There is much to enjoy when it comes to wood flooring. It is straightforward to maintain, long lasting and provides aesthetic beauty to almost any room in the house.
Wood flooring has been in vogue throughout many years. It comes in a variety of styles and colours, making it a designer favourite in floors. Although it may be more expensive than many other types of flooring, its durability makes it more economical over time. Design options are vast with wood flooring. Leave it bare or cover it with area rugs.
Types of Wood Flooring
Wood flooring is comes in a variety of diverse types of wood. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages based on durability, colour and uses. Certain types of wood are more available in specific areas, which can affect the price you pay and quality.
Some of the most popular wood flooring types include:
- Ash – Usually light in colour and lightens up a room
- Maple – Scratch resistant and hardwearing but can be expensive
- Cypress – Available in a variety of tones and easy to match to existing décor
- Pine – Warm with a rustic feel and economical
- Exotic hard woods – Mostly imported offers a unique bespoke accent
- Bamboo – Strong, hardwearing and environmentally sound
- Oak – Rich and warm but needs regular maintenance
- Hickory – Durable but challenging to install due to its hardness
- Cherry – Smooth and warm but easy to scratch
- Walnut – Naturally dark, hardwearing and straightforward to install
Wood Flooring Styles
Wood flooring comes in a variety of styles to suit different decorating needs. Before choosing a style, consider certain factors, such as the room usage, the amount of foot traffic in that area and the size of the room.
Popular styles of wood flooring:
- Parquet – Strips of wood put together in a geometric pattern
- Strip – Narrow, linear flooring that makes a room appear larger
- Plank – Similar to strip, but typically wider
Advantages and Benefits of Wood Floors
Wooden flooring offers a feel of quality, style and permanence to a home. There is a wide range of wood flooring to choose from to suit personal family needs, tastes, budget and décor. Wood flooring is straightforward to maintain and clean, which means it is the perfect choice if you suffer from allergies. Furthermore, wood is a natural recyclable resource making it a sound choice ecologically. While it does require more financial outlay than other options, over the long term, wood flooring will work out cheaper as it rarely needs to be replaced. Because of wood’s ability to fit in with most décor and its durability, it may add resale value to the home.
Wood Flooring Disadvantages
Although wood flooring is an excellent choice for most people, there are some disadvantages depending on your situation. One disadvantage is it can be pricy to buy and install.
Wood isn’t always the best type of flooring if you live in a sandy area, because sand bought in may nick or scratch the surface, requiring frequent maintenance. Excess moisture may cause the wood to swell, buckle or stain, so if your house is prone to get damp it might not be the best option. Sound echoes in a room with hardwood floors, which could annoy those who are sensitive to noise.
Furniture Damage
Furniture can easily damage wood floors, so you should place felt pads under furniture legs to prevent scratches. They also make it easier to move the furniture. Felt pads can be bought at home improvement store or online from furniture stores such as Bedmarket.co.uk They are like small stickers, so do not confuse them with sliders. Plastic sliders make it easy to move heavy items but they can damage a wood floor.
