When it comes to choosing a floor for your home, you want the best. You want a floor that will be pleasant to look at and one that will give you that cozy and homely feel. Hardwood flooring offers this and more. Hardwood floors give your home a feel of elegance and class. The pros of hardwood floors include the ease of cleaning and their durability all the while providing that air of nobility.
If you do opt to use hardwood, it is important that you follow a certain set of tips so that you can achieve the look that is most suited to your requirements and expectation.
Budget and theme
Consider your budget and the theme you have in mind. Hard wood can be expensive. This means that it is essential to set your budget to ensure that you do not end up with incomplete flooring and penniless at the same time. Note though that there are different types of hardwood floorings and varieties to meet the needs of any budget. As you do this, determine your theme.
Determining the theme and budget ensures you do not start to plan with a particular theme in mind only to realize later it is beyond your budget. Take time to do the research on your theme because once done, you will have to live with the floor for a long time. Research online, look at home decor magazines or seek the help of an interior designer.
Wood varieties and color
Hard woods come in various types and varieties. The most common ones are Red and white oak, Brazilian and American Cherry and Hard Maple. When choosing a particular type of wood, consider the advantages and disadvantages of each. This would be in areas such as hardness, color, resistance to temperature fluctuations and more.
Remember that while oak may be durable, its color may not please you. Your choice of wood will also be determined by your theme. Different species of hard wood come in different natural colours. Of course, one can opt to paint the wood to accommodate their theme but the wear and tear that floors are subjected to will make maintaining the quality of the floor difficult.
Typically, hardwood flooring colors range from light and dark browns to burgundies and tan red.
Traffic and environment When choosing the wood, consider the amount of traffic in your home. If your home has many occupants or you would categorize your visitor numbers as above average relative to other households, then the wood you select has to have the longevity to bear the wear that the heavy traffic entails.
The wood color can change when subjected to heavy foot traffic. The temperature and environment of your home is also a very important factor. Certain types of hardwood do shrink and expand when subjected to wide temperature fluctuations. This inevitably causes the wood to weaken and crack overtime.
Finishing and flooring
Another important factor to consider for your hard wood floor, is the finishing and flooring. There are two types of finishing: the 'unfinished' and the 'finished'. The finished is the most commonly used as it comes ready to install.
The unfinished is suited for those people who want to achieve a more unique personalized look; you can coat or sand the hard wood pieces according to your needs and design preference. When it comes to flooring, the common types of flooring include, solid wood flooring and the engineered flooring; the most popular is the latter, as it is less expensive and more durable.
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