The decision to put new floors in your home is an exciting one. Like almost nothing else, adding floating floors, slate or marble tiles, or even solid floorboards will totally change the look and feel of your whole house. However it can be a difficult decision, simply because of the huge range of materials available. If you are after a classic and beautiful look, walnut flooring might just be the right choice for you. Walnut is a lovely, deep colored wood that can be installed either as a laminate or floating floor, or in solid board.

Do consider the overall decor of the room you are installing your new floor in. Walnut is a very rich colour, so make sure that you aren't overloading the senses with the wall colors and furniture designs as well (unless you are going for a rich, decadent style).

What is the difference between solid wood and laminate? Laminate floor is engineered to imitate wood. Laminate flooring tends to be cheaper than solid wood flooring, but some people argue that laminate flooring does not last as long as solid hardwood. Caring for either type of flooring is fairly easy. Both laminate and hardwood floors should be sealed with a water-proof sealant.

Pricing for walnut flooring varies depending on the style and quality. Discount floating floorboards can be found online at a discounted price of just a few dolalrs per square foot, but typical prices can be around $5 per square foot. Do not forget to include installation costs in your budget too as you will need the underlay, adhesive, and a few tools for cutting etc. Some types of wood flooring are fairly easy to install and can be a do-it-yourself project. Some home building stores offer day classes on how to install wood floors. These can be well worth your time so you can get all the information on materials you will need for under the flooring, as well.

Walnut flooring is generally made from two parts of the tree - heartwood and sapwood. The coloring from heartwood tends to be darker, while the sapwood is a lighter, tan to almost white. Walnut is generally seen as a good material for flooring because it is durable and resistant. Once installed and after the initial treatment, the walnut flooring requires little upkeep.

Walnut floors tend to have a smooth surface, which makes cleaning fairly simple. A dust mop works well for picking up the dirt on the floor. Even a regular mop slightly damp will pick up the dirt and hair that has accumulated on the floor. Another benefit of walnut, or any other floorboard, is that they are free of allergens like dust particles that would usually be trapped in carpet. For some families with sensitive children, this incentive is enough to tear up all of the carpet in their house.

Black walnut flooring, also known as American walnut, is a popular type of this wood. It is the only dark hardwood that grows in North America, and has long been prized for its beauty and versatility. 'Burl' walnut veneer is cut from the roots of this tree, and has a wonderful knotty, grainy appearance. This is used in furniture but also often in old pianos. American walnut is said to be harder than European varieties.

Since walnut has a naturally rich color, it doesn't need any stain. A coat of gloss or satin polyurethane varnish is the most common finish, which is used to prevent damage - be aware that walnut is slightly softer than other hardwood flooring.