many different types of Acacia hardwood flooring, including distressed, handscraped, prefinished, and engineered. View more pictures of our beautiful products on our Acacia Hardwood Flooring Pinterest page, or read more about the species at www.fantastic-floor.com/acacia-hardwood-flooring.

How to Prepare Your Wood Floors for Winter

By this time of the year you've probably prepared your yard, deck, and car for the nasty winter weather that is just around the corner, but what about your hardwood flooring? Yes, even something as durable and long-lasting as wood floors can take a real beating during the winter months. From rain, snow, and dirt to dramatic changes in temperature and humidity, hardwood floors are up against a lot this time of year. Luckily, there are a number of simple steps you can take to prepare your floors for the winter. The following are 5 of our favorite ways to make sure your hardwood looks as good next spring as it does right now. Enjoy!

1. Keep the climate consistent.
Dramatic changes in temperature and humidity can cause your floor boards to shrink and swell, causing buckling, warping, and gaping. Keeping the inside of your home warm and dry during the winter months can cut back on a lot of climate-related problems facing your hardwood floors.

2. Keep it clean.
Next to temperature and humidity fluctuations, dirt and debris are the next biggest threat against your hardwood floors. Mud, dirt, dust, leaves, and other seasonal debris can build up on your floors and cause scrapes, scratches, and even wood rot. Keep your floors clean by sweeping, vacuuming, and mopping when necessary.

3. Know your floors.
Another great way to prevent winter-related problems is to know the specifics of your hardwood floors. How long ago were they installed? Do they have a warranty? What species of wood are they? Are they prefinished or engineered? What have they been treated with? Knowing the answers to these questions can help you make decisions about how much time and money you want to invest in protecting your floors during the winter.

4. Use floor mats.
They're not just to welcome guests anymore! Floor mats help trap all the nasty dirt and debris that you and your family will inevitably track in during the cold winter months. Use them at every entrance.

5. Train your pets.
Dogs don't often know to wipe their paws on floor mats when they enter your house. Use treats and plenty of loving attention to train your four-legged friends to stay at the door until you get a chance to wipe their paws clean.

How are you planning on preparing your hardwood flooring for the winter months? Leave us a comment and let us know!

Questions? Contact Fantastic Floor today to talk to one of our knowledgeable representatives. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

Fantastic Floor Presents: Heart Pine

Welcome back to your favorite hardwood flooring blog series, Fantastic Floor Presents. This week we're taking a closer look at a variety of wood that is extremely popular with modern residential and commercial interior designs - Heart Pine. Enjoy!

Heart Pine is a very sought-after variety of pine hardwood flooring. It is quite rare; in fact, a lot of the Heart Pine sold today is reclaimed from older sources. Many of the Heart Pine flooring products at Fantastic Floor are reclaimed from sources dating as far back as the Industrial Revolution. While reclaimed heart pine flooring is most often used in rustic design applications, the material can also be used for more formal or professional spaces as well.

One look at our collection of Heart Pine products and you'll see why it is a species in such high demand. The beautiful brown-orange complexion is mixed with soft yellows and tans. It has a tight vertical grain and occasional bluish-black sap stains that add a nice pop of visual intrigue to the floors.

Heart Pine is also a very dense hardwood flooring material and is naturally resistant to wood rot and boring insects. It has a Janka hardness rating of 1,225 pounds, slightly harder than similar species like Red Oak. Its hardness and density are major factors in making it one of the most durable floors you can buy.

Fantastic Floor features many varieties of Heart Pine, including reclaimed Antique Heart Pine, Wide Plank Pine, both Site Finished and Oil Prefinished, Distressed, Handscraped, Engineered, and Solid. View more photos of our amazing Heart Pine products on the Fantastic Floor Pinterest page, or visit our website at www.Fantastic-Floor.com/Hear-Pine-Flooring.

Questions? Give us a call at 888.448.9663 or leave us a comment below. We look forward to hearing from you!

4 Ways to Reduce Winter Floor Gaping

Cold, dry winter weather can really take its toll on hardwood flooring, causing most species of wood to dry out and shrink. This shrinking inevitably leads to gaps between boards, and despite the fact that it is naturally occurring, it's still pretty unattractive.

While there's no way to prevent hardwood floors from gaping entirely, there are a few precautions you can take to limit the frequency and severity of the gaps. The following are four simple steps you can take before and after installation to reduce the amount of gaping you'll see during those dry winter months:

1. Use the right wood.
Not all hardwood flooring varieties handle fluctuations in temperature and humidity the same. Solid hardwood flooring is generally much more susceptible to these seasonal changes than engineered flooring. Additionally, narrow boards tend to shrink less than wider boards, as does quartersawn flooring. Dimensional stability - the measure of a wood's tendency to expand and shrink - varies from species to species, meaning some hardwoods are going to experience gaping much less than others.
The best way to avoid massive floor gaps in the winter is to pick the right flooring for your climate. If you're really trying to avoid the problem, choose engineered flooring from a dimensionally stable species that has narrow boards. (Visit Fantastic-Floor.com to view engineered flooring products that fit this description.)

2. Reduce ventilation.
A well-ventilated house may be cool and fresh in the summer, but during the winter it means more chances of flooring gaping. When cold air from the outside is brought into a house and heat it loses quite a bit of moisture, drying out your floor and increasing the likelihood of gaping. By reducing your house's winter ventilation, you reduce the chances of gaping.

3. Increase moisture.
But what if we can't reduce our home's ventilation? Good question. The answer to that, of course, would be to increase the moisture levels in air. This can be done by using humidifiers. There are two common types of humidifiers - stand-alone units and units that are attached to central air systems. Because hardwood flooring is sensitive to overly-humid environments as well as overly-dry, you need to be careful when using a humidifier. Contact a hardwood flooring professional before attempting to regulate your home's humidity levels.

4. Plan for gaping anyway.
Sometimes the best way to avoid disappointment is to accept the inevitable. Yes, your hardwood flooring will gap in the winter. Aside from the above-mentioned steps, there isn't a lot you can do to prevent it. You can, however, plan for the gaping. If you have a room that experiences gaping more than others you can add a rug or move some furniture around to cover the gaps. You can also just learn to live with it, resting in the knowledge that come spring your floor boards will expand again and the gaps will close up.

Have you experienced winter floor gaping before? How did you deal with the problem? Leave us a comment and let us know!

4 Common Molding Types [INFOGRAPHIC]

At Fantastic Floor, we pride ourselves in our beautiful, high-quality hardwood flooring products. From prefinished to solid to engineered, we carry only the best hardwood flooring materials available. We also pride ourselves in our extensive knowledge of the hardwood flooring industry. We can answer questions about installation, maintenance, and, of course, the products themselves.

One of the common questions we get from homeowners - especially DIYers - is which type of hardwood floor moldings are the best. There are many different types of hardwood moldings, and each serves a specific purpose. In fact, there are so many different types of moldings that picking the right one for the job can be a confusing and frustrating endeavor!

Well, never fear. We've put together a beautiful new infographic that explains the four most common types of hardwood floor moldings. We hope you like it!

Right click and select "Open in new tab" to view full-size.

You Talked, We Listened! The 5 Most Popular Hardwood Flooring Varieties [Summer 2012]

We get a lot of calls and emails asking us what we think are the best styles of hardwood flooring. While we're always very flattered, we know that sometimes our opinions aren't the opinions of everyone on the market for new hardwood floors. That's why we've put together this brief list of the top five flooring varieties most talked about over the past three months. We gathered data from our website, phone call and email inquiries, and Google search volume trends to develop this list, and we hope it helps you in your search for new hardwood flooring material. Enjoy!

1. Engineered Hardwood Flooring
Many people call us wanting information on just what engineered flooring really is. Well, here you go! Engineered hardwood floors are made of multiple ply layers or various materials that have been cross-layered, glued, and pressed together. Engineered flooring is often preferred over solid wood flooring because they are more resistant to moisture and less likely to buckle or warp. Engineered flooring is available in almost any hardwood species and is often much easier to install than traditional solid floors.

2. Laminate Flooring
Because of its low price point and excellent durability, laminate flooring has become one of the hottest trends in residential flooring. Most laminate products these days do a great job of mimicking real wood floors, providing a touch of natural beauty to homes on a budget. Laminate is also lighter and easier to install than solid hardwood, making it a perfect choice for second story applications.

3. Oak Hardwood Flooring
Oak hardwood has been a tried-and-true flooring choice for generations, and for good reason. It is attractive, versatile, durable, and less expensive than most exotic hardwood species. Fantastic Floor carries many different varieties of both red and white oak flooring, all at reasonable prices.

4. Tigerwood Hardwood Flooring
The dynamic and exciting look of Tigerwood hardwood has caused it to rocket in popularity among homeowners looking for a unique and stylish flooring material. Its rich colors and distinctive striping add a bold accent to any room. It is also an incredibly durable hardwood species, meaning one flooring application can last for decades.

5. Brazilian Cherry Hardwood Flooring Brazilian Cherry is back, baby! Also known as Jatoba, this hardwood species saw a surge in popularity a few years ago but sank back into relative obscurity when the country took an economic turn for the worse. Now that the economy is on the mend, this beautiful hardwood species is back in the spotlight. Brazilian Cherry hardwood flooring features stunning reds and browns and dark black striping. It is also one of the most durable flooring options you can find, with a Janka hardness rating nearly twice that of most common domestics.

Questions about any of these flooring varieties? Contact Fantastic Floor today at 888.448.9663.

What are your favorite hardwood flooring varieties? Leave us a comment and let us know!

Fantastic Floor Presents: Ipe

Welcome back to Fantastic Floor Presents, the only hardwood spotlight blog series you'll ever need! Last week we highlighted the ever-popular but often overlooked Birch hardwood flooring. This week we're shining our hardwood spotlight on one of the most alluring of all the exotic hardwood flooring materials: Ipe!

Ipe is one of the most eye-catching and beautiful exotic hardwood flooring materials on the market today. The dark browns and deep reds of Ipe provide an excellent contrast to its slow, wavy grain pattern. The variety of shades of Ipe make it an incredibly visually interesting species of wood, perfect for foyers, dining rooms, kitchens, offices, or anywhere you'd like your floors to make a great first impression. Ipe is also quite versatile, despite its striking appearance. It works equally well in a sleek, modern design scheme as it does a more quaint, traditional home decor.

Beauty is only one amazing aspect of Ipe hardwood flooring; it is also the most durable hardwood you can find. Its dense cell structure makes it nearly impenetrable to insects, molds, and other forms decay. It also has a Class A fire rating, which is the same class of fire-retardant materials as steel. The Janka hardness rating of Ipe is 3,680 pounds, making it the fourth hardest wood species in the world. All these factors add up to a naturally durable and long-lasting flooring material.

If you're looking for beauty, durability, and style, look no further than Ipe hardwood flooring. Contact Fantastic Floor today at 1-888-448-9663 to learn more about this amazing exotic species. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

What's So Great About White Oak, Anyway?

White oak flooring has been one of the most popular hardwood flooring varieties in the U.S. for years, and for good reason. It's beautiful, costs less than more exotic hardwood varieties, and is complementary to many different design schemes. But beyond its great value and looks, why is America so enamored with this specific variety of oak flooring? While we can't speak for everyone, the following are the 5 top reasons why we believe white oak flooring to be one of the best hardwood flooring options on the market today:

Looks
Not only is white oak flooring a stunning shade of pale whites and warm light-browns, but its tight, intricate grain pattern adds depth and visual intrique as well. It is also a very versatile flooring option; the neutral tones match nearly any home design scheme you can imagine.

Durability
While not as durable as some exotic hardwood species, white oak flooring is still as tough as nails. With a density of 900 KG/m3 and a Janka hardness rating of 1,360 lbs, white oak can certainly stand up to a lot of everyday wear and tear.

Stability
Buckling, bending, and warping can be major problems for hardwood floor owners. Not so with white oak. This species of flooring experiences shrinking and expansion at a relatively even rate, meaning your floors are less susceptible to the warping and bending you see more commonly among other species.

Green-Certified
The White Oak Natural products available at Fantastic-Floor.com are green-certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. This means the white oak floors you're installing in your home come only from well-managed and regulated forests or other controlled sources.

Price
White oak flooring from Fantastic Floor comes in a wide price range, but even the lowest priced products we carry are of extremely high-quality. We have many beautiful white oak varieties priced at under $3.00/SF, and have a steady line of high-quality sale items as well.

It should be clear by now that we think white oak is one of the best flooring materials you can find. What do you think of the species? What's your favorite hardwood flooring variety? Leave us a comment and let us know!

Want to learn more about white oak flooring? Call our knowledgeable sales team today at 888.448.9663. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

Hardwood Strength: Which Species Is Best? [INFOGRAPHIC]

When searching for a hardwood flooring material, there are many important factors to consider. One of these factors is the wood's strength. In hardwood flooring, strength is measured in psi, or, pounds per square inch. Also known as modulus of rupture (MOR), a wood's strength is a measure of its load-carrying capacity. In other words, it's the amount of weight a species can withstand before the board starts to bend or break. The following infographic shows the 10 strongest hardwood species you can find. Enjoy!

Learn more about hardwood flooring strength at Fantastic-Floor.com/WoodStrength, or call us at 1-888-448-9663.

Fantastic Floor's Top 5 Luxury Laminates

More and more homeowners are choosing laminate flooring over traditional hardwood flooring, and for a lot of good reason. High-quality laminate flooring is attractive, durable, and costs a lot less than solid hardwood. Here at Fantastic Floor, we offer a large selection of beautiful laminate flooring products. But which are our favorites? Glad you asked! The following are five of our top luxury laminate flooring products. Enjoy!

Bamboo
Our horizontal bamboo laminate is a great option for homeowners looking for a sleek, modern flooring material with an excellent price point. The light brown tones and tight grain of bamboo laminate complement many different modern design schemes, while the material's durability is hard to beat.

Classic Maple
While the bright yellow-white tones of our Classic Maple laminate flooring brings out the charm of any room of the house, it works especially well in the kitchen, bathroom, or any room that requires a lot of natural light. Additionally, our Classic Maple laminate flooring has a Janka hardness rating of 2,000 lbs., making it one of the most durable non-hardwood flooring materials available.

Red Oak
Our Red Oak laminate flooring is a modern take on a traditional hardwood flooring option. For years, Red Oak has been the go-to hardwood species for American homeowners. Today, the amazing price point of laminate Red Oak flooring is allowing homeowners on a budget to get the same great look at a much smaller price.

Vintage Cherry
Vintage Cherry is one of the more exotic laminate flooring options we offer. With its dark striping, irregular grain pattern, and varying tones, Vintage Cherry is perfect for homeowners looking to add a dramatic and eye-catching element to their room decor.

Espresso Walnut
Dark and sultry, our Espresso Walnut laminate flooring adds an air of sophistication to any dining room, living room, library, or study. Its deep browns and wavy grain pattern are a great way to make a bold design statement without breaking the bank.

Questions? Call one of our knowledgeable flooring reps today to discuss the many ways laminate flooring can help you get the look and feel of traditional hardwood flooring while still staying within your budget.

Fantastic Floor Presents: Birch

Welcome back to your favorite hardwood flooring spotlight series, Fantastic Floor Presents! This week we're taking a look at a consistently popular domestic flooring variety: Birch. Enjoy!

Birch hardwood flooring comes in a wide range of tones and colors, from light yellow to a deep reddish-brown. The texture is uniform and fine and the grain pattern is tight and straight. Birch is one of the more softer domestic hardwoods, but this softness allows it to be used in more complicated applications that require very specific cuts and shaping. In fact, birch is often used in cabinetry, paneling, and other more decorative forms of woodworking.

Birch hardwood flooring from Fantastic Floor comes in dozens of styles and colors, from the deep, dark brown of Birch Shadow to the bright, exotic red of Birch Mahogany. Our Birch flooring is available in prefinished, unfinished, and engineered varieties. Contact Fantastic Floor today at 1-888-448-9663 to learn more about this great hardwood flooring species.

Fantastic Floor August Sale!

This summer has been a real scorcher, but the upcoming August heat will be nothing compared to the smokin' deals we have on three of our most popular hardwood flooring species this month! If you're on the prowl for a new Brazilian Cherry, Cumaru, or Tigerwood hardwood floor, look no further! We've got all three on sale throughout August. Check 'em out!

Brazilian Cherry

Also known as Jatoba, Brazilian Cherry is the most popular exotic hardwood flooring in the United States. It's popularity is due to its beautiful appearance and incredible durability. The Fantastic Floor August Sale price is only $5.99/SF!

Cumaru

This tough, dense exotic hardwood flooring material features medium brown shades and a tight grain pattern. It is also an incredibly dense species, making it naturally resistant to mold, mildew, and wood-boring insects. The Fantastic Floor August Sale price is only $5.99/SF!

Tigerwood

One of the most distinctive species of hardwood flooring available, Tigerwood features dark browns and reds and thick black striping. The density and hardness of Tigerwood floors make them naturally resistant to everyday wear and tear. The Fantastic Floor August sale price is only $5.99/SF!

The Fantastic Floor August Sale is for a limited time only, so call us today at 1-888-448-9663!

FAQ: When Should Hardwood Floors Be Installed?

Installing hardwood flooring can be a complicated, time-consuming process. Installing hardwood flooring at the wrong time can make this tricky project even harder. Many DIYers and building contractors rush the flooring installation process, not realizing that their haste and impatience can cause major problems in the future.

So just when is the right time to install hardwood flooring? Glad you asked.

Home construction can be a messy, dangerous process. In order to ensure that your new hardwood floors aren't damaged by work crews, tools, or building materials, plan your hardwood flooring installation for after all other construction and installation projects are finished. Foot traffic should also be kept to a minimum during and after installation. If you can't plan the installation for last, protect the newly installed wood with a heavy-duty cover. Make sure you place the cover over the entire floor, however; many woods are sensitive to light and will experience color change if exposed, creating an unpleasant spotting effect.

Hardwood flooring installation can be adversely affected by the seasons, too. If you live in an area that experiences a lot of dramatic changes in temperature and humidity, it's a good idea to install your floors during a dry, warm time of year. Hardwood needs to be acclimated to its environment, and the acclimation process can sometimes take weeks. If you try to acclimate your new flooring during a change in season, the wood will have a harder time adjusting to its new environment. This can cause problems for you down the road.

Don't forget to read our helpful Hardwood Flooring Installation Guide to learn more tips and tricks for installing your beautiful new floors. Still have questions? Give us a call at 1-888-448-9663. We'd love to hear from you!

Fantastic Floor: Now On Houzz!

Are you an active Houzz-er? We are! Fantastic Floor just joined the ever-growing online home remodeling and design community, and we couldn't be more excited. In case you aren't familiar, Houzz is a "collaborative platform for home remodeling and design" that aims to bring homeowners together with the companies and contractors they are looking for: interior designers, floor covering professionals, and other home improvement professionals.

The site is ridiculously easy to use. First, create an account. Second, create an "Ideabook" - your online collection of home improvement and design inspirations. Third, browse the huge catalog of photos from homeowners and professionals from around the world, get inspired, and save your favorite pics to your Ideabook. Last, contact the professionals in your area that you want to work with. Simple!

Find Fantastic Floor on Houzz, take a look at our pictures and let us know what you think. We'd love to help you with any hardwood flooring design projects you have. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

Happy 4th of July!

Fire up that grill, put some Bruce Springsteen on the stereo, and get the hose ready - it's the 4th of July! We hope your holiday is filled with fun and family. Oh, and Muppets of course:

Fantastic Floor Presents: Manchurian Walnut

Welcome back to your favorite hardwood spotlight blog series, Fantastic Floor Presents! This week we're taking a look at one of our newest additions to the Fantastic Floor product line: Manchurian Walnut!

Manchurian Walnut, also known as Chinese Walnut, is one of the most sought after Asian exotic hardwood flooring varieties in the country. The heartwood is a beautiful combination of browns and yellows, while the sapwood is a pale gray. The hallmark of the species is its tight grain pattern and occasional burls, which gives the wood its dramatic, exotic appearance. The species is also commonly used in the construction and manufacturing of high-end furniture and art pieces.

Manchurian Walnut is not only beautiful, it is also has the durability you would expect from an exotic hardwood flooring material. It has a Janka hardness rating of 1,010 pounds, and its density and tight grain makes it naturally resistant to wood rot and boring insects.

Want to learn more about Manchurian Walnut? Contact Fantastic Floor today to speak with one of our experienced hardwood flooring professionals. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

This Just In: Laminate Flooring!

As you probably have noticed, Fantastic Floor is constantly getting beautiful new hardwood flooring varieties added to our product line. Just recently we've added new varieties of Maple, Walnut, Acacia, and Tiete Rosewood, among others. Well, this month we received another exciting line of flooring materials. Not quite hardwood, per se, but still a very high quality product: laminate flooring!

What is Laminate Flooring?
Laminate flooring is a multi-layered synthetic flooring material that is bound together through a lamination process, hence the name. The inner layer is usually made of a resin and fiberboard blend and the top layer is usually a high-definition photo of a specific hardwood species. High quality laminate flooring tends to have a very dense inner core, which makes the flooring more resistant to water damage and quieter to walk on. Low quality products have very light, loose inner cores, leaving them susceptible to warping, buckling, and other common flooring problems.

The Benefits of Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring may not be the fanciest flooring material you can find, but it does have many important benefits. There are three main reasons people choose laminate flooring over traditional hardwood: cost, ease of installation, and durability:

• Cost
  Laminate flooring is almost always less expensive than hardwood flooring. This allows home owners to install laminate in more rooms for a lower price than hardwood.
• Ease of Installation
  Laminate is the DIY homeowner's dream-come-true. Most varieties are very simple to install, with many manufacturers featuring glueless, tongue-in-groove boards that can be quickly and easily installed by DIYers and flooring professionals alike.
• Durability
  While not quite as resilient as solid hardwood flooring, laminate flooring can still take quite a bit of wear-and-tear before it needs to be replaced. Most residential laminate flooring is many times harder than traditional hardwood and has a high UV resistance, making it more resistant to fading and other sun-damage.

Laminate Flooring Products Offered at Fantastic Floor
Fantastic Floor is proud to now carry Luxury Laminate flooring products from the Garrison Collection. The Luxury Laminate collection comes in a variety of styles, including Red Oak, Vintage Cherry, Rich Walnut, Classic Maple, and many more. View our Luxury Laminate flooring page to see all of the beautiful new laminate flooring products we carry.

Want to learn more about laminate flooring? Contact Fantastic Floor today to talk with one of our experienced sales representatives. We look forward to hearing from you!

FAQ: Should I Expect Color Variations?

Like any other natural product, hardwood flooring is going to have degrees of color variation. Though they happen with any grade, the lower the grade, the more likely there will be dramatic color variations. Fantastic Floor stocks only the highest quality hardwood flooring materials, so color variations are fewer with our selection than some of our competitors. Still, there are a few varieties and styles of flooring that experience variations more than others. For example:

Certain Exotics
Specific types of exotic hardwood flooring, such as Acacia and Cumaru, are known for their striking color and striping variations. The color of these species can vary greatly from board to board, making it difficult to predict exactly what color board you'll end up with.

Distressed
Distressed hardwood flooring is designed to have dramatic variations in color, texture, and grain patterns. These variations give the wood the eye-catching, rustic look many modern designers and homeowners are looking for. However, it also means you can't be sure the boards will match a specific color scheme.

Reclaimed
Reclaimed hardwood is popular with eco-minded designers and homeowners. However, like distressed flooring, the rustic look reclaimed wood is known for is also hard to match with specific colors and design schemes.

Curious about hardwood flooring color variations? Contact Fantastic Floor today to learn more!

Fantastic Floor Presents: White Oak

Welcome back to Fantastic Floor Presents! This week we're shining the spotlight on one of this year's most popular hardwood flooring varieties: White Oak.

White Oak hardwood flooring is full of light tones that create a very crisp, clean look. It has been a hardwood flooring standard in homes across the United States for years due to its versatile combination of deep grayish-brown heartwood and pale white tones. These light colors complement nearly any room design scheme, making White Oak flooring a popular flooring material among interior designers and decorators.

White Oak hardwood flooring is also well-known for its durability, strength, and resistance to wear. It is often served as planking for boats and has even been used in mining operations. It has a Janka hardness rating of 1,360 lbs and a density of 900 KG/m3. FSC-certified engineered White Oak flooring also has great dimensional stability, meaning there is less warping and buckling than other species.

The amazing decorative flexibility of White Oak hardwood makes it an outstanding floor for all settings and occasions. Visit Fantastic-Floor.com to view more of our White Oak products, or contact us with questions or concerns. We look forward to hearing from you!

We're now on Pinterest!

Fantastic Floor is now on one of the hottest new social media photo-sharing sites: Pinterest!

Pinterest is a virtual pinboard that allows people to organize and share their favorite internet stuff: photos, recipes, blog posts, etc. On Pinterest, you can browse the pinboards of your friends, family, celebrities, and favorite brands (like, say, Fantastic Floor!).

So go check out the Fantastic Floor Pinterest account, follow us, and start sharing! We look forward to seeing you!

Hardwood Density: Which Species Is Best? [INFOGRAPHIC]

Density is an important mechanical property to consider when choosing a new hardwood flooring material. Density is related to a floor's durability, longevity, and resistance to moisture and wood-boring insects. The following infographic featuers the top 10 densest hardwood flooring materials you can find on the market today. Enjoy!

Learn more about hardwood density at www.Fantastic-Floor.com/WoodDensity.

Fantastic Floor Presents: Tarara

Welcome back to Fantastic Floor Presents, the only blog series that shines a spotlight on the most popular hardwood flooring materials available today. This week we're featuring one of our most popular South American products: Tarara!

Tarara hardwood flooring, also known as Canarywood, is a colorful, exciting exotic hardwood from the forests of Brazil and Bolivia. It's heartwood varies in color from bright yellow to deep orange, with long streaks of black, purple, and red throughout. This dramatic contrast gives the wood an especially vibrant, exotic look.

Like most exotic hardwood varieties, Tarara hardwood is a very durable flooring material. It is also, however, very easy to work with, making it popular with woodworkers and furniture makers. The interlocked, irregular grain pattern and uniform texture is dynamic enough to catch the eye of house guests, but versatile enough to complement almost any home design scheme.

Fantastic Floor offers clear prefinished Tarara hardwood flooring in a variety of lengths. View our selection at www.Fantastic-Floor.com, or call us today at 888.448.9663.

FAQ: What is the Most Durable Hardwood Flooring Available? [INFOGRAPHIC]

While the durability of a hardwood flooring variety depends on many things, the best indicator is the species' Janka hardness rating. Janka hardness is the measure of the wood's resistance to indentation, or, the load required to embed a 11.28-mm (0.444-in.) ball to one-half its diameter. The higher the Janka hardness rating, the more durable the wood will be. Below is an infographic featuring the top ten hardest wood flooring materials available. Enjoy!

Values presented are the average of radial and tangential penetrations.

To learn more, visit www.Fantastic-Floor.com/WoodHardness.

New Fantastic Product: Hickory Tumbleweed

Fantastic Floor has another beautiful new product available from Urban Floor: Hickory Tumbleweed!

Hickory Tumbleweed is the latest distressed engineered hardwood flooring product from the Urban Floor Mountain Collection. The species' varied tones and shades create dramatic contrast in the boards, giving the flooring an incredibly unique, eye-catching look. The wood also features an intricate grain pattern that nicely complements the boards' color and tones.

Not only is hickory one of the most attractive domestic hardwood flooring varieties you can find, it is also the hardest of all the North American species. It has been used for years for decorative purposes as well as tool handles, pallets, and other industrial applications. This combination of durability and beauty has made hickory hardwood a popular flooring choice among homeowners for decades.

Right now, Fantastic Floor has Hickory Tumbleweed flooring for a special reduced rate - almost 7% off our already low price! This limited time offer ends April 6th, so hurry and call Fantastic Floor today at 888.448.9663 to place your order.

The NWFA Expo Is Right Around the Corner...

The annual National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) Wood Flooring Expo is getting close, and we couldn't be more excited! This year's expo is taking place at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, from April 10 - 13. The sun will be shining, the birds will be singing, and the biggest names in hardwood flooring will be showing off their goods. How exciting!

(Photo courtesy of Visit Orlando)

The NWFA Wood Flooring Expo is the only trade who in the world that is dedicated solely to wood flooring. It is a place where established industry names come to show off their latest products alongside up-and-coming industry newbies. The theme of this year's expo is "renewal". Here's what the NWFA had to say:

"This year's show center's around renewal: Renew your business. Renew your energy. Renew your prospects. Come see how the NWFA has renewed its commitment to grow the industry and help grow your business."

The expo is a great opportunity for businesses of all sizes to catch up with old friends and colleagues and make useful new connections in the hardwood flooring industry. There are educational seminars, guest speakers, and, of course, the trade show. Here are NWFA's top 5 reasons why you shouldn't miss this year's show:

1. Completely Revamped Trade Show
The new show floor is apparently huge, packed full of vendors, and will be host to the final closing party. Oh, and a full wood floor will be assembled, too.

2. Can't-Miss Discounts
There are going to be many expo-specific specials available for attendees courtesy of the NWFA Expo Coupon book (but only if you're staying at the Gaylord property).

3. New Educational Tracks
This year's educational sessions are focused on three different but equally important parts of your business: technical, marketing, and management. (Our suggestion: check out all three.)

4. Exciting Keynote and Harley Giveway
This year's keynote speaker is Ken Schmidt, former director of communications at Harley-Davidson. Did we mention he's also giving away one of the company's motorcycles?

5. Wood Floor of the Year Awards and HGTV Celebrity Designer
The Wood Floor of the Year awards are a highlight of the NWFA Wood Flooring Expo, giving companies the chance to show off their best work and gain recognition in the industry. This year's host will be HGTV celebrity carpenter/designer Carter Oosterhouse. Exciting!

Visit the NWFA Expo website to learn more about the event and register.