Opting for Hand-Scraped Hickory Flooring
Have you always wanted hickory flooring in your home, but are intimidated by the installation process? Consider hand-scraped hickory flooring.
While this domestic hardwood is known for blotching when stained, the distressed quality of hand-scraped hickory hides such imperfections better.
If you are thinking about installing unfinished hickory into your home, opt for a distressed variety to make the process easier.
What about hickory makes it so desirable? On a visual level, the hardwood is characterized by contrast - specifically a tan to reddish heartwood and white to cream-colored sapwood.
Unlike many other domestic species, hickory hardwood draws attention to the floor in a space.
Hickory, additionally, is one of the denser domestic species, with a Janka scale rating of 1820.
While this quality makes the hardwood durable for many areas, it presents a few issues in installation.
Hickory is difficult to machine, saw, and sand and, because of closed grain, also a challenge to stain.
Aside from choosing prefinished flooring, are there any approaches to getting around these two obstacles? While unfinished hickory must be sanded down with a belt sander, two approaches can be taken to finish standard hardwood: wood conditioner or water popping.
The former fully seals off the grain, and a stain is applied afterwards.
Water popping, in which the wood is wiped down with a damp rag, opens the grain, and once the hardwood is dry, a stain should be added immediately.
To preserve the contrasting character of the hardwood, go with a lighter stain.
Hand-scraped hickory, on the other hand, presents a simpler solution.
Each plank is distressed individually, and as a result, no two appear similar.
Distressing techniques, however, are not the same.
If you are considering hand-scraped hickory flooring for your home, the products available may be scraped or brushed, finished, or aged.
In some cases, one or more of these techniques may be combined.
If you want an even less uniform appearance for your floor, consider having it custom distressed.
If you opt for hand-scraped hickory flooring, think about the hardwood years into the future.
In a decade, will you still prefer the hand-scraped appearance? If so, make a tentative plan to refinish the hardwood without lessening the distressed aspect.
Using a floor abrader is recommended, if you do it on your own, or seek out a professional.
But what if you don't want hand-scraped hickory years into the future? In the present, find hardwood that can be sanded down.
Solid hardwoods, in this, case are the most reliable, but engineered flooring with a thicker wear layer is another practical option.
While this domestic hardwood is known for blotching when stained, the distressed quality of hand-scraped hickory hides such imperfections better.
If you are thinking about installing unfinished hickory into your home, opt for a distressed variety to make the process easier.
What about hickory makes it so desirable? On a visual level, the hardwood is characterized by contrast - specifically a tan to reddish heartwood and white to cream-colored sapwood.
Unlike many other domestic species, hickory hardwood draws attention to the floor in a space.
Hickory, additionally, is one of the denser domestic species, with a Janka scale rating of 1820.
While this quality makes the hardwood durable for many areas, it presents a few issues in installation.
Hickory is difficult to machine, saw, and sand and, because of closed grain, also a challenge to stain.
Aside from choosing prefinished flooring, are there any approaches to getting around these two obstacles? While unfinished hickory must be sanded down with a belt sander, two approaches can be taken to finish standard hardwood: wood conditioner or water popping.
The former fully seals off the grain, and a stain is applied afterwards.
Water popping, in which the wood is wiped down with a damp rag, opens the grain, and once the hardwood is dry, a stain should be added immediately.
To preserve the contrasting character of the hardwood, go with a lighter stain.
Hand-scraped hickory, on the other hand, presents a simpler solution.
Each plank is distressed individually, and as a result, no two appear similar.
Distressing techniques, however, are not the same.
If you are considering hand-scraped hickory flooring for your home, the products available may be scraped or brushed, finished, or aged.
In some cases, one or more of these techniques may be combined.
If you want an even less uniform appearance for your floor, consider having it custom distressed.
If you opt for hand-scraped hickory flooring, think about the hardwood years into the future.
In a decade, will you still prefer the hand-scraped appearance? If so, make a tentative plan to refinish the hardwood without lessening the distressed aspect.
Using a floor abrader is recommended, if you do it on your own, or seek out a professional.
But what if you don't want hand-scraped hickory years into the future? In the present, find hardwood that can be sanded down.
Solid hardwoods, in this, case are the most reliable, but engineered flooring with a thicker wear layer is another practical option.
