Purchasing quality hardwood floors are an investment that will last a lifetime. Wooden flooring will stand up to the everyday demands of life as they are extremely durable and will require special installation and regular cleaning and maintenance. Ceramic tile, laminate flooring and carpeting are all popular choices found in modern homes today, however no other flooring alternative can match the traditional feeling and warm ambiance that wooden floors offer. While hardwood flooring is definitely a pricier choice in the design of your home decor, the advantages of the look, the feel, and even the sound of the flooring cannot be matched by any other alternative.
To give your home that timeless feel and warmth that only wooden floors can offer you can choose between two different types of wood flooring: solid hardwood and engineer wood. Solid wooden flooring is hardwood all the way through as the name implies. It is very similar to a stick of lumber sawed straight off of the log with no additional materials added. This form of hardwood floor comes in unfinished and prefinished with all types of wood including maple, oak, Bruce, bamboo and many more. Each of these woods has their own advantages, however, the better the wood the more the cost. Unfinished wooden flooring will cost less, however, they will be much more time consuming as they will need to be sanded, stained and sealed after installation.
Because of the additional costs associated with staining and sealing unfinished hardwood planks, many homeowners decide to bite the bullet and pay a little more initially for a finished wood. With prefinished wood, there is no waiting or extra work involved after installation and you are guaranteed the quality finished-look of a professional. The extra investment will call for a quick turnaround time.
Unlike laminate flooring, which requires a bottom layer of weight absorbing padding, hardwood floors are nail directly to the sub-floor. The nail down requirement makes it much more difficult to install, however, once it is installed it will last for generations with the proper cleaning and care. Real wooden flooring may be durable; however, certain woods are subject to dents and scratches that can be costly to repair. Make sure to pick the right type of wood that will be resistant to your lifestyle whether you have kids or pets that will cause expected wear and tear. To find this wood you will need to review all of the Janka hardness ratings to see how durable the wood of choice is.
Aside from its timeless quality of style, hardwood can be sanded and re-stained numerous times and last decades. Do your research on the available solid wood planks and the cost to floor your entire home. Keep in mind that solid wood cannot be installed in basements or bathrooms as these areas are prone to moisture. Once your flooring is installed, you will soon realize why you choose to go with this time honored tradition of home decor.
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