Why Choose The Fantastic Floor?

We know that there are a lot of online hardwood flooring retailers on the market, and we're honored you've considered making your next hardwood flooring purchase with us. For today's post we'd like to highlight some of the reasons we consider ourselves to be the premiere online hardwood flooring provider in the industry today. So without further ado, here's a bit of The Fantastic Floor horn-tooting. Enjoy!

Customer Service
We know you want knowledgeable professionals who know how to treat you right. From advice on what hardwood to choose to the installation process itself, we are dedicated to leaving you 100% satisfied with your purchase and  your purchase process.

Low Prices
“Saving the world from high prices.” We use this mantra with pride. One reason customers love us so much is because we offer the highest quality hardwood flooring products at reasonable prices. If you're look for the finest floors at a price that won't break the bank, look no further than The Fantastic Floor.

Quality/Range of Products
We carry hardwood species from all over the world, including Africa, Asia and South America. Whether you're looking for a domestic standard like White Oak or an exotic species like Tigerwood, we've got you covered.

Valuable Database
We provide crisp, beautiful images of all of our products so you can see exactly what you're getting before you buy. We also offer detailed technical information about each of our species, including hardness, strength, and density.

Speedy Delivery
On average, it takes us just 2 business days to process an order for shipment, and 3-5 business days for you to receive your shipment. Take that, UPS!

Hopefully by this point we have thoroughly convinced you why The Fantastic Floor is the best online hardwood flooring retailer on the market today. If not, give us a call at 1-888-449-9663. We'd love a chance to convince you that we're the best at helping people pick the perfect floor!

Strip, Plank, or Parquet: Which is Right for You?

Hardwood floors come in a great number of different categories: prefinished, unfinished, engineered, solid, long length, various width, etc. Well, we here at The Fantastic Floor are nothing if not thorough, so we thought we'd add one more post detailing another common hardwood category: board type!

There are three main styles of hardwood flooring boards: strip, plank, and parquet. While all three types have their benefits, there are some subtle differences that you should consider if you’re unsure exactly what kind of flooring you want underfoot.

Strip Hardwood

Strip flooring is the most common type of hardwood floor. It is usually a little over 2 inches wide. It creates a very even, linear look, and it’s known for making small rooms appear larger. Strip hardwood is a classic hardwood style, and it's usually a fairly inexpensive one as well!

Wide Plank Hardwood

Plank hardwood flooring requires a little more space. Planks range from 3 to 7 inches wide, which gives this specific hardwood flooring style a more casual appearance. Plank flooring is great for more rustic or old-fashioned home design schemes, or for anyone looking for a laid-back atmosphere.

Parquet Hardwood

Design-wise, parquet is in a category far apart from strip and plank. A parquet hardwood floor usually consists of geometric patterns linked together, but creative designers have found ways to use parquet in much more exotic and eye-catching ways. A parquet hardwood floor is a great way to give a room a one-of-a-kind style, Be warned, however: parquet hardwood floors can be expensive and difficult to install. Make sure the flooring professional you hire has plenty of experience with parquet before you start the installation process.

All three of these styles are available in a wide variety of hardwood species, so there’s no shortage of options for color, hardness, or width. Which style is best for you? It all depends on your personal preference and the room in which the flooring will be installed. If you have any questions about strip, plank, or parquet hardwood, please give us a call at 1-888-448-9663. We can't wait to help you pick the perfect floor!

Fantastic Floor Presents: Old Grey White Oak

Welcome back to Fantastic Floor Presents! Last month we featured the versatile and classic Southern Yellow Pine. This month we are taking a look at a hardwood color that is becoming quite a trend in both the worlds of residential and commercial flooring: grey! 

Grey hardwood flooring is quickly becoming one of the most sought-after flooring products on the market. It used to be confined to the bathroom or the kitchen, where a cleaner and more sterile look was desired, but now it’s becoming more popular in every room of the house. One of the main reasons behind grey hardwood’s popularity is its neutral tone. This allows it to be mixed with several different colors, as well as the other neutrals of black and white. It also acts as a nice neutral canvas on which designers or homeowners can add bright pops of color, such as a rug or a sofa. Grey hardwood is also quite versatile. It can run the range from modern and chic:

to rustic and homey:

One of the most popular grey hardwood flooring options available at The Fantastic Floor is Old Grey White Oak. This flooring variety is a very versatile hardwood and a standard in homes across the country. Its pale white tones give off a crisp, clean vibe that brings with it a feeling of age and tradition that is popular with hardwood floors. White Oak also stands up well to every day wear-and-tear, making it a smart long-term flooring option.

Need help picking the perfect grey hardwood flooring option for your home or office? Call The Fantastic Floor today at 1-888-448-9663 to talk with one of our genius flooring representatives. We can't wait to help you pick the perfect floor!

Types of Hardwood Moldings and How They’re Used

When it comes to hardwood moldings, not all hardwood floors are created equal. Different floor and surface types require different types of moldings, and there are lots of factors to consider: the expansion gap, floor type, floor thickness, transitioning, etc. But fear not, dear reader! For every floor type and application there is a molding that fits the purpose and looks great. Here are some descriptions of the most common prefinished hardwood moldings and the situations in which they are most useful. Enjoy!

Quarter Round

For a more subtle blend between wall base and floor, the quarter round – so-named due to its cut resembling one quarter of a circle – is used to help cover the expansion gap between wall and hardwood floor. The quarter round can also be used on its own to create a transition between a hardwood floor and cabinets.

Base Shoe

Slightly narrower than the quarter round, base shoe molding can also be used to fill in the expansion gap if a narrower look along the wall base is desired. It is also used as a transition between hardwood floor and wall under cabinets.

Cove

Cove moldings are used to cover gaps between vertical surfaces, including walls, staircases, and banisters, and between the tread and riser.

Wall Base

Another option for filling in the expansion gap, taller wall bases provide a cleaner juncture where floor meets wall and helps to give the room a more formal and finished appearance.

Square Nose

Square noses are used with floating hardwood floors. They are perfect for filling in the expansion gap between floors and vertical surfaces such as brick or glass, surfaces that cannot be framed by a quarter round or a wall base.

T-Molding

Moving into the molds that connect floor to floor, T-moldings are used to create a smooth transition between floor surfaces in adjoining rooms. They are most useful for joining floors of the same thickness.

Reducer

Reducers are used to connect floors with differing heights. This molding comes in two varieties: flush and overlap. Flush reducers are used for glue or nail-down flooring installations. With hardwood floors that require space to expand and contract, an overlap reducer is required.

Threshold

An extremely versatile floor mold, thresholds are also ideal for transitioning between flooring of different heights. Their use goes beyond hardwood floors; they can also be used to adjoin tile and carpet.

Stair Nose

This is another molding that comes in flush or overlap. Stair noses are used to give a finished look to hardwood steps and are an inexpensive alternative to laying down a tread. They are designed to take the brunt of foot traffic while maintaining each step’s beauty. Flush noses are used for glue and nail-down methods, while overlap noses are used on stairs that need space to expand and contract.

Want more information about hardwood flooring moldings? Give us a call today at 1-888-448-9663, or send us an email at customer.service@incrediblewow.com. We can’t wait to help you pick the perfect floor – molding, that is!

Fantastic Floor Presents: Southern Yellow Pine

Welcome back to Fantastic Floor Presents! Last month we featured the deep red and durability of Bloodwood hardwood flooring. This month we’re taking a look at a highly diverse wood that is classic for flooring, furniture and many types of construction: Southern Yellow Pine.

Native to the southeastern United States, Southern Yellow Pine has been a popular and widely used wood since the nineteenth century. Used for everything from ship masts to residential flooring, Southern Yellow Pine remains a popular choice for construction timber and plywood. Southern Yellow Pine has two varieties: sapwood and heartwood. The sapwood is yellowish white in color, while the heartwood – which only begins to form after the tree is at least 20 years old – can range from yellow to reddish brown. Sometimes it features a clear pattern, and other times sports characteristic darker knots.

Southern Yellow Pine is a coarse wood. With a Janka rating of 690, it is on the softer side, and doesn’t stand up to scratches and scuffs as well as other hardwoods. However, it makes up for this with versatility: It responds well to sawing and nailing, marking it as an ideal wood for resizing and reshaping.

Want to learn more about Southern Yellow Pine? Contact the professionals at The Fantastic Floor at 1-888-448-9663, or give us a call at customer.service@incrediblewow.com. We can’t wait to help you pick the perfect floor!

The Top 5 Reasons You Should Choose Hardwood Flooring Over Carpet

 

It’s one of the most common choices a homeowner faces when remodeling and existing home or building a new one: “What type of flooring should I choose?” Hardwood and carpet are the two main types of flooring you have to choose from, but which is best for you? We’re a bit biased, we admit, but we still can’t help but chime in: Hardwood! Hardwood! Hardwood!

Now, we’re not just trying to hawk our wares. We honestly believe hardwood flooring is the superior flooring choice over carpet, and for many good reasons. Which reasons, you ask? Good question. Here are our top five reasons hardwood flooring kicks carpet’s butt. Enjoy!

Durability
When it comes to everyday wear-and-tear, hardwood floors will beat out carpeting every time. Carpets require annual steaming to look their best and have to be removed every couple of years. A well cared for hardwood floor can last a lifetime, making it the better long-term investment.

Easier to clean
Spills and stains to carpets are often permanent, and if they’re not, they’re a real pain to remove. With hardwood floors, dust and spills do less damage and are easy to clean up. Sweeping and occasionally mopping with warm water is all you need to keep your hardwood floors looking their best.

Better refinishing
A hardwood floor can be made to look like new by refinishing, sanding, and polishing. Carpets, on the other hand, don’t bounce back quite as well. After a while, in order to make carpeting look good as new, you need … well, a new carpet.

Fewer allergens
Not only do carpets hold onto stains, they also hold onto dirt, germs and allergens, which can really build up and affect your health. This is only made worse if you live with pets. You don’t have to worry about allergen buildup on hardwood floors. Simply sweep or vacuum regularly and you’re good to go.

Prestige and versatility
Hardwood flooring has history on its side. It has been used in homes for hundreds of years, and still maintains its “high end” image and general popularity. It is also extremely versatile and can be matched with several different home décor styles, which is more than you can say about hardwood.

Still not convinced that hardwood flooring is a better choice for your home than carpet? Call one of the flooring professionals at The Fantastic Floor today and let us try to change your mind. You can reach us at 1-888-448-9663, or send us an email at customer.service@incrediblewow.com. We can’t wait to help you pick the perfect (hardwood) floor!

Benefits of End-Matched Hardwood Flooring

If you're researching hardwood flooring you've probably come across the term "end-matched hardwood flooring" in your search for the perfect floor. End-matching is standard on most flooring shorter than eight feet as well as strip or narrow-width flooring. But what is end-matching, exactly? Glad you asked. The following is a brief explanation of end-matching, as well as some of the benefits of choosing end-matched hardwood flooring. Enjoy!

What is end-matched hardwood flooring?
End-matched is a term that describes the process of double-end trimming a plank of wood and, through a special process, precision milling a tongue-and-groove on the plank ends. It is an industry standard for boards under eight feet in length. There are a number of benefits to end-matched hardwood floors, such as:

1. Cuts down on installation time.
End-matching eliminates the need to cut each plank end during installation. Instead, the plank ends fit together nicely in their pre-cut tongue-and-grooves, saving a lot of time on the installation process.

2. Cuts down on labor costs.
When you're having new hardwood flooring installed, time is money. Since end-matched hardwood floors take less time to install than planks that have not been end-matched, you save both time and money.

3. Allows for a more consistent appearance.
The tongue-and-groove edges of end-matched hardwood floors allow the boards to fit together very snugly. This, combined with micro-bevel edges, makes the floor appear flatter and gives it a more consistent color and grain appearance.

Still have questions about end-matched hardwood flooring? Give us a call at 888-448-9663, or email us at customer.service@incrediblewow.com. We can't wait to help you pick the perfect floor!

Fantastic Floor Presents: Bloodwood

Welcome to this month's Fantastic Floor Presents, where we direct our spotlight on the finest hardwoods in the industry! Our last installment focused on the highly versatile Morado, a beautiful hardwood known for its use in everything from guitars to flooring. This month we turn our thoughts to another gorgeous and durable flooring product: Bloodwood!

Ranging from a subdued and grayish red to much darker reds, Bloodwood hardwood contains some of the deepest crimson tones in flooring. With these shades comes a luster that is sure to enhance any setting, as well as compliment to almost any fixture or piece of furniture in the room. To the touch, this South American hardwood is smooth as can be, but it's also one of the most durable. With a Janka hardness rating of 2,900, Bloodwood is nearly 140 percent stronger than Red Oak. This spectacular combination of beauty and invincibility makes it one of the best species of flooring to turn to when you're looking for a long-lasting, attractive new addition to your home.

Want to learn more about this attractive hardwood flooring species? Visit the Bloodwood hardwood flooring page on the Fantastic Floor website, or give us a call at 1-888-448-9663. We can't wait to help you pick your perfect floor!

The Best Rustic Hardwood Flooring Options

Rustic hardwood flooring has been a rising trend in interior design for years, and for good reason. The slight imperfections common in distressed and rustic hardwood flooring add character, beauty, and a specific history to your floors. Rustic floors are also surprisingly complementary, both matching a similarly rustic design scheme or giving a striking counterbalance to a more modern room decor. At Fantastic Floor, we have a huge collection of rustic hardwood flooring products in a wide variety of styles, colors, and species of wood. Here are five of our favorites:

Distressed acacia flooring features a beautiful assortment of colors, from dark brown heartwood to vibrant orange and yellow accents. The wood is streaked with an exotic grain pattern that seems to swim through the boards, giving the floors an almost fluid feel.

A more subtle rustic flooring choice, antique maple hardwood features bright yellow-brown heartwood that is occasionally tinged with reddish-brown accents. It has a very subdued grain pattern and a fine, uniform texture, making it a great complement to pretty much and room design scheme.

Dark, rich, and mysterious, Apache walnut hardwood flooring adds a stylish, dramatic flair to any room. The chocolate brown heartwood is offset by an even darker grain pattern that whirls and flows gracefully across the boards.

Smoked white oak is a rustic spin on the traditional white oak flooring that has been popular in America for centuries. A bit darker than its traditional counterpart, smoked white oak still features light tones and a crisp, tight grain pattern.

Distressed hickory hardwood embraces all the different shades and grain patterns featured in traditional hickory and proudly puts them front and center. The varying shades of brown in hickory make it a visually-striking flooring option that can still be paired with a wide variety of interior design schemes.

Visit the Fantastic Floor website to view our entire Rustic Hardwood Flooring Collection. What is your favorite variety? Leave us a comment and let us know!

The Top 5 Reasons People Love Prefinished Hardwood Flooring

Prefinished flooring is one of the most popular types of hardwood flooring products in the country today, and for good reason. Or should we say reasons? The following are the top five reasons people can't seem to get enough of prefinished hardwood flooring. Enjoy!

1. It's easier to install.
Unlike unfinished flooring, prefinished hardwood flooring is a breeze to install. It is sanded and finished by the manufacturer, so all the contractor needs to do is nail or glue it down. Done and done! This quick turn-around can save you a lot of money on installation costs, as well as save you from having an installation team in your home for days on end.

2. There's no waiting period.
Unfinished flooring not only requires on-site sanding and finishing, it also requires you to wait for the new finish to dry. (And don't even get us started on the smell!) With prefinished hardwood, the floor is ready to be walked on as soon as it is installed, which in many cases is only a single day.

3. The finish is more durable.
The prefinished hardwood flooring from Fantastic Floor is usually treated with up to 8 coats of an aluminum oxide finish. This durable, long-lasting finishing technique means your floors will be able to stand up to day-to-day traffic for longer than boards treated with just a few coats of finish.

4. The finish is more consistent.
Because of the streamlined way it is produced, manufacturer-finished hardwood is often much more consistent in appearance than on-site finished floors. This isn't necessarily true for the color or grain pattern of the wood, mind you - that is based on the grade of the material - but it is true for the finish. When you hire a contractor to finish your floors on-site you run the risk of ending up with an uneven finish job, especially if there's more than one contractor working on the project.

5. It comes with a 25-year warranty. 
All the solid prefinished flooring available at Fantastic Floor is guaranteed with a 25-year finish warranty. This means that when you purchase prefinished flooring from us and install it according to our installation and maintenance standards, we guarantee that the finish will not wear through or separate from the wood for a full 25 years. We also guarantee that the finish will be free of manufacturing defects and flaws in the application of the polyurethane aluminum oxide finish. Visit the Prefinished Hardwood Flooring Warranty page on incrediblewow.com for more information.

What are your top reasons for loving prefinished hardwood flooring? Leave us a comment and let us know. We'd love to hear from you!

Moisture Barriers: What They Are and Why You Need Them

If you're planning on having new hardwood flooring installed and you've done your homework, you probably know that most installation jobs require some sort of moisture barrier between the new boards and the existing subfloor. But what are moisture barriers, exactly? And why are they so important? Good questions. Check out the info below to find out all you need to know about moisture barriers!

What are moisture barriers?
Moisture barriers, also called vapor barriers or vapor retarders, are layers of material that help prevent moisture-related problems in your floors by protecting the wood from ground moisture and condensation. They also help reduce the amount of noise floors make and prevent damaging wood-on-wood contact.

Why do I need moisture barriers?
Ground moisture and condensation are a few of the biggest threats to hardwood floors. Dramatic changes in humidity and ground moisture can cause wood boards to shrink and expand more than they should, which can lead to gapping, warping, and buckling. Moisture barriers help prevent the wood from absorbing excess moisture, preserving their stability and helping reduce the amounts of moisture-related problems.

What kind of moisture barriers are out there?
There are three main types of moisture barriers: impermeable, semi-permeable, and permeable. These different levels of permeability allow you to install wood floors over different types of subfloors. Wood subfloors, for instance, do better with an impermeable barrier with a permeability rating greater than 0.7; anything less can cause moisture to be trapped below or on the subfloor. Concrete subfloors, on the other hand, require a very high level of impermeability; usually .15 perms or lower. This allows for little to no moisture movement.

Does the installation method change the type of moisture barrier I'll need?
Yes, insomuch as different installation methods are required for different types of subfloors. Moisture barriers offer protection in one of three ways:
The first kind of protection is for nail down install jobs. This involves placing a layer of 6 mil poly sheeting plastic over the dirt in the crawl spaces beneath the subfloor, then placing a 15-pound felt paper between the subfloor and the hardwood.
The second kind of protection is for glue down installations and usually requires using a trowel-applied moisture barrier (such as Bostik) since plastic barriers can prevent the glue on the floors from sticking to the subfloor.
The third kind of protection is for floating floor installations and also involves a 6 mil poly sheeting plastic barrier under the boards. Unlike nail down installations, however, plastic barriers shouldn't be used if the floating floors are covering wood subfloors as they prevent the subfloor from breathing.

What if the floor is above grade? Do I still need a moisture barrier?
Yes. For above grade floors, a 15-pound felt paper works wonders. This moisture barrier should be laid between the hardwood and the wood subfloor; this is the best way to reduce the amount of moisture that can get to the new flooring.

Confused? Don't worry. It's not your job to understand all the technicalities of moisture barriers and hardwood flooring installation. However, knowing the basics about this important flooring component can help you better understand the installation process in general and allow you to make sure your flooring installer is doing the job right. Visit incrediblewow.com to learn more about moisture barriers and solid hardwood flooring installation, or give us a call at 1-888-448-9663.

Fantastic Floor Presents: African Cedar

Welcome back to your favorite hardwood species spotlight series, Fantastic Floor Presents! In the last installment we took a look at the ever-popular Cumaru. This week we're shining our spotlight on another lesser known (but equally beautiful) hardwood species: African Cedar!

African Cedar hardwood flooring from Fantastic Floor is slightly heavier and harder than American Cedar and features white sapwood and a yellowish-brown heartwood that darkens to a warm red upon exposure. The African Cedar tree is fast-growing and the largest cedar species in Africa, reaching as high as 100 to 120 feet when fully grown. The grain pattern of African Cedar is usually straight, though some trees have spiral grain, which can make for a visually interesting and attractive figure on quartersawn surfaces.

African Cedar is not only beautiful, it is also rivals similar domestic species in durability. It has a Janka hardness equal to American Cherry and a density similar to Western Red Cedar. The wood is relatively easy to work with while still being able to stand up to day-to-day foot traffic and outdoor elements. African Cedar is not only used for indoor flooring, it is also often used to build fences, as a home siding material, as roof shingles, and even in pencils.

Want to learn more about this beautiful hardwood species? Visit the African Cedar hardwood flooring page on the Fantastic Floor website, or give us a call at 1-888-448-9663. We can't wait to help you pick the perfect floor!