OAKMONT, PENN.—With the upsurge in hard surface and domestic products, industry members realize education is key. One such organization is The Hardwood Council, which recognizes the importance of choosing the right wood flooring option, especially for high-traffic areas. And, to combat this, the group is offering a new continuing education course (CEU) “American Hardwoods for High-Traffic Areas,” for industry professionals.

“Determining what type of hardwood to use for a floor, or what type of wood to use as paneling or as trim for an office might seem to be a question of aesthetics, but the process is much more complicated,” said the group. “It’s a matter of architects, designers and builders asking the right questions, which they can learn by studying ‘American Hardwoods for High-Traffic Areas.’”

Some questions answered by The Hardwood Council in its latest course are:

• What are the main characteristics of American hardwoods?

• How do you know what kind of finish to use when having a hardwood floor installed?

• Does using American hardwoods contribute to deforestation and the danger of these types of trees ultimately disappearing?

• Aren’t hardwood floors difficult to maintain?

“American Hardwoods for High-Traffic Areas” teaches some American hardwoods are harder than others according to the Janka Scale, but that this is not the only characteristic to consider when choosing a floor. According to the course, a hardwood’s quality is judged by the National Hardwood Lumber Association (NHLA) grading system, which describes the amount of “usable” clear material in a board. Another grading system comes from The Wood Flooring Manufacturer’s Association (NOFMA) and describes the appearance of different hardwoods according to their color, grain and markings.

The course also explains the variety of finishes—surface finishes, oil-based urethane, water-based urethane, moisture-cured urethane, conversion varnish, penetrating finishes, etc.—and their appropriate uses, including for a floor in high-traffic areas.

In response to the green initiative, the council’s course names American Hardwoods as one of the industry’s most renewable resources, stating today’s hardwood forests grow much more wood than is harvested every year.

According to the U.S. Forest Service, the hardwood volume in American forests increases by about 10 billion cubic feet every year, and it is 90% larger than it was 50 years ago.

“American Hardwoods for High-Traffic Areas” can be found at www.continuingeducation.construction.com. Reading the article and completing the questionnaire will earn one AIA/CES LU hour of health, safety and welfare credit.

For more information on The Hardwood Council and its education programs, visit hardwoodcouncil. com or contact Connie Kovolenko at ckovolenko@yearick-millea.com or 412.323.9320.