Most people simply love the way wood flooring enhances a room. It gives a room a sense of permanence, stability and warmth. Even in a small house with minimal square footage, wood floors give a house a well-crafted, "high-end" appearance. In fact, 90 percent of realtors say that wood floors help a home sell faster and for more money.
There are many good reasons why wood flooring may be right for your home. There are also a few good reasons why wood flooring might not be the right choice for you. It's definitely worth the time to educate yourself about the benefits and limitations of wood before you make the investment.
Among the reasons to choose wood are:
Wood floors tie a room together, yet complement virtually any furniture, artwork or overall style.
The wide range of species, colors and patterns offer endless design possibilities.
Wood floors are easy to clean. They're ideal for people with allergies, asthma or other respiratory problems, because dust particles, pollen and dust mites stay on the surface where they can be thoroughly wiped out.
For the price of a high-quality carpet installation, a well-maintained hardwood floor can easily last beyond a 30-year mortgage, while carpets are replaced an average of three times in that same time span.
Before looking into the merits of various wood floor types, wood species, finishes and all other considerations, it's extremely important to talk about the floor under the floor. Or, stated more simply: a wood floor is only as good as the subfloor
Most solid hardwood flooring will need to be nailed or stapled through the face or blind-nailed through the tongue. The subfloor must be able to hold the nail or staple. For that reason, concrete won't work. It's also not a good idea to install a wood floor over particleboard because it doesn't hold a nail well. And even if it does initially, it will soon work loose, leaving you where you started.
Plywood, OSB or tongue-and-groove decking products over joists are recommended for most installations.
Vinyl floors, glued-down carpets, and other existing flooring types are not suitable as subflooring and must be removed. Before installing solid wood flooring, get down to the solid, flat and dry subfloor. Remember, a wood floor is only as good as the subfloor.
Most appropriate installations are considered "on-grade," meaning that the floor is level with the height of the exterior grounds with joists or post-and-beam construction supporting the floor. When installing on-grade, it's important that the crawlspace or basement under the subfloor is well-ventilated. If ventilation is inadequate, moisture will likely result in the cupping or warping of the hardwood months after installation.
"Above-grade," meaning upper floors of a multi-floor house or building may be appropriate for solid wood flooring if the subfloor is wood. Another consideration is the amount of flex in the floor prior to installation. While all floors have (and need) some flexibility, a more rigid floor is necessary for strip solid wood floors.
"Below-grade" situations, such as basements with cement floors, limit your choices considerably. Some parquets, as well as the solid wood Natural Reflections Line from Bruce can be installed over cement using a direct glue method. In general, though, cement floors mean moisture, which spells disaster for hardwood. Your best bet would be to install an engineered wood floor over a moisture barrier using the floating installation technique.
As a general rule, high gloss floors show scratches and imperfections more easily. If the area you're covering is a high traffic area, especially areas well traveled by children and large pets, it's best to stick to satin or lower gloss finishes. They can look stunning, yet won't show as much day-to-day wear. For a formal look or in a low traffic area, the high gloss choices may be appropriate.
A great deal of temperature variation or changes in humidity can cause gaping, cupping and warping in some solid wood floors. If you're installing in a structure that's seldom occupied or in a high humidity area, you may want to consider engineered wood flooring or another flooring choice.
If so, there are alternatives to wood flooring. You should choose one of them.
Many prefinished solid wood flooring is 3/4" thick, so if it is installed next to, say, vinyl flooring, there will be a substantial lip. Other subflooring can be brought up to the same level, but that can be expensive and time-consuming.
Ask yourself some other questions related to the new flooring thickness. What's the tolerance at the sliding door? Will doors still work? Will your refrigerator still fit under the cabinets? Will you be able to remove the dishwasher in the future? What is the impact on the baseboard?
Remember, every one of these problems can be solved. Just be aware of what you're getting into before you make your choice.
Measure each room, multiplying length by width. Add extra to cover any cut waste or imperfect boards.
If needed, remember to measure for shoe molding, quarter round or wall base, reducer strips, T-molding, and thresholds.
The list of installation questions and considerations can be lengthy. We recommend you look through some of our other articles, especially those on subflooring rules and general installation guidelines before proceeding with your project.
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11155 US Hwy 70 West Suite F Clayton, NC 27520 |
Phone: 919-359-0420 Fax: 919-359-0470 |
