Installing Wood Flooring
Durable and Long-Lasting
A good wood floor can last a lifetime, literally, according to a National Association of Home Builders report on life expectancy of common household components.
Easier to clean: Wood floors won’t harbor stains and odors the same way carpet will. This can be especially nice if you have kids who are prone to spilling colorful juices. As long as you clean up liquids right away and make sure the floor is properly dried, you won’t have any long-term reminders of the time you forgot to double-check the lid on the sippy cup.
Hardwood Floor Choices
First, decide on whether you want solid or engineered wood flooring. Solid hardwood was once the most popular flooring choice. Made of thick, solid planks of wood, these floors are joined with a tongue and groove along each side. Many people like the full authenticity and feel of solid hardwood floors; they’re also a better option for long-term flooring. You can sand down and refinish these hardwood floors multiple times since the boards are usually thicker than engineered wood planks.
Engineered hardwood floors are becoming more popular. They are made with a thin veneer layer of hardwood on top of multiple layers of composite material and plywood. These many layers were designed to help prevent the flooring from shifting over time. Unfortunately, some engineered floors have a particularly thin top layer, which can make it more difficult to sand down and refinish in the future. You may only be able to refinish these floors once or twice.
What to Expect During Installation
When the hardwood floors are being installed, you should be prepared for some noise and disruption to your home or work environment. Although you have removed all of your furniture and other items from the room, you may want to cover or remove furniture in nearby rooms in case of debris and dust. When finish is being applied to your hardwood floors, be sure to keep off of the floors until they are properly dried. Note that this amount of time may depend upon the type of finish that is used, so check with your contractor if you have any specific questions.