Inherently warm, gentle underfoot, and with a stunning visual impact, hardwood flooring is hard to beat and works well in any style of home. What are its main advantages when compared to other types of flooring? Here we set out four of the benefits you will see if you install hardwood flooring in your home.
Appearance
Hardwood engineered flooring can be purchased in a wide range of styles and a variety of hues. For this reason, it suits different styles of decoration. From a pale-coloured ash to the red tones, you can find something that will fit in with your home.
The natural patterns and the variety of grain mean that every hardwood floor is unique. You can also experiment with having the floor laid in a herringbone pattern rather than vertically.
Take a look at suppliers’ websites, such as www.woodfloorwarehouse.co.uk, and you are likely to be pleasantly surprised by the wide choices on offer.
Maintenance
Hardwood floors are very easy to maintain and clean. Regular sweeping and mopping will ensure that the floor will continue to look beautiful for many years. For those more difficult marks, it can be swiftly sanded and varnished or waxed to restore it back to its former glory.
Strength
Trees that produce hardwood are slow-growing. For this reason, the trees’ cellular structure becomes more dense, ensuring that it is very strong. This strength means that hardwoods are extremely durable. However, different types of trees produce wood of different strengths. Oak has impeccable strength thanks to its slow growth. Iroko is a lesser-known West African hardwood that is also very durable.
Cost
Hardwood floors are not cheap. There are plenty of cheaper alternatives on the market, including veneers and laminates. However, if you consider the long-term cost, there is no comparison. Mahogany, oak or mango woods are extremely tough and will withstand scratches and other types of wear and tear for many years. It is a lifetime investment.
In terms of costs throughout the lifetime of the floor, you should expect to have to re-sand and varnish or wax it on occasion. However, there should be no need to replace the floor as a result of ordinary wear and tear. In addition, a well-laid and attractive hardwood floor can enhance the value of your property.
