An Air of Permanence: Your New Hardwood Floor and You

Hardwood flooring provides the elegant appearance that can define a particular space as well as complement the rest of your décor. But, as with anything you value, hardwood flooring needs your attention in return. Find out how to become instrumental in the health of your floor.

Hardwood carries a certain regal attribute which is much-imitated among quality flooring options. With care and attention, your floor could be truly as decorative as any other aspect of the space in which it is made a part. For this, it’s a good idea to consider a few key points.

In terms of overall environment, hardwood flooring is an option that should only be considered for a space that has controlled humidity and temperature fluctuations. Hardwood can easily become warped by excessive humidity, and this kind of damage is often not included in your warranty. So, when you are considering laying floor in an area which is likely to remain unattended for long periods of time, like a cottage for instance, it may be better to consider an engineered hardwood flooring, bamboo flooring, or laminate flooring.

Hardwood Flooring Installation

With many types of flooring, there are installation-friendly features – like tongue-and-groove interlocking systems – making them good options for handy do-it-yourselfers. Engineered hardwood flooring is a great example of this type of flooring, as for example is laminate flooring. Solid hardwood flooring, on the other hand, tends to be more expensive per square foot so mistakes made during installation can be substantially more expensive than working with engineered hardwood flooring or laminate flooring. Remember, solid hardwood flooring is just as it is described – solid wood – and it is therefore quite a problem if a significant amount your square footage becomes unusable due to errors. The safest bet, and a course of action which will make sure that costly installation errors don’t dry up your budget, is to pay a little extra to hire a trusted professional flooring contractor to take on the job. Not only will unnecessary errors be less likely to be a problem, but the professional may even give you advice on how to maintain your floor after it has been installed, or recommend the best products for cleaning a hardwood floor. This advice alone can save you money. And you’ll appreciate the peace of mind you’ll experience when you know that someone who is skilled and experienced in solid hardwood flooring is doing the installation, and making your hardwood flooring the most attractive and most stable floor it can be.

One of the major benefits of a hardwood floor is the sense of permanence it brings to a space. Your solid hardwood floor should be looked at as a highly valued, long-term feature of your home or office, so it’s best that the installation is done right the first time. There’s no point in cutting corners when it comes to adding real value to your property; your hardwood floor is a valuable investment that will outweigh the short-term expense of having it installed by an expert.

Now that you know the basics, you’re ready to fully enjoy all of the benefits that hardwood flooring offers.