Hardwood flooring is a beautiful addition to any home. It can also make a room feel much larger. It goes with any decor style, and it looks great in contemporary and traditional styles.
It requires little maintenance, which is a huge advantage over other types of flooring. It can be vacuumed and swept with a mop, and stains are easy to remove with a few simple products. Hardwood floors can last a long time if you make the right choices. This means choosing the best wood species, the type of hardwood flooring you want, and selecting a finish that will help the floor withstand years of wear and tear.
Wood flooring is available in a variety of styles and colors, so it’s important to choose the right one for your home. Whether you’re looking for a classic look or a contemporary twist, a beautiful hardwood floor can enhance your home and increase its value over time.
When you’re evaluating a wood floor’s durability, it is essential to consider the type of hardwood, the finish and how it’s manufactured. This will ensure that you get the longest-lasting product possible, and that it’s a good match for your lifestyle and budget.
Species: Durability is a function of hardness, and some wood species have a higher degree of hardness than others. This is reflected in their Janka ratings, which determine how much force is required to bury a steel ball halfway into a plank.
For example, Hickory, a domestically-sourced hardwood, has a Janka rating of 1820 and is among the hardest woods available. This makes it a good choice for any space that gets a lot of wear and tear, such as a living room or kitchen.
Engineered wood flooring is another option that’s a great choice for many homeowners. It is created by stacking several layers of plywood or high-density fiberboard with a solid piece of hardwood in the middle, called the core.
This creates a thicker and more durable flooring that is less prone to sagging, warping or buckling. In addition, it’s less susceptible to water damage than some other types of hardwood flooring.
Color: Durability is also a function of the wood’s color. A lighter wood will camouflage any scratches and abrasions, while darker colors will show more scratches and stains.
If you have pets, you may want to consider a more durable type of wood for your floors. Pets can cause a lot of wear and tear on your floors, so be sure to choose a hardwood that’s scratch-resistant and abrasion-resistant.
Hardwood flooring is an essential part of any home’s interior. It provides the foundation for the overall feel of a room, and the type of wood used can have an impact on how it looks. There are many different styles, colors and species to choose from, so it is important to pick the right option for your decor.
Aesthetically, wood can be quite versatile, and it is a great choice for almost any design theme. It also offers a wide variety of textures and surface treatments that can help it stand out from other flooring options.
For example, wood floors with a matte finish can provide a clean and contemporary look while adding depth to the space. You can also opt for a satin finish for a subtle and more modern look, or you can go with a high-gloss floor that gives the floor a smooth and glossy finish.
Another great thing about hardwood is that it can be matched with the rest of your decor. It’s possible to make a rustic floor look traditional, while a reclaimed or distressed wood flooring can give your space a truly lived-in feel.
When choosing a style of wood flooring, consider the amount of natural light in the room. Lighter floors tend to reflect light, whereas dark floors absorb it. This can make smaller rooms appear larger and accentuate the sense of space in the room.
Lastly, consider the color of the wood flooring. Lighter tones are more conducive to lighter furniture and paint, while darker tones will enhance the darker colors in your interior.
One of the most popular styles today is country, which combines warm hues with distinctive fixtures and natural elements. For this theme, you’ll want to prioritize the natural luster of light-colored woods and avoid glossier finishes that can make the floor too stark.
You can also find a number of flooring collections that feature reclaimed or distressed styles, which are perfect for country designs. They’ll showcase the imperfections and unique personality of an individual piece of wood, adding character to your room.
Hardwood flooring is a great choice for homeowners with allergies, asthma and respiratory issues. These floors are easier to clean and can prevent the buildup of allergens like dust, mold, pet dander, fungus and bacteria that can exacerbate breathing difficulties.
They also require less maintenance than carpets, so you can spend more time enjoying your space. Regular sweeping and damp mopping will keep your hardwood floors looking beautiful and clean.
You can choose from a wide range of wood species and stain colors to match your decor. There are also pre-finished and unfinished options so you can get the look you want without sacrificing the durability of the product.
These floors are naturally durable and can be refinished several times over the years. This can help them retain their value for a longer period of time.
Another reason to opt for hardwood is because it is a natural material that does not emit any harmful chemicals. It does not contain formaldehyde, a known human carcinogen that can cause serious health effects in the home and air.
The glues used in composite wood products like engineered hardwood, laminate and bamboo are often made with urea or phenol-formaldehyde, which emit formaldehyde over the lifetime of the product. These glues can be a major source of indoor air pollution.
In addition to being toxic to the environment, logging practices for wood products can have significant impacts on wildlife, soil and water quality. For these reasons, consider choosing FSC-certified wood and bamboo products that have been harvested in a sustainable manner.
The aesthetic appeal of hardwood floors makes them a popular choice among many Avon homeowners. They offer a variety of style options, from classic and traditional to modern and contemporary. These types of floors also have a timeless appearance, which means they can work well with almost any decor.
Hardwood flooring has many benefits over other types of floors. It can last for decades, is easy to clean, and increases the value of your home. It is also hypoallergenic and environmentally friendly, reducing the amount of dust, debris, and allergens in your home.
It is a great choice for a new home or for remodeling projects because it can be sanded and refinished multiple times, which saves homeowners money on maintenance costs. It can also add a luxury feel to any room.
A study from the National Wood Flooring Association found that houses with hardwood floors sell faster, for more money, and for a better price than homes without them. In addition, home buyers want a house with hardwood floors because they see it as an investment in their future.
There are several different types of tree species that are available for hardwood flooring. Each one has its own color, cost, and durability. The cheaper woods are usually pine or maple. The harder, more durable species are hickory, oak, and teak.
The cost of a hardwood floor depends on the species, quality, and design. Grain patterns are also important, as are the width of the planks. A wider board can be more expensive, and angled or intricate patterns require more cuts.
When deciding on a type of hardwood, consider the climate in which you live and how much traffic your floor will receive. For example, if you have a lot of pets or if your floors get exposed to a lot of moisture, choose a harder, more durable wood.
You can also decide whether to have the wood floor refinished over time. This can be expensive, but it’s worth the effort if you want to recoup your investment when it comes time to sell.
Lastly, be sure to choose a reputable contractor to install your flooring. Hiring a professional will ensure that your wood floors are properly installed and will reduce the chances of problems down the road.
As mentioned above, hardwood floors are an excellent resale investment and a great way to increase your home’s value. They also come with a number of health benefits, such as being hypoallergenic and greener than carpet.
