How do you choose the right wood floor for your home? Adding hardwood flooring to your home is one of the biggest and best investments you can ever make. After all, the wrong floor can lead to regret, an overwhelming amount of maintenance and costly do-overs. There’s a lot at stake, so we prepared this helpful guide.
It’s time to learn how to choose the perfect wood floor for your home. You have to consider several factors, including Colorado’s mountain climate, aesthetics and your durability needs.
Understanding Your Wood Flooring Options
There are two main types of hardwood flooring, solid wood and engineered hardwood. Here ‘s a brief overview of each one:
- Solid Wood: Consisting of a single piece of timber, solid wood is a classic. These floors are durable and can be refinished multiple times, which pays off in the long run. However, it can expand and contract due to humidity changes.
- Engineered Wood: Consisting of multiple criss-crossed layers of plywood, each engineered plank has a real hardwood veneer top. Its solid construction makes it great for areas with fluctuating temperatures and humidity.
There is another way to distinguish hardwood floors. You also have to choose between site-finished and prefinished hardwood. Let’s review:
- Prefinished Wood Flooring: Delivered ready to install, prefinished floors are quick, easy to install and don’t make messes or come with extensive installation times. However, they are difficult to repair and refinish. Depending on your preferences, beveled edges might not be for you.
- Site-Finished Wood Flooring: These floors are installed, sanded, stained and finished on-site. This provides a custom finish that can be refinished over time, which makes for a long lifespan. These floors take longer to install and leave behind more messes and dust.
Consider your Climate and Environment
Wood is hygroscopic. In other words, it expands and contracts due to humidity. This is where living somewhere like Denver makes a difference. Take the following into account:
- Dry Climates: Wood floors (specifically solid wood) shrink and crack, while engineered wood remains stable.
- Humid Climates: Solid wood tends swell, creating gaps. Engineered wood withstands humidity fluctuations, which is ideal for variable environments.
When shopping for hardwood flooring, you have to consider where you live. Different species will react differently to the conditions. For example, oak, maple and walnut are often more stable than exotics. Additionally, exotics are more sensitive to climate changes. Flooring professionals can also help you decide what is best for you.
Let’s talk about photosensitivity. Some wood species like walnut lighten when exposed to sunlight while others like mahogany darken over time. Remember the colors of your floors might change if your home gets a lot of sun.
Evaluating Floor’s Hardness and Durability
How much wear and denting can your wood floors withstand? Well, this is measured by the Janka hardness scale, A higher rating means the wood is more durable and ideal for high-traffic areas. We review some examples below:
- Oak (Janka rating 1,290) is durable and versatile.
- Hickory (Janka rating 1,820) is harder and works in high-traffic areas.
- Maple (Janka rating 1,450) is suitable for kitchens and areas with high foot traffic.
Besides hardness, stability is essential. Stable wood flooring is less prone to expansion and contraction. This prevents warping and cracking. Engineered hardwood is more stable and moisture-resistant than solid, especially in rooms with high amounts of humidity.
Choosing the Right Look Of Your Wood Floors
The color of your wood flooring makes a difference. Light ones open up a space while dark shades are cozy and elegant. Think about how the color will look with your furniture, wall colors and natural light.
- Lighter Woods: Maple, ash and white oak offer an airy, spacious feel.
- Darker Woods: Walnut and cherry offer warmth and sophistication, especially in rooms with high ceilings.
What wood species makes sense for you? It will alter the texture, color and overall aesthetic of your floors.
- Modern or Contemporary Designs: Light woods with clean grains (i.e. maple) work in trendy homes.
- Traditional or Rustic Designs: Textured woods such as oak and walnut offer depth and character.
Find the Right Wood Flooring for Your Home
The perfect wood floor will be different for everyone. However, they tend to balance aesthetics, performance and durability. Looking for premium wood floors? Tongue & Groove’s wood flooring showroom in Denver is here to help. In our showroom, we have a vast selection of upscale hardwood flooring options.
Ready for elegant new wood floors? Contact us to schedule a personal consultation to explore your options.
