There are many reasons to choose wood flooring for your home, even the word itself brings to mind images of richness and charm. Up front, the most obvious reason to go with hardwood flooring is that you can count on the fact that it will last a lifetime and will only develop increased character and improve with age. In fact, “hardwood floors throughout” is the number one phrase in North American real estate listings, meaning that you will be increasing the overall value of your home substantially when opting for hardwood.
1. Choosing the right type
The first decision you need to make once you’ve selected hardwood as your flooring material of choice is whether you want to go with solid or engineered hardwood. Solid wood is available in prefinished or unfinished and is milled from solid wood logs. The strips and planks are then joined together with a traditional tongue and groove along both the long and short end. Engineered wood flooring is comprised of multiple layers of plywood and composite material, and topped with a layer of solid hardwood. You may be interested in the resources available at the Fuse Flooring website.
2. Solid might not always be better
Although people tend to like the sound of solid wood as compared to engineered, it can actually be subject to more problems down the road. Solid wood is more affected by humidity, meaning it is subject to contraction and expansion. As a result of this vulnerability, it should only be installed on the ground floor or above grade. Due to its multi-ply construction, engineered flooring is more stable and can be installed on all levels of the home, including basements and bathrooms where dampness and moisture tend to be more prevalent.
3. Different species of wood
There are also options when it comes to choosing which wood species you want your floor to be crafted from. These options vary in durability, grain patterns, and color. Maple, Oak, and cheery as most common, as they offer the highest level of hardness and durability. There are other more expensive options that are largely appreciated for their exceptional aesthetic beauty, but you really need to consider hardness if you’re planning on installing throughout your entire home. Especially if kids and pets are going to be running around on the floor, hardness should trump beauty when making your final decision.
4. Finishing strong
Sometimes left as an afterthought, the finish of the hardwood is what infuses it with color and luster and ultimately leaves the lasting impression. A lot of commercially available hardwood comes prefinished, thereby making installation easier and quicker, but also leaving you with fewer design options. If you have a really specific look in mind, you might want to opt for a site-finished floor. With site-finishing, you will have a much larger range of options when it comes to stain colors, and you’ll also have the opportunity to revisit the surface in order to even out any imperfections after the boards have been put in place.
5. The final word
Ultimately, when it comes to choosing hardwood flooring, you can’t really go wrong. It will automatically increase the value of your home substantially and you know they are going to look beautiful for years to come. They can be refinished over and over again, they are durable and hypoallergenic. Although home trends come and go, hardwood offers a classic look that has stood the test of time and continues to impress. You do have to keep in mind that they are susceptible to water damage and can incur dents, but as long as you take good care of your wooden floor, rest assured that you’ll be able to appreciate your investment for years to come.
