Hickory / Pecan Wood Floor
Pecan: Back in the day, Westward pioneers used Hickory to make wagon wheels. Today, Pecan Wood is a great add-on piece to any room in the house. As a flooring option, Pecan Wood is one of the harder woods on the market today. Pecan does not respond well to nailing or sanding because of its light color and density, however gluing is fine. Pecan wood is durable, tough and has a stiffness found in no other commercial wood. This dark reddish-brown wood is perfect for carving baseball bats, golf clubs and even used for cooking-due to its high shock resistance. The wood is manageable; and with proper care, you could walk on a lifetime value.
Hickory: This type of wood is great for a rustic or ranch-style home. Depending on what look you are trying to achieve, different grades of Hickory are available so you can choose a style of your own for your home. Hickory heartwood is tan or reddish with a white or cream sapwood color. The texture is moderately rough and has a closed grain (unlike Pecan). There are some positives when looking at Hickory; it is a strong, tough wood that has a stiffness not found in other commercial wood. On the downside, sanding may be difficult due to density and the wood is prone to splitting, but with the proper care, you could walk on a lifetime of value.
How is your hardwood floor supposed to look?
Appearance: Hickory heartwood is tan or reddish with a white or cream sapwood color.
Grain: Hickory Woods have a closed grain with a moderately rough texture.
Properties: Hickory is the hardest, heaviest and strongest American wood. It is prone to splitting when nailing.
General Guidelines to Keep Your Hardwood Flooring in Great Shape
These simple steps can prolong the life and beauty of your hardwood floor regardless of the specific type of wood you may have.
- Close curtains and blinds- UV rays from sunlight can fade colors and cause discoloration.
- Use protectors under furniture bases that can scratch or mar the surface.
- Clean, wipe or blot spills immediately to help prevent stains.
- Place doormats at every door- this helps to trap dirt at the doorway instead of transferring it to the floor. (The Floor mats featured at ForLifeProducts.com are perfect for this!)
- Take care when moving heavy objects like furniture and equipment- utilize furniture coasters to transport heavy objects across floors.
- Dust and vacuum floors regularly to maximize beauty and decrease buildup.
- Exercise caution when using bleaches, mildew removers, oven cleaners, drain openers and plant food as these contain strong chemicals that can damage or discolor floors.
- Always follow your manufacturer’s guidelines on products and use only those that are safe for your hardwood floor type.
- Rearrange area rugs occasionally as they block sunlight causing a discolored area to develop under the rug.
- Avoid exposure to water.
- Maintain normal humidity of 40-60% throughout all seasons of the year to reduce the natural expansion and contraction process typically found in hardwoods. Humidity levels can be maintained with air conditioners, humidifiers, de-humidifiers or with a heating system.
- Keep pets nails trimmed and filed and take care with stiletto style heels to minimize scratches.
- Never clean hardwood floors with steel wools or scouring powders as these can cause damage.
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