Hardwood flooring adds value to your home and works well in both traditional and modern settings. Choose from famous hardwood species such as hickory, oak, ash, or maple. Each species has distinct characteristics and visual differences. Choose a type of wood flooring that fits your lifestyle and your spending plan. Solid hardwood, hardwood, and wood-look laminate are popular choices.
Wood Flooring Pros and Cons
Choose from six main hardwood and wood-look types of flooring for any room in the house. Choose high-end, reclaimed, hand-scraped planks to add a touch of history to your space. Choose wood-look laminate for low-cost remodelling. Find a happy medium with high-quality engineered wood.
Unfinished Solid Slabs
Solid unfinished pieces of wood are 100% genuine hardwood that is installed without a factory finish. Instead, after the planks are installed, you can apply a custom finish to the entire floor.
Pros:
- Unfinished hardwood flooring ends up costing $3-7 per square foot in materials and $3-$5 per square foot in labour.
- Completely waterproof surface: After installation, sealant is applied to the entire floor, including seams.
- Can be sandblasted and refinished several times.
- When compared to prefinished planks, bevels are less visible.
Cons:
- Finishing and sealing are labor-intensive processes.
- Seal is less durable than factory-finished planks and will need to be resealed more frequently than prefinished floors.
Prefinished Solid Flooring
The multi-layer, baked-on factory finish on solid hardwood prefinished planks ensures a similar structure and a resilient finish. Solid pre – finished hardwood planks cost $3-$7 per square foot, plus installation costs $3-$5 per square foot.
Pros
- Because the finish is now on the planks, installation is faster and less labour intensive.
- It has a more uniform appearance than unfinished planks.
- Multi-layer finish that is long-lasting
Cons:
- Bevels and seams are more visible.
- Liquid seeping into unsealed seams between planks can cause moisture damage and warping.
- Repairs may be difficult to conceal because it is tough to match the original appearance.
Planks of Reclaimed Hardwood
Reclaimed wood flooring has a distinct appeal. These planks, which are often made of heartwood (the innermost portion of the tree), add a little history to your home and make for a very interesting conversation piece.
Pros:
- A distinct weathered appearance
- Scarcity: The scarcity of something adds value to it.
- Environmentally conscious: Using old wood instead of purchasing new
Cons:
- Expensive: Installation costs $15-$30 per square foot for reclaimed hardwood.
- The cost of reclamation, restoration, and scarcity rises.
- Supply is limited: You might not be able to find enough high-quality reclaimed planks to cover a large area.
- Planks may be infested by woodworm and other pests.
Engineered Hardwood Floors
Engineered hardwood flooring is constructed with a thin veneer layer of managed to finish hardwood on top of a multi-layer core of plywood or high-density fibreglass. Because of its increased durability, it is an excellent choice for kitchens and high-traffic areas. Engineered hardwood flooring ranges in price from $4 to $16 per square foot.
Pros:
- Planks of high quality are impossible to distinguish from solid hardwood.
- Solid planks are more susceptible to warping and water damage.
- It is compatible with radiant heating systems.
Cons:
- Scratch and scuff more easily than solid floors
- Because of the thinness of the veneer, it can only be refinished a few times.
- Refinishing very thin veneers is not possible.
- Fading when exposed to UV light on a regular basis
Laminate Wood Flooring
Wood-look laminate is not truly wood, but it is a good low-cost option for remodelling on a budget. A layer of printed plastic that looks like wooden planks is adhered to a base of high-density fiberboard or plywood. Laminate flooring costs between $2 and $10 per square foot, not including installation.
Pros:
a neat, uniform appearance
Low maintenance and simple cleaning
Cons:
You might be able to tell it’s not genuine wood.
If liquid sits for an extended period of time, it is susceptible to moisture damage. Damage cannot be refinished or sanded out.
Final Words
Although hardwood floors have a high initial cost, they are difficult to beat in terms of quality and value. Many people adore the look of hardwood floors, and it has been proven to be one of the best return on investment home improvement projects. You can save money by removing your old hardwood floor and/or installing the new hardwood floor yourself.
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