Hardwood floors are popular for good reason. They are beautiful, come in many varieties and add character to a home. Many people prefer them to carpeting, especially in dining rooms and other social areas of the home. There are pros and cons to hardwood floors. If you are considering a hardwood floor, it’s important to know the benefits and drawbacks, as well as the process for installation, refinishing and renovation.
Learning all about hardwood flooring services will help you make the right choice about flooring for your home or business.
Pros of hardwood floors
Durability
If you want a floor that’s built to last, hardwood is the way to go. It can withstand spills and resist stains if properly treated. Water can damage hardwood floors, so they are a bad idea for bathrooms and kitchens.
Easy to refinish, though installation is tricky
Refinishing hardwood floors is a snap, provided you stay off them for a few days afterwards. Installation is complicated and best left to a professional if you want them to look good and last.
Increases property value
Beautiful hardwood floors with fresh stain provide an elegance to homes that people want. Most buyers favor homes with hardwood floors and are willing to pay more for them.
Never goes out of style
Hardwood floors are considered a luxury interior decoration that has been popular since the 1600s. You can rest assured they won’t go out of style.
Hardwood flooring is low maintenance
As anyone with pets can tell you, hardwood floors are the best. It’s easy to clean up pet hair, which is also better for people with allergies. Carpeting tends to absorb pet hair while hardwood floors can be quickly swept clean.
Cons of hardwood floors
More noise and less cozy than carpeting
Carpeting has its good points: it’s soft, warm and absorbs sound. Hardwood floors are the opposite, which some people consider a drawback.
Increased cost
Of course, hardwood flooring is more costly, both in terms of installation and materials. However, if you can afford the added cost, hardwood flooring pays off in functionality, durability and property value.
If you think hardwood floors are for you, you’ll need to know a little about installation, how to reduce noise, refinishing and restoration.
Installation and noise reduction
Installation usually requires a professional. Only people with carpentry experience should attempt the installation, and they may still need to take a hardwood flooring installation course.
Pro installation tip: To reduce noise, have your installer place a soundboard beneath the sub-floor, which insulates sound vibrations. Soundboards need to be cut to fit the room and a 1/8-inch gap should be left around the edges. The gaps are then sealed with sealant or silicone. Mats and chipboard sheets can be deployed with the soundboard for further noise reduction.
If you move into a home with hardwood floors, you can still reduce noise using post-installation techniques. Décor can be strategically deployed to reduce noise. Consider sofas or sectionals made with soft fabric, which absorb noises. Leather furniture, on the other hand, does little to reduce noise.
If decorating a hardwood floor dining room, tablecloths, slipcovers and chairs with cushions dampen noise. Throughout the house, consider area rugs and fabric wall hangings, such as tapestries. Draperies also catch sound, especially if made from heavy material.
Restoration
Hardwood flooring is almost always worth restoring. Old houses have charm, and hardwood flooring is one elegant aspect you don’t want to lose. Restoration refreshes the look of the floor with fresh staining and fixes any blemishes. It also eliminates any squeaks that have come about because of degeneration.
Over time, gaps form that cause floorboards to rub against each other. These gaps are often between the finished floor and sub-floor or between the sub-floor and the joist, and they cause squeaking when someone walks over an area with a gap. Fixing these squeaks requires drilling a 3 ½-inch drywall screw into the affected area to close the gap. Gaps between the floor and sub-floor require drilling from above while gaps between the joist and sub-floor require drilling from below.
Refinishing
Sanding and staining a hardwood floor give it a fresh and appealing look. A professional service can get the job done right for a small fee. DIYers can also refinish the floors if they are willing to put in a little time and have the patience.
Hardwood floors are a smart choice for homeowners. They are popular, elegant and add sophistication to the house. Even better, they have been popular for centuries, so hardwood floors will always be in style. With some fresh stain and stylish, noise-reducing décor, you can have the most sophisticated house on the block.
Cameron the Sandman has been beautifying homes and businesses with hardwood flooring services for over 80 years. As hardwood flooring professionals, we manage each project from start to finish and help you choose the best hardwood floor species, hardwood stain, and design layout to meet your needs and desires. Whether you are seeking hardwood floor installation, refinishing or hardwood restoration, we can help. Call our hardwood flooring specialists today to learn more about our hardwood flooring services!