Support Your Floors: Engineered Hardwood

June 11, 2018 Ozburn Hessey

Many things about flooring can come across as confusing, since most people are not like the professionals here at Ozburn-Hessey and do not spend most of their days thinking about ways to improve the lives of those around them by improving their floo… — Many things about flooring can come across as confusing, since most people are not like the professionals here at Ozburn-Hessey and do not spend most of their days thinking about ways to improve the lives of those around them by improving their floors. And while the average resident of the **Middle Tennessee and Nashville** area might accept that they are not experts on the topic, there is probably a good chance that they they know a little something about hardwood flooring. Hardwood flooring is the most common material for floors, and one that we have been using for centuries. What you might not know is that hardwood flooring isn’t just about laying a couple of smooth planks down next to each other. Thanks to advancements in the world of flooring sciences, engineered hardwood flooring is throwing its hat onto the floor, so to speak.
**The basics of Engineered Flooring**
Engineered flooring, much like hardwood flooring alternatives like vinyl plank flooring and laminate plank flooring, can best be described as a layered flooring option. The top of the flooring is the finished wood, while underneath there are several layers of what is essentially plywood. We understand that people don’t want something with a low quality reputation to be a part of their floors, but the inclusion of this often ridiculed material is what makes engineered flooring better in the eyes of many. The way the plywood is layered means that it adds a lot of strength, since the material is layered perpendicularly to the top layer. This also means that the wood is less likely to bow or warp. This style also helps cut down on the amount of moisture issues you will have, a huge bonus to the residents of a particularly humid area, such as Nashville. This would allow for engineered hardwood to be installed in your bathroom, something that is not usually advised with a traditional hardwood. Additionally, engineered flooring can be installed by just about anyone, in a variety of ways.
**The Downsides, or why Traditional Hardwoods Might be Better**
Engineered hardwood flooring is not the clear cut best option for something that looks and feels a lot like hardwood flooring. For one thing, although the layers of plywood give it structure and protection from moisture in a way that regular hardwood flooring does not, the thinner layer of finished wood on top dramatically reduces the number of times you can refinish the surface. It also means that deep scratches or dents in the wood cannot be buffed out, so the surface durability is lower, even if the material as a whole is stronger.
At the end of the day, engineered flooring is more of a strategic flooring material, something to be deployed in support of regular, solid hardwood flooring. If you’re the kind of person who loves the look and feel of hardwood flooring, but view it as impractical, then engineered flooring is probably for you and your bathroom. Whatever floor you decide is correct for your home, make sure to talk to the professionals here at Ozburn-Hessey in order to confirm that your choice is the best it can be.

Thanking the advancements of flooring sciences, the engineered hardwood flooring is throwing its hat on the floor. Read more about supporting your floors.

The Pros and Cons of Wool Carpeting in your Home or Office

June 11, 2018 Ozburn Hessey

Wool carpeting can be an interesting flooring option for your house. Check out the pros and cons, before making a decision .

The Importance of Residential and Commercial Carpeting

May 21, 2018 Ozburn Hessey

In the world of flooring, carpeting is starting to come across as a little old fashioned. Now, before we go any further, remember that in Nashville and the Middle Tennessee area, old fashioned just needs to find a bit of a modern spin before it is a… — In the world of flooring, carpeting is starting to come across as a little old fashioned. Now, before we go any further, remember that in Nashville and the Middle Tennessee area, old fashioned just needs to find a bit of a modern spin before it is all good again; nothing old fashioned is inherently bad. However, carpeting does tend to get lost in the shuffle a little bit. It doesn’t have the years of history or legacy that something like nice, reclaimed oak hardwood flooring saved from an ancient barn might have. It is also missing out on a lot of the features that make something like luxury vinyl plank flooring appealing, such as the all natural components and ease with which it is installed. But the professionals here at Ozburn-Hessey remember carpeting and keep it in our hearts always, which is why we are focusing on the good things about carpeting, and the things it can offer that no other flooring material can.
**Luxury at Your Feet**
The main thing that carpeting – residential carpeting in particular – offers that cannot be matched by other materials is the level of comfort and luxury. No matter how many advancements, no matter how many foam mats or cork subflooring are used, it will never beat the feel of a plush, cloud-esque pillow topped carpet under your foot. It simply is the best for your feet, both in how it feels and from a medical standpoint, since most carpeting does a fine job of spreading out the pressure. This means your feet and ankles are not going to take the full force of each step you take, which will greatly improve the health of your back. Think about how often you are up and about walking. Now imagine how much better this will feel if you have carpeting covering even just one room or hallway that is not currently covered.
**Out With the Old Arguments, in With Carpeting You Will Love**
It also helps that many of the old complaints against carperting no longer apply. Unless you go with the most expensive product, carpeting is pretty affordable these days. It is available in a far wider range of colors and styles, so unless you want to go with something classic, like gold, beige or white, you don’t have to. A lot of the visual effects that are achieved through color matching and contrasting with hardwood flooring are expanded on through the wider variety available. For those who like linoleum and vinyl flooring, modular carpeting takes everything lovely about them and applies it to carpeting in one easy-to-replace-on-the-fly package.
Carpeting still has a place in the modern world, and still has a place in your life. Talk to the professionals here at Ozburn-Hessey, either in person or online, and see if they can change the mental image you might have of carpeting from something that belongs in the past to something that belongs in your home.

Old-fashioned carpeted floors are still popular and thriving. Its luxury look finds use in both residential and commercial spaces. Know more about it.

The Moist Monsters Lurking in Your Floors

March 16, 2018 Ozburn Hessey

One of the nice things about March, aside from the basketball tournament, is the weather. After the winter the Nashville and the middle Tennessee area experienced, the sight of rising temperatures and things starting to bloom around the city is enou… — One of the nice things about March, aside from the basketball tournament, is the weather. After the winter the Nashville and the middle Tennessee area experienced, the sight of rising temperatures and things starting to bloom around the city is enough to make the shivering residents forget about the scorching temperatures that will follow. Yes ladies and gentlemen, spring is right around the corner. The downside (and there always is one) is that the increase in moisture that is essential to the growth of plant life is also essential to harmful molds and pests that can wreak havoc on your floors. Luckily, the professionals here at Ozburn-Hessey have dealt with just about every flooring related problem, so a little moisture is not going to faze them. Whether that means recommending vinyl plank flooring to replace your old damaged carpeting, or helping you understand the extent of the damage to your wonderfully aged oak hardwood flooring, we have you covered.
**Moisture, How Does it Do That?**
The first step in combating the problem is understanding it. Moisture, in its simplest form, is just concentrated water vapor. It can come from a variety of sources, including the steam from your showers and kitchen to outside forces rising through small cracks in basement floors. It can be something that you inadvertently caused, or something entirely outside your control. Regardless of where it comes from, an excess of moisture is going to cause massive problems for your flooring, especially if you have carpeting. The reason carpeting is more susceptible to moisture is the same reason it is more affected by allergens and dust: things easily get trapped in the long fibers. This can lead to smaller problems, like the sort of musty smell most people associate with basements, but it can also lead to larger problems, such as mold. Hardwood flooring has a bit of moisture built in already, but too much can lead to serious issues like bowing, cupping, and swelling.
**How to Protect Your Floors**
The easiest way to fight this almost watery demon is with fast action. Any time you have a water spill or flooding occurs, do your very best to clean it up as soon as possible. This works well for smaller spills, but it does not do anything to fight one of the biggest problems that plagues the resident of the area: humidity. The simplest answer to this situation is to run a dehumidifier in any room where this might be a problem. Other than that, the best way to protect your home or office from the dangers of moisture is to make sure it never gets in. This can be accomplished by fixing any cracks and a heavy application of insulation and general waterproofing.
Moisture is not a word many enjoy, and that is not because of the visceral reaction the word itself causes in some. It can lead to water stains, mold, and physical deformities if not taken care of right away. In the event that these work-arounds do not work out, the professionals here at Ozburn-Hessey will be more than happy to discuss flooring installation options for your new floor right away.

Identify the moist monsters lurking in your floors. Here's what you need to know about managing your floors. Click to read more about flooring systems.

Vinyl Planking vs Real Hardwoods: Does Authenticity Matter?

October 27, 2017 Ozburn Hessey

It is an interesting philosophical question: if something looks like, feels like, and acts like something else, does it matter if it is not technically the other thing? In the case of flooring, it is a debate being played out on the floors of homes … — It is an interesting philosophical question: if something looks like, feels like, and acts like something else, does it matter if it is not technically the other thing? In the case of flooring, it is a debate being played out on the floors of homes and businesses across the country. Luxury vinyl plank flooring is a hot building material these days because of the ease with which it is installed and relative cheapness, combined with the fact that it looks an awful lot like the majority of hardwood flooring. Of course, some people still have preconceived notions about the nature of vinyl flooring, probably conjuring images from their youth of cracked plastic stick-on tiles. And since hardwood flooring has long been the standard when it comes to non-carpeted flooring options, it makes sense that many might be a little wary of the new kid on the block, so to speak. We here at Ozburn-Hessey believe in the positives and negatives of both materials, which is why we are happy to install either. Maybe you need a little bit more information about both of them, however, before making such a decision, which is why we put together this handy little primer.
**Vinyl? Sounds Good**
The main draw of using luxury vinyl plank flooring is the cost. It is cheap – a lot cheaper than pretty much every other type of flooring, except for maybe certain types of ceramic tiling. That might raise some red flags for some; after all, it must be cheap for a reason, right? Well, put your concerns about the quality of the material to bed, because these suckers are pretty tough. In some areas they are actually tougher than hardwood flooring. Vinyl plank flooring is almost 100 percent resistant to water, and handles most scratches and scuffs as well, making it perfect for a kitchen or bathroom. It also looks amazing these days, appearing almost exactly like hardwood.
**Stick With the Classics**
If luxury vinyl plank flooring is so much better than traditional hardwood flooring, then why would anyone go with anything else? Because there is a reason hardwood flooring is a classic. Vinyl plank flooring might look and feel a whole lot like hardwood flooring, but it will never actually be hardwood flooring. There is just something about the original that cannot be defeated. In this case it is the feeling underfoot of a wonderful handcrafted floor that just sets it apart. It is a more refined feeling, one that is often mimicked, but rarely duplicated. Yes, hardwood flooring installation is a little more expensive than vinyl plank, but on the flip side, it is a lot easier to remove, so if in the future you would like to change to something else, you do not need to worry about it.
As with many things in life, there is not really a clear cut answer when it comes to deciding whether luxury vinyl plank flooring is better than traditional hardwoods. Luckily, both come in a number of colors and styles, so you will find the floor that perfectly suits you, and the professionals here at Ozburn-Hessey will be there to assist you every step of the way.

Check out the comparison between vinyl planking vs real hardwoods. What do you think, does authenticity matter? Read more on planking and hardwods.

ACOUSTICAL CEILING AND SOFT FLOORING INSTALLATION IN NASHVILLE, TN

OZBURN-HESSEY COMPANY
402 MURFREESBORO PIKE, NASHVILLE, TN 37210
(615) 254-1585

OZBURN-HESSEY COMPANY402 MURFREESBORO PIKE, NASHVILLE, TN 37210(615) 254-1585

OZBURN-HESSEY COMPANY
402 MURFREESBORO PIKE, NASHVILLE, TN 37210
(615) 254-1585