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One of the most beautiful, natural products you can use for flooring is solid hardwood flooring. While stone and carpeting are nice, hardwood creates something very magical. Just remember that regardless of the type of wood, the pattern, or the color of the solid hardwood flooring, if it is not installed properly, the room will look bad. In other words, the installation process is even more important than the type of flooring you choose.
The quality and designs of solid hardwood flooring have changed dramatically over the past several years. Although hardwood has been used for hundreds of years, today we see a refined option that can handle moisture, light, and traffic better than before. The truth is that while solid hardwood flooring adds a new dimension to any room, it also provides a lifetime flooring option that is strong and durable. When looking for new flooring, you want to take your time to do some comparison-shopping. With this, you will have the opportunity to look at various prices but also wood type and the grade of the wood. Obviously, the goal is to purchase the best that you can afford but often, manufacturers of solid hardwood flooring will have sales, closeouts, or end-of-year clearances, meaning you can enjoy top quality flooring but at a huge discounted price. Therefore, comparison-shopping is worth the time and effort in most cases. However, before you head out to shop for new, solid hardwood flooring, you need to determine a few things. For instance, will the flooring be installed in a high traffic area? If so, then we recommend you go with a lighter color wood in that dark wood tends to show wear and tear more. Additionally, solid hardwood flooring installed in a high traffic area would need to be recoated more often than flooring in a lower traffic area. For this, you would likely need to recoat with one or two coats every six to twelve months. The type of urethane also needs to be considered for a high traffic area in that low shine or satin show less wear compared to high gloss. Solid hardwood flooring also comes in a wide variety of durability and strength. As an example, maple is a harder wood than oak but it also has less grain. Additionally, while oak can be stained, maple cannot. Then, keep in mind that the darker the floor the smaller the room will appear. For this reason, solid hardwood flooring made from oak and maple tends to be favorites, creating a more open and airy look and feel. While you will have multiple options for color and pattern, one of the most popular colors for solid hardwood flooring is red oak natural, which works beautifully with any room style and décor. |
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