So you have decided to take he plunge and buy your first hardwood floors and now you need to know what you are buying. Take the process of purchasing hardwood flooring seriously since you will have to live with your choices for many years. Shop around and do your research, ask copious amounts of questions of the professionals and learn.
The first thing you should know about hardwood flooring is the price ranges you will be dealing with. Many types of flooring means different costs, some higher quality flooring means high prices. You must decide on a budget and stay within your budget. Ask yourself if you can risk doing the installation yourself or will you need a professional for the job. If you need a pro to install the hardwood flooring than make room for this in your budget.
Don’t be frightened by the prices you will be hearing. Cost will vary quite a bit based on quality. Do not get confused between natural hardwood and laminate. The retailer can explain the difference between the two. Hardwood floors are a much-preferred option over laminate so if you can afford it go for the natural variety. Both flooring materials have their pros and cons but natural is always refreshing.
The longevity of your hardwood flooring choice is important when considering cost. Most hardwood flooring will outlive you if it’s properly cared for and maintained. Laminates are lucky to see 25 or 30 years so consider this when choosing. Be sure to ask about manufacturer guarantees for your hardwood flooring, any reputable manufacturer will provide one for you.
The thing about hardwood is it is adaptable. By this I mean it can take a licking and in most cases can be brought back to life and look good again. It also comes in many different colors, textures, and grain depth. These factors are important when it comes to finishing your hardwood flooring. Nearly all hardwood floors come in a prefinished variety and although handy to have you will likely want to perhaps add a sealer coat depending on where the hardwood is installed.
Hardwood is extremely practical flooring yes but it also can be installed using a variety of methods, the most popular and common are gluing and floating which is done with tongue and groove strips. It is not uncommon to see a mix of hardwood types to create a design from the grain variations and color differences. You do not need to be so creative your first time at the dance! Hardwood is an extremely well wearing flooring choice that can stand up to a lot of maltreatment; you still want to be careful not to abuse them too much to keep them looking nice.
An added bonus when living with hardwood flooring is their natural tendency to keep dust at bay and odors at a minimum. Calling them hypoallergenic may be a stretch but they certainly make it easier to breath in a home with hardwood floors. Unlike carpeting, hardwood can be damp mopped regularly to keep the dust down.
I will provide a list of the variety you will have when choosing hardwood flooring. You should ask about and research each type to find what suits your needs best:
· Teak · Morado · Red Oak · Purpleheart · Butternut · White Ash · Australian Cypress · White Oak · Bamboo · Yellow Poplar · Aromatic Red Cedar · Beech · Walnut · Fir/Larch · Cherry · Zebrawood · Hard Maple · Merbau · Basswood · Jatoba · Padauk · Hickory · Bubinga · Yellow Birch · Mesquite · Black Walnut · Southern Yellow Pine · Mahogany · Spanish Cedar · Soft Maple · Alder · Antique Heart Pine
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