Benefits of Hardwood Floors!

There are added benefits, beside the beauty when choosing hardwood flooring over other flooring, such as carpeting. And for those concerned with preserving our ecosystem, it’s important to remember that wood is a renewable and recyclable material.

Carpet wears out in time, unlike real hardwood which only needs a minimum amount of care to remain beautiful for the life of your home. Carpet also contains allergens like dust mites, pet dander and dust, which are known to contribute to serious medical problems like allergy-triggered asthma.

Laminate floors are relatively inexpensive, but are not as durable as hardwood floors. (Fading color, premature wearing and staining are also problems for some brands of laminate.)

Ceramic flooring is a mixture of clay and minerals, which may crack over time, inviting bacteria to form. (When finished properly and without toxic chemicals, ceramic tiles can be very expensive.)

The durability of Hardwood Floors is worth the investment. They will never go out of style, are a healthy choice for your family and adds value to your home. With simple maintenance, you can enjoy stunning hardwood floors that will retain their elegance and appeal through the years.

Most Common Types of Hardwood Floors

Both softwoods and hardwoods are appropriate for the interior of your home. Softwoods such as fir, pine, and spruce are likely to be damaged by wear and abrasion, which are best for light traffic areas such as bedrooms. Hardwoods like oak, birch, maple and pecan are denser and able to withstand harsher treatment. (Wood works best in spaces that are free of contact with moisture, but wood can also be treated to repel the negative effects of moisture.)

Depending on how the wood was sawn will determine its appearance and resistance to wear. Quarter-sawn flooring (edge or vertical grain) displays an even grain and will stand up to hard wear quite well. Plain-sawn flooring (flat grain) displays noticeable grain patterns and may not wear evenly.

The cost of wood flooring ranges from inexpensive pine to pricey walnut. It can be purchased either finished or unfinished. Color, grain pattern, density and texture vary and are specific to each species. Prefinished hardwood offers convenience; hardwood that's sanded and finished (on site) offers a gleaming reflection you just can't get with the small gaps between prefinished planks.

Regular maintenance is quite simple: just vacuum or sweep regularly and occasionally give a 'light' wash.