Thinking of choosing hardwood flooring for your house? Hardwood floors add charm, class and comfort to the atmosphere of your home, and they also increase its value. Hardwood is available in endless amounts of variations too! We’ll talk about engineered hardwood flooring, general information about hardwood flooring, both finished and unfinished, and the quality of hardwood flooring grades, so you can figure out all that you should know about hardwood floors before you go ahead and install them throughout your home.
The Charm and Benefits of Hardwood Floors
Nothing quite matches the timeless elegance of wood flooring. They offer a combination of beauty, durability, and versatility that few other flooring options can match. With a charm that complements any house style and a variety of wood types, colours, and finishes, it’s quite easy to find one that suits your property’s aesthetic. Furthermore, hardwood floors can significantly enhance the value of your home, a huge boon if you plan to resell it in the future.
Types of Hardwood Floors
Moving on, there are mainly two different types of hardwood flooring: solid and engineered.
Solid Hardwood Flooring:
These floors are made from single, solid pieces of timber. They can be refinished multiple times and typically last for decades. However, they are more susceptible to changes in humidity and temperature and may not be suitable in all environments.
Engineered Hardwood Flooring
Engineered hardwood flooring is a type of hardwood floor that is built of plywood, hardwood, and hardwood veneer that is glued onto the surface. It is more durable than regular hardwood and designed to withstand more exposure to heat or moisture.
- If you are looking for a longer-lasting hardwood floor, then this is the better choice. You can install this type of hardwood almost anywhere in your home, whereas regular hardwood would not be suited to areas such as basements or bathrooms.
- Although engineered hardwood can be placed in basements, it is still not recommended for your bathroom because it is still composed of wood. Over time, moisture damage can occur.
- Engineered hardwood flooring has 3+ layers of plywood, fiberboard or hardwood. Good quality engineered hardwood can last 25+ years!
Hardwood Flooring Information
- Hardwood flooring is made of timber, and some floorboards are composed of planks from a single tree. Because no hardwood floor is exactly identical to another, it can be constructed to look the desired way.
- Pre-finished wood floorboards can last a very long time. Regular vacuuming and washing can keep a hardwood floor looking fresh.
- Hardwood is ideal for use throughout your home except in the bathroom or basement.
- Hardwood with a thickness of ¾ inches can typically be refinished multiple times in the event of any surface damage. This is a huge bonus when compared to other flooring that cannot be repaired as easily; the only problem is that these solid floors are more prone to damage.
Unfinished Hardwood Flooring
- Unfinished hardwood flooring looks fantastic but takes a little longer to install. With lots of variations of stains, colours and styles, unfinished hardwood flooring is a great option if you are looking for more unique and customized flooring.
- You need to sand and apply a stain or wood finish and then a sealant to this floor because it has not yet undergone this process. When installing on-site, you can have it look exactly the way that you want it to.
- Unfinished hardwood is also cheaper than finished hardwood.
Quality of Hardwood Flooring Grades
The grades of hardwood are sorted by the number of knots and colour types. If there are fewer defects, then there is usually a higher cost. The best grade of maple is entirely free of defects and can cost the most.
- Select – nearly no defects.
- Natural – with some defects.
- Rustic – has defects, but they are considered to add a lot of originality and character.
Care and Maintenance of Hardwood Floors
Now, owning beautiful hardwood floors means taking care of them. But don’t worry, it’s not as daunting as you might imagine. Here are a few tips:
- Keep your floors clean by regularly sweeping or vacuuming to remove dust and debris that can scratch the surface.
- Immediately wipe up any spills to avoid water damage and staining.
- Use furniture pads to prevent scratches on your floor.
Refinish your floors when necessary. Refinishing hardwood floors is a great way to restore their beauty and extend their life. Solid hardwood floors can usually be sanded and refinished several times during their lifespan, while engineered hardwood floors can typically be refinished 1-2 times, depending on the thickness of the hardwood veneer.
Selecting a Hardwood Floor for Your Home
Choosing a hardwood floor requires considering factors like your budget, style, lifestyle, and the overall vibe you wish your home to emanate. Reputable manufacturers will guide you through their varieties of choices, colours, styles, and finishes to meet your specific needs. Always request samples so you can see how the floor will look in your home’s lighting and against your furniture.
With such a wide variety of wood types to choose from, you have your pick of boards and colours to design and tailor your hardwood floor to your specifications. With the above information, you should be able to narrow down your search a little more easily! But if you’re just not quite feeling the motivation, Home Painters Toronto will gladly help you out! Call us NOW at 416-494-9095 or Brian@HomePaintersToronto.com. And don’t forget to follow us on all our social channels below!
