Choosing the Right Type of Wooden Flooring
Not many flooring options are available that can enhance the look of a house and also increase its value like wooden flooring. Wooden flooring looks natural and clean and lasts for a long time. A well maintained floor can last for decades which make it very cost effective. Wooden floors are also easy to maintain and clean so they are quite good for households with pets and kids.
There are several different choices available in wooden floorings. However, most of these fall in three categories of wooding flooring. Choosing which one is best for you would require an understanding of these three types of wooden floors. Solid wooden floors Solid wooden floors last the longest since they are made from solid pieces of wood that can be 1″ thick. These boards of wood are fitted together and set upon a sub floor. Those who have a concrete floor would need to get a wooden sub floor installed floor which would again be quite costly. Since solid wooden floors are made from natural wood they tend to contract and expand along with changes in the climate and temperature.
This type of flooring would not be suitable for those places which experience sudden changes in humidity or climate. Solid wooden floors are available in various finishes and stains so they would match with any type of home décor. The biggest advantage with this type of wooden floor is that even if they get worn, scratched or stained they can be refinished easily. Solid wood floors would be suitable to those families that have kids and pets and have a lot of traffic. Engineered wood floors In engineered wood floors, several different layers of wood and ply are glued together. These layers consist of a base layer, a core layer and a veneer layer. In comparison to solid flooring, engineered wood flooring is more stable since the grains of wood are perpendicular to each other. Also, the benefit with this type of flooring is that they can be set up and installed anywhere. Engineered wooden floors are available in several different types of finishes.
However, unless they are made and installed perfectly they would not look as real as solid wooden floors. Also, this type of flooring would not be suitable for those who are looking for the warmth and feel of a real wood floor. Pergo floors Pergo floors are wooden floorings which are acrylic impregnated. This type of flooring is more durable than even solid wood flooring since the material is baked in acrylic resin, which in some case makes it around 300% harder and tougher. This type of flooring is good for bathrooms, kitchens or areas where there is a lot of humidity or moisture since the Pergo floors are water resistant. This type of material doesn’t show any scratches or wear and tear which makes it ideal for homes where there is a lot of traffic and kids. However, they do not look as sophisticated or elegant like real wood. This type of floor is good for those who are looking for a less expensive flooring option which is durable.