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The original hardwood flooring is solid hardwood cut into 3/4" planks and installed side-by-side in a home. The planks could come from any number of types of trees, including white oak, red oak, cherry, maple, white ash, pecan and hickory, and were both attractive and durable. Today, materials in hardwood flooring have expanded to included engineered hardwood and longstrip hardwood, which are not only less expensive, but are versatile and relatively easy to install.
Hardwood floors are elegant, and add warmth and character to a home. They are a versatile design element and can be an essential feature of an Early American home or an ultra-modern home. They are durable, particularly solid hardwood, they can be refinished multiple times, and can last over one hundred years. Hardwood floors are flexible, and can be used bare or in conjunction with area rugs.
Hardwood floors are an excellent upgrade to most homes. Many homeowners believe that hardwood floors give a home an elegant appearance that is unachievable using other flooring materials. It is important, though, to think through the functional and design aspects of the project before you decide to proceed. If your house has bedrooms below the living room, consider than hardwood floors in the living room will result in substantially more noise than if you covered the living room floors in carpet. If you tend to drop dishes or pots while you are cooking, consider that hardwood flooring in your kitchen may become gauged. If you are planning to live in the house and enjoy the floors for years, it might seem easy to justify the expensive and effort of installing hardwood floors. If, however, you are adding the floors as an upgrade to your home because soon you are planning to sell it, you should consider consulting with a realtor to make sure your investment in the floor will increase the value of your home more than you are spending on the floor.
Engineered hardwood and longstrip hardwood are where most of the changes are occuring. Engineered hardwoods are increasing in variety, and the high end of engineered hardwoods looks more stunning than ever. There are newer and easier methods of installing hardwoods, particularly engineered and longstrip hardwoods, making hardwood floors more accessible as a do-it-yourself project. If you have not looked into hardwood floors in a while, urethane has overtaken was as the most popular hardwood floor finish.
There are a number of considerations. The good news is that there are so many hardwood products available today, that it is easier than ever to find a hardwood flooring that you can really be enthusiastic about and have it still be within your budget. This Hardwood Flooring Buyers Guide will help inform you and guide you in selecting the best hardwood flooring for your home. If you understand and carefully consider your options, you will be most likely to be satisfied with the results when the project is completed. It can also be very helpful for you to speak to an experienced hardwood flooring professional about your options for hardwood flooring products, but it is best to do this as part of a process where you are getting suggestions and quotes from several professionals.
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