A Guide to Hardwood Flooring

If you are looking to add natural beauty to your home, you may be considering replacing those dank and dingy carpets with stunning hardwood. Given how simple, yet beautiful this type of flooring is, it is no wonder why so many people want to have it installed in their homes.

If changing the floors in your home to hardwood is something that you have been considering, but you aren’t 100 percent sure that you should make the investment, you have come to the right place. Keep on reading to find out everything that you need to know about hardwood flooring; the benefits, the types and the installation process. Once you read this information, you’ll be calling to arrange for installation in no time.

The Benefits of Hardwood Floor

There are so many benefits to hardwood flooring that it really is a wonder why all people don’t have hardwood flooring in their homes. Here is a look at just some of the advantages of this type of flooring:

Hypo-Allergenic: Do you have allergies? Do you wonder why you are constantly experiencing swollen sinuses, sneezing, a scratchy throat, a runny nose and itchy, watery eyes, even when you are in your own home? Well, if you have carpet, it’s no wonder why you are suffering from such bad allergy-related symptoms. Carpet holds pollen, dust, pet dander and other allergens. These allergens lock into the fibers of a carpet, which then causes you to experience dreadful allergy attacks. If you want to put a stop to this problem, replace your carpet with hardwood flooring. This material doesn’t contain any fibers that allergens can lock in to, which means that you won’t suffer from those horrid allergy attacks anymore. You can breathe more freely and live more comfortably with hardwood flooring.

Easy Cleaning: You don’t have to worry about stains, pilling or pulls when you have hardwood flooring, and you don’t have to worry about pulling out the vacuum or stain fighters to keep things clean. If something spills, just pull out the broom and the dust pan or the mop and your floors will be cleaned in no time.

Natural Beauty: There is something that is so naturally appealing about hardwood flooring. The rich colors, the grain, the smooth finish; hardwood makes a real statement and one that is certainly more striking than a floor that is covered with wall-to-wall carpet.

Types of Hardwood Flooring

No matter what your style is, you will be able to find a hardwood floor that will speak to your style. From pine to maple and from bamboo to mahogany, you can find a hardwood floor that will allow you to create the look that you desire. If you are interested in creating a truly one-of-a-kind look, you can even consider having a custom design made in your floor with an inlay design, which uses different types of wood to make a stunning pattern.

You can also choose from solid or engineered hardwood. If you want to go for something that is truly natural, opt for solid hardwood. If you want something that is a little more durable, choose engineered flooring. What is the difference between the two? Solid hardwood is naturally occurring and comes directly from trees, while the engineered variety is made from real wood, but it is manipulated to create several layers, which makes it more durable and longer lasting than the solid variety.

Installation of Hardwood Flooring

If you are interested in having hardwood flooring installed in your home, knowing about the installation process will allow you to better understand what to expect. The process is pretty straightforward and a professional installation company will be able to complete the job in no time.

The process begins by removing your old floor covering down to the subfloor. If you have carpeting, the carpet and the padding will be torn up. If you have tile, it will be demolished and completely removed from the surface of your floor.

Once your previous floor covering is removed and your subfloor is exposed, the remaining surface will be examined in order to make sure that it is in good condition. If any repairs need to be made, they will be and the subfloor will be completely cleaned.

After the subfloor is prepared, the installation process of your hardwood flooring will begin. The space will be measured and slats will be cut and installed, starting from the edges of the room and working inward to the center of the room. The slats will be fit together and finishing nails will be used to secure the slats in place. Once the installation is complete, the floors will be given a good cleaning and polishing in order to reveal its natural shine and beauty.

Hardwood is a beautiful, durable, hypo-allergenic type of flooring that will make your home a showcase.

About the Author: Eric Stevens has been installing hardwood flooring Rochester NY for 12 years.