What to Consider When Buying Hardwood Floors?

Flooring considerations can give you sleepless nights, more so when you are thinking of investing in something that is both robust and yet emits that richness at, literally, every corner. The choice of flooring is one of the most fundamental and critical selections a homeowner must make when embarking on a restoration project, as it serves as the foundation for everything else.

While there are several possibilities such as ceramic tiles, natural stones, marbles, carpets, there is an option that exceeds every imagination and creates an aura that is unmatched – Hardwood Flooring. But how to select the best from the rest? Although there are several options, not every type of hardwood is appropriate for every situation. Here are a few tips for buying hardwood floors.

Different Species of Hardwood

Before considering buying hardwood floors, it would be a wise decision to understand the basic difference between different species of trees from which this hardwood that decorates your home comes. Each of the different species has a different hardness, density, and quality. These qualities make them distinct and thus each would serve a different purpose.

For example, an Oak, which is a popular hardwood flooring, is more durable than a Walnut hardwood floor. However, Oak would be difficult to install as opposed to a Walnut. Also, different species of hardwood are offered in a different price range so you could choose one that fits your budget but understand if that will suffice your requirement.

Different Hardwood Floors

Apart from the species of the hardwood, traditionally there was only solid wood floor as a single option. However, with technology that has evolved so much, engineered wood has found an equally welcoming market for itself. Solid wood flooring is made from solid wood logs and is bonded with a tongue and groove across both the long and the short edges.

Engineered hardwood is made by gluing down layers of plies in a cross-grain pattern. These layers provide more stability. Engineered hardwood may be put in bathrooms and basements, as well as over concrete subfloors due to its ability to handle greater levels of humidity. Engineered hardwood requires fewer trees to produce than solid hardwood. However, cheaper engineered wood limits future finishing projects.

Durability of Hardwood

When it comes to buying hardwood floors, one of the foremost considerations should be its hardness rating. A hardness rating of wood flooring differs according to the different species of trees from which they are cut. In this context, higher rating hardwood denotes higher durability than one with a lesser rating.

Hardwood with a lesser rating is fit for light activity and less traffic-prone residence, and for a much more active environment where more footfall is expected, hardwood flooring with higher hardness is suggested.

Cost of Hardwood Flooring

A solid wood flooring would cost you much higher than an engineered wood floor. It all comes to what you want to achieve in terms of the practical aspect as well as the aesthetic appeal of the floors.

When it comes to costing, selecting hardwood flooring is not enough and you would need to consider the cost of laying those floors down and tightly holding them to the surface. You should also think about the sort of finish you want to choose, as well as the cost of expert installation. Solid prefinished wood flooring can cost more per square foot than engineered prefinished hardwood. Prefinished hardwood is less expensive since it’s easy to handle and install.

Style of Hardwood Flooring

Yes, there are varieties available in hardwood flooring and it all depends on your space, the lighting, and the overall personality that you want to project in that space that factors in for the kind of style that suits you. For example, darker stained hardwood floors may not be a good fit for a small room, or for a space with limited natural lights, going for a lighter shade of wood just adds to space.

The finish of the hardwood floors also matters a lot, and you can decide if you want to go for a much grainy texture as opposed to glossy finish hardwood flooring. Also, you can choose to buy a pre-finished flooring or a finish that can be achieved in your own space. Either way, the finish of wood flooring is an essential aspect to consider.

Installation

It is a good idea to consider an underlayment and dispose of old flooring, if any. Since hardwood flooring can be difficult and a tiresome process, it is also suggested to hire a professional who can handle the task to complete satisfaction. Many individuals opt to employ a professional installation service to assist them because they have the necessary knowledge and the necessary tools.

We understand that there is a lot that goes into selecting a hardwood floor. We hope this guide assists you in narrowing down all of your options and selecting the best hardwood floor for you. Now that you have gotten a glimpse of one of the most enriching flooring options when considering a flooring makeover in your house, look for a reputable way to make your experience better, what better way to achieve that than Tileswale application. It is a one-stop-shop for all kinds of flooring and cladding solutions.

Article Updated - February 12, 2022

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