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Hardwood flooring: What is it?

Hardwood floors seem to be everywhere, but what makes them so special? There are lots of different types of hardwood floors, from the wood to the way it's cut and assembled. Hardwood floors typically come in oak, pine, maple, fir, birch, cherry, beech and even bamboo. Strips of wood are tongue-in-groove, planks are also tongue-in-groove, or wood tiles are laid in geometric patterns. Wood laminates and engineered wood look like hardwood. The top layer is fiberboard. The top is protected. There's a thin layer of real wood on top of plywood. If you want real hardwood, you can choose between pre-finished and unfinished hardwood. Prefinished flooring is easier to install because it has already been sanded and sealed.

Hardwood floors: pros and cons

• Classic elegance can't be beat by hardwood floors. Most people love older houses because they have hardwood floors and because hardwood floors give a feeling of coziness that carpet can't.
• Hardwood floors are durable and can last a lifetime, and then some. You should refinish hardwood floors every 10 years to keep them looking good. That might mean sanding and applying a new finish.
• Hardwood floors are easy to clean, but they do require frequent sweeping and mopping. A vinegar and water solution works best for cleaning.
• Flooring provides a neutral backdrop for a variety of decorating styles. In comparison, hardwood floors don't have to match the color scheme of a room. You can also stain hardwood floors to match your decor.
• Low allergens: Hardwood floors don't collect dust and other allergens like carpet does, so they're better for allergy sufferers.
• According to the National Association of Realtors, homeowners can recoup 106% of their investment in hardwood floors with an average installation cost of $4,700.

Hardwood Floor Cons

Hardwood floors have a higher return on investment than most floors, however, they are still quite pricey. Depending on the type of hardwood used, hardwood floor installation costs can range from $6 to $12 per square foot. Labor costs about $3 to $5 per square foot, and materials are usually $3 to $7 per square foot. No matter what you do, you'll still see scratches and gouges on hardwood floors. Because you can refinish hardwood floors, scratches and gouges are just a minor concern. In the event that those scratches and gouges get too deep and you spill some liquid or water seeps in through a window after a rain, you should clean up any moisture as soon as possible to prevent hardwood floors from swelling or cupping. When you walk on hardwood floors, especially older ones, you may hear them creaking. Noise can be reduced by shimming joists and the subfloor or filling gaps between the subfloor and joist with construction adhesive. Floors are tough on pets: Pets can scratch up your floors with their claws, but they can also slip and slide on the floor. Older dogs may have difficulty getting up off hardwood floors as they cannot get a grip.

Hardwood Floor Prices

According to the type of wood you choose and labor costs, hardwood floors generally cost between $6 and $12 per square foot. If you need to remove your old floor and trim work, hardwood flooring can cost as much as $23 per square foot for materials and labor. On average, the project costs around $4,200, ranging from $2,300 to $6,000.

Care and Maintenance of Hardwood Floors

Dust and dirt can be more noticeable on hardwood floors, but cleaning is as easy as sweeping with a broom. In order to wash the floors, use a mixture of vinegar and water. You can also use a wood-cleaning product like Murphy Oil Soap. Castile soap or dish soap added to water will also work. Hardwood floors shouldn't be mopped with a mop because you don't want puddles of water on them. Microfiber mopping is the best method.

Design options for hardwood floors

Wood floors are usually designed in planks or strips, but some homeowners prefer geometric patterns. You can use a diagonal pattern or a paquet pattern, plus there is the herringbone pattern for hardwood floors. There are also chevron patterns for hardwood floors and some will opt for a checkerboard pattern that resembles Jenga pieces.

Installation of hardwood floors

Even if you plan on installing hardwood floors yourself, it is a difficult task. To install hardwood floors, you need to remove your old floor first and decide whether to nail down, glue down or tongue-in-groove. It is easier to install tongue-in-groove and glue-down flooring, because nailing down flooring requires a wooden subfloor and special tools like a floor nailer. You might consider hiring the work out if you choose nail-down hardwood flooring to save time and frustration.

The life expectancy of hardwood floors

Maintaining hardwood floors properly is known to extend their lifespan by decades. For hardwood floors to maintain their luster, they need to be refinished every 10 years or so. Hardwood floors should last the life of the house.

Brands of hardwood floors

Brands of hardwood floors include:

• Hardwood and engineered hardwood floors are available from Bruce Hardwood Flooring, which was founded in 1884.
• You can choose from a variety of hardwood floors from Mohawk Industries, an industry leader.
• Shaw Flooring: Shaw rivals Mohawk and offers a wide selection of hardwood floors.

Flooring: Armstrong has 256 hardwood options and 156 engineered wood options, like other big flooring brands.

• If you're looking for something a little different, Carlisle Wide Plank Floors is a good option.

Bottom Line for Hardwood Floors

Despite its upfront cost, hardwood floors are hard to beat for quality and value. It has been proven that hardwood flooring is one of the best home improvement ideas with the best return on investment. Removing your old floor and/or installing the new hardwood floor yourself will save you some money. If you decide to install hardwood floors yourself, you may want to select a tongue-in-groove hardwood floor style or a type of hardwood floor you can glue. Nail-down hardwood floors require more work and are usually best left to the professionals. To talk to one of our professional O'fallon, MO contractors, give us a call today at 636-245-0506.