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!