Choosing the perfect hardwood floor for your home in Northern Colorado can be a daunting task. There are many different types of wood that you have to choose from, and each style has its own set of characteristics. What kind of hardwood should you choose? Which type is best in different situations? There’s a lot that goes into selecting the right hardwood floor in Fort Collins.
In this blog post, we will cover the most common woods used for hardwood floors and tell you about the benefits and drawbacks of hardwood. Let’s get started!
WHAT EXACTLY IS HARDWOOD FLOORING?
Simply put, hardwood flooring is a type of floor made out of wood. There are many different types and species of trees, but some of the most common hardwoods used for floors are oak, maple, hickory, walnut, and cherry. This list is by no means exhaustive, but these are what we’ll be focusing on today.
THE BENEFITS OF HARDWOOD FLOORING
There are so many benefits to having hardwood floors in Fort Collins! One significant advantage is increased resale value: if you ever want to move or sell your house at some point down the line, it will be worth more with hardwood than carpet or laminate. Other benefits include durability (hardwoods last much longer on average) and sustainability due to their natural origin — they won’t wear out as fast as carpets may.
PROS AND CONS OF HARDWOOD FLOORS
THE PROS OF HARDWOOD FLOORS
The pros of hardwood floors are that they’re durable, sustainable, and have a higher resale value. There are many benefits of hardwood floors. They can make your home feel more spacious and provide a warmer environment to live in. Hardwood floors also have an aesthetic advantage over carpeting or rug styles, making them perfect for any room with high foot traffic, such as the kitchen area, living room, or hallway. In addition, this type of flooring is easy to clean with a vacuum cleaner and has excellent anti-slip qualities that will keep you safe on surfaces like stairs.
They’re very durable, so they won’t quickly wear down from regular use by children running around the house or pets playing.
THE CONS OF HARDWOOD FLOORS
One of the major cons of hardwood floors is the noise. They have a relatively noisy sound when compared to carpeting when one is walking across it. They also can be cold to the touch in winter and summer (if you have the AC blasting).
Another downside is that there may not be as many choices in wood species for your home’s specific needs (like if you have pets).
TYPES OF HARDWOOD FLOORS
OAK
Oak is the most popular type of hardwood flooring. It’s a classic and timeless choice that looks amazing in almost any room, whether you’re looking for something simple or ornate. Oak floors are usually available as prefinished engineered products (usually with a polyurethane finish) or unfinished boards (for those who want to do their own finishing). In addition, you can stain oak in so many different shades – from light yellow tones to dark walnut browns!
MAPLE
Maple has an attractive grain pattern. Maple hardwoods have been used in homes for centuries because they’re resistant to water damage, scratches, stains, and warping. You may also find the wood locally if you live in a region where maple naturally grows.
HICKORY
Hickory is also beautiful and is an often-used tree species for hardwood floors. Hickory is available as a prefinished engineered product (usually with a polyurethane finish) or unfinished boards for those who want to do their own finishing. Like oak, hickory may be stained so many different shades!
WALNUT
Walnut also has an attractive grain pattern and makes a great hardwood floor choice if you’re looking for something very durable. Walnut hardwoods are usually only found in Northern climates where the wood doesn’t tend to warp much when it expands and contracts due to humid/dry conditions. You can finish walnut floors into virtually any color tone you could imagine by staining them with either water or oil-based stains.
CHERRY
Cherry floors are another excellent option. They age beautifully because they tend to redden in color with their age. Cherry hardwood floors can also be finished into various colors, which gives them lots of versatility for home design, should you want something other than its natural appearance.
ELEMENT FLOORING & DESIGN CENTER IS HERE TO HELP YOU WITH HARDWOOD
We are here to help you through the process of choosing hardwood flooring for your home. From determining what hardwood is an excellent fit to all its benefits, pros, cons, and types — we can provide a wealth of knowledge about this material that will make it easier for you to choose an option that would work best in your space. Give our friendly and experienced staff a call today to book an estimate!
