Wood Flooring Buyer's Guide
Build.com carries ooring with three
different edge types, Squared Edge,
Beveled Edge and Micro-Beveled Edge.
Flooring edges seem insignicant, but
they can have a dramatic impact on
appearance.
Squared Edge
Squared Edge ooring adds a contemporary
feel to your oor, and has the appearance of a
completely at wood layer.
Beveled Edge
Beveled Edging adds a traditional
‘dimensional’ wood feel to your oor, and is
normally combined with hand-scraped surfaces
for a worn and rustic appearance.
Micro-Beveled Edge
Micro-Beveled-Edge ooring is a
compromise for those who don’t want a
completely at oor, yet also don’t want the
deeper grooves of a beveled edge.
Above Grade
On Grade
Below Grade
The installation location is a critical factor in the hardwood ooring purchasing process. Different locations have varying levels
of moisture and humidity in the environment, and depending on the location, your hardwood ooring options could be narrowed
considerably. Always choose ooring rated for the room grade to avoid future problems, and to comply with the manufacturer’s
warranty. The three primary installation location options are Above Grade, On Grade and Below Grade.
Above Grade
Rooms considered to be Above Grade
are those that do not contact the ground
surface, such as upstairs rooms.
On Grade
Rooms considered to be On Grade are
those that contact the ground surface, like
ground-oor rooms on a concrete slab
oor. Extra preparation may be required
to seal the oor against moisture, and
some ooring types may not be suitable,
depending on the moisture content of the
existing oor.
Below Grade
Rooms considered to be Below
Grade are those that penetrate the
ground surface, like basements. Extra
preparation will be required to seal the
oor (and walls) against moisture, and
some hardwood ooring types will not
be suitable, due to the high moisture
content of the subterranean environment.
Also, ooring must have low moisture
absorption qualities to resist warping and
buckling.
edge types installation locations