One of the most important tasks to do while buying/ renovating your house is to get the flooring right. Done wrong, it can ruin the aesthetic appeal of the house. With the number of flooring options available in the market, it is easy to get confused which one to choose for your home. The safest and the most appealing alternative here would be hardwood timber floors. This form of flooring is made out of entire lengths of a single piece of timber. They are then cut, sanded and given a smooth finished side. Timber offers several advantages which other species of wood do not: they are more durable in nature and are allergen-free. They also last for up to 100 years. Hardwood timber floors are easier to clean and require a mere dusting with an anti-static mop and some vacuuming. Their warm look imparts a natural look to the house and creates a comforting environment.
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Timber Flooring
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However, not all hardwood timber floors are made equal, and choosing one for your home can seem to be quite an uphill task. Thus, we bring to you some factors to keep in mind before deciding the compatibility of this flooring for your home:
- Location: The type of hardwood which is desired to be installed in the house will primarily depend upon the location. Solid and Engineered hardwood cannot be fitted in similar spaces, since they are made specifically for different areas of the house. While solid hardwood can be installed anywhere apart from areas exposed to moisture, engineered hardwood can be put up anywhere. These areas include spaces like bathrooms, laundry rooms and basements. Engineered hardwood is appropriate for fitting over concrete slabs or radiation-based heating systems as well.
- Pets and Furry Creatures: While it is perfectly fine for homeowners to install hardwood timber flooring even when they have pets, it is also recommended to take precautions. These precautions include trimming the nails of your pets and doing a regular dusting to preserve the wood. Another additional precaution which comes in handy is leaving shoes outside the door.
- Every day Wear and Dents: All hardwood species come with something called a “hardwood hardness rating”, which essentially is an indicator of the wood’s resistance to dents and wear. The softer wood species include walnut, cherry and birch. Hickory, oak or maple wood are the harder wood species. The latter can withstand dents and wear better than the softer wood species and are hence more durable. Dents and wear can also be avoided by adding a layer of protective finish. If your house sees high activity, one can also get hardwoods with hard scraped textures, wire brushing or distressing, which not only look trendy but also do a good job of hiding dents and wear. This job of hiding damage is also done well by floors with low gloss/ matte.
- Ease of Installation: If you wish to avoid the hassles of installation, it is better to opt for prefinished flooring options. Another added advantage of prefinished flooring over site-finished floors is that the former tends to last longer, in fact more than 25 years.
- Refinishing: One of the benefits of getting a solid hardwood floor installed over an engineered hardwood floor is that it is easier to refinish and sand the former. However, even with engineered wood, it is possible to get it refinished or sanded, provided the top layer of wood is thick enough.
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Timber Flooring
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Most importantly, do not panic over the choice of different styles. This is actually a blessing in disguise since it means you will have greater choices to choose from. These cues should help you in finding the best hardwood timber flooring for your home.
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