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If you’ve lived in Colorado for any amount of time you’ve probably heard about our forests slowly succumbing to a pine beetle infestation. It is a sad sight to see large swaths of dead, grey trees interspersed with the green forests of the Rocky Mountains. However the pioneering spirit of the west lives on in Colorado and when pesky bugs give us lemons, we make lemonade. The trees, though dead, maintain their structural integrity if they are harvested before decay begins. This unique wood offers the luminous tones of pine enhanced by blue highlights which are created by a fungus the bug carries. All this talk of bugs and fungus sounds icky but it’s perfectly safe, sustainable, not to mention, beautiful. Beetle kill wood is being used to make everything from iPhone cases, to snowboards, to hardwood flooring and wood accents for the home.

The Plight of the Forest

The Rocky Mountain Region of the US Forest Service estimates that the infestation has affected more than 3.3 million acres of Colorado’s forests. Pine beetles have reached into the neighboring states of Utah, Arizona, and Wyoming as well. The beetles have mainly attacked lodge pole, ponderosa and limber pines. Even though these trees are dead, they are still important for wildlife habitat as well as prevention of soil erosion. Clear cutting these trees is not the answer but environmentalists tout the selective removal of beetle kill trees for safety and ecosystem health.

Dead trees of any sort are dangerous to those who use the high country, either for recreation or work. They can fall at any moment causing injury or even death. Trees that have fallen victim to pine beetles or other blight also provide ready fuel for wildfires. Clearing out specific areas of these trees removes those dangers and provides environmentally friendly building materials as well.
 

Benefits of Beetle Kill Materials

Until recently Colorado imported up to 95 percent of lumber used in the state. This doesn’t make much economic sense for a state with so much lumber available from dead trees, as the Denver Post pointed out in their report about Beetle Kill Wood Being Used in Home Construction. It is also more environmentally sound to use local sources rather than having wood shipped or trucked in from other areas. The beetles attack large, full grown trees so their wood is suitable for a variety of purposes from house framing, to structural beams, to decorative accents.

Choosing reclaimed wood is one of the best ways to keep our virgin forests standing. Reclaimed wood is not only environmentally friendly, but one of the best structural choices you can make as well. The wood has already been given a chance to fully dry out therefore it is resistant to warping, twisting, and cracking.
 

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You may not have considered the impact that flooring has on the feel of your room. It can make a cavernous space feel cozy or open up a smaller space. The pattern in which it is laid, width of materials, and color all play a part in creating the illusion of space in a room. At Ward Hardwood Flooring we have wood flooring available in a variety of colors, textures, widths, and plank lengths to achieve just the effect you’re after.

Making a Small Room Appear Larger

The long orientation of floorboards can make a small room appear larger. Thinner planks can actually truncate the space. Use wider planks with fewer seams to increase the feeling of openness in your rooms. Boards that are 3 to 5 inches in width are ideal for smaller rooms. You might also consider laying the planks in a diagonal configuration as opposed to straight. This is especially effective in narrow spaces. In a small house or apartment, using the same type of flooring throughout, as opposed to breaking it up with tile or carpet, can also give the illusion of a larger space.
 
The color and tone of the floor is also key in creating this illusion of space. A darker floor tends to shrink the feel of the room while a lighter color will open it up. However, when a dark finish floor, such as walnut or cherry, is paired with paint colors on the cooler side of the spectrum such as light greys, and blues, it will have an expansive effect. Consider adding crown molding to enhance the feeling of openness. If you do decide to go with a lighter tone for your floors, keep paint and furnishings white or monochromatic to avoid breaking up the space too much.

Making a Large Room Feel Cozier

Adding textures to a large room can make it feel more intimate. Consider using reclaimed flooring with a hand-scraped texture or natural weathering to make the space feel a bit smaller. Darker floors can help a large room feel less overwhelming and more comfortable. If you want don’t want the formal feeling of dark woods, choose a medium tone with warmer undertones.
 
Using a tile inlay or area rug can create a space within a space, breaking up the room. Choose a large rug, and place an L-shaped sectional and chairs around a coffee table to create a conversation area. Use lower shelving and seating to create a reading area in the corner next to windows to form a visual divide and make the room appear smaller. Use furniture to create a space vs. putting it up against the wall. Learn more decorating tips to make a large room feel cozy and work in conjunction with your flooring or choice.
 
Browse our galleries to gain inspiration and ideas of the many different looks and styles we can achieve in your home. We have a large inventory of new and reclaimed wood in stock. Our design experts will take the time to understand exactly the look you are trying to achieve and find just the right wood for your home or office. Call 303-674-6966 to set up a consultation today. We can have your new floor installed in time for your spring wedding!

Forty years ago thick shag carpet was all the rage. Various designs in every color were wall to wall in every home as Americans watched the moon landing and listened to music on the turntable. Nowadays carpet is much less in demand with more and more people turning to the clean and versatile look of hardwood floors. Hardwood can support any decorating style for shabby chic to ultra-modern, while providing practicality that does not typically come with carpet.

Gone are the days when homeowners choose furniture and a motif for their interior design and stick with that in until their kids go to college. Home furnishings are available in a wider array of styles than ever before at more affordable prices, make remodels and redesigns much more feasible for families. Wall to wall carpet can limit your home’s design to a particular style or color palette, but hardwood flooring makes for a compatible option for rustic country homes as well as edgy urban flats.

Hardwood in your own home

Wood flooring truly works with most any design and sometimes the color can be easily changed with new stain with a new stain color. Hardwood flooring is also the best choice for those who suffer from allergies. It doesn’t hold dust, mites, or pet dander the way carpet does. It also doesn’t retain any pet or cooking odors. As far as energy efficiency, wood flooring is also much cooler in the summer keeping air conditioning bills down and insulation beneath can trap heat during the winter months. Wood is a carbon neutral product and your floors can easily be maintained without the use harsh chemicals or wasting water. You’re sure to reap the financial benefits and enjoy the timeless beauty of your hardwood floors for years to come.
 

Installing hardwood flooring in your rental property

There are few things harder to destroy than hardwood floors. Damage can typically be remedied fairly easily as well. Refinishing or coating on your hardwood floors is usually far less expensive than replacing all carpeting. We’ve already mentioned the style and versatility wood offers, making your property an attractive option for potential renters. Families with small kids or pets are likely to prefer hardwood floors as messes are easy to clean up and rarely cause permanent stains. Homes with hardwood floors often rent faster, enjoy greater retention rates, and can command higher rents.

Hardwood floors when selling your home

Experts agree that installing hardwood floors or pulling up carpeting to expose the wood underneath may boost a home’s selling price and make for a quicker sale. It brings the wow factor - sometimes even without costing too much to install new floors or refinish the ones already present. According to Time, hardwood is the best flooring for your money for all the reasons we’ve already talked about. The National Association of Realtors estimates that 54% of home buyers are willing to pay more for a house that had new, or near new condition hardwood flooring.  
 
Whether you’re living in the house, renting it out, or selling it, the professionals at Ward Hardwood Flooring can make your floors and wood accents the focal point of your home. Call 303-674-6966 to set up an appointment for a free estimate, today

Hardwood floor installation is the perfect way to increase your home’s value and provide you with a quality aesthetic you and your guests can enjoy. This type of flooring material is also easy to clean and is available in a variety of styles to fit the look and feel of your home—or create the look and feel that you want! Below are four types of hardwood that you can add to enhance the appearance of your home:

Reclaimed Wood: This type of flooring is reused from other applications such as mills, barns, factories, etc. Reclaimed wood provides a unique look in a home that many homeowners prefer. Also, because its original purpose was not necessarily grown for hardwood flooring, you can enjoy knowing you have chosen a type of material which will enable you to extend its life in your home. Reclaimed wood is available in Antique Oak, Antique Heart Pine, Wormy Chestnut, Hickory, Walnut and many other varieties.
 
Rustic Plank: Rustic flooring is a popular hardwood flooring in Colorado that provides a natural, weathered look into the home. Generally it gives the appearance that it has been a part of your family for decades. The wide planks provide a clean linear look. It has a hard and tight grain pattern that can stain easily to the color of your choice to match your aesthetic. Plank widths range anywhere from five to 12 inches with standard lengths of 2’ to 12’ with longer lengths available. Types of rustic plank flooring available includes White and Red Oak, Eastern White Pine or Beetle Kill Blue Pine.
 
Wide Plank: Wide plank flooring dates back to the colonial era. The great thing about this flooring is the stain that you put on it can instantly create the look you want. For instance, you can create a rustic and natural environment with one stain or a contemporary and modern feel with another. Wondering how wide is too wide? View this discussion on Houzz to get ideas from other homeowners, or contact our team of professionals to get information and ideas specific to your home. You can get wide plank flooring in Reclaimed Wood, Antique Oak, Longleaf Heart Pine, Rustic Walnut and many other species.

Traditional Strip: One of the other popular types of hardwood flooring is simple traditional strip flooring. It is an economical choice that is not as wide as your wide planks and is found in 2.25, 3.25, 4", and 5" widths. This type of flooring became popular in the United States after World War II when more financing options became available through VA and FHA loans. Traditional strip hardwood is created from a lower grade lumber that is created into narrow strips. From there, it is milled into strip flooring. Traditional strip flooring is available in Red or White Oak, Ash, Hickory, Cherry and many other species.  
 
When you are ready to upgrade your home to hardwood flooring, let Ward Hardwood Flooring Help! We have over 20 years of experience in the hardwood flooring business and have a wide range of services to help you put the floors you want in your home in your price point. Browse our hardwood-flooring gallery and give us a call at 303-674-6966 to get started! 

Hardwood floors are currently the most popular type of flooring in homes today. Enter any Colorado hardwood floor showroom and you can see wood from American oak to Asian bamboo. But the floor isn’t the only place that wood can add beauty to a home. Have you thought about a wood accent wall? How about adding wood beams to a vaulted ceiling? There are so many options! Need inspiration? Take a look at the Sunset Magazine article about 9 Gorgeous Reclaimed Wood Ideas. We have an amazing supply of reclaimed wood that would add charm and distinction to any home or work space.

What is Reclaimed Wood

Reclaimed wood is the most environmentally friendly building choice of all. It is literally, as the name suggests, reclaiming wood from structures that are going to be, or have been demolished. It saves old growth trees and provides an extremely stable building material. Most of the planks used are more than 100 years old, having had more than sufficient time to dry out and mold into its final shape.
 

Accent Walls

A few years ago brick accent walls were all the rage until people started realizing that it raised the sound and echo quotient considerably in a room. Wood adds the same rustic look without creating a sound issue. A reclaimed wood wall behind a bed or in a country kitchen adds idyllic charm and an eye catching focal point which will set off western accents, or antiques beautifully. You don’t have to do a whole wall, a kitchen island covered in wood will add an air of shabby chic as well as supply a durable surface to stand up to years in a high traffic area.
 

Tables and Shelves

Our reclaimed barn wood planks and posts can create sturdy and unique, one of a kind accents for any room. A reclaimed wood fireplace mantle embodies the comfort of an old homestead. A reclaimed wood table in the kitchen or dining room will provide a place to create family memories as well as provide an heirloom quality piece that will last for generations. Reclaimed wood is also the perfect choice for cabinets or shelving in a quaint kitchen with a wealth of old world, rural charm.
 

Ceiling Beams

With modern building techniques, heavy exposed beams are no longer necessary for stability but they add distinction to any living or office space. They are especially appropriate in the mountain architecture that is prevalent all along the Front Range. Nothing says strength and splendor like rough hewn beams along a vaulted ceiling. Our artisans can stain them in any color you would like or craft them with any hand scraping technique you prefer. We can also leave them alone and allow their natural beauty to shine through.
 
You can take a look at our portfolio of the reclaimed wood projects we have worked on. Call our design professionals today. We can help bring your ideas to life. When installed properly in the ideal location, wood is one of the lowest maintenance and durable materials you can use. Call us today for a design consultation at 303-674-6966!