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Hardwood Floors >
Grades of Hardwood > Differences in Natural
Appearance
Natural Variations in Appearance
Why doesn't what you bought look like the sample
in the showroom?
Unlike factory-made, artificial materials, each
hardwood board has a unique life story. During the approximately 60 years it
takes for a hardwood to mature, each tree develops a one-of-a-kind grain pattern
and texture. Natural hardwood products are never as uniform as plastic
laminate or wallpaper from a catalog.
Solid hardwood products, like silks, leather and
precious stones, are shaped by natural forces and they may display a variety of
character markings. Knots are character marks, telling the story of tree limbs
that grew and fell to the forest floor as the tree matured. Even boards from the
same hardwood tree will show significant variation in color. For instance,
"younger" wood closer to the bark (sapwood) will be lighter than that which
comes from the central portion. You also can see the effects of the minerals and
other essential elements that the trees absorbed as they grew.
Character Markings Glossary
Knots: Hard,
cylindrical regions marking locations of branches that have been encased by
later growth of the tree.
Mineral streaks:
Olive or grayish markings caused by such environmental factors as trace elements
in water or soil.
Sapwood: The
paler-colored wood closer to the bark of the tree.
Grain: The
directions, size, appearance and quality of wood fibers.
Growth ring:
Layer of wood added to a tree during a single growing season…made up of
earlywood and latewood.
No two pieces of hardwood are alike. Because of
this, your particular item looks like no other in the world...including those in
the showroom. However, rest assured that none of the natural markings that
characterize hardwood floors affect their durability or structural integrity.
Competitive
Pricing!
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FREE In-home
Consultation and Estimate! |
(972) 562-8610
Visit the Heritage Showroom
Located near the historic
square in downtown McKinney, our showroom features many options for your
hardwood floors, from solid wood to engineered and pre-finished. Our
design center includes red oak flooring, white oak flooring, maple flooring,
walnut flooring, smooth and handscraped finishes. You can get wonderful
ideas for flooring your home, and plan your next project with our experienced
staff. We welcome you to our showroom, or to take advantage of a free
in-home estimate by calling (972) 562-8610.
Family Owned
and Operated
Serving North Texas since 1978
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