If you are building a new house or an addition, you may find yourself weighing the pros and cons of hardwood flooring. As hardwood flooring specialists, we love hardwood, but we do understand it’s not for everyone or for every situation. We do, however, want to give an objective rundown of some of the top pros and cons of the flooring material so you may decide if installing a hardwood floor is right for you!
Top Reasons to Install Hardwood Flooring
1. Beauty and Elegance. Few people can deny the beauty of the hardwood floors available these days. With so many kinds of rich woods and finish colors to choose from, there is a flooring material that will enhance any décor and give your home a truly classic look.
2. An Investment in your home. Installing a hardwood floor comes at a premium price but think of it as an investment. If you are planning to sell your home, your hardwood floor will be perceived for its value and even help you fetch a better price in the end! The return on investment (ROI) of adding hardwood flooring to a home has been proven.
3. Healthy Air Quality. Hardwood does not harbor allergens like dust, mold, and pet dander which can often be present in carpet, unbeknownst to the homeowner. Doctors often suggest hardwood for floors for patients suffering from allergies. Any dust or dirt is more visible on hardwood for quicker cleanup.
4. Easy to Clean and Maintain. Spills of all substances are typically more easily cleaned from hardwood floors than from carpeting or other flooring. With a solid protective topcoat on your hardwood floor, all you usually need do is wet mop it to keep it clean. With the right maintenance, you floor can last for decades. Hardwood flooring is more sustainable too. Other materials must be periodically replaced, but hardwood floors can be renewed and even their color changed with a full re-sanding process.
5. Strong and Durable. Wood floors are tough. They take everything your children and pets can dish out as well as dropped items and spills. They are ideal for heavy traffic areas and will not peel up like vinyl flooring can, or easily break dropped items, like ceramic tile does.
So hardwood flooring can be an excellent choice. Nevertheless, there are definitely some situations where you may want to rethink the use of hardwood. Here are some reasons to reconsider.
Cons of Hardwood Floors
1. Cost. Depending on the type of hardwood and whether it is real or engineered, the cost of your flooring can be several dollars more per square foot than other types of flooring. In a large area this can become quite cost prohibitive depending on your budget.
2. Limited Recommended Useage. Since moisture can have detrimental effects on hardwood flooring, it is not recommended in areas where moisture is high or water leakage is probable, like bathrooms. Before you decide to install hardwood, consider how often the floor gets wet. A more waterproof material might be a better choice.
3. Scratches. Wood floors have a protective topcoat on them, and scratches can become quite visible in the topcoat of floors with a semi-gloss or high-gloss finish. While a simple Buff and Coat can help you remove scratches, it is something you will never have to worry about with carpet!
4. Noise. In larger rooms, installing hardwood floors can change the acoustics. If there was carpet before, sounds may appear louder. As the floor ages and expands and contracts, you may also hear noise like squeaks and creaks with footfalls. There will be no carpet or other materials to dampen that sound.
5. Crowning and Cupping. Depending on the amount of moisture in and under the floor, your hardwood may experience crowning and cupping. Crowning occurs when the center of the floorboard rises above the edges. Cupping is the opposite; the edges of the wood planks rises above the middle. This may happen from excessive moisture in the air, and on rare occasions, from faulty installation. This leaves you with a floor that is not completely flat, which can be unsettling over time.
After weighing the pros and cons of hardwood flooring, the choice as to what material to use will be up to you. Hardwood is a beautiful choice that adds value to your home, but it must be carefully selected for the right place and for the right reasons.
At Buff & Coat Hardwood Flooring Specialists, we can consult on the best materials to use and prepare you with what to expect from a hardwood floor installation in the room of your choice. We enjoy bringing the beauty and value of hardwood flooring to our customers and they trust us for quality craftsmanship and long-lasting hardwood floors.
Call us today at 630.689.3800 to schedule an in-home estimate.
When you think about hardwood floors, all the pros come rushing to mind! They are easily one of the most beautiful types of flooring that offer a ton of perks when used in homes and offices. Moreover, no flooring type exudes the kind of warmth, richness, and sense of homeliness like that of a gorgeous wooden floor does. So, who wouldn’t want to invest in them?
Well, much like other flooring options, there are pros and cons to choosing hardwood floors for a home or commercial space. In order to make an informed decision, one must be privy to this crucial information that Simply Maid is sharing with you today! With that, let’s talk about the advantages and disadvantages of hardwood flooring.
Along with stating some of the obvious advantages of investing in wooden floors, we are highlighting some lesser-known perks of hardwood flooring, and explaining why it is a preferred option among so many house owners. Read on!
1. Long Lasting
With proper care and maintenance, you won’t have to replace or repair your hardwood floor for the rest of your life! In fact, unlike many other materials used in interior design, solid wood floors can last for centuries. It is, however, important to learn the proper ways to clean hardwood floors in order to maintain their luxurious appearance.
They are also an excellent choice as a long-term investment because the value of well-maintained hardwood flooring continues to appreciate, thereby increasing the value of your property.
2. Easy to Clean
Finished hardwood requires minimal cleaning that is both quick and easy to carry out without the help of a professional. You can either sweep or vacuum the floor to get rid of dust while mopping with a pH-neutral cleanser and a merely damp mop will remove any existing stains. When vacuuming wood flooring, be sure to use a soft brush attachment to avoid scratching the surface.
To restore the original sheen of the finish, hardwood floors can be polished and buffed using a soft cloth and a simple homemade solution.
3. Available in a Diverse Variety
Owing to the wide selection of wooden floor types at your disposal, you can find the perfect grain and shade to complete your interiors within your budget! Of course, these options come with their own sets of pros and cons, however, regardless of which type of wood you choose, you can rest assured that quality will not be a concern.
Here are some timber options you can consider for your wooden flooring:
Teak
Oak
Hickory
Tigerwood
Brazilian cherry
Brazilian walnut
Santos mahogany
Australian Cypress
4. Easy to Install
Wooden floorboards are easy to lay down and, if needed, can be trimmed on site to rectify any inaccuracies with regards to measurements and height. While a homeowner with knowledge and firsthand experience in installing hardwood flooring can take on this job, it is advisable to hire a professional to lay down the boards because even the smallest of mistakes during installation can lead to expensive repairs later on.
An additional perk of wooden floorboards is that they are just as easy to remove as they are to lay down. Therefore, if you choose to relocate, you can take your hardwood flooring with you!
5. Unique in Appearance
No two planks of wood are identical, hence, you are guaranteed of a one-of-a-kind floor when you choose hardwood. Along with the authenticity that comes with the flooring, the aesthetic appeal is unmatched! Hardwood floors are unique, attractive, and quite frankly, in a league of their own.
To make your wooden flooring stand out further, you can seal and stain it in any shade you like to give it that extra x-factor!
As much as hardwood floors are loved, there are a few downsides to using the material that homeowners must be made aware of before deciding to go with wooden flooring. With that said, some of these disadvantages needn’t be an issue if you are aware of the proper maintenance wooden flooring requires in order to avoid any type of damage. Read on to learn more.
1. Prone to Termite Damage
If you are installing wooden floorboards in your home, it pays to know how to prevent termites. Timber, in all forms, is prone to termite infestations (some types more than others). Nevertheless, it is a major factor to consider as termite damage can be devastating to your flooring. It’s a good idea to inspect your wooden floor every few months to ensure that it has not fallen prey to termites. An effective way to do this is by tapping on the wood and listening for a hollow sound. If you suspect that you have termites, call in a professional to get an immediate inspection done.
2. More Expensive
If you are on a tight budget, hardwood flooring just might not fit into it. Owing to the many benefits that come with panelled wood flooring, homeowners are quick to opt for the material until they realise how much it’s going to cost. On the flip side, many individuals choose alternatives like laminate flooring that mimics the feel and appearance of wood, yet is available at a relatively lower rate.
3. Easily Scratched
Pets, shoes, and hard debris can all cause scratches on the surface of your wooden floor. Therefore, unless you take the necessary precautions to prevent this, you will be faced with the task of stripping off the existing finish and refinishing the floor ever so often. It should also be noted that scratches on hardwood are very noticeable which, in turn, makes the flooring look aged before its time.
4. Prone to Water Damage
From cupping (which causes the edges of the floorboard to rise) to weakening and damaging of the wood; water is the enemy when it comes to hardwood flooring! Spills, improper cleaning techniques with excess liquid, and flooding will cause water damage that requires expensive repair work. The expansion of wood due to moisture is yet another factor that homeowners should be concerned about. Unless all members of the household are capable of protecting a wooden floor from water damage, it is not a suitable material of choice for your flooring.
5. Becomes Noisy Overtime
When hardwood flooring is new, it won’t make a sound with the weight of foot traffic. In fact, wooden floors provide great acoustics for the room! Over a long period of time, however, old hardwood floors tend to become squeaky and creaky due to wear and tear. These clicking sounds can become very unpleasant and loud as the wood continues to age.
6. High Maintenance
Modern homes generally have sealed and finished hardwood flooring; these serve as protective layers that keep away moisture while adding a polished look to the wood. Unfortunately, they are prone to wear and tear which means you must have the floor re-sealed/polished every time there is damage found. If left unmaintained, you run the risk of exposing the wood to moisture, dirt, mould, termites, and so on. On top of this, wooden floors tend to look dull over time and therefore require polishing every now and then to maintain their sheen.
In conclusion, hardwood flooring is an excellent choice for homes and offices if you are fully committed to maintaining it! Of course, you can always rely on the services of a professional house cleaning company to safely clean and maintain your hardwood floor, and keep it looking as good as new for years to come!