Pros and Cons of Hardwood Flooring

Hardwood floors have been a popular flooring choice for decades, and for good reason. Hardwood is sturdy and reliable, as well as elegant and smooth. There are a number of advantages to hardwood flooring, but it’s not for everyone. In fact, some homeowners prefer to avoid hardwood. If you’re remodeling soon, you may find yourself considering hardwood flooring for your new flooring. Today, let’s break down the pros and cons of hardwood flooring so you can decide what’s best for you.

Hardwood Flooring Pros

• Durability. When you look at historic homes, you almost always find that the floor is hardwood — and that it’s often still in pretty good shape. When hardwood flooring is well cared for, it can last for upwards of 100 years.
• Versatility. There are almost as many kinds of hardwood flooring styles as there are types of trees. You can find a wide variety of colors, grains, and size of boards. You can find hardwood flooring that suits both modern and classic style homes, and you can mix and match different types of wood for a quirky look. You can even stain or paint hardwood floors to truly fit your style.  
• Low Maintenance. Hardwood floors are easy to clean and care for. You can spot mess more easily than you might be able to on carpet, and from there it’s simply a matter of vacuuming, mopping, and allowing to dry. You also won’t have to deal with the odors that sometimes stick to carpets, and hardwood floors are far less likely to attract allergens that drag down your air quality.
• Improved Value. Hardwood flooring is a desirable flooring option to many homebuyers, which means they might be willing to pay more for a home with hardwood flooring. This will allow you to raise the list price of your home should you choose to sell. 
• Child Safe. Hardwood floors are organic, without harmful chemicals, and smooth enough that issues like rugburn won’t be a problem. Babies learning how to crawl and walk are known to fare better on hardwood flooring, and even show improved motor skills.

Hardwood Flooring Cons

• Price. Hardwood floors vary in cost depending on the kind of hardwood and the quality, but they can be a steep investment. Because the installation of hardwood flooring is complex — involving subflooring as well as the surface — the cost of hardwood flooring installation can be more than other flooring materials, as well.
• Damage. While wood flooring is durable, it is not invulnerable. In fact, wood flooring is susceptible to termite infestations. These can be hard to notice as termites start from the inside of the wood. Wood also tends to absorb water, which can weaken the material, so you want to be sure that when you mop hardwood floors, the mop isn’t dripping. Finally, wood flooring can be more vulnerable to scratches than other types of flooring. 
• Not Suitable to Every Room. Because your bathroom is so often moist and humid, hardwood flooring isn’t typically the best option for bathroom remodels. It has been used in kitchens, but typically only with durable hardwood options that have a protective finish over them.
• Noise. New hardwood flooring is nearly silent, but over time, it can begin to develop creaks and squeaks. This can be disruptive if one person in the house is likely to be awake later than others in the house, or if part of your house is used as a rental property.
• Cold Feel. This is purely a personal preference of some homeowners. When you put your feet on the ground on a cold morning, you’re likely to be met with cold hardwood floors. Not everyone likes this feeling, and those who choose to avoid it are probably more likely to opt for carpet.

Ultimately, the choice is yours. What kind of flooring do you want in your upcoming kitchen or bathroom? Contact Jericho Home Improvements today to tell us your vision or for a free estimate.