4 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Buying Hardwood Flooring

Traditional wood flooring have the unique power to bring out the charm and wonder of a home. Who can resist their rustic character and warm glow' But there's more to buying hardwood flooring than just deciding on whether or not you would like maple or oak. Ask yourself these four questions when looking for hardwoods that will help you find the perfect fit for any flooring project ' small or large.

What Type of 'Look' Are You Creating?

Hardwood floors can truly 'pull' an area together ' assisting you highlight a lovely piece of furniture, a work of art, or simply bring an air of comfort and warmth to a place. With this in mind, you should decide which varieties of flooring accentuates your dcor. Many types of wood flooring are smooth-milled, definitely a seamless appearance. Others are purposefully antiqued or distressed to give the floors an even more 'lived-in' look that's casual and cozy ' as if your favorite set of jeans.

Which Hardwood Flooring Style is Best for Your Needs?

You'll should decide between different styles of hardwood to get one that is the proper balance of price, durability and beauty. Solid hard wood floors are, naturally, complete hardwood. There's also engineered wood flooring, which can be less expensive and runs on the high-density fiberboard core with real hardwood veneer. If you have your heart set with a specific species of hardwood, included in the package want to know how hard your hardwood is really. For example, southern Yellow Pine is 'softer' in comparison to Brazilian cherry in accordance with the Janka Hardness Scale.

How Much Sunlight and Foot Traffic Will the Room Get?

Certain types of hardwood flooring Peabody flooring fare better in sunlight and won't fade or lose their luster after a while. Many exotic Brazilian woods are responsive to light, as are other favorites like walnut. Some floors will have a UV protective coating added. You can also move furniture and rugs around periodically to make sure that equal areas of light hit different parts of the floor, and something side is not lighter or darker than another.

Foot traffic is another consideration. Hardwood floors remain true very well to foot traffic and won't show its age with time the way certain other types of floors, like carpet, can. For high foot-traffic areas, a harder wood like maple, hickory or oak would better handle deterioration as opposed to some softer wood. Here again, the Janka Hardness Scale could be invaluable in assisting you decide between durability, price and appearance to find the perfect solution.

What Kind of Warranty Do You Need?

The right warranty can protect your hardwood floorsfor a long time. Most hardwood floors come with a warranty against structural damage, as well as a warranty on the finish that's used (if you have it finished). With this in mind, you need to find a warranty that provides you the quantity of protection you may need for your particular lifestyle and also the kind of traffic your floors will be experiencing. It's worth employing a reputable hardwood flooring store to make certain all your questions are answered and warranties are clearly explained.