Hardwood floors are resilient and long-lasting. With proper maintenance and care, they can last centuries. The greatest advantage of hardwood flooring is that it is easy to clean and maintain. While spills and stains on a light-colored carpet can be a disaster, on a hardwood floor you can simply wipe them away.
Hardwood flooring is among the easiest of floorings to maintain. Simple sweeping and wiping with a dry cloth will keep dirt and dust at bay, and there are no places for dirt to hide.
Not Resistant to Humidty: Wood can be damaged by spills, standing liquids, and humidity which is why wood floors are not recommend for areas of high moisture and humidity such as full bathrooms.
People love older homes because they have hardwood floors and because hardwood floors connotate a coziness that carpet and others can't touch. Durability: With a little TLC, hardwood floors will last a lifetime, and then some. Most experts recommend refinishing hardwood floors every 10 years to keep them looking good.
'Wooden floors are a popular choice for kitchens as they feel warm under foot and lend an element of natural beauty to any style of kitchen, contemporary or traditional,' says David Papworth, general manager of Junckers.
“Hardwood flooring is stylish and sustainable, comes in a variety of natural colors, and doesn't absorb dust or debris, making it easy to clean and maintain,” he says. Murphy says it is also a good choice for the kitchen because you rarely need to replace hardwood flooring.
Hardwood. PROS – Hardwood is the real deal; it is gorgeous and, depending on the type of wood, can add considerable value to your home. CONS – Hardwood is susceptible to scratching, can get damaged from excessive moisture and will show wear, especially in heavily trafficked areas.
Why do houses have timber floors? Timber floors were originally designed to prevent damp. Raising the floor level up above the ground acts as a barrier to damp coming up from the ground. Unfortunately, a consequence of this is that the floors can be quite draughty, with air bricks required to keep the timber dry.
Wood Flooring will scratch. Being a natural product there is truly no way of getting away from this fact. Scratches however need not necessarily be looked at as a bad thing with wooden flooring. Many believe that these markings very much add to the character of the flooring - taking away from the pristine nature.
On average, a hardwood flooring finish lasts approximately ten years. But with proper care and maintenance, it can last much longer.
Carpet can be installed over hardwood floors with minimal damage and without ruining it. By using tackless strips with thinner nails around the room, limiting the use of staples, avoiding the use of adhesives, and careful carpet installation, you can minimize any damage done to your hardwood floor.
Good choices are linoleum, ceramic tile--both very common--and wood. Linoleum is inexpensive and provides an easy-to-clean surface and comes in countless designs. Ceramic tiles are even better.
Generally speaking, a concrete slab is going to cost you more money to build. Whether it's a slab-on-ground for your Ground Floor, or a suspended slab for your First Floor, a concrete solution is going to cost more money – in materials, labour, and time.
Installing flooring before your cabinets is the best choice for most hardwood floors. When professionals install floors then cabinets, it's easier to get everything to standard heights. It's also a safer installation process for your cabinets since you won't risk any damage to them as professionals install the floors.
Use Area Rugs
Placing a few area rugs in the most high-traffic and mess-prone areas of your kitchen goes a long way in protecting your hardwood floors. These areas are likely to be in front of the sink, stove, dishwasher, and even the refrigerator.
The good news is, engineered hardwood floors are created with durability in mind. Plus, with a resistance to changes in humidity, they're less likely to warp or buckle in a room where water is just a part of life, making the LIFECORE Hardwood Collection a great choice for the kitchen.
Solid wood expands and contracts as moisture and temperature level change. Contrary to solid wood - engineered hardwood flooring is perfect for the kitchen, as it is much more durable and able to resist fluctuations in temperature and humidity.
Vinyl flooring is easy to maintain and requires no special care or maintenance. This is another floor covering that would enable you to trash the vacuum, as regular sweeping will be enough to keep your vinyl flooring looking just like new.
Tile Flooring
Porcelain and ceramic are some of the longest lasting flooring materials available, and they require little maintenance. Tile flooring is also moisture resistant, making it the perfect choice for areas where spills are common like bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms.
Hardwood Makes It Look Easy
Not only are hardwood floors timeless and versatile, but they are also easy to clean. Most hardwood floors are sealed with a finish, meaning a good dusting or vacuuming, followed by dry mopping, is all you need to clear away residue and leave your hardwood floors gleaming.
Carpet is usually the best choice for bedrooms and master bedrooms because it is soft and cozy. It is warm and can reduce sound, versus hardwood, which helps sound resonate and makes bedrooms feel cold.
Carpet vs Hardwood Cost
Installing hardwood floors can cost between $12 and $20 per square foot installed, while carpet often cost about $6 to $12 per square foot installed.