Solid hardwood floors are timeless and beautiful, but they’re not exactly perfect. Hardwood flooring in Vancouver has some advantages and also some disadvantages. If you’re thinking of installing hardwood flooring, you need to carefully weigh the pros and cons.
Pros
The following are the main advantages of using hardwood flooring:
- It will increase the value of your home. Carpet may be nice and cosy but when it comes to adding value to your property, nothing can compare to solid hardwood flooring.
- It never goes out of style. It doesn’t matter what kind of theme you’re going for, hardwood can be refinished to fit your home even if you keep changing your interior design. These floors can be stained and painted as well.
- It’s easy to clean. With basic care such as vacuuming and mopping, your hardwood floor can last for decades. You can also use a mop and wood cleaner. Spills can be removed quickly too, unlike with carpet in which stains stick to the fabric permanently.
- It’s easy to repair. If your floor gets scratched or damaged, you can simply refinish or repair it. With laminate flooring, you’ll have to replace the whole thing. A hardwood floor refinishing is the most effective method for repairing worn or damaged hardwood floors. After a high-quality full-service refinishing, your floors will be restored to their original condition, and you’ll get to enjoy them looking even better than they did when they were first installed.
Cons
Here are the drawbacks of hardwood flooring:
- It can be expensive. Compared to many types of flooring, you’ll be spending more money when you choose hardwood. The material is more expensive than carpet, and installation cost is also higher due to the amount of work that goes into it.
- It can be noisy. Unlike carpet, which reduces echoes and sounds when you step on it, hardwood floors are not quiet. Pets, kids and high heels can produce noise when stepping.
- It will require refinishing. Hardwood floors are naturally long-lasting but over time, they can get dented and scratched. Liquid spills can also damage it. You’ll need to refinish your floor so it’ll look good again.
- It can expand and contract. Natural conditions like humidity and high/low temps can cause your flooring to expand and contract. You can avoid this by keeping your indoor temperature constant all-year round.
What’s the Best Hardwood Flooring Option?
For a lot of people who prefer hardwood flooring for their home or office, the top 3 favorites are: maple, oak and hickory. But which one should you get?
These hardwood flooring types have a few similarities, including:
- You can get them in either solid hardwood or engineered hardwood.
- They can all be refinished.
- They are available in different sizes and styles.
- They require resealing to prevent staining and moisture penetration.
They also have some differences, such as:
Oak has a linear grain and its underlying hues can range from golden brown to gray. Maple has a lighter color than the other two and features a creamier appearance. Its grain is light and fine, and maybe straight or wavy. Hickory, on the other hand, has very distinct graining. Its hues range from a rich golden brown to very light brown.
In terms of durability, hickory seems to be the most durable, attaining a score of 1820 in the Janka Hardness Test. This is followed by maple (1450) and then oak (1360).
Price-wise, hickory tops the rest. Cost can range from $3.15 – $7 (per square foot). Next is maple, which can cost anywhere from $2.70 – $6.15. The least expensive is oak, which costs $2.55-$5.80.
Regardless of your choice of hardwood, the key is to find a good supplier and installation service to ensure that your hardwood flooring will look great in your home.