Author: Corrine Bernard

Identify Your Hardwood Style
No matter what you’re trying to achieve with hardwood, there is likely the perfect hardwood style for your floors, walls, and ceilings. Add to that the fact that the options at Eko-Flooring & Woodwork are eco-friendly, and the choice of hardwood becomes even more attractive. With numerous finishes, surface treatments, stains, and more, the natural design of hardwoods today can be enhanced and improved beyond its original beauty.
How do you know which hardwood style to choose? Let’s take a look at some of the hardwood styles in existence today and how they may fit in with your home.
Plank Width
A specific room’s overall space design can be significantly contributed to by the width of hardwood flooring planks. Examples:
- The overall feel of a room can, for example, be expanded by the traditional 2 1/4-inch width. You may hear this referred to as “strip” flooring.
- On the other hand, to create a modern element and increase the intimacy of a large space, a wider plank could be used.
- Still another choice that is unique and creative is the mixing of plank widths. “mixed width”
Hardwood Surface Treatments
For numerous hardwood flooring collections, an aged, authentic design can be achieved by distressing, wire brushing, and subtle scraping of the surface. Combined with complementing stain color, these treatments can create an inviting and warm space that’s attractive for active, busy homes (with pets and children) or high traffic areas.
- Wire brushing – So that you are walking on the most durable, hardest grain, the softer grain in the wood is removed by wire brushing. This can be subtle or more exaggerated with light, medium or heavy wire brushing variations.
- Distressing or scraping – Both distressing and scraping optimize the character in each plank creating a vintage look. This includes hand scraping, saw marks, hammer marks, nail holes, burn marks and chain denting reactive stains and water marking, just to name a few techniques,
Multiple surface treatments on a floor offer a truly rustic look.
On the other hand, for a more elegant look, the timeless choice of a smooth surface is a real classic.
The Color Of The Hardwood
From contemporary to classic stain colors, you can complement a room or make the floor itself the centerpiece of the room by choosing the right color option.
For a look that is contemporary, some of today’s hottest trends in flooring involve modern grey tones. Refresh an outdated space with these greys in a straight plank or design- like herringbone or chevron! To add a little bit of style and sophistication to your home, and make a bold statement at the same time, consider a dark, rich stain color.
For a timeless design that adds traditional warmth to a room, classic stain colors like honey, nutmeg, and brown can be used.
Light or White wash floors can add a breath of fresh air- making the space light and airy. This is the optimal color for the very popular Nordic design palate.
No stain at all, or a natural finish, is another look which will bring brightness to a dark space and expose the most character of your chosen wood.
Straight Plank or Design
Eko Flooring & Woodwork carries an extensive Custom collection of Pre-Finished Engineered Plank and Design Flooring.
While you may typically see Design flooring in boutique settings, it can be easily be installed in any residential or commercial property for an affordable price. Design flooring will add some visual interest to your floors. Popular design looks today are Herringbone, Chevron and Versailles. Lucky these are also traditional parquetry looks that were popular in large estates and castles once upon a time. This provides a timeless and modern option.
For a classic but versatile look, go for the straight plank. If installed correctly, it can make your room feel more spacious. It is also incredibly versatile, for remodeling your interiors over the years- it will go with almost any look.
Edge Treatments
Just a quick mention, in reference to “eased or beveled edge” treatments, these side treatments can accentuate the intersections of different planks. On various collections, this treatment exists as either a four-sided or two-sided bevel and is usually preferred over “square edge” style. At Eko Flooring and Woodwork, we have wide plank flooring, ceiling and wall coverings, design flooring, and more. We have naturals, grays, light wood tones, and darks. No matter what your decor, whatever room you’re considering re-flooring or re-surfacing, or the overall affect you’re going for, we’ve got eco-friendly hardwood flooring and wall & ceiling accents for you. Contact us today to find out more.
January 22, 2020
Are You Using Eco-Friendly Hardwood Flooring?
As of late, you may have heard the following terms referred to: responsibly forested, eco-friendly, and sustainable. What do all of these terms refer to? What do they have to do with flooring?
If you have looked into eco-friendly hardwood flooring, you’ve likely come across the terms listed above, and many more. Though rarely specifically defined, terms like organic, reclaimed, green, and more, all appear to be very important. But with so many terms floating around, you may have fewer answers and more questions when it comes to flooring your home with materials that are good for both the planet and your family.
The Philosophy of Eco-Friendly Hardwood Flooring
Individuals seeking planet friendly and atmospherically responsible choices may subscribe to the philosophy that everything we do, and everything we make, should help contribute in the protection and conservation of our environment. Included in this are manufacturing safety ethics, strong community assistance, wood waste management, wildlife protection, and responsible forestry.
So, when it comes to wood, we use today’s technology to help manufacture flooring that doesn’t compromise durability and beauty while still protecting our forests, wildlife and your families.
Eco-Friendly Terms
Though there are many terms and references being used when it comes to eco-friendly flooring and other responsible choices where the planet and atmosphere are concerned, we’ll take a look at just a few here to get you started. Let’s define those referred to above:
- Responsibly forested – Wood products need trees for manufacturing. In order for trees to be harvested, but still avoid the devastating effect of depleting an ecosystem or forest, responsible forestry practices are put into use. Examples of this include leaving some areas uncut; to specific forest types, apply sustainable harvesting; the replenishment of harvested areas; and more.
- Sustainable – Over the entire life of its cycle, a sustainable product must provide public health, economic, social, and environmental health benefits. Compared to products that are simply “green”, sustainable products are held to a higher standard.
- Eco-friendly – We’ve all heard this term tossed around time and time again, but what does it really mean? If a practice or a product will not harm the planet, it can be considered eco-friendly. Most commonly, this term refers to products that don’t contribute to land, water, or air pollution, but literally help conserve resources like energy and water.
Eco-Friendly Flooring
Should you choose eco-friendly flooring? Well, if it could help even remotely to save the planet or the atmosphere, why would you not use eco-friendly flooring?
Whether you’re looking for wide plank flooring, ceiling and wall hardwood coverings, or design flooring, what could it possibly hurt to check out the eco-friendly options before looking at other choices? The answer is, it won’t hurt at all. In fact, it will help.
Eco-friendly hardwood flooring helps the planet, the atmosphere, the future of your children, the continued existence of wildlife, etc. That’s the responsible thing to do. What’s more, there are affordable options, just like there are for flooring choices that are not particularly eco-friendly.
Shop Eko Flooring and Woodwork for eco-friendly, sustainable, and organic flooring options. If you’d like to find out more about what we offer or set up a time and date at which to speak to one of our representatives, contact us today.
January 17, 2020
4 Ways To Install Wood Flooring
Wood flooring is recognized for its beauty and durability. When one installs Engineered Wood Flooring, it is important to ALWAYS follow the manufacturer’s installation recommendations. The next thing you need to note is that not all wood flooring installation methods are recommended for all types of wood floors.
If you are planning to install solid hard wood flooring or engineered hard wood flooring, consult with an NWFA Certified flooring professional. Alternatively, you may visit the National Wood Flooring Association to find educational resources and certified flooring professionals at www.woodfloors.org.
At a Glance: The Four Main Wood Flooring Installation Methods
The four key Engineered Wood Flooring installation methods we will review in this post are:
- Click lock floating
- Glue together floating
- Glue down
- Nail/staple
Now, which installation method is considered the best of its kind?
In most cases, the answer is dependent upon the TYPE of wood flooring and the conditions of your sub floor. Sub floor refers to the structural support for your flooring. Plywood, OSB, particleboard, or concrete can all be subfloors.
Introducing the Glueless Click Lock Floating Method
For this method, the flooring you choose must have a click together locking system. With the click-system, the planks interlock together by hand (without nails or adhesives). So, this type of flooring system can stay in place without nails or adhesives. It uses the weight and tension created by the click system to stay secure.
Having the appropriate underlay underneath is essential. Underlay serves as a sound absorbing layer. The glueless, click-lock float can be installed over any smooth, stable surface. This makes installing over any existing flooring like vinyl, tile, plywood, or hardwood, easy. More importantly, the floor must be completely level to avoid any issue caused from the lack of adhesive directly to the subfloor.
Introducing the Glue Together Floating Method
The glue together method is similar to the process of the glueless click-lock float in that it does not use nails or adhesives directly on the subfloor. The difference is that instead of a click-together locking system, it uses a traditional tongue and groove system (without a lock) that is reinforced with specific tongue and groove glue.
While the adhesive is applied in the tongue and groove sets, the floors will need to dry and rest for at least 12 hours. Consequently, you cannot have any activity, including moving any furniture on top of the surface. This method is very popular for engineered hardwood floors. The majority of Eko Flooring & Woodwork Custom Collection will be tongue and groove. With a sound absorbing underlay, they can be installed over any smooth and stable surface. Again, it is important that the glue together floating method be utilized over a completely flat surface.
Introducing the Glue-Down Method
In this method, the wood is adhered directly to the subfloor by applying a full spread of adhesive. A hand trowel is used to apply the glue with a specific full spread application technique. The adhesive we recommend is the BONA R851. This specific product has exceptional green gran strength, is easy to apply, is easy to clean, has zero VOC’s, GREENGUARD Certified for indoor air quality, and can be installed over radiant heat systems. BONA is environmentally friendly and does not emit harmful fumes or chemicals that could be dangerous to your health like other glues.
Removing old glue could be one of the many things required to prepare your subfloor prior to using this the glue down method. Old glue residue can react with new glue and create a chemical reaction that compromises the adhesive properties of the new glue. The glue down method is very popular for installing engineered hardwood flooring.
Introducing the Nail or Staple Down Method
The nail or staple down method is exactly as it sounds: special nails or staples are employed to fasten solid or engineered hardwood to the subfloor. Very specific sized nails and staples are dependent on the thickness of the wood floor and type of subfloor. This varies by project and depends on recommendation of manufacturer or wood flooring professional.
We recommend installing an underlay. It is an efficient sound barrier, a vapor barrier and eliminates squeaks and creaks that can naturally develop with the expansion and contraction of the wood. That said, solid wood typically exhibits more dramatic expansion and contraction compared to engineered. Engineered wood flooring has many layers that contribute to its stability. The nail/staple down method can only be used over a wood subfloor (preferably plywood), as nails and staples will not easily be accepted by concrete or other materials.
Sounds Tricky? It is!
Choosing the correct wood flooring installation method for your engineered wood flooring is imperative. It will contribute greatly to the success or failure of your floor. Using an improper installation method can result in costly problems. Cupping, buckling, warping and delamination of flooring to name a few issues – trust us, it is not fun!
A failing floor can be upsetting, especially as it can usually be prevented. It is COSTLY and takes a lot of time to correct.
What Should You Do?
Bring in an Expert. A REAL ONE!
We like to say that “cheaper does not always mean, less expensive”. Frequently we speak to clients who initially hired a “contractor” based on price, rather than their training and certifications. Later they have issues that need to be repaired. Often this costs much more than any perceived savings from a low price quote. It is important to understand that not all contractors obtain the appropriate training and education needed to install flooring. This field requires knowledge, training and experience as a craft, science and service.
At Eko Flooring & Woodwork, we offer Consultative Services through Tomasz Poznanski, our Certified NWFA Flooring Inspector.
After your engineered wood flooring purchase, we can test the moisture of the wood flooring system and subfloor on site. We advise and assure on proper acclimation of the new wood flooring for the installation environment. We will then consult with your general contractor or installer regarding the ideal installation method and proper subfloor preparation.
Take Away Message…
Do yourself a favor and consult with an experienced inspector before you install any type of wood flooring. It will save you a lot of time and money.Ask a friend who has a failing floor, they wish they could have thought about the aforementioned sooner!
August 20, 2019
Types of Subfloors
So you decided!
It’s time to replace the floors.
Before you install…
It is essential to know the type of subfloor to further determine what installation method that is best. Plywood, oriented strand board, particle board, and concrete are the four standard types of subfloors. The two most recommended subfloors are concrete and Plywood
What are 4 common types of subfloors?
Plywood is fabricated using sheets of wood, adhered together with glue. It is an affordable option and common in most residential homes.
Oriented Strand Board: also known as OSB, is also a popular option for residential homes. OSB is made of glued and pressed pieces of chipped wood. Its structure is denser and more consistent than plywood. While OSB does not absorb as much moisture as plywood, it can hold moisture for much longer.
Particleboard: is not as popular as plywood and OSB due to its weak structure. Particleboard is composed of small chips of wood that could be compared to sawdust.
Concrete: is most common in condominiums, large apartment buildings and residential basements/bathrooms. Concrete subfloors are much stronger the other three subfloor types.
Prior to the installation of wood flooring, it is essential that the concrete subfloor be inspected for cracks, moisture content and an unlevel surface. Sometimes this subfloor will require filling low spots and grinding high spots to achieve a flat surface. Self leveling is a often a recommended process. Additionally, if the subfloor moisture content levels are elevated, a moisture barrier may need to be installed prior to flooring.
Secret 5^th type of Subfloor…
In certain cases, the subfloor could be your current wood flooring. This method is more typical with floating floor installations. Consult with your installer for this method.
Now that you know your subfloor, what now?
At this point, it is best to consult your Wood Flooring Installer regarding the best method of install.
And of course do some research online. Eko Flooring recommends install over plywood or concrete. Depending on site conditions, installing over current flooring could be recommended.
Visit National Wood Flooring Association to find a certified Wood Flooring Professional who has dedicated their time toward continuing education in the field of Flooring. https://www.woodfloors.org/
July 24, 2019
The Anatomy of a Dust Bunny
What is a dust bunny?
Simple, it is the dirt, dead skin cells, pet dander, food waste, allergens from dust mites, cooking oils, and dyes all rolled up by pet and human hair.
Cute right?
How are these dust bunnies born?
The main culprit… pets, open doors and windows. But also, us! We track in a lot of dirt, sand and clay with our shoes and leave trails of dander and skin particles. Even a mat at your door can’t stop ALL that dirt from making its way.
How does this damage your floors?
Dust, dirt and grime, over time and in excess, can create discoloration on your wood floors.
Without the proper coating/protection, cleaning and maintenance, the dirt/dust becomes matted/rubbed into the wood floor surface and spaces. Sometimes this grime can penetrate deep into the grain. It can be difficult to clean your floors without a complete sand and refinish to rid of discoloration at this stage. Consequently, dirt can also cause scratches and abrasions that can lead to even bigger problems- like swelling or cracking when exposed to more dirt and water.
Exterminate those dust bunnies!
The best way to get rid of dust and dirt and discoloration in your home is to limit the amount you are bringing into your home. This can be done by not wearing your shoes indoors, cleaning the entry ways with a microfiber broom regularly, closing windows and vacuuming often. If using a wet mop as a tool to clean, do so without excessive water.
What is the BIGGEST mistake homeowners make?
Buying and using just any old cleaner they find in the store labeled “wood floor cleaner”. To be clear, it is not one size fits all when it comes to cleaning and maintaining your floors. It is ESSENTIAL to use a cleaner specifically recommended for the finish on your floors. Ask yourself… do I have polyurethane coated floors or oil coated floors? If the latter, does my oil coated floor include wax? What specific product do my floors require? Whether you use Bona, Rubio, Woca, Osmo…just to name a few, each company has specific cleaners and maintenance requirements. If you have a prefinished floor, request care and maintenance instructions from the flooring company who sold you your flooring.
July 18, 2019
Engineered Wood Floors vs Solid Wood Floors: Both Real Wood!
The most frequent question we hear: are engineered wood floors real wood? Yes! Engineered wood is all real wood; made of different species to combat the instability of solid wood flooring.
Solid Wood Flooring
Solid wood flooring is made of an individual piece of wood throughout. It can be used in any room that is on or above grade (not basements). Because of this, one of the many benefits of solid wood flooring being that it can be sanded and refinished many times. Solid hardwood is very sensitive to its environmental conditions: planks expand in humid climates and shrink in dry climates. Shrinking can cause visual gaps between planks in the winter. Solid flooring is prone to issues of swelling/expansion in the more humid summer months and areas with variant seasons, like the coast. In conclusion, solid wood flooring can be great but needs a lot of environmental maintenance. Something many homeowners prefer not to deal with.
Engineered Wood Flooring
Engineered wood floors are made of real wood throughout (no vinyl, cork or other composites!). It is constructed of multiple layers, with the top layer made of the featured wood species. The rates of expansion and contraction are significantly less than solid wood flooring because the layers are composed of different species. Each layer expands and contracts at different rates which means less seasonal movement. No issues with gaping.
Engineered can be installed anywhere in a home. It is ideal for basements, beach houses, and areas with seasonal varying climates and humanities. We carry products with a top layer thickness from 2 mm- up to 6 mm; 6 mm can be sanded and refinished as many times as solid hardwood floors. All wear layer thicknesses can preform well, we suggest a wear layer between 3-4 mm. This will allow for 4-5 refinishes in its lifetime. In most cases, a floor is only refinished 1-2 times in its lifetime. Engineered wood floors were “engineered” to combat the issues faced with solid, without sacrificing the longevity, feel or look.

May 30, 2019