Wood flooring is a beautiful and timeless investment in the value and comfort of your home. When you put in a good wood floor, you can expect generations of use from it with proper care. The basis of having the right wood floor in your home lies in proper selection. In this article, we will discuss some important tips that will help you choose just the right wood flooring for your home. Read on to learn more.
Before you do any shopping, you should first measure the area where your new wood flooring will go. Knowing the exact square footage of the area will help you make smarter and more affordable choices and materials.
Solid hardwood flooring consists of pieces of wood that have tongue and groove slots in the sides. These sections are designed to fit together perfectly. Installing this type of flooring over concrete is definitely not recommended. You’ll also need to take the substrate of the flooring into account. If you’re installing solid hardwood flooring, you should install it over a wood sub-floor.
It’s smart to have some familiarity with hardwoods before you begin shopping for flooring. Oak is a common wood used to construct wood floors. Other good choices include cherry, yew, mahogany and maple. Each of these types of wood has a character of its own, and there are significant differences in qualities such as moisture tolerance, the size of the grain and coloration of the wood.
If you live in a very moist area, you may want to look into Cedar. Cedar is a very highly moisture tolerant type of wood. It’s a bit more expensive, but in an area of high humidity it will perform better and last longer.
You may also opt for engineered hardwood. This type of flooring is made by combining at least three pieces of wood to form a laminate. The sections are glued tightly together to create solid flooring. This type of wood floor doesn’t contract and expand as natural hardwood does. In some cases, engineered hardwood is an excellent solution for homes in areas of high humidity.
You’ll also want to consider your lifestyle when selecting good wood flooring for your home. Some types of wood require very little maintenance, while others require quite a bit. Be sure to read manufacturer’s recommendations about any type of hardwood flooring you are considering having installed in your home.This will help you make a wise choice.
Most types of hardwood floor can be purchased without finish. This is especially true of extremely inexpensive types. If you are buying flooring that is unfinished, you must be sure to include the cost of stain, varnish and lacquer in your budget.
Once you have settled on the type of wood you want for your hardwood floor, you should purchase as much as you need plus a little extra all at one time. When you do this, you can be certain that all of your boards are of uniform thickness and coloration and that they will fit well with one another. You will also have a small amount on hand in case repairs are needed at some time in the future.
Hardwood flooring is a wonderful, traditional addition to any home. When you take the time to measure carefully and learn all that you need to know about the various types of hardwood and their care, you can be certain of making a smart choice that you and your family will be happy with for generations to come.