What You Need To Know About Hardwood

Ask any flooring contractor, and they’ll agree with us: Canadians’ first choice in flooring is hardwood. If hardwood doesn’t fit their needs, wood-look is a close second. 

What is it about hardwood flooring that homeowners are so obsessed with? Is it the material, the traditional look, or the variance of finishes on the market? 

If you’ve ever wondered why you should consider hardwood flooring, the apex of flooring materials according to homeowners, then read on. We’ll discuss what makes it a desirable choice and when not to use it.

Hardwood Flooring 101

Let’s break down what makes hardwood flooring the ideal flooring.

1. Durability, Long-lasting, and Hardness: One of the primary reasons homeowners choose hardwood is its durability. In other words, thanks to hardwood’s “hardness”—one way to measure this is the Janka Rating Scale—it can withstand decades of continuous use without needing replacing. The only caveat is that hardwood needs constant maintenance. However, not all hardwoods have the same hardness rating. For instance, pine is quite soft, so it will show wear and tear more readily than walnut.
2. Species Variety: As mentioned, there are many species of tree, and thus, you have plenty of hardwood varieties to choose from. The most common hardwood materials are oak, hickory, walnut, teak, maple, birch, bamboo, or cork (made from a living tree’s bark). All you have to do is match the wood colour to your design scheme and ensure you have the correct hardness to suit your household’s needs before your flooring contractor lays your new floors!
3. Hardwood Finishes: Finishes can mean different things. For instance, you can opt for prefinished or unfinished floorboards, meaning your flooring contractor will finish the unfinished hardwood during installation. Finishes also mean you must decide whether to use polyurethane, wax, or oil to seal the boards. Finally, you also need to choose between a matte or glossy finish.
4. Hardwood or Engineered Hardwood: Another feature of hardwood is opting for engineered hardwood. The main difference between them is hardwood is one sheet of wood, while engineered is layers of reinforced wood for added durability. So which is better? Ultimately, it depends on your needs. If you have a large dog or kids, you may prefer engineered hardwood over traditional wood for added durability. Or, if you’d like your flooring to last a lifetime, traditional hardwood is the better choice.

1. Hardwood Maintenance: Another thing to remember is that after the flooring contractors have laid your floor, it is up to you to maintain it. For instance, hardwood requires daily sweeping, weekly vacuuming, and monthly mopping with hardwood-friendly floor cleaners. You also need to watch for scratches, dings, and dents. Once imperfections accumulate or worsen, it may be time to call a flooring contractor to see if your floors need refinishing. 
2. New vs. Old: Another new trend is buying either old barnboard or recycled hardwood. If you’re eco-conscious, buying second-hand hardwood prevents it from entering the landfill while still adding beauty to your space!
3. Plank Size: Besides various hardwood materials and colours, you can also choose traditional plank size or wider boards to add character. Wide planks are ideal for making a small room feel bigger.
4. Add Warmth: The addition of hardwood provides warmth to your space, but you can up the ante by adding radiant heating underfoot!
5. Added Value: Homeowners love hardwood flooring so much that installing it increases the value of your home!
6. Cost: As with all good things in life, the more desirable something is, the higher the price tag. Hardwood flooring is no exception. Not only do homeowners have to pay for the product, but it is always recommended that you budget for a flooring contractor to install it properly. Not to mention, if you use a professional, licensed flooring contractor, they warranty their work.
7. Mix It Up With Stains: Another perk of hardwood is the ability to stain it to match your new design. 
8. Patterns: The final interesting fact about hardwood is that you can get your flooring contractors to install patterns like herringbone or chevron to create a visual masterpiece. You can also save time by purchasing hardwood flooring in premade patterns, so your flooring contractor doesn’t have to cut all the angles on site!

Why You Should Consider Hardwood Flooring

There is a lot to love about hardwood flooring, like its durability and the warmth it adds to your space. What we didn’t mention is wood floors are not your average flooring material because they are timeless. Hardwood floors can last a lifetime, not only if they’re well-cared for but also because they never fall out of style. 

Conversely, hardwood flooring may not work for your space if you don’t think you can maintain it, installing it in a moisture-rich space like a bathroom, or if your lifestyle includes children or large pets. This isn’t to say you can’t use hardwood in these instances; instead, it will require a lot of forethought beforehand. 

If you’re ready to introduce hardwood flooring to your space and want some advice, give us, the Brothers Flooring, a call today for a free consultation! We’ve been in the flooring industry for over 20 years, so we’re confident we can help answer your flooring-related questions!