Solid Wood Flooring- Additional Elegance And Style For Your Home
Solid wood flooring can certainly boost the value of any kind of residence. For an addition of class and traditional value, solid wood flooring is one of the best avenues. A high quality maple or oak wood flooring can add tremendous value to a home, while likewise creating a style that can be hard to equal. Hardwood flooring is found in almost every imaginable coloring and shade. Finding the best kind of flooring can be a little daunting, but the process is very much worth the time. Though carpet can certainly work in some situations, solid wood flooring has a traditional charm that pushes up home values like nothing else.
The first step is in finding out whether your home is appropriate for wood flooring. When in climates that alter temperature extremes every year, hardwood might have a tendency to crack and split with expansion and contraction. High humidity is also a real issue when it comes to selecting residential flooring. Excess moisture can wick up from the subfloor and into the wood through spills, leading to warping and buckling as the years pass. Crowning and cupping are common problems for wood flooring exposed to moisture. When a floor crowns or cups, it bows out of shape, most frequently in the middle of the floor. This can be a difficult issue to correct once moisture has caused the problem.
Once you have decided that hardwood is the best solution for you and your home, there are many products and manufacturers from which to choose. Maple and oak are typically seen in older homes, while cedar is a species that provides a more relaxed feel. A higher gloss finish will result in a more reflective surface, while a lower gloss fits in with a more subdued setting. The thickness of the boards is also crucial when determining the best hardwood. Thicker boards will provide a longer lasting and more reliable surface.
Moisture is very often behind hardwood reliability concerns. Prevent contact with moisture wherever possible, and clean up spills promptly. If storing solid wood flooring outdoors before installation, make certain that the wood is protected against moisture. Clean up spills on the wood flooring immediately in order to prevent eventual warping and cracking. If water beads up on the surface of the flooring, the finish of the flooring needs to be redone. Take care of your investment, and solid wood flooring can last for years.