5 Smart Tips For Choosing The Right Hardwood Flooring

Hardwood flooring can rejuvenate your home andstrips, planks, and parquets are stained and then
help it reclaim the appeal and vibrancy it oncegiven a topcoat of polyurethane for protection. From
boasted. Popular among those who are looking forthat point onward, keeping them in good condition is
ways to breathe new life into their residences, woodmostly a matter of limiting their exposure to
floors fit seamlessly within any room. They add stylemoisture.
and grace while creating a comfortable atmosphere.With the latter, the finish soaks into the wood and a
The key is choosing the right type from the plethoraspecial wax is used to give it a sheen. Here too, you'll
of options.have choices to make. You can select a low or high
In this article, we'll provide a short list of 5 helpful tipssheen, or a satin appearance. The wax must then be
you can use to select wood floors that not onlyapplied on an ongoing basis, making a penetrating
complement your rooms, but complete them. Youfinish more difficult to maintain.
may discover that you have more options available -#4 - Price To Your Budget
and more potential hurdles - than you realized.Wood flooring is typically priced based on square
#1 - Know Your Choicesfoot, so you should measure the room (or rooms) in
When most homeowners begin exploring hardwoodwhich you're planning to install the floors. Even then,
floors, they're surprised to learn how many choicespricing to a budget can be difficult for a number of
they have. For example, you'll need to selectreasons. First, prices can change without warning.
between solid and engineered wood (technically,Second, listed prices only represent the cost of the
laminate flooring is not considered wood). If you'rewood itself. When you notice that a particular wood
considering solid material, you'll need to choosevariety is priced at $3 per square foot, that figure
between strips, planks, and parquets.rarely includes the cost of materials needed for
Strips vary in thickness, but not in width. Planks varyinstallation. If you're installing the hardwood floors on
in width, but are generally only available in twoyour own, you'll need to rent a nailer or stapler, and
thicknesses. Parquets are patterned boards thatbuy nails or staples, respectively.
offer a unique appearance.Third, if you're installing a floating floor, you'll need to
#2 - Consider Wood Varietybuy an underlayment to place between the flooring
In addition to the types of hardwood flooringand the subfloor. That can add another $1 per square
available, you'll also need to consider various woodfoot.
varieties. Some are lighter while others are darker.#5 - Plan For The Cost Of Labor
Some are extremely durable while others are softer.Suppose you've decided to forgo the pleasure of a
For example, red oak and white oak are both knowndo-it-yourself installation. Instead, you've chosen to
for being dense and therefore, strong. They canhire a team of installers. You might also need to hire
resist years of wear and tear. In contrast, cherrysomeone for paint touch-ups and caulking. This is an
wood is soft and pliable. While it's not a good choicearea in which your project's cost can balloon. Labor
for high-traffic areas in your home, it can add acosts can add up to $3 per square foot.
splash of style when used judiciously. Beech is popularHardwood flooring is a fantastic way to revitalize
because it is resilient enough to absorb impact.your home. Keep in mind there are more than a few
Douglas fir is soft and as such, makes a goodchoices you'll need to make along the way. Educate
ornamental wood.yourself about your options, budget conservatively,
#3 - Think About The Finishand plan ahead. By doing so, you'll help ensure that
Hardwood floors can come with a surface finish or ayour remodeling plan will be a stunning success.
penetrating finish. The former is more popular. The