Six (6) Great Benefits of Hardwood Floors
September 14th, 2007 by Home ProAdding beautiful hardwood floors to your home enhances the aesthetic appeal and increases the value of your home immediately.
Hardwood floors evoke elegance and style in any setting and easily blend into any décor. There are many options in the marketplace today, so choosing the right hardwood flooring for your home is very important to help you get the most enjoyment from your decision.
Hardwood flooring is a great choice for your home. Here are six (6) benefits of choosing hardwood floors:
1. Quality Hardwood Flooring fits easily into any décor.
Most interior designers agree that hardwood flooring accentuates any décor and adds a special touch of elegance whether your style is contemporary or traditional. The timeless appeal and beauty of quality hardwood floors enhances your furnishings and allows you to create the ambiance you desire whether you’re going for a warm comfortable atmosphere or a smooth contemporary feeling. With simple maintenance, you can enjoy stunning hardwood floors that will retain their elegance and appeal through the years.
2. The durability of Hardwood Floors is worth the investment.
Improvements in technology over the years have strengthened the durability factor of quality hardwoods. You can choose hardwood flooring that works in any room of your home – even kitchens, bathrooms and laundry rooms. Hardwood floors have definitely evolved from use in formal living rooms and dining areas only. The choice is yours – hardwood floors can work anywhere. Of course it is important to choose the right type of wood for use in higher-moisture areas. Discuss this with your seller to be sure you’re choosing the best types of wood for various areas of your home.
3. You may be surprised at how cost-effective Hardwood Floors can be.
If you consider the return on your investment for the addition of hardwood floors to your home, you’ll discover just how cost effective this investment is in raising the value and appeal of your home to a higher level. Most any realtor will tell you that hardwood floors make a huge difference to prospective buyers. According to a recent survey by the National Wood Flooring Association, real estate agents agree - houses with wood floors sell faster and bring higher prices than homes with other types of flooring.
4. Hardwood Floors are much easier to maintain than you might think.
With minimal care, hardwood floors will retain their beauty and elegance for many years. That’s one more reason to think about what a great investment it is. Tones deepen and grain patterns emerge with every passing year adding to the original beauty of your wood floors. It’s wise to follow the simple manufacturer care suggestions to maintain them; then all you have to do is enjoy your fabulous wood floors!
5. A healthier home environment is possible with Hardwood Floors.
Many families experience the frustration of allergies produced by dust and other irritants that collect in carpets over time; even grout lines in tile can collect allergens. Hardwood floors are the perfect choice if this is a consideration for you and your family. There are no grout lines or fibers to harbor these harmful allergens, so your family can live in a much healthier environment. And for those concerned with preserving our ecosystem, it’s important to remember that wood is a renewable and recyclable material.
6. Your choices in hardwood flooring are tremendous.
When you begin to see what is available in today’s marketplace for quality hardwood flooring, you’ll be amazed at the incredible choices in colors, wood grains, board widths, and different types of wood. One of the best features of choosing the wood floors that appeal most to you and your family is the uniqueness of your choice. Since the natural qualities in wood vary so greatly, you’ll never see another floor exactly like yours.
You can find stunning wood floors to create the look and feel you want in your home whether you’re remodeling, redecorating, or building. Explore your options for beautiful wood flooring and realize that it’s not only a great financial investment; it’s an investment that will add beauty and pleasure to your home environment for many, many years.
DirectBuy offers a beautiful selection of hardwood flooring direct from the manufacturers and their authorized suppliers at wholesale prices. A one-stop shop for all of your home building, furnishing and remodeling needs, DirectBuy has virtually everything – including the kitchen sink – to make your home remodeling project as easy as possible.
Tags: Flooring, Hardwood Flooring, Wood Floors
September 17th, 2007 at 12:03 pm
We are thinking about putting hardwood floors in our kitchen and adjoining dining room. Is there any particular kind of wood best suited for kitchen floors?
September 18th, 2007 at 1:59 pm
Hello Harold,
That’s an excellent question for any homeowner, and the answer boils down to one word – moisture. Although opinions may vary about the best hardwood flooring for kitchens, the flooring experts at DirectBuy say the winner is…teak! Teak handles moisture better than any other type of hard wood.
Before you rush out to buy those teak planks, however, remember that nothing will repel water. At best, you can hope for some degree of resistance to significant water damage. If water sits on a laminate or wood floor for an extended amount of time, it is guaranteed to hurt your floor. Think about worst-case scenarios like a disaster with your washing machine, or a power outage melting the contents of your freezer. And it’s crucial to be on top of all those little spills no matter what type of wood floor you choose. Maintenance is key to keeping your floor looking gorgeous for years to come.
Overall, the safest way to go for your kitchen is ceramic tile. It’s beautiful and oh-so-easy to clean up. But don’t rule out laminate flooring entirely. You’ll love that it has the look of hardwood, but with a more low-maintenance flavor.
September 19th, 2007 at 2:02 pm
My husband and I would like to put hardwood flooring in our home. We have children and pets. Do you have a recommendation about what type of flooring and finish would be best for us? Suzanne Foye
September 20th, 2007 at 5:23 pm
Dear Suzanne,
It sounds like you need hardwood flooring that can stand up to challenges like pets and kids – without showing any battle scars.
For you, the experts would suggest oak, a favorite hard wood. Oak’s wood grain hides scratches and dents better than other types of wood. You should stay away from extremely light and dark finishes, which will be more likely to show every flaw.
What else should you avoid? Cherry, maple, pine and bamboo. No matter what you may have heard, these are soft woods that can scratch and dent easily. You’re better off sticking with oak, a beautiful hard wood.
October 16th, 2007 at 1:09 pm
I’ve heard that sunlight can change the look of my hardwood floors. What can I do to prevent this?
October 18th, 2007 at 11:33 am
Hi Angela,
Homeowners usually think about the effect of sunlight on furniture and artwork, but typically forget that it may also impact their hardwood floors.
Prolonged exposure to sunlight will eventually alter the color of just about any wood floor in some way, no matter what type of wood you choose. While some woods will lighten, others, like cherry and oak, typically darken. If this is a concern, check out the newest water-based urethane finishes that slow color changes more effectively than oil-based urethane finishes. Some finishes can prevent damage from ultraviolet rays even longer with built-in sunscreens.
There are some simple things you can do to safeguard against UV rays. Window coverings can help limit your floors’ exposure to sunlight. Also, periodically rearrange your area rugs and furniture so that the flooring ages evenly.
To find out how your hardwood floors will be affected by sunlight and how best to prevent a change in color, consult your manufacturer for recommendations.
November 15th, 2007 at 12:56 pm
There are some minor scratches in my hardwood floors. Is there anything I can do to fix theses?
November 21st, 2007 at 5:43 pm
Hi Dave,
Making your hardwood flooring look as good as new can be as simple as purchasing the right kind of solution. But at the same time, the right way to repair your floors depends on factors like the severity of the scratches, the type of wood, and your flooring’s finish.
It’s best to ask your manufacturer for recommendations based on your individual needs. In fact, if you don’t ask your manufacturer, you run the risk of voiding your warranty.
Generally speaking, if the scratch has penetrated only your floor’s finish and is not in the wood, you should ask your hardwood flooring’s manufacturer to recommend a touch-up kit for urethane finishes. Using the kit’s directions, you may be able to easily repair the scratches. Just remember to always begin at the outer edge of the scratch and work toward the center.
Again, it is important to take your individual situation into consideration, so don’t do anything without first asking your manufacturer for recommendations!
To prevent further scratches in your hardwood floors, here are a few helpful hints:
Use floor protectors and wide-load-bearing leg bases or rollers to minimize scratches from heavy objects on your floors. The heavier the object, the wider the floor protector should be.
Never try to slide or roll heavy objects across your floor. When rearranging heavy furniture or appliances, first put down a sheet of quarter-inch plywood or Masonite to protect the floor, then use a dolly to move your object.
Keep your pet’s nails trimmed to keep them from scratching your flooring.
With some careful maintenance and some minor repairs, you can keep your hardwood floors looking beautiful for years to come.
May 13th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
The Benefits listed here are on point and you sure will benefit when it comes to hardwood floors! Hardwood floors are all around a good choice if not the best.