A home is a portfolio of your own personal style. It’s the reflection of your creative and psychological self. Buying a house is indeed a happy moment, but when it comes to choosing suitable flooring for your home, the task might become quite nerve-racking indeed. It’s easy to get lost amidst innumerable flooring types, as from linoleum to ceramic tile, from softwood to parquet flooring to hardwood, the choices are truly vast, as well as confusing.
However, experts always recommend investing in hardwood flooring because of the durability factor. So if you don’t want to spend those head earned dollars repairing your floors every alternate year, hardwood flooring can be your way to go.
Benefits of Wood Flooring :
People choose hardwood floors for their elegant look and feel. It adds warmth in your house which makes it suitable for those cold winter nights as well. Also, if you are a working professional and can’t give much time in cleaning, you should go for hardwood flooring as it's very easy to clean and doesn’t require high maintenance.
Moreover, its texture doesn’t have embossing or intricate grout lines which usually trap dust and debris. So you can understand, this can be an ideal choice if you are prone to dust allergies. It won’t trap dust and animal dander and is also extremely easy to install. Once a wooden floor is installed properly, you will never have hollow vibration sounds in the room.
Different Types of Wood Flooring and how to choose:
From Laminate Flooring to Cork Flooring, you will get a gamut of options to choose from as per your preference; Engineered, Parquet, Solid wood, Bamboo, Reclaimed and Wood Effects are the most common ones. You will need to select your floor choice on the basis of a few factors, such as the Colour of the wooden boards, the Width, and Length of the boards, Durability, Cost, the Board Finish as in Gloss or Matte, Oil or Varnish and etc. While choosing the perfect wooden floor, you must also consider the time and the cost of the installation. Besides that, cleaning and maintenance cost of the wooden floor should also be taken into account.
Softwood and Hardwood flooring:
Softwood flooring materials come mostly from the “rapidly-growing” trees. Because of their rapid growth, trees such as Pine, Cedar are more likely to produce less dense woods. Less dense woods wear off quickly and are also prone to scratches and heels. However, if you are on the lookout for a budget-flooring which is eco friendly and appealing to the eyes, you can opt for softwood.
On the contrary, the trees which grow slowly, produce hardwood. These woods are darker in color and more durable. If you are looking for long-lasting flooring set up and have sufficient budget, you should try Walnut, Oak, Maple wood flooring which lasts for a generation.
Laminate Flooring :
Laminate Wood Flooring is derived from the hybrid composite woods, which are pressed together at high temperatures. If you are short on budget but don’t want to compromise on the look and feel of your floors, you should definitely try this one. The components and the installation of the laminate wood floors are much cheaper than actual hardwood.
But if you don’t like the artificial wood grain look, then this laminate wood floor will not work for you. Another aspect that is worth mentioning is that Laminate wood floors have UV protection components in them. So, if you live in a well-lit house that gets a good amount of sunlight, it’s better to opt for laminate flooring rather than hardwood flooring, as excessive sunlight damages the texture of hardwoods as opposed to its laminate counterparts.
Engineered Flooring:
Engineered flooring is a mixture of premium quality layers of plywood and small layers of hardwoods in between. Solid hardwoods last for approximately forty to a hundred years but are way too expensive than the Engineered ones. So, if you are looking for a low budget premium quality flooring that will last for approximately twenty to forty years, you should opt for engineered flooring. Furthermore, engineered hardwood is water and heat resistant, so it won’t warp in moist and damp weather.
Cork Flooring :
Cork flooring is another budget-friendly option as the installation cost of cork flooring is less than the hardwood ones. If you are looking for a soft, subtle cushioned feel under your feet, cork flooring can be your best choice. But if you have a pet and want a scratch-resistant durable surface and your house attracts more sunlight, don’t go for cork flooring.
Parquet Flooring:
While the installation of Parquet flooring is quite simple, it needs more effort in maintenance. It requires polishing every now and then. Parquet flooring idea comes from the 17th century’s Aristocrat houses. Parquet patterns enhance the wood grain and timber texture, giving the floor a premium look. Parquet flooring is best for spacious hallways. But if a major portion of your bedroom is covered with furniture, avoid fitting parquet flooring there.
The suitable color for your wooden floor:
Grey, White, Off-white color:
If you have a small room, you should go for some pale looking light colors, such as grey, white, off-white wooden floors for your room. These colors will help your room to look more spacious. But, as they have low opacity in color, they can easily show up the dents and the dirt.
Honey color:
If you have a large room with extensive open space and you want to make it a bit cozier, Honey-colored floor is the ultimate choice for you. It gives the house a premium look and for its glossy yellow color, it doesn’t reveal dirt easily. So to save yourself from lengthy cleaning sessions, you should go for honey-colored floors.
Dark color:
If your house is full of light-colored furniture and you need a dark backdrop to complement the color hues, Dark-colored floors should be your mate. It will save your maintenance costs with its dimmed darkish color.
Which wooden board to choose for your floor:
From short length boards to longboards, broad boards to narrower boards, you will get ample options to choose from if you are looking for a wooden board for your floor. Narrower boards look more traditional than the broader ones.
Depending on the size of your room, you should select your wooden boards. If you have a small room, a longer and wider board will make your room look bigger. If you have a large wide space, you will need some added texture. So, go for the smaller and thinner boards during those cases.
Ideal Board Finish:
You can have two types of board-finish on your wooden floor. One is pre-finished (where your boards are fully colored and properly finished) and the other is the unfinished one. For the unfinished one, you have to color, varnish, and oil the entire board by yourself. If you are way too particular about the look of your boards and have time to complete the arduous task yourself you can go for it.
The Ideal wood for each room:
You should use solid hardwood for your hallways, bedroom and dining room but don’t use it as your kitchen floor, as water can damage the setting. Laminate flooring is best for your living areas. Teakwood can be used as a kitchen and bathroom floor as Teak wood prevents fungus and moisture.
How to clean and maintain wooden floor:
The easiest and safest way to clean a wooden floor is to use soft dampened cloths and soap water. The kitchen and dining space should be cleaned daily. But, you can clean the rest of the areas twice a week. It is not recommended to clean wooden floors every day as excessive water can damage the shine of your wooden floors.
You can use Spin mops as its spinning mechanism helps you to remove the excess water from the microfibers before cleaning. Also, don’t use materials like oil to clean the floor, as it can make the floors slippery. Also, refrain from using vinegar and lemon as they might hamper the floor’s sealing.
Winding up...
We hope with our detailed guide upgrading your flooring won’t be a daunting task anymore. Here we have discussed some of the most convenient and durable flooring options that will give your room the perfect makeover it deserves. However, if you are still confused, let’s reiterate the basic aspects once again. If you want cheap, budget-friendly options but don’t want to compromise on the aesthetic beauty of your home, laminate and cork flooring can be your way to go. And, if you don’t mind spending a few extra bucks to get your home a durable flooring that will last for years and also add to the uniqueness of your house, then you must go for wooden flooring.
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