With proper care, hardwood flooring can stand the test of time and uplift the appearance of homes for generations. One of the most popular trends in recent years is wide plank flooring. Classified as 5” wide and greater, wide plank flooring is gorgeous, timeless, and it is clear that this stunning style is here to stay!
For those who love a rustic or traditional design style, wide plank flooring is a fantastic option. With the wider planks, there is more room to showcase the natural beauty of real wood. These charming and distinctive elements (such as knots, splits, and sapwood) add a sense of heritage, warmth, and unique character.
Chavannes, 8 5/8″ Width
Bach, 11.5″ Width
For those who prefer a more refined aesthetic and a contemporary or more modern design style, Select Grade wide plank floors have very few knots and feature a cleaner grain. Lighter toned wide plank floors are especially popular in these design styles.
Ravenna, 9.5″ Width
In large spaces and smaller spaces alike, wide plank flooring can make the space more airy and feel more open. This is especially true with lighter toned flooring. The wider the plank, the fewer seams between boards. This means few interruptions in the pattern of your flooring and in the natural lines of the room.
Ravenna, 9.5″ Width
Strength & Stability of Wide Plank Flooring
It is important to note that the wider the plank, the more susceptible the plank is to seasonal expanding and shrinking. While this is normal and to be expected of hardwood floors, engineered floors help to minimize these seasonal changes with an extraordinarily stable multi-ply, cross-grain core. With each layer of wood reinforcing the next, the beautiful aesthetic of wide plank flooring can also be dimensionally stable.
We have something very special to share with you today. We teamed up with design powerhouse, Megan Molten, to bring you one of our favorite installations of the Villa Caprisi Romagna to date! Great things happen when you combine a stunning 9.5″ wide European oak floor with Megan’s fantastic eye for design. Continue reading below to hear Megan’s thoughts on her new floors!
One of my favorite new features of our home renovation is our beautiful hardwood floors by Urbanfloor . They make the biggest statement throughout our home and really captured the modern, fresh look we are going for. We decided to go with Romagna from the Villa Caprisi collection. I love the wider planks and how the European Oak brightens up our home. The floors are engineered hardwoods which we chose for a few reasons starting with the cost. Engineered hardwoods are a much better price point than regular hardwood flooring. I also loved that there is no waiting. We put our furniture in the day our floors were installed! You cannot do this with regular hardwood floors. With regular hardwood floors there is a sealing process and wait time before you can walk on them again. There is a lot of conveniences to not having to worry about that! We were on a tight timeline to get settled in and this was especially important to us.
We carried the hardwood floors through the open kitchen/ dining room, living room, mud room, entryway, hallways and bedrooms. The light floors and white walls give our home an airy feel. We chose to paint our entire home Chantilly Lace by Benjamin Moore from my go to ~ Spectrum Paint . The walls are a flat scrubbable finish while the trim and doors are satin. I love how the Charleston Peninsula Print by 42Pressed pops at the end of our hallway against the white walls and hardwood flooring.
My favorite feature of the hardwood floors is the idiosyncratic knots, mineral streaks and other elegant imperfections. I love seeing the original characteristics of the wood. The floors have a wirebrushed texture with a lacquered finish and are so soft to walk on! I love the matte finish of the floors.
The floors are so durable with a scratch-resistant surface great for high foot traffic areas of the home! We have pets and are always on the go so it was super important to us that the flooring would stay looking beautiful after lots of use. I wanted low maintenance and these floors are super easy to clean and do not show dirt easily! The floors contract and expand with the moisture levels which we needed given we have a crawl space home on the marsh ~ there is A LOT of moisture.
If you are looking to update your flooring I highly recommend Urbanfloor. Their selection of luxury hardwood flooring is unparalleled. Their variety of unique flooring fits any style. You can order free samples of the exact flooring featured in this post by clicking here ! What you see if what you get ~ you receive the sample in the finish of your choosing and that is what gets put down. There is no stains or working to get the perfect color that doesn’t exactly translate once applied. We loved knowing exactly what the finished product would look like once installed!
To purchase from Urbanfloor check out their dealer locator page to find a retailer in your area.
xx
Megan
SHOP THE POST
Thank you for sharing your experience, Megan! If you’d like to see more of what Megan is up to, check out her Instagram or her website!
We are going to tackle an important question today: should you choose luxury SPC vinyl or engineered hardwood for your home? We are proud to offer many selections in both of these categories in a variety of colors. Let’s take a closer look at each of these kinds of floor so you can decide which is the best fit for your family.
First, let’s take an individual look at each type of construction.
Engineered Hardwood Floor
Engineered Hardwood Construction
Engineered hardwood floor is made of 100% natural wood and is constructed in multiple, cross-grain layers. The top layer, or wear layer, comes in a variety of species and colors. Each layer of the core is laid cross-grain, in different directions, and ensures that the structure is highly stable, with less expansion and contraction when it encounters moisture, humidity, and fluctuating temperatures.
Luxury SPC Vinyl
Luxury SPC Vinyl Construction
SPC stands for Stone Polymer Composite. SPC refers to the core of our luxury rigid core floors. This core is affixed to a premium foam underlayment. On top of the SPC core is the image layer (which gives the floor its fabulous wood-like appearance) that is protected with a clear wear layer and a UV scratch-resistant protective coating. This durable floor can be installed in any room – kitchens, bathrooms, and basements alike. Our Cascade SPC is 100% waterproof and designed to absorb impact and resist scratches. SPC is structurally stable, meaning that its resilient construction minimizes seasonal expanding or shrinking, and its rigidity helps to cover minor imperfections in subfloor.
Now that we have defined our terms, let’s see how these amazing different constructions compare.
Luxury SPC Vinyl – Cascade Alamere
1. Installation
Engineered Hardwood
Depending on the type of hardwood floor, and given the correct environmental conditions, engineered hardwood floors can be installed below, on, or above grade using many different installation techniques (including glue, float, nail/staple). It can also be installed over all types of subfloor (including wood and concrete).
Luxury SPC Vinyl
SPC planks may be installed over on grade, above grade or below grade concrete subfloors, wooden subfloors, and even over most existing smooth, single layer, hard surface or un-cushioned resilient flooring. With a glueless, easy click installation system, and an attached UrbanShield Premium Underlayment, SPC flooring can be very simple to install. It is easy to cut and there are no specialized tools required, our SPC planks click together for a fast and trouble-free installation.
Click here for detailed, downloadable installation guides for your specific flooring.
Engineered Hardwood – European Oak Chardonnay
2. Design Options & Aesthetic
Engineered Hardwood
Modern engineered hardwood comes in a variety of species and design styles, from smooth finished maple to ultra-wide, wire-brushed European oak.
Luxury SPC Vinyl
Likewise, SPC flooring comes in a range of design options. Our SPC selections are complete with embossed grain which helps provide the look and feel of genuine hardwood.
Luxury SPC Vinyl – Cascade Yellowstone
3. Cost
Engineered Hardwood
Engineered hardwood comes in a wide range of prices from entry-level to premium. The price per square foot largely depends on the species, wear layer thickness, or width of the plank. Whatever kind of engineered hardwood that is selected, as it is constructed from 100% natural wood, it will add value and style to any home.
Luxury SPC Vinyl
SPC is cost-effective and generally at a lower price-point than most engineered hardwood flooring. It is an attractive option for many homeowners because of its resilience and ease of care.
Click here to find an Urbanfloor retailer near you who can assist you with pricing and purchasing information.
Engineered Hardwood – European Oak Grigio
4. Longevity
Engineered Hardwood
Engineered hardwood, when properly cared for and maintained, can last for years and years to come. While some engineered floors can be completely refinished, it is not a guarantee with this kind of construction. Whether or not sanding and re-refinishing is possible depends on the thickness of the wear layer. Make sure to select a product with a thicker wear layer if you plan on sanding and refinishing in the future.
For those who do not want to go through the extensive sanding and refinishing process, a screen and re-coat is always an option for refreshing your floors. This process is much less intensive and does not require sanding of the wood. Instead, a screen and re-coat involves buffing the original finish and reapplying a new top coat to restore your floors to their original glory. This can be done multiple time throughout the life of the floor.
Luxury SPC Vinyl
SPC flooring is extremely scratch resistant, but not scratch or damage proof. If any large gauges or damage should occur, a plank replacement is a great, low-cost option. SPC floors can last for many years with proper care and attention. The best way to keep SPC floors looking as beautiful as the day they were installed and to get the most out of your investment is proper cleaning and care.
Want to know more about your Urbanfloor warranty? Click here.
Luxury SPC Vinyl – Cascade Niagara
5. Cleaning & Care
Engineered Hardwood
Today’s hardwood floors are quick and easy to maintain, and with a few low-cost cleaning tools and a little preventative maintenance, can look beautiful for years to come. In addition to maintaining a stable environment, engineered hardwood floor should be cleaned regularly. Simply sweep, dust mop or vacuum to remove dirt and grit. When necessary, engineered hardwood can be cleaned with a hardwood floor cleaning product.
Luxury SPC Vinyl
As SPC floors have a completely non-porous surface, they repel water – making clean-ups a breeze! Dust, dirt, and grit can be an SPC floor’s worst enemy and cause them to scratch prematurely. The faster they are removed, the less wear and tear to the floor. Daily sweeping or vacuuming is recommended to help keep them scratch-free. If the vacuum has a beater bar (rotating bristle brush), it should be turned off. Twice weekly washing is recommended to avoid buildup of dirt and debris.
Click here to view our comprehensive cleaning & care guides for both engineered hardwood and SPC products.
Engineered Hardwood – Hickory Cloud 9
6. Summary
Both engineered hardwood and luxury SPC vinyl are fantastic options when it comes to updating the look and feel of a home. While neither is inherently superior to the other, each has different pros and cons that make one or the other a better fit for different families or lifestyles. Some may opt for SPC as it is DIY friendly, waterproof and extremely easy to maintain. Others may select engineered hardwood for the unparalleled warmth, beauty and added value that genuine hardwood brings to a home.
Whatever your preference, we have floor we know you’ll love. Click below to browse our entire catalog of products and order free samples directly from our website!
It is a new year and we are excited to share with you some of our newest additions to the popular Urban Lifestyle, Villa Caprisi, and premium L’artiste collections. We were proud to show off our new beautiful colors at The International Surface Event in Las Vegas last week.
In case you weren’t able to make it to the show, here’s a few photos to catch you up on what you might have missed!
One of the things we are most excited about as we begin 2020 is our Cascade architectural folder!
Our Cascade architectural folder features all 30 colors of our stunning SPC collection. Complete with samples, technical information, and photos, this binder is perfect for flooring dealers and designers alike.
Surfaces was a fantastic way to kick off 2020! Stay tuned for more information as we release all our exciting new products this year – we can’t wait to share them with you!
Want to stay up-to-date with product releases and other important news? Subscribe to our newsletter! Head over to www.urbanfloor.com, scroll down to the bottom of the page and enter your email!
Want to see more? Check out our highlight video HERE!
Note: If you are a designer or flooring dealer and would like to request a Cascade architectural folder, please contact us at (323) 890-0000 or email us at customerservice@urbanfloor.com.
Our L’artiste collection of engineered European oak is inspired by history’s most prestigious French artists. The careful crafting of each plank mirrors the intricate artistic process of some of the greatest painters ever known. With genuine European oak featuring elegant brushed detail, each handcrafted ultra-wide and extra-long plank is a work of art in its own right.
AESTHETIC & STYLE
The wire-brushed European oak Renoir mirrors the intrinsic warmth and love of beauty of its namesake. With a balanced and neutral color, this 8 5/8” wide plank floor will infuse into your home the same life and richness of feeling of Renoir’s most beloved works of art. Beautiful wood grain patterns are coupled with a state-of-the-art reactive stain, lightly bringing out the natural splendor of genuine European oak by creating color from within the wood.
The charming knots and mineral streaks on each plank are creations of nature as lovely and as purposeful as Renoir’s many works of art. Each genuine European oak plank of the L’artiste Renoir is elegantly wirebrushed to highlight its natural grain and completed with a pristine UV-oil matte finish – harmonizing old-world style and contemporary design.
STRENGTH & DURABILITY
The Renoir’s strong 8 5/8″ wide planks are able to withstand heavy foot traffic. Its intricately wirebrushed texture make this floor a great option for families with children and pets. The L’artiste collection is backed with Urbanfloor’s lifetime structural and 50-year finish warranty (see warranty information here for more details). As a result, you can choose the Renoir with confidence that its elegant style will be around for years to come.
SAFETY STANDARDS
We ensure cleaner air for your family. In accordance with our company’s values, all our engineered wood flooring is proudly FloorScore certified and the European oak Renoir is no exception. FloorScore certification is a voluntary, independent certification program that tests and certifies that hard surface flooring and the materials that they are made with are in compliance with stringent indoor quality emissions.
We have another special treat for you today! Multi-talented Minnesota based designer and real estate extraordinaire, Katie Kurtz, thinks outside the (flooring) box when it comes to design. Read below to see what she did with some creative thinking and a few extra boxes of our European Oak Grigio!
Creative Application: Wood Floors Don’t Have To Go On Floors!
In our most recent project, we added a statement wall in the home office and then re-imagined the typical use of wood floors. The home has 3 wood tones already; light wood floors (Urbanfloor Chêne “Grigio”), grey oak cabinets, beams and fireplace mantel plus the white enameled trim. As a rule of thumb I don’t suggest doing more than 3 wood tones in a home so I didn’t want to introduce another wood color and came to the conclusion that matching the floor would look amazing! The Chêne collection is made to be used as a traditional floor application but having a handy husband who can make anything we were able to create a herringbone pattern and apply it to the wall in the office!
Chêne Collection “Grigio”
You will always, always find me recommending wood flooring to my clients! In the past years LVP has become very popular but I’m still a wood girl through and through. I might budge for a laundry room or bathroom:)!
Before
Even though we created our own pattern, Urbanfloor DOES have a chevron pattern that makes install much easier! Timbertop, which is their chevron (very similar to herringbone), is a pre-done patterned floor that comes in 4 colors and is amazing! Being the matchy designer that I am we decided to tackle the pattern using the Chêne flooring product that we used on our floors so it matched perfectly!
We prepped the wall with 1×1 strips which creates a strong base to attach the wood planks to. Each box comes with multiple lengths to create interest and variation in the floor but for a herringbone pattern each plank has to e the same length. We decided on a size for each plank, we went mid size of the standards in the box to eliminate the most waste, and then went to town!
Two aged brass Hudson Valley picture lights were installed to finish off the look and I have a whole plan in place for the styling of this wall. Final styling and photos still to come so stay tuned but what do you think? We think it’s pretty awesome!
For your home projects, think outside the box. A cove ceiling with a wood plank floor would be amazing, or a backsplash behind a coffee bar! Options are endless, go on with your creative selves and have fun!
Welcome back to the blog! We have a special treat for you today – one of our favorite teams of interior designers/builders/amazing individuals, construction2style, are sharing some of their design wisdom and experience working with our floors!
We are construction2style, a team of four based in Minneapolis, MN that was started by husband and wife, Jamie and Morgan, back in 2012. Our company started as a DIY blog and has since evolved into a full service design + build interior residential and small media company. For over five years, we have been tearing houses apart and creating new happy spaces, not only for our clients, but within our own homes. We document everything on our blog from tutorials on the construction side, to how to build a website, to how we built and continue to build our brand.
A few years ago, we got connected to Urbanfloor and we’ve absolutely loved getting to work with this company and the kind humans who run it. Their products are top-notch, their customer service is amazing, and they have so many options from engineered wood to SPC.
Over a year ago, we remodeled our kitchen that really kicked off our firm partnership with Urbanfloor. They were open to any feedback and had any extra items we forgot and needed to us within days! When Jamie and Topher were installing the floor, they said it was a really easy process as well and we documented a full tutorial here.
After having dark floors in our prior home, we knew that we wanted to go lighter. With crazy kids and all. With the help of the team from Urbanfloor, we chose the Lambrusco, European oak.
The planks are 7.5” wide with a wire-brush texture and have a light, creamy wood hue. This flooring was the perfect combination of lightness we wanted, plus texture and deeper tones that makes our home feel cozy and warm.
We knew we wanted to continue the same flooring into the dining room and music room off the kitchen to keep the look consistent throughout. In our dining room, these light floors are a great base for the white trim and gray walls.
With this flooring in our home for the past year, it has performed really well, even with two toddlers, Minnesota winters, lots of traffic in and out. We love it so much that now we’re continuing it into our living room. And did I mention our kids ride their bike in our home nonstop? And not one visible scratch.
With our client projects, we have been seeing a shift to lighter wood tones. Whether in cabinetry, floating shelves, or wood flooring, white oak has been a major player in the remodeling world. In this main level remodel, our clients loved our Lambrusco floors so much that they wanted them in their own home.
Engineered flooring is a great alternative to solid wood flooring for the lower price point and durability. With Urbanfloor, they carry a lifetime structural warranty and 35 year finish warranty, which gives our clients peace of mind and makes these floors a material we highly recommend for our remodeling projects.
Another trend we’re seeing in the remodeling world is the want for waterproof and scratch-proof flooring. A majority of our clients have pets and young kids, so having durable floors is a big priority for them. We also live in Minnesota where it snows for half of the year, so the waterproof aspect saves the floors for years to come.
In this kitchen remodel, we installed Urbanfloor’s Cascade SPC flooring and since this flooring is non-porous, it makes cleaning and maintenance easy. When clients are wanting a floor that can continue throughout their home, we always recommend SPC. It not only is easy to clean, but it looks amazing too!
That’s just a few of our favorite projects that we’ve recently done using Urbanfloor and we can’t wait to keep incorporating more and more!
-construction2style
Love what you see? Click here to see more of construction2style’s work!
Happy Summer! The weather is heating up and so are the hot design trends of 2019. One of our favorite designs of the year so far, this Boston home epitomizes the minimalist and sustainable aesthetic that is not only so popular in design trends today but timeless in enduring style.
The home you’re about to see has all the charm of a simple, modern space with bold accents and deep contrast that make this design POP! The European oak Chardonnay from our Chene collection is the perfect neutral flooring choice in this stunning design!
Even from the street, this modern Boston duplex has the charm to spare! Does anyone else love a bold colored door as much as we do?
Step inside to see a beautiful, open-concept living space as the living room flows into the eating area and kitchen. Natural light streams through bright windows to illuminate the gorgeous plank variations of the Chardonnay.
Contrasted with the bright and airy atmosphere the windows bring, bold accent furniture and a floor to ceiling fireplace take center stage in this living room.
Stainless steel appliances and contrasting wood tones give this kitchen an inviting warmth and a cool, modern twist.
A beautifully simple black and white bedroom off the main level is the perfect place to relax.
The second bedroom on the main level has a hint of lavender that softens the room with a welcoming and warm ambiance.
A sleek modern bath adorns the main level. A glass shower and tile floor give this bathroom a contemporary feel.
The staircase that leads up to the top level of this home is a feat of modern architecture. Strong, angular lines are juxtaposed with the warmth of the natural wood tones of the Chardonnay.
Another airy bedroom and bath await at the top of the landing. Bright windows, white accents, and a skylight help to uplift this fresh aesthetic.
Of the two bedrooms on the top level, however, the master suite is certainly the most impressive.
Vaulted ceilings, skylights, and bright whites make this design a true breath of fresh air.
Massive floor-to-ceiling closets and built-in storage are just a few of the incredible features of this master suite, for example.
The master bath does not disappoint. With unique lighted mirrors and a large tub, it’s the perfect bathroom to settle and relax away from the business of city life.
We hope you enjoyed this tour of this Boston home!
We are back to highlight another stunning hardwood floor! This time, we’re shining the spotlight on a beautiful almond-toned selection from the L’artiste collection, inspired by history’s most prestigious French artists – the Morisot.
Berthe Morisot, a French Impressionist painter, focused her painting on a variety of different subjects. From pristine landscapes to portraits and domestic scenes, her paintings were the work of careful, diligent study. From her watercolors, charcoal drawings, oil paintings, and more, each stroke of her brush or dash of her pencil was a focused act of inspiration.
AESTHETIC & STYLE
The same stunning technique and attention to detail Berthe Morisot used in her painting is exhibited it the luminous quality of the European oak Morisot floor. Beautiful wood grain patterns are coupled with a state-of-the-art reactive stain, lightly bringing out the natural splendor of genuine European oak by creating color from within the wood.
The charming knots and mineral streaks on each 8 5/8” wide plank are creations of nature as lovely and as purposeful as Morisot’s many works of art. Each genuine European oak plank of the L’artiste Morisot is elegantly wirebrushed to highlight its natural grain and completed with a pristine UV-oil matte finish – harmonizing old-world style and contemporary design.
A delicate micro-beveled edge accents each plank, accentuating the inherent natural character of the wood, and ensuring a smooth transition from board to board. Stunning character marks adorn each European oak plank, from filled knots to mineral splits, adding a time-worn, storied feel to any room.
STRENGTH & DURABILITY
The Morisot’s strong 8 5/8″ wide planks are able to withstand heavy foot traffic. Its intricately wirebrushed texture make this floor a great option for families with children and pets. The L’artiste Morisot is backed with Urbanfloor’s lifetime structural and 50-year finish warranty (see warranty information here for more details). As a result, you can choose the Morisot with confidence that its beauty will be around for years to come.
SAFETY STANDARDS
We ensure cleaner air for your family. In accordance with our company’s values, all our engineered wood flooring is proudly FloorScore certified and the European oak Morisot is no exception. FloorScore certification is a voluntary, independent certification program that tests and certifies that hard surface flooring and the materials that they are made with are in compliance with stringent indoor quality emissions.
Reactive stain – you may have heard this term spoken in your search for hardwood floor, but what does it mean? To understand what a reactive stain is, it is also important to understand what it is not.
Timbertop Lifestyle, Biarritz
The Process
Whereas traditional stains add their color by painting the surface of the wood, reactive stains work by reacting with the natural components within the wood. Reactive stains are completely void of pigment and create color from inside the wood by interacting with the wood’s natural ingredients to create unique, 2-toned colors in wide variations that cannot be duplicated with traditional staining methods.
L’artiste, Chavannes
The Result
Reactive stain’s interaction with the natural tannins and sugars in the wood also creates an ‘aged’ look by replicating the oxidization and maturing process of naturally aged wood. This natural maturing process will normally take decades to achieve. However, with the reactive staining process it can create the same look immediately without harming the quality of the wood itself.
L’artiste, Pissarro
Fuming
Another state-of-the-art reactive process is fuming. Fumed (AKA Smoked) wood has been exposed to ammonia which reacts with the natural tannins in the wood to bring out new colors and variations. European oak is the preferred species for fuming/smoking because of its high tannin content which brings out an intense darker color.
Timbertop Lifestyle, Vail
Because the intensity of the reaction depends on the tannin content of the wood, each board reacts a little differently from the next, creating color variation that is more pronounced than untreated wood.
It is a common mistake that fuming/smoking involves application of the ammonia INTO the wood, but this is not the case. The change in color comes from the wood’s reaction to the presence of small amounts of ammonia in an enclosed environment. The ammonia causes the tannins in the wood to be brought to the surface. The longer the wood is exposed to the ammonia, the darker it becomes, resulting in a range of color from rich brown to almost black.
L’artiste, Rousseau
Wood floors that are treated with reactive stains or are fumed produce unmatched hues and a depth of color that simply cannot be duplicated with traditional staining methods. Are you still wondering if a reactive stained or fumed floor is right for you? Take a look at some of our reactive stained floors in the French inspired L’artiste collection or in the ultra-wide Timbertop Lifestyle series and decide for yourself!
