Timeless and elegant, hardwood flooring remains a constant favourite among homeowners wishing to add style and value to their property. As a standalone work of art, such floors transform your space and create an unmistakable atmosphere that is sure to make any room stand apart. Due to the considerably large investment involved financially when selecting hardwood, it’s important to be aware of the many factors that can influence the longevity and viability of such flooring within your home. Below are five important elements to consider when installing hardwood.
Does It Mesh With The Overall Style Of Your Home?
If you’re doing a complete overhaul of a major area of your home, matching your flooring to the rest of the house may be less of a concern. Otherwise, it’s important to consider the style of all interior elements when looking at flooring elements. This will help ensure a more natural fit, or a bolder statement, depending on your preference.
Consider Your Staining and Finishing Options
While there’s no denying that hardwood is gorgeous on its own, staining can add additional colour and vibrancy to the wood and enhance its aesthetic appeal. Finishing will change the maintenance requirements by preventing the floor from getting dirty and extending its lifetime. It’s also important that while you can stain most types of wood, you’ll want to pick a stain that is compatible with your desired overall aesthetic.
What Kind Of Subfloor Does Your Home Have?
The kind of sub flooring in your home can influence what style of hardwood works best for your desired space. For those with a plywood sub floor, either traditional or engineered hardwood are suitable, whereas for those with particle board or concrete, you will need to replace it with plywood prior to installing solid or engineered hardwood.
How Much Natural Daylight Do You Get?
While daylight is certainly a blessing in any home, it can pose a challenge for light sensitive hardwood. Planks left in direct sunlight can warp over time, as well as fade. Contrasting, for bright rooms that do not have direct sunlight, choosing the right colours can act as more of a style statement.
Be Honest About Your Lifestyle
As we mentioned earlier, hardwood floors are a considerable investment in any home. Those with young children or pets may find that the natural wear and tear associated with hardwood makes care more difficult, and should select planks equipped to handle the strain of additional stressors.
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