Are you searching for a versatile and convenient flooring material for your home? Have you considered installing hardwood flooring in your living and dining areas? If so, then you may be wondering if hardwood flooring is the solution you're looking for.
If you're new to home renovation, choosing between hardwood flooring and other materials can be a daunting task. Fortunately, hardwood flooring is one of the most popular options available.
In 2019 alone, hardwood floor sales totaled approximately $2.3 billion. If you're intrigued in learning more about whether this option is great for you, here are several hardwood flooring pros and cons to help you make an informed decision.
Hardwood Flooring Pros
Top-Notch Longevity
Hardwood flooring offers lifetime value to homeowners. If installed and maintained properly, it can last more than 100 years! In about 25 years, the original glossy finish of a new floor can fade.
By applying new, shiny gloss to hardwood floors every two decades, you can maximize its lifespan and keep the floor looking its best.
Exceptional Quality
Hardwood floors are 100% organic. This is perfect as the natural sunlight many homes allow to pass through can radiate hardwood floors and create a brilliant sparkling display.
With regular maintenance, hardwood floors are practically ageless. A century-old hardwood floor in normal condition will look similar to a newly-installed floor. This provides a tremendous benefit to homeowners who plan on staying put in their homes for a long time.
Easy Maintenance
Unlike synthetic tiles and carpet, hardwood floors are easy to clean and maintain. If you spill a drink or track the floor with mud, it can be swept and mopped up within a few minutes.
Hardwood floors are also not likely to stain even in the toughest messes. If you're looking for a flooring material you won't have to devote much cleaning time to, hardwood flooring is an excellent option.
In addition, hardwood flooring is ideal for small children and pets for this very reason.
Simple Installation
Laying hardwood planks is a simple installation task. Since the planks are uniquely thick, it can be conveniently installed even in areas where the floor height differs. The same cannot be said for laminates and other flooring materials.
Pleasant Acoustics
Hardwood flooring eliminates noisy vibrations in your home. If you don't want your home to be a noisy environment, then installing hardwood floors are ideal. However, this material can also be beneficial in noisy homes as well.
If you enjoy playing instruments at home, everything will sound clear and crisp against hardwood floors. This is why many businesses opt to install commercial hardwood floors.
Enhanced Home Value
Hardwood floors are attractive to many potential homeowners. If you plan on selling your home in the future or just want to maximize its value, installing a hardwood floor should do the trick.
According to Money, properly installed hardwood floors can increase home value by as much as 5%!
Wide Selection
When you choose to install hardwood floors, you'll be able to select from a wide variety of choices. Fortunately, you can choose the variety that aligns with your design style and budget.
Here are a few of the different types of hardwood flooring you can select for your home:
- White or red oak
- Tigerwood
- Teak
- Brazillian cherry
- Brazillian walnut
- Hickory
Hardwood Flooring Cons
While there are great advantages to installing hardwood floors, you should also consider potential cons before making your decision.
Higher Budget Required
Hardwood flooring can be quite expensive. Though most high-end flooring jobs can range quite a bit, a majority of your budget will be spent on purchasing the materials. The rest will cover the labor costs.
Liquid Vulnerability
Hardwood floors are easy to clean, but they aren't very resistant to water. If you do clean up a mess with a mop, you should make sure that it's not dripping with water. Also, the mess should be cleaned immediately to prevent the water from seeping into the hardwood and causing rotting damage.
Risk of Termites
Hardwood flooring, particularly southern yellow pine and spruce materials, are susceptible to termites. Termites are aggressive eaters, and you'll usually never know if your floors have been affected until it's too late.
Termites eat wood from the inside out, so you can detect their presence by tapping on the floor with a screwdriver. If you hear a hollow sound, then it's safe to say that termites have been feeding on your floor.
As the problem persists, the hardwood planks will make a squeaking sound as they are stepped on.
Long-Term Noise Issues
A newly-installed hardwood floor will create virtually no sound. These solid floors can suffer from wear and tear throughout decades of use. As a result, individual wood planks can crack under pressure and make squeaking noises when stepped on.
These sounds can be frustrating over time, especially if you're trying to keep quiet during the night hours as others sleep.
Mold Growth
Excessive amounts of water can contaminate hardwood flooring. If water seeps into a hardwood floor, mold can grow under the top layer. As the mold continues to grow, it can destroy the top layer and weaken the entire structure.
To prevent the growth of mold, hardwood flooring must be maintained properly to protect against water seepage.
Scratching
Over time, wood flooring can get dented and scratched. Gloss finishing must be applied every 20 years to keep hardwood floors looking their best. However, if your floors are regularly stained and walked on, you may have to service them on a more regular basis.
Hardwood Flooring Pros and Cons: The Final Verdict
Hardwood floors provide outstanding value to homeowners who are looking for a durable, high-quality, and convenient flooring material. There are also known disadvantages for making this selection.
If you have assessed these hardwood flooring pros and cons and would like to move forward, National Floors Direct is the perfect partner you can rely on for premium flooring materials.
Click here to receive a free in-home estimate for a potential hardwood flooring installation.
