What You Should Know Before Installing Hardwood Flooring In Your Home

Are you looking to install hardwood flooring in your home? 

Quality hardwood floor installation isn't cheap. Before starting the project, you should do research to determine if hardwood floors are right for you. That way, you can make an informed decision on whether or not to install them in your home.

Consider the following points before installing hardwood flooring in your home.

It Is A Sustainable Choice For Your Home

If you're an eco-conscious homeowner, you want to build floors that will help keep your ecological footprint to a minimum. Aiming for sustainable flooring is necessary to achieve this goal.

Hardwood is one of the most sustainable flooring options available in the marketplace. The timber used to manufacture hardwood flooring products is harvested from well-managed planted forests, boosting the conservation of natural forests.

When hardwood flooring reaches the end of its service life, it can be reclaimed and subsequently used for new purposes. This helps meet today's ever-growing need for environmentally friendly homes.

It Can Insulate Your Home Against Cold

Hardwood doesn't quite feel as warm as carpet, but it's still one of the warmest flooring options on the market. 

While carpet simply creates an insulative barrier, hardwood absorbs and stores heat to keep you warm when it's cold outside. You can even put radiant heating under your hardwood flooring as long as the hardwood is certified for use over radiant heat.

It Looks Beautiful

Not all hardwoods are created equal. Each hardwood has a unique texture, color, and grain pattern that makes it look distinctive and beautiful.

For example, red oak is an excellent choice if you love hardwood flooring with a heavy wood grain pattern and a coarse texture. Plus, it comes in a wide range of colors.

It Is Relatively Expensive To Install

Hardwood is one of the most expensive flooring options available for homes. It costs more initially than other common flooring options like concrete, tile, linoleum, and vinyl. If you're looking to install your residential floors on a tight budget, hardwood flooring might not be right for you. 

It Has High Maintenance Requirements

In addition to its high initial cost, hardwood flooring demands high maintenance throughout its expected lifespan. Hardwoods require periodic application of wood sealer to prevent rot from moisture. Plus, they should only be cleaned with cleaning products designed for use on hardwood surfaces.

Most hardwood flooring manufacturers discourage the use of water-based cleaners as they can cause moisture damage to your floors. 

Hardwood flooring has its pros and cons just like other flooring options. Contact a supplier near you to learn more about hardwood flooring.