Hardwood Flooring

Hardwood flooring has become a necessity for modern day homes because they are easy to maintain, do not trap dust or other allergens and they also add special character to your beloved home. But wooden flooring in close proximity to water is not advisable and they can also become spoiled or scratched without proper care.

There are an endless variety of hardwood floors available today. They vary in types, styles and finishes. Some of them are:

Standard unfinished hardwood is the cheapest and the most common variety of flooring available. It is very easy to install and repair. With proper maintenance it can last a lifetime. This wood just needs to be sanded and stained or coated with a urethane sealer.

Pre finished wood comes with a huge advantage. They are delivered already stained and sanded. Once it is installed they do not require further work as no sanding or coating with urethanes is required. It is less messy.

Laminate flooring completely recreates the look of hardwood by incurring less expense. Hardwood and laminate flooring can hardly be differentiated. It is designed to be very durable and tough.

Hardwood floors are being preferred in homes whether it is new or old. Now most owners are removing their carpets so that the wooden floor beneath is exposed and can be refurnished. Even new builders are putting hardwood and laminate flooring while constructing new homes.

Wooden floors not only add beauty but also value to your home. Its sheer elegance brings joy. These types of floors are very flexible and can be easily styled according to your personal tastes. They come in a variety of colors. Even if you choose one particular color now you can sand it some tome later and have a different color put on the floor. Inlaid medallions or borders in varying shades or patterns can also be put to enhance the beauty of your room. You have to choose wisely as to where you are putting the particular flooring. Rooms appear bigger if the floors reflect light. Large rooms look better with dark flooring as it feels cozier. You should also keep in mind the type of use that the room is being put to. In kitchens dark colored woods should not be used as it reflects wear and tear more than light ones do. Dark woods are better suited to bedrooms formal dining rooms. Oak, maple, pine, cherry, and birch are the varieties of wood available. You can chose among these as they vary in color also.

Installation of this type of flooring is easy only if you have the guidance of a book or have taken training classes. It is better if don’t attempt it yourself as it is quite expensive and the process complex. Flooring can be nailed to a sub- floor. You should take help of a specialist, as the installation procedure is quite intricate. Another variety is the tongue and groove floors that are available today. With the help of some adhesive beneath these floors are fitted together. But all the pieces should fit in properly. For this you can take a block of wood and place it against the piece to be fitted. The pieces should be hammered into the particular slots. The process is somewhat tedious but you can also hire a special tool to accomplish the task.

There is one very important thing that one should keep in mind. Wood floors expand and contract according to weather fluctuations. So when the package of floor strips is opened you should complete flooring the entire room at one go. Wooden floors also need expansion room by the walls. You should also see that your floor is protected. Polyurethane, oils and waxes are predominantly used so that they form a layer on top of the wood and this results in the increase of longevity.