A fresh coat of paint isn’t the only thing that can give your home a facelift. Adding new flooring can also make a room look brand new again. Besides carpet, there are 3 main flooring types that can be used in your home: tile, wood and laminate. There’s also epoxy but we will get into that in another post.
In this blog post we’re going to talk about hardwood floors and the pros and cons of them as well. Generally, hardwood floors come in a wide variety of types of wood. The most common are the following: oak, pine, maple, fir, birch, cherry, and beech. The wood is cut into strips (either tongue-in-groove or planks) or wood tile that can be laid out to create geometric patters. There are two choices with this type of flooring: pre-finished and unfinished. Pre-finished comes sanded and sealed. Unfinished simply means the flooring needs to be sanded and sealed.
Like anything, hardwood flooring comes with its own advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages:
Aesthetic. It is simply just gorgeous to look at and can make any space feel not only warm and cozy but elegant and timeless.
Durability: With some TLC, these floors will last a lifetime. Ideally, they should be refinished every 10 years or so to keep them looking their best. The refinishing process typically involves sanding the floor and applying a new finish.
Maintenance: Cleaning these floors is very easy. Usually just mixing some vinegar and water works the best but any cleaner that is marked safe to use on hardwood can be used.
Eco-Friendly: If you are looking for material that is gentle on the planet, hardwood flooring is a great pick. Being it’s made out of real wood from trees, it is biodegradable.
Versatility: These floors can provide a neutral base to allow limitless decorating options to any space. They can also be stained to a color that fits to overall design of a space as well.
Allergen reducer: For individuals with allergies and/or respiratory issues, these floors don’t collect dust or allergens like carpet can.
Disadvantages:
Cost: The cost per square foot can be expensive and is typically higher compared to carpet and tile. Even though the investment return is great for hardwood floor, the upfront cost can be high.
Scratches: This flooring will show marks and scratches over time. The good thing is these marks do disappear when it is time to refinish the floors.
Moisture damage: If scratches or gouges get to deep and if liquid or water seeps in, the moisture needs to be cleaned up quickly to prevent the flooring from swelling or cupping. Cupping is when the edges of the wood boards are higher than the center. Crowing can also happen to the floor boards. Crowing is the opposite of cupping where the center of the wood boards become higher than the edges. This can result in expensive damage to repair.
Mold: If there are any signs of mold or fungus on the floor boards, the source of where the water is coming in needs to be located. If there is an excess of mold or fungus on the boards, they may need to be replaced. Proper maintenance can prevent this from happening as long as there is no way water can seep into the boards or if a spill on the flooring is cleaned up quickly.
Noise: Wood flooring in general, and especially with older flooring, will creak when it’s stepped on. This can be muffled but will always be there just because of how the flooring is in general.
Tough on pets: Pets can scratch up the flooring with their claws. They can also slip and slide on the floor due to it being hard for them to find traction. This can be especially hard on older dogs. In this case, providing some type of rug to help them move around would not only save the floors from being scratched but also help your furry friend move around your home easier.