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Hardwood flooring refers to a floor that is typically made of wood or timber and has a primary purpose of serving as a flooring material that is both structurally and aesthetically pleasing. Wood is one of the most common flooring materials used in both modern, commercial and residential properties today.
According to a survey performed by Houzz Kitchen & Bath, hardwood flooring installations have seen a 31% increase in 2017 alone. It’s safe to say that more and more homeowners are realizing the benefits that hardwood floors are able to offer.
Before you decide to switch your home’s flooring, you should be made aware of the benefits that hardwood floors bring to your home. The last thing that you would want to do is put in a lot of time and effort into a home renovation that you later won’t like as it turns out it’s not at all what you expected.
You want to make sure you keep your expectations as realistic as humanly possible, and knowing the benefits of hardwood flooring will do just that. Here is a list of the top 7 benefits that hardwood flooring will give your home.
1. Enriches the look of your home
There are lots of flooring options, however, hardwood floors are very well known to bring about both form and function for the homeowner that decides to make the necessary effort in installing new floors. It’s really no secret that hardwood floors tend to create a more spacious and roomy environment in your home.
Homeowners report all the time how after installing hardwood floors where there was once carpet, that their eye gets tricked into making the room feel bigger, more lively, and more cozy than ever before.
This is wonderful news, especially if your homeownership journey consists of you selling your home at one point, as a more spacious and cozy home will certainly serve to yield a much greater appraisal value.
2. Easy to clean and maintain
Carpet can be very annoying as it requires a lot of cleaning, upkeep, and maintenance whereas hardwood floors are relatively easy to maintain given its solid, hard surface that is often coated with a lacquer that is water resistant. With that said, a clean hardwood floor will always look good.
Water resistance is a highly desirable attribute that hardwood floors offer since unlike carpet where if you spill a drink by accident you may get mold or mildew underneath, with hardwood that’s not something you’ll have to worry about.
Can you just imagine the amount of additional free time you’ll have in the day when you don’t have to worry about spending all that extra time vacuuming and taking care of a dirty carpet? Gone will be the days of trapped dust mites and pet dander, and if you spill something, all you have to do is wipe it right up.
3. Durable and resilient
One of the greatest benefits of hardwood floors is that they are super durable and long-lasting, so it comes as no surprise why so many Americans prefer this style of flooring over the so many others. Carpet is known to lose its luster and shine, and needs to be replaced overtime whereas hardwood floors just require a new coat of finish to look new again.
While it’s possible to scratch or even dent hardwood floors, it is much more cost prohibitive to remove all of the trapped dirt and dust from underneath a carpet than it is to replace a few panels of hardwood flooring and apply a new coat of finish.
4. Improved home air quality
As already mentioned, flooring options like carpet trap an immense amount of dirt and debris underneath its many layers. This is especially bad if someone in your household suffers from chronic allergies or sinus infections.
This is why those who tend to suffer from chronic allergies and other physical ailments will choose the improvement in air quality that a hardwood floor has to offer. Also, newly installed wood floors smell great which will help create an outdoorsy type of atmosphere.
5. Interior design adaptability
Like a plain white t-shirt that can be paired with any choice of outfit be it jeans or sweatpants, hardwood floors can be similarly styled with almost any room theme or decor imaginable. This is great news if you’re someone who likes to change the interior design of their home to meet the needs or a particular season or occasion, and to avoid the disaster of a color clash.
Since hardwood floors come in all different types, shades, design patterns, and species, you can add a lot of character to your home simply by switching over to a hardwood flooring solution.
6. Improved home acoustics
When you walk into a room that is lined with hardwood flooring, you instanstionsly notice a certain aura and sound that you simply can’t get with carpet floors.
Hardwood floors tend to have a pleasant acoustic effect and unlike carpet that dampens sound waves, hardwood floors are naturally a more dense and solid material and thus reverberates and bounces sound off of it instead of stifling it.
This is one of the primary reasons why you’ll find hardwood floors in just about every dance or music studio.
7. Hardwood is affordable
It’s not uncommon for most people to think that hardwood floors are out of their budget range, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. While it may be true that hardwood floors will cost a bit more than carpet will per square foot, the reality is that hardwood pays for itself within just a few years time.
Installing hardwood flooring on average will cost you about $9 – $12 per square foot, which is a bit more than carpet that comes in at an average of $3 – $5 per square foot.
Parquet wood flooring has gained popularity among home and property owners since it’s easy to customize, install, and maintain. This type of flooring is also durable and versatile. However, before considering it as your best flooring option, it’s vital to learn its advantages and disadvantages.
Here are some pros and cons associated with parquet wood flooring to help you make a good decision.
Parquet Wood Flooring
Parquet wood flooring has gained popularity among home and property owners since it’s easy to customize, install, and maintain. This type of flooring is also durable and versatile. However, before considering it as your best flooring option, it’s vital to learn its advantages and disadvantages.
Here are some pros and cons associated with parquet wood flooring to help you make a good decision.
Pros Of Installing Parquet Wood Flooring In Your Home
1. Beautiful And Appealing
As the name suggests, parquet wood flooring is made of wood that makes your space warm and comfortable. And it can be installed in various designs to suit different themes, adding aesthetic appeal to a home. For example, this flooring can be installed in square basket parquet, herringbone or chic zigzag pattern, mosaic parquet, checkered or cube parquet, or basket weave parquet. With so many designs to choose from, it’s unlikely to lack a design that amplifies your home’s theme.
As if the variety of designs weren’t enough, parquet wood flooring comes in shades of yellow or brown colors to ensure that you aren’t limited to a single color.
2. Easy And Quick Installation
Parquet wood flooring installation is more straightforward and quicker than traditional wood flooring. Parquet flooring doesn’t require nailing, which can be time-consuming and exhausting. All you need to install parquet flooring is a urethane-based adhesive that lasts 60 minutes. This means you can carefully arrange and rearrange the flooring until you achieve the desired pattern.
Parquet wood flooring is thin and easy to cut with a jigsaw. Furthermore, this flooring comes unfinished and must be refinished after application.
3. Moderate Maintenance
Parquet wood flooring is less expensive to maintain than hardwood flooring. All you need to do is to use a vacuum cleaner to clean the flooring regularly. If it’s impossible to access a vacuum cleaner, ensure to sweep off the dirt using a soft broom. And if there are tough stains on the flooring, use mild cleaners to wipe them out. Avoid using abrasive chemicals on your wood parquet to avoid interfering with its integrity.
As part of the maintenance routine, ensure to polish and seal your parquet flooring every three to five years to maintain its beauty and strength.
4. Durability
Wood flooring has increased in popularity due to its durability, similar to parquet wood flooring. Like traditional flooring, parquet wood flooring can last for decades, primarily if it’s properly maintained.
Depending on the type and quality, this flooring can withstand heavy foot traffic without needing to be treated or worn. Parquet wood flooring is also suitable for children and pets. Nevertheless, your parquet wood flooring should be installed well to last long.
Cons Of Installing Parquet Wood Flooring In Your Home
Parquet wood flooring, like everything else, is two-sided. Here are some disadvantages of installing this flooring in your home.
1. Poor Moisture Resistance
Parquet wood flooring is made of wood and it doesn’t offer moisture resistance. That said, installing this flooring in a kitchen, bathroom, basement, or any moist space is not advisable. Additionally, like traditional wood, this flooring is prone to dampness and wetness. Therefore, you must ensure that the flooring is completely dry once you clean it if you want it to last long.
2. Easily Scratched
Like any other type of wood flooring, parquet wood flooring is susceptible to scratches. So, to avoid scratching the flooring, it’s best to use floor mats and rugs under furniture. Additionally, pointed shoes with abrasive soles can affect the flooring integrity, especially if the floor is low-quality.
3. Few Refinishing Options
Refinishing options for parquet wood flooring are somewhat limited. When undertaking this procedure, first, you must remove the old finish by sanding down the material. Since sanding wood requires you to perform the procedure towards the wood grain to avoid scratching it, this can be challenging when working on a parquet wood flooring with multiple wood pieces arranged in a particular pattern.
4. Fades Under Sunlight
Parquet wood flooring fades under exposure to sunlight. If your home experiences sunlight for more extended period, it won’t be wise to consider this flooring. Nevertheless, you can deal with this issue by arranging rugs and furniture in a manner that prevents sunlight from accessing the flooring. Polishing and sealing the flooring can also help maintain its sheen and hue.
How to Green Clean Your Hardwood Floors
Since the rise of modern construction, hardwood flooring is a well-used surface that has been applied in countless interior spaces. It is sturdy, low maintenance, long-lasting, and has a nice natural appearance.
However, it does come with some issues in humid conditions, such as bathrooms. That said, we will share with you seven ways you can clean your hardwood flooring in an eco-friendly way.
Hydrogen Peroxide
It is always a great idea to adhere to natural and manageable cleaning products when cleaning hardwood floors.
One of the most quickly available yet very effective home cleaning products is hydrogen peroxide. However, you might wonder whether it will ruin your floor.
Well, the answer is no.
Hydrogen peroxide is relatively safe for your hardwood floors. And when applied the right way, it can be an effective cleaning product.
In addition, hydrogen peroxide has antibacterial and antiviral properties. This means that you are left with clean and germ-free hardwood flooring.
Vinegar
In case you do not know, you can also apply vinegar to clean your hardwood floors.
For one, vinegar does not cost much, and it is readily available in the kitchen. Second, it is one of the safest cleaning products you can use as it does not contain harsh chemicals.
The best part? Vinegar is also known to eliminate bacteria, mold, and viruses. It also has a substantially unlimited shelf life.
Black Tea
In the world of beverages, tea is a handy beverage. It can be served hot or cold, and add some lemon to it to create a delightful drink.
But what you might not be aware of is that you can also use black tea to clean your hardwood floors.
The acidic level in black tea raises dirt from the floor, but in a way that’s not as harsh as vinegar. Thus, it does not ruin the finish of your hardwood floors.
Moreover, it is relatively cheap and can be found in your pantry. You can even buy a box of black tea bags in the grocery store.
To use black tea in cleaning your hardwood flooring, you need to do the following:
- Put a quart of water in a large pot. Set the pot on the stove on medium heat.
- Draw the water to a boil and put two black tea bags in the water.
- While the tea is brewing, sweep up any pet dander, debris, or dust from your floor first. After 15 to 20 minutes, take the pot from the heat and let it cool to room temperature.
- Pour the tea into a spray bottle before spraying it on the floor.
- Using a dishrag, rub the floor in a circular motion until it’s clean.
Water, Vinegar, and Essential Oils
A favorite recipe for cleaning and freshening hardwood floors involves the following:
- ¼ cup of white vinegar
- A gallon of warm water
- Few drops of essential oil
You can add in any essential oil you prefer. What is great about it is that you add a delightful scent to your water-vinegar solution. However, we recommend orange to our clients at Maid Sailors Maid Service NYC. That’s because the scent can help perk you up.
However, be cautious about making the correct water-is-to-vinegar ratio. Otherwise, the acid in the vinegar may scratch the floor finish. You should also use a dampened cloth or a mop when applying the cleaning solution.
Vinegar and Vegetable Oil
Another way you can use vinegar is to mix it with vegetable oil. Pour in equal parts of vinegar and vegetable oil in a spray bottle, and you have a hardwood flooring cleaner.
To finish it off, shine your wood flooring with a clean cloth until the solution is gone.
Dish Detergent and Warm Water
If you are afraid that vinegar can ruin the luster of your hardwood floor, consider replacing vinegar with dishwashing liquid.
Add 1/4 cup of dishwashing liquid in a bucket of warm water, and use a mop to apply the solution on your floor. You can sprinkle some baking soda on the affected spot and scrub it with a sponge for spot cleaning.
To guarantee that the area is spotless, rinse it with warm water and let it dry. This is effective on scuff marks and minor stains.
Lemon Juice, Olive Oil, and Hot Water
If you are trying to add a hint of shine to your wood floors, give this simple recipe a try:
- 1 gallon of hot water
- 3/4 cup of olive oil
- 1/2 cup of lemon juice
This formula does double the duty. The combination of hot water and lemon cleans the floor, while the addition of olive oil leaves your wood floors with a vibrant, natural sheen.
Simply apply it to your floors with a mop that you’ve wrung out very well. Let it dry on its own without rinsing.
Final Recap
There’s no denying it, the benefits that hardwood floors have to offer are crystal clear and don’t go unnoticed when compared to its rival flooring counterparts.
The other great thing about wooden floors is that they can literally last for over 100 years if taken care of properly, which will go a long way in increasing the appraisal market value of your home when you’re ready to move on to something else.
