Wood flooring has been a popular choice for homes for decades thanks to its natural beauty, durability, and value. As we enter 2024, wood floors remain a top option for many homeowners, albeit with some key considerations. In this article, we’ll break down the major pros and cons of installing wood flooring in your home to help you determine if it’s the right choice for you.
Appeals With Its Timeless Beauty
One of the biggest appeals of wood flooring is that it offers a classic, timeless look. The natural variations, grains, knots, and color patterns of wood create a beautiful, organic floor that complements almost any style of decor. Wood can make a home feel cozy and inviting or open and airy depending on the exact species and stain you select. As trends come and go, wood retains its handsome good looks.
Provides Unmatched Durability
When properly cared for, a wood floor can last for decades, much longer than most carpet or resilient flooring options. The hardness of wood allows it to withstand heavy foot traffic over many years. Most wood floors can be refinished multiple times, essentially giving them a whole new look and lease on life when the floors start to show excessive wear and tear. This makes wood a very good investment that will only appreciate as it ages.
Offers Design Flexibility
Wood floors come in a diverse range of stains, from very light Scandanavian blonde oak to dark walnut. Varrying plank widths and patterns like herringbone also provide design options. Mix different stains and plank sizes in different rooms to define each space. You can also use area rugs to delineate specific zones like dining spaces or living room seating areas.
Provides Health Benefits
Unlike carpeting, wood floors don’t harbor allergens like dust mites or mold. This makes them a good option for people with allergies. The smooth, easy to clean surface also provides less places for germs to hide. Studies show kids who live in homes with wood floors have lower rates of asthma and respiratory issues compared to those with wall-to-wall carpeting.
Offers Comfort Underfoot
Today’s engineered wood floors provide improved stability and structure versus solid wood alone. This means modern wood floors feel more comfortable and warmer to walk on barefoot than tile or stone. Just note that adding sufficient insulation underneath is key for achieving this cozy factor.
Can Be An Affordable Option
While natural exotic wood species can get pricey, many budget friendly fast growing domestic wood species work beautifully for flooring. Brands like Bruce, Armstrong, and Shaw all offer inexpensive oak, pine, and hickory engineered options perfect for most living spaces. Shop sales and discounts for the biggest deals.
Requires A Careful Installation Process
Proper installation is crucial with wood flooring to prevent future problems with moisture damage or cracks between boards. This means installing over a moisture barrier and allowing proper expansion space. Many homeowners opt to have wood flooring professionally installed to achieve the best long term results.
Brings Some Noise Concerns
One downside to wood floors is that they do tend to amplify sounds more than carpeting or padding would. To reduce noise transfer, use good quality underlayments combined with insulation between floors. Rugs and runners can also help dampen noises from footsteps or moving furniture.
Can Show Damage Easier Than Carpets
While resilient, wood floors tend to show scratches, dents, stains, and other damage much more readily than carpet. Protecting the floor’s finish with mats, furniture pads, regular dust mopping, and quick clean up of spills helps. But some wear and tear over time is inevitable. Animals claws and high heels are also quite tough on wood.
Not Ideal For Moisture-Prone Areas
Bathrooms, laundry rooms, and mudrooms see more water exposure making wood flooring risky in these locations. Even engineered wood can succumb to warping or mushrooming of planks when excessive moisture seeps through cracks or joins over time. Opt for water resistant vinyl or ceramic tiles in wet areas instead.
Requires Frequent Dusting And Cleaning
To keep them looking their best, wood floors need more regular care than carpet or tile. Dust mopping twice a week clears abrasive grit that can scratch flooring. Monthly cleaning with natural cleaner removes sticky messes and maintains the finish shine. Use only approved hardwood floor cleaners, never wet mop with water alone. Hopefully weighing the major upsides along with the key disadvantages helps determine if wood is the flooring for your lifestyle and space. Visit our [linked flooring guide] for more tips on choosing the perfect wood species, colors and patterns to suit your home. Connect with our flooring specialists if you have any other questions!
Conclusion
When cared for properly and kept out of moisture prone areas, wood floors offer unparalleled beauty, comfort and long lasting durability perfect for busy families. Advancements in engineered flooring technology combined with more budget friendly options make wood more accessible than ever while still providing a touch of timeless luxury. Just be prepared for the higher maintenance requirements compared to carpet or resilient floors. And take precautions against scratches, noise and imperfections that come more readily with this natural material compared to synthetics. If the warm, eco-friendly look of wood appeals to you, there’s never been a better time to install this iconic flooring.
FAQs
What is the most durable wood flooring option?
Oak is the most durable and scratch resistant domestic hardwood option. Exotics like Brazilian cherrywood also rate very high for heaviest traffic areas.
How long do solid wood floors usually last?
With periodic sanding and refinishing, a 3/4″ solid oak wood floor can provide 60+ years of service. Pre-finished options may start showing wear after just 20-30 years though.
Do wood floors add resale value?
Definitely! Surveys show up to 80% of buyers prefer wood flooring over carpeting. Wood’s long lasting appeal, easy care and allergy friendly nature make homes more attractive to a wide range of buyers.
Can you install wood flooring over concrete?
Yes, floating engineered wood floors are designed to lock together over concrete. Use an underlayment and moisture barrier first. Ensure humidity stays between 30-50% year-round.
What are the quietest wood flooring options?
Choose engineered wood planks rather than solid to reduce noise transfer below. Opt for well-insulated softwoods like pine over hardwoods. Thicker wear layers also dampen sounds better. Use sound dampening underlayments too.