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This guest post was written by Elizabeth Hadden from Web1, for Dallas Flooring Warehouse.
When you’re installing hardwood flooring in your home, it is important to consider all factors of your flooring before completing the installation. There are many different types of flooring, with many different choices in terms of the color, wood type, and overall look of your flooring. A quality flooring store will have all your hardwood flooring options available.
Hardwood Flooring Options
There are many types of wood used for hardwood flooring today. Oak is still a classic, but you can also see new options as well. Hardwood flooring types also include cherry, beech, pine, walnut, fir, and birch. Pine can dent and scratch easily, though. Bamboo is a new flooring option as well, bringing environmentally friendly designs to your floors.
Installation Options for Wood Floors
After deciding the type of flooring you’ll install, it’s now time to think about the type of installation you will choose. Options include strips, which include narrow boards cut at random lengths. You can also choose planks, which come in various widths, or wood tile, which can be laid in geometric patterns.
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Wood flooring can be finished at the factory, or finished once it is installed in your home. Most types of hardwood flooring can be refinished several times. But today’s “floating” hardwood flooring systems, which include veneered strips, cannot be refinished.
The Pros of Hardwood Flooring
Hardwood flooring offers a look unlike any other for your home. This type of flooring brings a warm look into any home. Because of its earthy tones, hardwood flooring is incredibly easy to match when it comes to design. It matches many styles, making decorating much easier. Because most hardwood can be refinished multiple times, it can match any design. This means that hardwood flooring can be refreshed regularly for an updated look in your home.
Hardwood flooring is incredibly strong, lasting centuries with the right care and maintenance. Hardwood flooring is also more inviting than tile, holding warmth much better than other types of flooring.
Keeping hardwood flooring clean is incredibly easy. Simple sweeping and vacuuming can keep hardwood flooring looking great. And with regular cleanings, your hardwood floors will truly shine. Busy families of all sizes enjoy the ease of maintaining hardwood floors.
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Hardwood floors are also a great addition for families whose members have allergies. Hardwood flooring doesn’t hold allergens, dust, or dander the way carpet does. This makes hardwood flooring a great choice for anyone who may have unpleasant allergies.
The Cons of Hardwood Flooring
The biggest downside of hardwood flooring is its susceptibility to water damage. Hardwood is very vulnerable to humidity and water. A small leak can become a huge problem with hardwood flooring, causing major damage. Spills need to be cleaned up quickly, and homeowners need to keep an eye out for signs of leaks. Hardwood’s water sensitivity makes it a poor choice for bathrooms or other water-prone rooms.
Some types of wood and hardwood finishes can scratch or dent easily. High heels, pets, and rowdy kids can scratch, dent, and scuff some types of hardwood flooring. Additionally, the costs of hardwood flooring can be prohibitive for some buyers.
Hardwood Flooring Costs
There are many costs for hardwood flooring, including installation and materials. On average, hardwood flooring costs $8 to $13 per square foot. That number includes the costs of installation and materials. Additional costs include refinishing, which takes place around every 10 years.
Though hardwood flooring is more expensive than many other flooring options, it is an investment for your home. Hardwood flooring can improve your home’s value, and it can make your home easier to sell down the road.
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Thanks LaNell, yes, I’d never put a wooden floor in a bathroom… Thanks for the tips.
In bathrooms and kitchens, water will ‘happen’. Just takes a little. But who has not had a toilet overflow? Just once, and I doubt a wet vacuum and my heavy duty dehumidifier would half save it.
Note…if installing a vanity, open box upside-down. Cut vinyl/PVC and glue with construction adhesive evenly along edge. Making sure it keeps the edges solidly resting. 3/4″ above floor. Will save your vanity.
Very informative
Yes I think putting that in a bathroom is a bit strange!
Water damage is something that hardwood floors can’t avoid. That’s why I would usually prefer ceramic tiles or vinyl tiles. A friend of mine renovated his bathroom with hardwood floor and had to renovate it again a year after because of water damage. Don’t get me wrong, I love hardwood floor as long as it is place in areas where there is minimal water contact.