BRICKELL
WOOD FLOORS

Wide plank wood floors can work beautifully in Brickell and Miami homes, but wide boards show humidity changes more than narrow ones. Wood swells and shrinks across its width, so a wider board can cup or gap more. For wide plank floors in Miami, choose an engineered board, test the concrete slab fir

Herringbone and chevron wood floors are a popular choice in Brickell and Miami condos. Herringbone uses rectangular pieces set in a staggered zigzag, while chevron pieces are cut at an angle so they meet in a clean V. In Miami's humidity and over concrete slabs, an engineered board is usually the sa

European oak is a favorite for wide plank, herringbone and chevron floors in Brickell and Miami homes. It's known for a calm, even grain and soft natural color, and it takes oil and matte finishes beautifully. In Miami's humidity and on concrete slabs, choose it as an engineered board, keep the air

Refinishing means sanding the floor down to bare wood and putting on new stain and finish. In a Brickell condo, plan for your building's approval and work-hour rules, a few days out of the rooms being done, and a finish that suits a high-rise. Low and zero-VOC water-based finishes keep the smell dow

Sometimes. A clean-water leak that's caught and dried quickly can often be saved. Floors soaked by outside floodwater or sewage usually have to be removed for health reasons. Act fast: stop the water, get it out, start drying with fans and dehumidifiers right away, photograph everything for insuranc

For most South Florida homes, white oak is the best all-round choice. It's hard, stable, takes light and natural finishes well, and its closed pores resist water better than red oak. Red oak is a little softer, more porous, and has a warmer, pinker tone. Walnut is noticeably softer and dents more ea

Yes, you can put wood floors over a concrete slab in Miami, but use engineered wood and test the slab for moisture first. The two common tests are the calcium chloride test (ASTM F1869) and the in-slab relative humidity test (ASTM F2170). The flooring and adhesive makers set the passing numbers, and

Before you buy wood flooring for a Brickell condo, get your building's flooring rules in writing. Most high-rise associations require approval before work starts, and most ask for a sound-control underlayment under hard floors. A minimum sound rating of IIC 50 is common, and some buildings ask for m

For most Brickell and Miami homes, engineered wood flooring is the safer choice. Its cross-layered core moves less than solid wood when the humidity changes, and it can be glued straight onto a concrete slab, which is what most Brickell condos and many Miami houses sit on. Solid wood can work, but o