Home Maintenance tips

4 Hardwood Floorings Tips

Hardwood flooring remains a popular choice for home owners because it’s durable, easy to clean, and offers a classic beauty that’s hard to match. Originally introduced in medieval times, hardwood flooring today has evolved into a superior choice due to improved installation techniques and innovative sealants and finishes. Even though there are literally thousands of choices, some basic guidelines to selecting hardwood flooring remains fairly simple.

1. Know the Room’s Purpose — In most cases you wouldn’t want to install wood floors in a bathroom because of potential moisture problems, but other rooms may have mixed uses. A den may be a place to study one day, and a toddler’s playroom the next. This is important to know before you select a hardwood.
2. Traffic — A busy room is going to require a different hardwood and finish than a room that is seldom used. For example, hallways and kitchens get lots of traffic so you’ll want a more durable wood with a tougher finish than a guest bedroom with little use. Note that wood flooring with very dark or light finishes don’t wear well in a kitchen environment.
3. Installation Options — Certainly you can install hardwood flooring yourself, but like most projects — do your homework and strictly follow the manufacturer’s installation instructions. If you contract a professional, get references. Common hardwood flooring installation problems include moisture, unprepared sub-floors, improper planning, bad racking and under-nailing.
4. Color and Style — For most people, choosing the flooring is the best part. Just keep in mind that hardwood flooring is expensive, so unless you plan to live in the house the rest of your life, make sure you choose a flooring that won’t go out of style too quickly.