Frequently Asked Questions
Species
- Where do I begin when choosing a hardwood floor?
- What is the hardest floor and what does Janka mean?
- What floor is best for children or pets?
Applications
- Can I use hardwood flooring in my kitchen or bathroom?
- Can I install hardwood flooring in my basement or on a slab?
- What flooring is best for radiant heat?
Finishes & Treatments
- Prefinished or unfinished?
- Is your finish safe for my family?
- Will my floor change color over time?
- How do I prevent my new floor from cupping or crowning?
Other
Answers
Species
Choosing a type of hardwood flooring floor can sometimes be an overwhelming task, especially if you are building a new home or remodeling when you have a number of difficult decisions to make. We suggest that you try to start at one of the following points that best suit your preferences:
Species (White Oak, Hickory, Walnut, etc.)
Treatment (Rustic, Vintage, Hand Scraped, etc.)
Color (Dark or Light, Brown or Natural, Unfinished, etc.)
Other things to consider is board width, construction, and grading. You can learn more about these topics in Hardwood Flooring 101.
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The Janka hardness test is a measure of dent and wear resistance. The Janka test involves measuring the force required to embed a .444” steel ball into the wood to half the ball’s diameter. The Janka test is not a measure of scratch resistance. All hardwood flooring will dent and scratch under the right conditions regardless of the Janka rating. The hardest flooring that we manufacture is generally Hickory or Hard Maple, however all of our hardwood flooring is suitable for use in residential and commercial settings. Refer to our flooring care guide for the proper way to protect the finish on your new floor.
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All Peachey Hardwood Flooring is suitable for children or pets. Pet nails must be clipped and smoothed, spills must be immediately cleaned up to prevent staining or moisture damage, and shoes should be removed to prevent scratching by small stones embedded in the soles. Refer to our flooring care guide for the proper way to protect the finish on your new floor.
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Applications
Hardwood flooring is suitable for kitchen applications. Due to the high moisture content and potential for standing water, we do not recommend installing hardwood flooring in bathrooms or laundry rooms. If you do choose to install hardwood flooring in these locations, the use of an engineered flooring product will help reduce potential moisture related problems but will not eliminate them.
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Hardwood flooring that is installed below grade or on concrete must be of the engineered variety. Peachey Hardwood Flooring manufactures some of the finest engineered flooring available in the country. Read more about our engineered flooring in Hardwood Flooring 101.
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Radiant heat flooring creates an intense level of heat directly next to the hardwood flooring. This intensity can reduce the moisture in hardwood flooring faster than non-radiant heating. Therefore, we recommend using engineered flooring or narrow rift & quartered Oak cuts over radiant heat. In some cases where narrow plank solid flooring is used in conjunction with special adhesives made specifically for radiant heat applications, solid flooring can be successfully installed. Discuss these installation options with your installer prior to ordering your flooring.
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Finishes & Treatments
Generally this is a matter of personal preference however there are a few distinct reasons to choose one over the other:
Peachey® Prefinished Hardwood flooring is milled with a small micro-bevel on the sides and ends of the flooring to accommodate for slight variations in the subfloor, unless specified differently.
Peachey Unfinished Hardwood flooring is milled square on the sides and ends without any micro-bevel, unless specified differently.
Learn more information about unfinished and prefinished hardwood flooring in Hardwood Flooring 101.
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Yes, all our stains and finishes pass CARB II compliance standards for VOC emissions and are VOC free once fully cured.
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Certain wood species naturally change color over time. In particular, American Cherry darkens to a brownish red patina with exposure to sunlight, and Northern Black Walnut will lighten over time. All flooring is subject to some change over time with the exposure to UV sun rays. This can be especially noticeable in areas where rugs or furniture is covering the flooring, thus preventing any UV exposure. In areas of heavy UV exposure, you may want to consult with a window tint expert if you would like to prevent UV rays from entering your home through the windows. Our conversion varnish finish will not yellow unlike polyurethane finishes that tend to turn yellow with time.
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Professional installation using NWFA standards, maintaining a humidity level between 35%-55% at all times, and caring for your floor according to our standards will reduce the possibility of cupping or crowning. Wood is still a living thing that absorbs and desorbs water as it is exposed to humidity. Wood will shrink and swell with these humidity changes, however following the guidelines above should minimize these changes within acceptable levels.
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Other
Peachey Hardwood Flooring has been delivered all across the United States, Canada and Europe. We have private carriers that deliver within 500 miles of our facility. For distances beyond 500 miles or outside of the United States, we have arrangements with several commercial carriers to carefully transport your flooring to your location. Please contact us for estimates and to make arrangements for delivery. All flooring is sold FOB our facility in Reedsville, PA and delivery is an additional charge. Private and commercial carriers do not unload flooring into your home and commercial building. Delivery includes transporting the flooring to your location, then unloading is performed by the installer, contractor, or homeowner.
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Peachey Wood Products Limited Warranty
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All website images are provided as a representation of the flooring and staining options available from Peachey. Due to variations in individual monitor and printer color settings, we cannot guarantee actual flooring colors will be an exact match to those shown online.
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