What are the Benefits of Hardwood Flooring?
While the initial cost of installing hardwood flooring may be higher than other flooring options, it is most certainly a worthwhile investment. Hardwood flooring adds charm, character and a timeless style to your home. It also offers several tangible advantages over other types of flooring materials you have to choose from. When properly maintained and cared for, hardwood flooring can last a lifetime with only relatively minor signs of wear and tear.
Below, our experts have outlined 4 principal benefits of hardwood flooring:
DURABILITY
All types of hardwood flooring, whether solid wood or engineered hardwood are highly durable
and resistant to everyday wear and tear. It is possible to scratch or even dent your hardwood, but this won’t be because of regular foot traffic. Due to the nature of the natural material they hold the warm temperatures significantly better than most man-made flooring such as laminate, tile or vinyl floors. So, underfoot they are much more comfortable, especially in the colder months of the year.
MAINTENANCE & HYGIENE
General maintenance and cleaning of wooden floors are relatively easy. Hardwood floors are fairly resistant to spills and dirt, so simply wiping up, mopping or simply sweeping away any dirt should do the trick. Knowing that most household items will not damage or stain your flooring provides peace of mind for homeowners with children or pets. One note of caution, wood flooring can absorb liquid and moisture and this may lead to damage, so clean up any spills as soon as possible. Pet owners and allergy sufferers will particularly benefit from hardwood flooring, as they do not harbour parasites such as fleas, dust mites, ticks or allergen producing spores. Also, unpleasant odours caused by pets or liquids that have been spilt will not be a concern, thanks to the ease of cleaning your hardwood floors.
TIMELESS STYLE
The timeless appeal of hardwood flooring is one of the main attributes that attracts homeowners. Unlike other flooring options, hardwood doesn’t have patterns or styles that may go in and out of fashion. As no one plank of wood has the same grain there will always be slight design and shade variances that add a further authentic, natural appeal to your flooring. Wood flooring has been utilized throughout homes for centuries, and you can rest assured that it will continue to be used for years to come. If you would like to change the look of your flooring or if they begin to look slightly worn after years of use, you can always have your floors sanded and re-stained, bringing back your floor's original lustre.
GREAT INVESTMENT
Price and budget may be an important factor when purchasing your flooring material. Hardwood flooring comes in a wide spectrum of styles and raw material types creating various price brackets, from inexpensive to significantly pricier options. With a wide array of options, you should be easily able to find something that fits your style and budget. Wood floors should be considered as an investment in your home. The aesthetic appeal and character adding properties of hardwood flooring will add to the overall value of your property, and the ease of maintenance will help you save time and money when cleaning, as harsh cleaning chemicals are not needed or recommended. Finally, as a durable and long-lasting flooring option, hardwood floors will eliminate the need to replace your flooring several years down the road, saving you further costs of replacing your flooring in 10-15 years.
What is the Best Way to Maintain Hardwood Floors
Maintaining your hardwood flooring in shiny, pristine condition isn't as difficult of a task as the majority of homeowners may think. It doesn't matter if your wood flooring is made from solid, engineered, or reclaimed wood, the maintenance routine is the same and quite simple and easy to execute. As a matter of fact, simple cleaning is the biggest secret to keeping your hardwood floors looking gorgeous.
Hardwood floors are long-lasting, striking and timeless and show beautifully when maintained properly. While cleaning your hardwood flooring might not be extremely difficult, there are certain steps that are key to getting it done right.
Below are 5 ways you can easily maintain your hardwood flooring;
KEEP THEM DRY
Wood can absorb water, and when that happens the wood can swell and crack. With this in mind, it is important to clean up any spills or liquid immediately from your hardwood floors. This doesn’t mean you can’t mop your hardwood floors, but you should use a damp mop versus one that is saturated with water. On the same note, you should avoid using steam cleaners on your hardwood, as the steam can enter the woods with small crevasses and can lead to damage.
WATCH HOW THE WOOD REACTS
Changes to temperature and humidity can have drastic effects on your hardwood flooring, and your flooring will show you this by reacting to the change. By paying attention to your flooring you can notice changes us as bowing wood, or cracking which could be an indication that your flooring is absorbing to much moisture. If the spaces between your wood planks look as if they are wider than they used to be, this could be an indication of low humidity.
CHOOSE YOUR CLEANING PRODUCTS WISELY
There are plenty of hardwood floor cleaning products available on the market, so when it comes to choosing the right product for your floors, there really isn’t a rule of thumb to go by. Different finish types require different forms of care, so ask your local flooring expert or refer to the manufacturer for their cleaning product recommendations.
There may not be a universal cleaning product for all hardwood flooring, but there is a must avoid for all hardwood, and that’s any cleaning product that is made of harsh chemicals. As these can damage and even strip the finish of your wood.
TOUCH UP SURFACE SCRATCHES
You can’t prevent scratches from occurring, small surface scratches and the occasional unsightly scratch are painful to see, but are a reality of hardwood. You can fill in or cover these scratches up using a colour-matched stain marker or crayon. Hardwood floor repair/coverup kits are readily available and can be picked up at your local hardware or flooring store.
RECOAT
When your hardwood floor begins to show signs of wear, it may be time to step in and recoat. Don’t worry, this process doesn’t involve sanding. You will actually apply a new coat of finish to the top of the hardwood, bringing back the floor's original lustre and reviving the finish. A recoat will extend the hardwood’s lifespan, by adding a protective layer on top of your flooring.
Keeping your hardwood floors looking amazing for years, isn’t difficult when you know the right steps to take. Taking on small tasks often, such as sweeping, light moping, and filling in scratches will help you pay attention to your floors allowing you to notice any changes more quickly, and is the best way to maintain your floors.
Which is Better: Hardwood or Laminate Flooring?
While most experts often refer to hardwood flooring as one of the best flooring options, laminate flooring does have its own unique features and key benefits. With hardwood flooring occupying the top spot when it comes to plank flooring, laminate flooring isn't too far behind. Most homeowners, builders and flooring experts consider laminate flooring to be the next best thing to hardwood flooring in terms of quality, durability and aesthetics.
Choosing between hardwood and laminate flooring isn’t always an easy decision, even when you know their unique qualities.
To help you with your decision, our experts have outlined 5 important flooring qualities below, comparing hardwood and laminate.
Appearance
When it comes to natural beauty, solid hardwood flooring is unmatched. No matter the shade, hardwood floors are known to have impeccable aesthetics. This is even true with less expensive species of hardwood, as they still boast a unique grain that adds character to your flooring. Today’s laminate floors mimic solid hardwood flooring very well, some even recreate the unique character and grain of real hardwood. However, this may not be as predominant with all available laminate flooring, and with closer inspection, you can notice the subtle differences from real hardwood.
Water and Heat Resistance
Both laminate and hardwood floors absorb moisture and can be susceptible to damage when exposed for prolonged periods of time. This, therefore, makes neither laminate nor solid hardwood a suitable flooring material in humid or overly wet locations. Laminate flooring handles moisture somewhat better than hardwood and won't swell or bow in moist conditions.
Care and Cleaning
Both hardwood and laminate flooring are quite easy to clean. Hardwood flooring can be cleaned either by sweeping or vacuuming. If in need of something more thorough, damp-mopping with a wood flooring cleaning solution will definitely give you that shiny look you strive for. Laminate floors can also be cleaned with a vacuum or broom, mopping a laminate floor should be done with a damp mop as well. When cleaning both laminate and hardwood floors, avoid the use of excess water and harsh chemicals.
Durability and Maintenance
Durability and maintenance are part of the conversation with any flooring type. However, when comparing hardwood and laminate flooring you need to give the edge to hardwood. When properly maintained and cared for hardwood flooring can last a lifetime. Properly installed laminate has a life expectancy of 15 to 25 years but can last longer with proper care. Laminate is considered the more durable material as it is made of pressed wood, it has a higher resistance to scratches and wear-and-tear. Unlike hardwood floors, when seriously damaged, laminate floors cannot be refinished or sanded. They need to be completely replaced. The maintenance routine for both is very similar, periodic observation and cleaning is required. When observing your floors, look for areas that may show signs of wear or damage, such as shifting planks, cracks, dents, chips, swelling and other damage indicators.
Both hardwood and laminate flooring have their strengths and limitations, but when it comes to naming one flooring option as the better choice, it’s not a one over the other answer. Selecting the right flooring for your project depends on the features that matter to you and that will fit best in the space you are utilizing them for. Hopefully, the qualities we have outlined above will help you choose which is best for you.