Choosing Between Hardwood Flooring
Hardwood flooring is one of the oldest and most sought after flooring options that is available today. With all of the varieties of wood, style, engineered versus traditional, and plank width, it can be hard to decide what kind of hardwood flooring options are the best for you. Here is a simple guide to hardwood floors that takes the mystery out of the options.
Wood Species
Always choose a wood species that is characterized as a hardwood. This includes Maples, Oaks, Walnut, Hickory, and Cherry. Floors made of Pine, Fur, and other soft woods ding, scratch, and gouge easier than other flooring species. For longer lasting floors that take wear well, choose hardwoods.
Plank Size
The wider the plank, the less sturdy and more creaky the floor will become over time. Also the chance of cupping (the board warping upwards due to moisture) is greater. This is important to note in climates that vary significantly in temperature and humidity from season to season. The bottom line is, the narrower the plank, the sturdier and the less it will move. The wider the plank, the more it will move and the possibility that it will warp and cup will be greater.
Cost
Hardwood flooring can vary in cost from finished hardwood floors to unfinished. in either case, the average rate for hardwood floors is around $3 per square foot nation wide. Trying to save a few pennies by performing anything that you are not comfortable with when it comes to hardwood floors will only diminish your investment.
Hardwood floors are a great option for any home. Whether your style is traditional or modern, hardwoods can be incorporated into your space for a dramatic change in the look and value of a room.