The Cost of Hardwood Floors

As a floor guy, I run into many customers asking what makes one hardwood floors cost more than another. I frequently get asked: ” How much does a hardwood floor cost?”  That can be tricky, as there are so many options, choices and variations.

Overall, the main things that affect the cost of solid hardwood floors are species, grade, width and finish.

How does the species of a hardwood floor affect the price?

Species of hardwood is the largest factor in determining the cost of a hardwood floor.  All things being equal, oak flooring is about the cheapest hardwood you can get.  As you go to less common species such as maple, hickory or cherry, the price will go up.  Moving into exotic flooring like wenge, zebrawood or ipe will drive up the cost of flooring materials even more.

How is does the grade of flooring affect the price?

Wood flooring comes in a variety of grades, which determine the overall character and variation between the planks.  For example, oak hardwood flooring is graded accordingly:

• Clear – wood is free of defects, with a uniform appearance and few character marks
• Select – wood has a relatively uniform appearance, but has more natural character marks like knots and color variation than clear wood
• Common No. 1 – wood has more natural variation including color, mineral streaking and knots
• Common No. 2 – wood has a rustic appearance with larger knots and natural markings, or marks from machining.

In any particular tree, there is less wood that meets the criteria for a grade of “clear” than “common”.  As a result, higher grades of wood within a species are more expensive than lower grades.

How does the width of hardwood flooring affect the price?

The wider the width of hardwood flooring, the more expensive it is going to be. The width may not seem like an obvious cost factor, but it is important.  When you cut trees into wider  boards, you will get less yield from a given tree.  Wider boards are also more likely to have defects that will throw the entire piece out of grade, so a high grade, wide plank floor can be particularly costly.

How does the hardwood floor finish affect price?

When you are choosing the finish for your hardwood floor, your basic options are oil based polyurethane, water based polyurethane, or a more durable commercial grade finish.  Prices vary due to the time involved in applying different types of finish, different drying times and the cost of the finish materials themselves.

In general, oil based finishes are the least expensive, followed by water based.  Two part commercial finishes like Bona Traffic are most expensive because of the cost of the products themselves, and the fact that left over materials harden and cannot be saved and used for later coats or other projects.

Mechanics M553C Air Nibbler Punches Review

Since metals expand and contract with temperature variations over the time, in some applications it becomes important to drill holes or cut sheet metal with minimal shearing and distortion. In such situations air nibblers which ‘nibble’ through the metals are of great demand, and Mechanics M553C air nibbler punches do a wonderful job.

Mechanics M553C Air Nibbler Punches Description

Built by Mechanics, one of the leading air cutting tools manufacturer in the world, Mechanics M553C air nibbler punches are replacement punches for the powerful air nibbler M552DB model.  These air nibbler punches come two to a pack.

Mechanics M553C Air Nibbler Punches Specifications

• Model Number: M553C
• Weight: 1 pound
• Compatibility: Compatible with Mechanics M552DB Air Nibbler
• Manufacturer: Mechanics

Mechanics M553C Air Nibbler Punches Benefits

Mechanics M553C punches, the high performance replacement punches for Mechanics M552DB air nibbler, are designed to nibble through, instead of shearing or sawing through materials. They can withstand high rates of strokes per minute, often in the range of thousands, very easily. The M553C’s sharp edge lets you nibble through quarter panels without distorting the edges of the metal sheets. It can cut through 16-gauge steel without deforming or blurring the metal.

Mechanics M553C punches are very useful to nibble through aluminum, cold rolled steel, tin, plastic and other metals and materials, offering wide range of choices in using air cutting tools and sheet cutting applications. M553C punches along with powerful M552DB air nibbler is a must-have tool at every paint and auto body shop, tinsmiths and metal shops.

Mechanics M553C punches come in 2-piece a pack with an MSRP of $9.50. But, you can snag these punches for just $4.99 at ToolKing.com.

Chicago Pneumatic CP870 6 Inch Dual Action Sander Review

Anyone who has ever done a major sanding job before knows it is a task that shouldn’t be taken lightly. The first thoughts you have are the time, shoulder pain, wrist pain, and still more time. To stop these thoughts from becoming reality I have found the Chicago Pneumatic CP870 Dual Action Sander can really save the day.

Chicago Pneumatic CP870 Dual Action Sander Description

The Chicago Pneumatic CP870 Dual Action Sander is a light 4.5 lb sander that performs both rotary and orbital motion for a swirl-free finish. This rapid action powered by a free speed 10000 rpm motor allows for quick execution and as much as 8 cubic feet per minute. its no wonder why Chicago added the locking throttle to harness all that power.

Chicago Pneumatic CP870 Specs and Features

• 6 inch polishing head
• Free speed 10000 rpm motor
• 8 CFM air inlet
• Uses 1/4 inch min. hose
• Power regulator for control
• Safety locking throttle
• Insulated long grip for extra pressure application w/o wrist pain.

Impression of Chicago Pneumatic CP870 Dual Action Sander

At first glance the Chicago Pneumatic CP870 Dual Action Sander has a very reasonable price tag of only $59.99 online, although the MSRP is a bit higher at about $86.  Its strengths are evident in its precision in blending, smoothing, feather edging and pre-paint duties at phenomenal speeds. However if your not in a hurry I would give the Denver Tools 311 Dual Action Sander a try. The Denver Tools version has the same multi action 6 inch head yet weighs a half pound less than the Chicago CP870. This version may seem weak in comparison due to its mere 90 PSI pressure and 4 CFM rating, but its spindle lock feature for single action projects makes it a little special, and the on sale price of only $14.99 should grab your attention as well. With either choice you’ll be happy with your results.

You may say the Denver Tools 311 Dual Action Sander is lighter, cheaper and therefore more susceptible to breaking. I can’t say there is an overwhelming difference in quality of the two, but i can say spend $50 or spend $15, you won’t be disappointed.

Visit ToolKing.com to get a great deal on the Chicago Pneumatic CP810 sander now!