Wood flooring can be more than traditional flooring options; however, it will add class and value to your home. Hardwood floors are highly sought-after by homeowners and prospective home buyers; therefore, wood flooring is an investment. Wood flooring is a great option and if taken care of, will last the entire life of your home. While, there is upkeep involved with wood flooring; however, the original wood should last throughout your homes duration.
Upkeep includes having to refinish the floors every now and then; however, you can consider this to be an advantage to having wood floors in your home. If the floors become dull, you won’t have to pay to have the flooring completely replaced like with having to install new carpet and padding. Just by refinishing the floors you can make them look new again at a fairly reasonable price, whether you pay to have someone do it or you do it yourself.
Wood flooring comes in a variety of different types such as, cherry, maple, oak, birch, beech, pine, walnut and even mahogany. The natural design located within each piece of wood will add that much more of a visual effect. Wood is just a naturally warmer material than say tile and it will help to add warmth to your home. Because it does not harbor any type of mold, mildew, and so on, wood flooring is actually a perfect choice for those who have sensitivities to different things and/or allergies.
If you are on the “green” bandwagon, then wood flooring can definitely have its drawbacks. Obviously, wood flooring is made from cutting down trees; however, you can buy reclaimed wood flooring, which is actually recycled.
Cost of wood flooring
The cost of wood flooring can be quite costly. Most types begin around $3 per square foot. The more exotic the wood, the more expensive the price will be, as with all other products. This estimate does not include the installation price if you want someone else to install the floors for you.
Tips for buying wood flooring
1. You will want to use hardwoods such as Oak, Maple or Ash in high traffic areas such as the kitchen or bath. Areas that draw a lot of moisture will also be better suitable with hardwood flooring from these species.
2. There are different types of grades when looking at wooden flooring. First grade is considered the best; however, if you are looking for a cheaper version then the Second grade will be your option. Second grade flooring will have minor blemishes here and there but will provide you with a similar product for less money. The blemishes will not affect the floor’s stability and can still prove to be a great option for you.
3. You can add designs to your floor by opting for different colors of wood. You can make a border around the edge or you can even add interest by choosing a contrasting floor as compared to your cabinets; however, make sure that you stay with the same “feel”. If your cabinets are rustic with that old school charm, then opt for the same type of wood flooring, even though it may be in a different color.
4. There are several different options of wood flooring that are available on the market today. There is pre-finished, unfinished and even engineered wood flooring. Pre-finished wood flooring is best for rooms like kitchens as it often has high-quality finishes of Aluminum Oxide or Polyurethane. Thus it is more immune to spills, humidity and high temperature. Engineered wood, also called composite wood or man-made wood is manufactured by binding together the strands, particles, fibers, or veneers of wood, together with adhesives, to form composite materials. Because of this, engineered wood floors are extremely sturdy and are also good for kitchens. Visit your local dealer to learn all of the differences between these types and find out which one will work best for you.
Wood flooring installation and maintenance
There are different installation methods when it comes to wood flooring options. They can be floating, glued, nailed and/or stapled. Depending upon what type you bought will help to determine the type of installation method that is used. Professional help in this category can prove to be your best bet, even though it may cost you a little bit more; however, it is better to pay to have your floors professionally installed so that you do not mess up your flooring by making mistakes. With the different climate changes, wood will retract or expand and this is exactly the reason why you do need the help of a professional when it comes to the installation process.
Maintenance of your wood flooring will depend upon what type of installation you have and the type of wood. Make sure that you follow the manufacturer’s directions. You can help to protect your floors by using area rugs. Sweeping and mopping is usually the only requirements to properly maintain your floors. Wipe up any spills immediately.
How to get the best price on a wood flooring
BuildDirect appears to be one of the best places to buy the wood flooring from. Besides the best prices, their customer friendly policies make buying from them a pleasure.
Wood floors are a great way to add elegance to any kitchen. I would also suggest to have them professionally installed as it will be much easier, look better and if re-sale is depending, it can make or break it.
Thanks!
Thanks for this insightful post! The best thing about an engineered floor is just how diverse it can be. Its rigidity allows it to be installed in cellars or in conditions where a solid wood floor wouldn’t be a viable option.
Cheers
Scott
I have a question… we want to have hardwood floors installed and my husband is hesitant to put it in the laundry room, entryway and bathrooms. Is this concern legitimate? Thanks, Lori
Hi Lori,
For laundry rooms and bathrooms I would consider using engineered hardwood flooring. As mentioned above, these floors are dimensionally stable and usually more immune to spills and humidity than solid hardwood floors. They are also the better option for rooms at a ground level or below it.
If you insist on solid hardwood floor, I would consider teak. Teak has a natural property of being resistant to moisture, fungi, rot and dents.
Concerning entryways, I think it is okay to use solid hardwood floor. Just be sure to use pre-finished one as it will have a high quality finish applied at the factory. This makes the floor stronger and more immune to scratches.
Regards,
Ganka
When you are looking for wood floor in your kitchen, keep in mind the green alternative of reclaimed wood flooring. Reclaimed flooring is flooring that has been salvaged from old homes, warehouses and other buildings as they are being demolished.
If you prefer rustic floors you will love the look of recycled wood flooring. Oak, chestnut and hickory are some of the woods that are most often reclaimed.
Timber flooring is a great addition to any home. If you’d like to have timber floor, site conditions are the most important deciding factor. Some site conditions are more suitable than others.
It is also advised to buy from suppliers who can trace the origins of their timber, which will be authorized by international sustainability agencies, such as the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Reputable stores will only deal with manufacturers who use wood from certified sources.
Since the wood flooring is costly it is difficult to figure out what could be the best suited and I am sure these tips will help. Installing is a a bit difficult I think…what do you say?
With the different climate changes, wood will retract or expand and this is exactly the reason why you do need the help of a professional when it comes to the installation process.
We live in South Florida and want to install wood floors in our entire downstairs which includes a 1/2 bath, laundry room and kitchen. We have ceramic floors now. Can you recommend a type of wood and installation or would you discourage us from getting wood in bath and kitchen and laundry room?
Hi Ann,
I would recommend using an engineered wood floor. It is a type of pre-finished flooring made up of layers of plywood that make up the underside of the flooring and another layer which is the upper surface is made of solid wood. Due to their construction, engineered floors are strong and are especially good for rooms that are either at ground level or below. They are generally more immune to humidity, spills and extreme temperature and are dimensionally stable.
Concerning the type of wood, you can use maple, oak, walnut, teak, Brazilian cherry, etc. Take a look at the above mentioned ‘Related links’ for more information about each of these woods.
Concerning the wood floor installation, I recommend using the services of a professional.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
Regards,
Ganka
Can you show some pictures of the engineered type of wood flooring?
Hi Jessica,
Here is a link that might be useful:
https://www.bchardwood.com/
Regards,
Ganka
The videos which you have uploaded is really helpful for me to install the timber floor. Wood floor in kitchen makes attractive and feeling natural environment.
There are a lot of good tips on this website.
Wood floors are affordable but there are some that can be costly depending on the level of quality. When buying wood flooring, you should also consider not only for its aesthetic appeal, but also for its strength and durability.
I have found the short and very bright information about wood flooring in this post. All moments are included! Thank you for sharing with us!
Thank you for sharing this article! Purchasing wood flooring is a big decision and investment.