Hardwood flooring has many advantages, including durability, beauty, and versatility. It is highly resistant to wear and tear, and can last for decades if cared for properly. Additionally, hardwood flooring comes in a variety of styles and colors, so you can customize your floor to suit any home or office design. Finally, hardwood floors are easy to clean and maintain over the years.
There are always options when choosing a floor covering and hardwood flooring is certainly no different. In fact, the choices you make here can affect a lot more than just the looks of your home. There are options for durability, protection, functionality, and more. It’s also just as important to know what you cannot do with it as what you can, so taking the time to research a few more details in this material will be a great help when choosing your favorites.
It’s always best to start with an honest assessment of your traffic levels in the rooms where this flooring will be placed and choose the species that best fits those levels. The harder species are always the best idea for rooms that are extremely busy and heavily traveled, but they can be just as beneficial in lower-traffic areas. Still, if you prefer, you can go with much softer woods in areas where there is no or low traffic.
The type of finish you add to your solid hardwood flooring also has a major impact on the overall performance. Poly finishes (polyurethane) are extremely popular and offer a glossy, wet look that’s super easy to clean. On the other hand, they can also take on scratches and show dust and pet hair more easily. Oil sealer doesn’t offer as hard a finish, but it truly brings out the wood grain pattern as it soaks into the wood. For an older look, the hard-wax finish can offer an excellent protection and a very rustic look. Reapplying wax must be done much more often, but some homeowners prefer it over others.
You should know that solid, and some engineered hardwood, much be acclimated prior to installation. Your flooring associate will discuss specifics on this based on your species and stain choices. The flooring must never be installed below grade either, but engineered flooring is a good alternative to continue throughout your home with the wood-look. Keeping these things in mind can make a world of difference in your hardwood flooring experience.
You can contact Mobile Floor Gallery to find an excellent selection of floor coverings and services to meet any need, no matter how big or small your flooring project is. We even offer restoration services, which may save you money in the long run as well. Call anytime.
