What to know about hardwood flooring

 
Did you know that potential home buyers will often pay as much as 2.5% more for a home with wood flooring? That's exactly what we're told by real estate sales associates around the country. Even if you're not selling, it will raise your home's value in another way: You'll recoup 70 to 80% of the cost, as seen in your home's value. Put another way, a $200K house can become a $216+ one after a hardwood flooring installation. Dorsey Brothers is a family-owned, 55-year-old company. We're also a hardwood flooring retailer. Not only do we have a large inventory of all flooring types, but our staff of installers consists of highly skilled craftsmen. Many of them have 25 years' experience each.
 

Know that there are no replacement costs

 
Unless you have structural damage, the floors will last for decades with proper maintenance. We’ve even heard of some lasting up to 100 years. They often look better with age and when they are seen excessively worn or scratched, a refinishing will often bring them back to their original beauty.
 
 
 
 

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Know that there are two kinds of hardwood

 
The only difference is in the construction. Solid is one slab throughout the entire thickness. Engineered is layered and positioned in a crosswise position. This gives the flooring more stability and an increased ability to handle water. Both styles of hardwood come in many species from which to choose from. The most popular ones are oak, maple, hickory, cherry, and walnut. Ask about the difference and tell your flooring expert exactly how you plan to use it so you can be guided to the right one.
 

Thicker is better

 
That is because it affects how many times either solid or engineered hardwood can be sanded and refinished. The ideal thickness for solid is ¾-inch; engineered ranges from ⅝ to ½-inch.
 
 
 
Hardwood flooring in Hagerstown, MD from Dorsey Brothers
 
 

Installation techniques

 
With solid, first tongue and groove pieces are placed together, then it's nailed or glued. Engineered also offers a floating floor technique; the pieces click together much like tongue and groove, but then it forms a mat that hovers over the subfloor with no nails or glue needed. For more information about hardwood flooring, visit the Dorsey Brothers showroom in Hagerstown, MD, serving: Hagerstown, Clear Spring, Boonsboro, Hancock, Keedysville, and Smithsburg. We provide a free, no-obligation in-home quote.