FAQ

Any wood floors that are over 5 inches in width are considered wide plank flooring. This width is what separates wide plank from narrow plank floors. View our wide plank floors options today.

Wide plank flooring is hardwood flooring that is at least 5 inches in width. Wide plank floors can be as wide as 12 to 14 inches and are sometimes even wider, making them stand out next to narrower width floors.

Wide plank floors are typically more expensive than standard width flooring simply because they require more material to manufacture. Learn more about the cost to install wide plank floors.

Wide plank floors can bow or cup as well as experience other moisture-related issues such as buckling if they are not properly cared for and acclimated to the environment in which they are installed. Learn more about how seasons and humidity affect wide plank floors.

To properly maintain wide plank hardwood flooring, it is important to use wood-friendly cleaners only. White vinegar and generic floor cleaners can damage the finish and cause other issues. A lot will depend on the finish system used on the wide plank, and a home remedy of water/vinegar solution may not be acceptable.

You should also make sure that the humidity and moisture content of the floors stay within acceptable ranges year-round per the flooring manufacturer’s stipulations. Learn more about hardwood flooring maintenance and care today.

While each installation is unique, most wide plank installs will require at minimum a glue assist method of installation. Read our Tips for Installing Wide Plank Flooring for more information.

The platform (engineered/solid) does not affect the quality of the hardwood itself. The engineered platform is useful for going over concrete or below grade, also depending on the species and width this would be the go to platform. Solid is just as good and when considering widths of 5in, 6in, 7in or 8in in the Oaks. It’s a great platform. Read more about engineered vs. solid wide plank floors.

Wide Planks’ Engineered floors can be sanded multiple times. The wear layer allows for this. The exact amount of times an engineered floor can be sanded really is dependent on the mechanic doing the work and the types of treatments a floor may have on it. Treatments like hand scraping and wire brushing require more aggressive techniques for removal, hence fewer sandings in the future.

“Prefinished” refers to wood flooring being finished at a mill or factory. The alternative would be “unfinished” which is then finished onsite.

Aside from the obvious, one is finished at the mill the other is finished at the jobsite following installation. Site finished wide plank floors (unfinished from the mill)
will not have a beveled edge. This is often an attractive option when choosing a floor. Color / Staining can be decided onsite as well. Prefinished floors will have a bevel. With prefinished wide plank, the options of surface treatments is something typically not offered in a site finished floor. These treatments include hand scraping, wire brushing, black bleed, or skip planning. Learn more about prefinished vs. unfinished today.

Typically 7in and wider (8”-10”-12”) is the most popular wide plank flooring width. Learn more about popular wide plank flooring for beach houses.

A wide plank can make a small room feel smaller. A longer length specification helps reduce this effect. Learn more about wide plank floor lengths.

No. Wide plank flooring will never go out of style. Their timeless width and customizable options make them a staple in homes. Read more about wood floor color trends that work with any decor.

Hardwood floors are hygroscopic, meaning they take moisture on and let it go. This is often referred to as “breathing. Essentially the floor wants to be at equilibrium with its environment.

Yes and no. A lot depends on the level of distress as well as the thickness of the wear layer. The thicker the wear layer, the better since some of the wood will be removed in the process.

Ceramic Tile. Joking aside, all wood flooring is subject to scratch. Typically the scratch is in relationship to the finish not the wood. Luckily, hardwood floor scratch repair is often possible with a talented floor mechanic.

True hand-scraped flooring is typically more expensive. Machine-scraped floors are usually less expensive and will have a noticeable repeating pattern to them. Read more about hand-scraped and hand-planed flooring.

Yes, wood flooring can be salvaged. Even insect-infested, delaminated, and squeaky floors can be saved. Successfulness will depend on the quality of the wood (decay) and the species.

Yes. Wood floors can be refinished multiple times with a skilled mechanic doing the work. It’s also more cost-effective and requires less labor compared to replacing hardwood floors.

It is known that wood floors are the preferable flooring to home buyers. An investment in hardwood floors is an investment in the resale value of your house. Read our article about hardwood floors increasing the resale value of a home.