One of the most famous flooring options is hardwood flooring because of its timelessness and durability. Most people prefer the look that it gives and the sliding across a polished hardwood floor. A house can feel like home with a hardwood floor.
Hardwood floors are earning immense popularity. You can ask a couple of homeowners about their dream flooring material for their homes. If not all, the majority would answer hardwood flooring.
Hardwood flooring offers both a more luxurious and traditional look than other flooring materials, which will fail to match it. You can research that there are different kinds of wood that are used in hardwood floors commonly.
Among them, maple, cherry, and oak are the most famous ones because of their look, durability, and budget-friendly cost. You can think of it this way every board that you place on your hardwood floor comes from the maturity and growth of nature.
Your hardwood flooring is completely natural, unlike other materials that are being manufactured to receive their beauty. Solid hardwood flooring is a great option that comes with a wide range of advantages that we will mention below.
If you are looking for flooring that is pretty easy to clean, increases the value of your home, is designed to last for many decades, and provides timeless beauty, then you must choose solid hardwood floor installation. A hardwood floor adds beauty and warmth and helps to increase the value of your property.
Since hardwood floors are available in several constructions, they can be installed over different subfloors on any level of your home to mitigate moisture. In this article, we are going to discuss everything you need to know about hardwood flooring.
Why Hardwood Floors?
On the market, when other types of flooring are available, hardwood flooring has multiple advantages. Hardwood flooring adds character, style, and warmth to any home, whether it is new or old.
In comparison to linoleum or carpets, the initial costs are slightly higher, but they will last for generations; you just need to practice regular maintenance care properly. Let’s discuss some perks associated with Hardwood floors-
Strong and durable: Whether hardwood floor installation in Downers Grove is engineered or solid, they are highly resistant and durable to everyday tear and wear.
Hardwood floors hold warmth much better than stone floors, tiles, or laminates because they are natural products, so in the winter, they are more comfortable underfoot.
Although the initial cost advantages of laminates are good, they are cold to touch, and this would always and ultimately make hardwood floorings an appealing alternative. Most homeowners choose to install solid wood floors because of their durability.
It’s not easy for hardwood floors to get dented or scratched; however, you have to follow a few measures to ensure they always appear new. Over time, if there are many visible scratches, opt for hardwood floors Refinishing in Downers Grove.
Maintenance and hygiene: Maintaining hardwood floors is much easier. In fact, it does not take much of your time. Just sweep the floors and use a dry mop daily. Besides, you can do vacuuming on a weekly basis.
It is always suggested to wipe away water spills immediately, remove footwear (especially heels and spike shoes) before moving on the floor, and use felt protector pads beneath the furniture.
In comparison to carpets, solid wood floors are much better hygienically. This will be an advantage to allergic people and pet owners as hardwood floors do not harbor parasites like ticks, spores, dust mites, or fleas.
Thanks to the simple cleaning of solid wood floors, odors left by pets and liquids will not stand as an issue anymore.
Enhance the look of your home: Solid wood floors tend to add elegance and a bit of warmth to your home. Most homeowners believe that installing hardwood floors will make the property look bigger. It is a great way to make a fabulous first impression.
Adds value to your home: Hardwood floors can bring value to your home. Buyers will pay more for a house with a hardwood floor rather than carpet when it comes to selling your home. Many people don’t prefer carpets, especially when it belongs to someone else.
Indeed, solid wood floors can be helpful in selling your house faster because it is a feature sought out.
Availability of a Wide Range of Boards:
To make a hardwood floorboard, there are two different types of hardwood used. The first one is solid, and the second one is engineered. Both of them are consistent and made from 100% wood, but each of them has its own set of advantages and disadvantages.
Solid hardwood: You will find two types of solid hardwood flooring that you must consider. The first one is unfinished, and the second one is prefinished.
Unfinished hardwood directly comes from the wood mill. All the finishing, like staining and sanding, will happen on your property if you invest in the unfinished hardwood floor installation in Naperville. On the other hand, the finished hardwood flooring will arrive as ready to be installed.
The finished hardwood comes with options and a warranty from a manufacturer generally. Solid hardwood floors are made of solid wood, as you might have guessed.
From a single piece of wood, one board of solid hardwood is made. Typically, a solid hardwood board has a thickness of about ¾ of an inch, but it can be sanded and refinished as many times as needed. A solid hardwood floor is permanently affixed to a similar material or a subfloor made of plywood.
Engineered Hardwood: One board of engineered hardwood is made from typically three to five or several pieces of wood, which are bonded together into layers.
Usually, the top layer of the engineered boards is hardwood with different types of wood underneath or layers of plywood. Engineered hardwood is easier and cheaper to install in comparison to solid hardwood.
Engineered hardwood will not contract and expand, unlike solid hardwood, due to variations in humidity and temperature. In simple words, in almost all areas of the house, it is safe to install.
Types of Wood Species:
Now we have come to the fun part. This part is about choosing the color and wood species you want for your hardwood floor. There are different types to choose from, from the ordinary to the unique. We have listed just a few for you-
- Maple
- Bamboo
- Jarrah
- Walnut
- Oak
- Cherry
- Mahogany
- Ash
- Teak
Finishes are Available too!
Site Finished: The site finished floors can be gorgeous uniquely. With this option, homeowners have much more control over how they can customize the boards, and the floor will look the way they have desired. Site finished floors require a quite high level of craftsmanship and skill.
As mentioned above, finishing and staining are done on-site, which will need time to cure and dry; thus, it takes a few weeks or days. No furniture should be placed on the floor during this time.
Factory Finished: A factory-finished hardwood floor is the cheaper and hassle-free choice of the two. Factory finished floors are much quicker and easier to install.
No chemicals, dust, or odors accompany the installation, so you and the rest of your family can immediately use your new hardwood floor.
Let’s Learn Some Hardwood Flooring Design Considerations
Hardwood flooring never goes out of style, and it is one of the great things about it. For several years, it has been in use, and despite changes in design and style and numerous shifts, it has survived the test of trends, showing that the look of this material never gets outdated.
This is because hardwood acts as an instant connection between the natural world and an interior location. In this most modern environment, the essence of a densely thicketed wood and the feeling of a forest can be achieved.
How Do Hardwood Floors Feel Underfoot?
Heat: At all times of the year, the hardwood floor feels like a moderately warm flooring material that maintains a relatively even temperature.
Not as snug as carpet but warmer than natural stone, hardwood is pretty compatible with the underfoot radiant heating systems that keep you feeling toasty even in the winter. This is an efficient way to contribute to the warmth of the entire room.
Soft: Usually, wood floors are stable yet resilient enough to provide a bit of ‘give’ underfoot. This is especially true when they are over some sort of insulating underlayment or installed on joists. However, you must avoid installing it on concrete directly, as this can result in being uncomfortable and very rigid.
Conclusion:
With that, we have concluded this article. We hope we can help you with everything you need to know about hardwood flooring that we mentioned above after thorough research for you.
When you are installing hardwood floors, you need to consider the moisture since inconsistency in moisture can create issues like gapping and warping.
You have to keep the moisture levels in the recommendations by the manufacturer to reduce the effects of moisture and choose the right materials and hardwood flooring. Also, you can install a moisture barrier as an additional layer of protection against extreme moisture damage.
Choosing a hardwood floor is one thing, but you need to pay equal attention to choosing an installer. Yes! Hardwood floors can last for years only if installed by professionals. Professionals have specialized knowledge and skills to identify the correct installation procedure and also help you pick the right material for your site.
If you are looking for a prominent hardwood floor installer or refinisher, consider approaching us at Big Bro Hardwood. We have been in the business for decades, specializing in transforming stained, drab wood floors into the ones that will create a WOW impression. Our experienced team listens to your needs and provides the quick yet perfect solutions.
When it comes to Hardwood Floor Refinishing in Bolingbrook, we professionally address all your queries and provide you with dustless sanding and eco-friendly finishing. We use water-based polyurethanes that are organic and offer good protection for wood floors. Besides, our team can help you pick the right stain color through live samples of stains on your floors.
Here are some good reasons why you should collaborate with us.
- Big Bro Hardwood respects the time and investment of clients, hence, delivering them a second-to-none experience that they will remember for years and also recommend our name to their peers.
- We are a one-stop store for every homeowner; whether you need wood floor installation, repair, refinishing, or staining, just contact us to discuss your needs and get a free quote.
- We never work through sub-contractors. Our team will tackle the entire installation and refinishing project and deliver results that surpass all your expectations.
- We carry full Liability and Worker’s Compensation Insurance for any unforeseen event.
- Our experts use the latest and the best quality products to deliver long-lasting outcomes.
How our installation process looks like-
- Assist in picking the right hardwood flooring material
- Discard old flooring
- Organize the installation area/subfloor
- Properly install wooden planks
- Finish and trim the newly installed floor
How our refinishing process looks like-
- Dustless sanding of the wood floor using the state-of-the-art technology
- Stripping the floors
- Preventive measures to restrict dust
- Applying the chosen stain and two coats of water-based finishes
We keep our clients in a loop and make any alterations only after their permission. So what are you waiting for? Get in touch with us to discuss your project needs and budget. We are here to suggest solutions within your budget. Trust us; we can help you turn your flooring vision into reality. You can also view our gallery section to have a look at some of the projects accomplished by us.
Do not hesitate to call us at 630 418 4139 to talk to one of our experts to clarify all your doubts! You can even go through the FAQ section for quick answers. Good Luck!