We now focus on hardwood flooring. There are many different types of hardwood floors available today, with various kinds of wood, patterns, and designs, all offering a variety of choices for you. The classic hardwood floor and the most popular is oak, but in the stores you will also see maple, fir, walnut, birch, cherry, and beech. Pine is also used a lot in Country-style and reproduction houses, where it’s stained dark for an old-fashioned feel. The thing to note about pine is that it dents and scratches easily.
In addition, it’s this type of flooring that home buyers often look for when buying a house because of its sturdiness and durability. However, the purchase and installation of this type of flooring can be expensive and its care and maintenance can be challenging too.
So what are the pros, exactly?
Hardwood floors are durable and are very easy to maintain. Homes that are more than 100 years old can still have the original flooring if they have been maintained properly. All they need is sweeping or vacuuming and occasional cleaning too. Damaged flooring may need sanding but if you can prevent damages, then that will be good as well.
Buyers are willing to pay top dollar for homes with hardwood floors. In addition, homes with hardwood floors tend to sell faster than homes with wall-to-wall carpeting.
Because of the diversity in design, hardwood flooring can work with all styles of decorating, from traditional to modern. It is available in several types of woods, such as those we’ve mentioned earlier. The possibilities are nearly endless when it comes to choices for your hardwood floors.
Hard flooring is good for those who suffer from allergies. Allergens like pet dander and dust tend to build up in carpet. On the other hand, they don’t have as many hiding places in hardwood floors.
What are the disadvantages?
Wood floors are somewhat a little more expensive. The price of the materials can range from $3 per square foot to more than $12 a square foot, depending on the type of wood used. The flooring must be installed over sub-flooring and installation is a bigger job than most homeowners can handle. Labor costs will vary though.
Scuffed and scratched floors will need to be refinished occasionally. Hardwood floors in high traffic areas, for example, will be prone to showing damage. The good news is, if your hardwood floors do get scratched, they can be fixed! A simple sanding and refinishing is all it takes to bring your floors back to their former luster. However, having hardwood floors refinished professionally costs between $1.25 and $4.00 or more per square foot, depending on the type of floor and room layout.
Hardwood flooring produces a lot of noise when someone walks across it. Nearly every step is loud and detectable when you’re walking on wood. Placing an area rug over the floor can help muffle the sound though.
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