What lies ahead in wood flooring

UIOR dealers. builders and contracf' tors. it mav seem as thoueh the process of soriing through flooring options is never-ending. Tile, laminate, engineered flooring and others are flooding the market rvith easy-toinstall, no-hassle guarantees and quicker processes for finishing out the home. Despite these trends, solid rvood continues to be the most popular choice.

Proponents say that solid rvood floors add value and character to any home or commercial building. Homes rvith wood floors sell faster. and often for more money. because of the flooring's inherent properties: durability. ease of maintenance. the environmen- tal properties. and compatibility with any d6cor. They often outlive the home rvhen manufactured and installed properly, outlasting the rest of the market's options. making rvood floors a very sound investment.

Factory-finished and engineered flooring are gaining in popularity. but site-finished is still the only rvay to get that classic. smooth. tight-fining wood floor. "Each product type has its place." said Mickey Moore. technical director for NOFMA: The Wood Flooring Manufacturers Association. "Engineered is excellent for sub-grade applications such as basements. Factory-finished products offer less hassle. but they aren't appropriate for all applications. The beveled edges collect dirt. so high traffic areas, like kitchens. should have site-finished floors to avoid a messy accumulation of debris."

Site-finished also allorvs for feature strips and customization. a grorving trend among homeorvners.

When it comes to species. exotics are gaining popularity. with South American species being the highest in demand because of their unorthodox characteristics and appearance. Despite imported species' fad-like popularity. solid oak is still king.

According to NOFMA. oak shipments have risen each consecutive year since 2004, rvith 2006 on track to beat 2005. In 2005. manufacturers shipped nine million more sq. ft. of rvood flooring than in 2004. Shipments this year have follorved the trend of housing starts, fading during the past three months. but still on pace for a third-consecutive record level.

Nevertheless. it is always important to knorv exactly what you are selling. With imported exotic hardwoods. that might not be easy. "lmported exotic species are raising concerns amongst the industry and consumers because of the lack of enforcement on harvesting procedures in foreign countries," said Timm Locke. NOFMA executive vice president. "When it comes to imported prefinished flooring, many products may not be what they are sold as, and some likely come from virgin tropical forests."

Locke indicated that there is also concern that the glues and finishes used in imported flooring may contain harmful chemicals, such as unsafe levels of mercury and formaldehyde. "It's a fact that many of the countries where these imports are made have loose environmental regulations," Locke said. "So it stands to reason their products may be less safe."

In addition to a wider mix of species, NOFMA also sees preference for a much wider array of grades or appearance characteristics. "We' ve seen continued and growing popularity of more rustic looks in some parts of the country," Locke said.

Wider boards are gaining in popularity, as are darker finishes and darker woods. Site-finished wood flooring continues to give consumers the opportunity to customize species with stains and refinish when necessary. Other domestic species, including maple, cherry and hickory, are becoming more and more popular as well.

"As consumer tastes move toward wider boards, the behavioral characteristics of wood play a bigger role in the floor's performance," said Moore, "which is all the more reason to make sure the product was made right in the first place to avoid problems later on."

NOFMA also encourages use of products it certifies, to ensure the wood floor performs as it should.

NOFMA certification requires manufacturers to meet high grading and milling standards. The organization regularly inspects mills to ensure that consumers receive quality products that will provide lasting performance.

"NOFMA-certified means you'll get a well-made, properly functioning floor: the tongue and groove fit together, the moisture content is correct, and it meets a strict line of grading standards. Basically, it is what it says it is, and we are willing to back that up," Locke said.