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Hand Scraped Wood & Distressed Hardwood Flooring

　
If one likes the natural look of hardwood floors, which has a lot of character markings, then hand scraped hardwood floors are the choice to go for. It has become a very popular choice for homeowners wanting the warmth of wood which looks old and reclaimed , but with the best finishes that are available today. Although more costly, they look superb and have a lot of character, texture, richness and look unique, and are fast becoming a popular choice in homes and commercial properties.

Hand Scraped or Distressed

As well as offering hand scraped floors, some manufacturers are offering 'distressed' hardwood flooring which is different, in that the markings on the surface of the boards are done by machine, unlike hand scraped planks which are done manually, by hand. Although hand scraped is more costly to do, each of the wood planks will have a unique look, unlike the machine distressed planks. Whatever one might choose, both hand scraped and distressed gives any room a beautiful, rich appearance. Some manufacturers give customers the choice between heavy, medium or light scraping, and some craftsmen are able to create a reclaimed look with worm holes, splits and other character markings that occur naturally. The labour used in hand scraping varies quite a lot - some installers get their workers to carve or scrape the floor after it has been installed in the home, and as long as they are skilled, the results can be very good.

There is the option to install hand scraped floors unfinished and apply the finish on site, which requires special methods to prepare the floor for its final stages of manufacture. The most expensive line of hardwood floors finished by hand are also known as 'hand rubbed'. Most homeowners are choosing pre-finished hand scraped flooring, as these floors are excellent quality and allow convenient and speedy installation. One of the great benefits is the fact that each plank will move independently, with humidity changes in the home.