Debunking Myths About Hardwood Floors
If you’ve thought about upgrading the floors in your home, you have no doubt considered investing in the timeless beauty of hardwood floors.
Contrary to what you may have heard, classic hardwood is durable, sustainable and with proper care can last for decades. Wood floors offer the perfect combination of style and function along with a valuable return on investment. While there are misconceptions when it comes to their care and keeping, trust us when we say there is nothing to fear. Join us as we run through some of the pros and cons of adding hardwood flooring to your home as we debunk some of the greatest myths surrounding the popular design feature.
Hardwood floors are difficult and labor intensive to maintain
If you can handle maintenance on a granite countertop, you’ll be a professional when it comes to caring for wood floors. Unlike their unsealed cousins of the past, modern hardwood floors are made to resist scratches, dents and other signs of wear. For basic maintenance, invest in a soft static mop or a vacuum with a floor brush attachment. Give them a bi-weekly dusting to remove loose grit or pet hair and make sure stains and other wet messes are wiped up quickly. While wood is made to repel moisture, don’t let water or other spilled liquids sit for too long. Use throw rugs in entryways or near doors to trap dirt and debris before they enter the house and avoid over waxing; which can dull the look of your floors over time. A simple sweep and wipe with a damp cloth is the only daily upkeep you need.
Hardwood floors are expensive and time-consuming to install
While wood floors may require a higher investment up front, over the long term, they are more cost-effective than many other flooring options. Expect to pay anywhere from $12 to $20 per square foot for solid prefinished flooring or $8 to $13 per square foot for engineered hardwood. When correctly installed and cared for, they can last for ages. Other flooring options like carpet will start to show signs of wear after five years and will likely need to be repaired or replaced within a decade. Not to mention carpet can’t be refinished to suit changing styles and tastes as the years go on. When you’ve finally made your choice, it’s always best to hire a professional for the installation. Modern floors are designed to slot together in easy-to-assemble pieces, which means a reduced construction time and faster install overall.
Hardwood floors are not suitable for homes with kids and pets — they scratch too easily!
Likely one of the most common myths we’re happy to disprove. Even if you live in a home filled with children, visitors, and pets, hardwood is still an excellent choice. With little preemptive planning, wood floors and active homes do not need to be mutually exclusive. Use floor runners in high-traffic areas, have children remove shoes in the house and make sure high-heels have protective plastic heel haps. For pets, keep their nails well-manicured to avoid playful floor scratches. Invest in non-harmful nail caps, avoid games that encourage pets to “dig in” to the floors for traction, and take them on walks outside that help wear down their nails naturally. Your pet will appreciate the extra attention and grooming, and you can bask in blemish free floors. If in the unlikely instance floors do get scratched, wood polish, wax and buffer can help diminish most superficial damage. Keep in mind different woods also come in varying levels of hardness, so choosing one that is exceptionally dense will also aid in your fight against damage. Learn about how to choose the right hardwood floor for dogs and cats.
Cutting down trees is not sustainable
Hardwood flooring has come a long way over the past 100 years. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service, the average annual net growth of hardwood trees is almost double that of ordinary yearly removals. Forest ecosystems are exceedingly valuable and are one of our most excellent weapons against carbon sink, which is why modern builders have taken the time to develop sustainable and green practices when sourcing their materials.
Sustainable wood must be legally sourced and not imported from regions with illegal logging practices. It should also carry the seal of the US Forest Stewardship Council, which is devoted to the preservation of biodiversity, air and water quality. Great options for green choices included reclaimed hardwood, which repurposes wood from other structures, homes, warehouses, or even logs pulled from the bottoms of rivers or the sea. Bamboo is beautiful, quick growing and very durable, while cork is softer and great for noise absorption. Cork also expands and contracts to depend on humidity, which makes it great for settings that experience high variations in the weather.
Hardwood floors are cold and fail to add warmth to a room
Take our word for it; wood floors can add both physical and visual warmth to a room. Think cozy cabin or mountain-top lodge, what do both homes usually have in common? The answer — wood accents. Wood is not only an excellent insulator but adds an organic element to the house that combines the low-maintenance convenience or tile or laminate with a luxurious feel. Both in winter and summer, wood maintains a steady temperature. Since it’s dense but, porous interior fails to hold extreme temperatures; wood is less prone to extreme heat or cold fluctuations. If you are still concerned with the possibility of icy floors in the winter, look into underfloor heating. While there’s no hard and fast rule for the thickness of wood when installing one of these systems, we recommend choosing a thinner board for a more efficient heat transfer. Typically used under tile and in bathrooms, underfloor heating has reached more significant popularity for its bespoke quality and cozy benefits.
Finally, engineered floors aren’t real wood floors
Contrary to what you may have heard, yes, engineered floors are a sound investment. These days, the modern-day laminate is hard to differentiate from solid hardwood. While engineered wood was previously considered a price-slicing shortcut, these days it has proven to be both environmentally friendly, affordable and high-quality.
The term “engineered” is misleading. Rather than referencing an inferior product, one not made from real trees, it merely indicates that a flooring material has undergone a construction process. The main difference is that engineered hardwood floors require less wood to be used, which means fewer trees are felled to produce this fantastic alternative.
Instead of milling a log into planks from which floorboards are created, engineered boards are made from a solid wood top layer, an interior multi-ply backing, and a base. This engineered substrate makes up the majority of the board, meaning it can come from various sources, like fast-growing renewable trees. With engineered hardwood, you have the look of oak, for the price of birch and the sustainability of bamboo. For the amount of wood it takes to make one solid board of oak, lumber mills can produce four pieces of engineered oak hardwood. This is not only smart, but cost saving and great for the environment.
No matter the myth, hardwood floors are a great choice
Professionally installed hardwood floors will add years of value and beauty to your life. They are sustainable, durable and great for active families. From beach bungalow to contemporary stunner, don’t let these flooring myths deter you from adding beautiful hardwood to your home.
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