There is nothing more classic then having wood flooring in your home. Doesn’t matter if you prefer a traditional or contemporary style, wood flooring will always be able to work for you. That being said, if you are planning on visiting a hardwood store and want to get wood flooring for you home, then this is a major investment, so you need to get it right the first time. Keep on reading for a better idea of what you need to think about before you get started…
Hardwood or Engineered?
This is probably the most important question that you should be asking yourself, so make sure that this is at the top of your checklist. Do you want hardwood or engineered flooring? If you are only interested in “real” wood flooring, then hardwood flooring is for you. It’s made from wood that has been cut straight from the tree trunk and then shaped into the plank by a machine.
Engineered wood on the other hand, is made from different layers of wood that have been bonded together. You still get the same sort of look as hardwood; however, they aren’t the real thing. Saying that though, engineered wood is a more popular choice because it is more affordable and is a lot easier to install compared to hardwood. So, this is something which you will probably want to consider as well. Make sure you know what your budget is as this will affect what sort of flooring you get.
What Colour Should You Get?
If you do plan on getting hardwood flooring, then you will want to make sure that you get it right the first time you install it. You can order a few samples of different colours from the supplier that you are using and place it on floor of the room that you want to put it in. This will help give you a better idea of what sort of color you would like, as you can easily get a visual of what it would look like when completely installed. Make sure you try it out in different locations as it will look different depending on the type of lights you have.
When you have found one that you like, then you should also make sure that you order a larger sample before you make your final decision. If you are struggling on deciding, then you should consider how much natural light your room gets. If you don’t get much, then a paler, lighter plank would be best, as this will help brighten up a room. Dark flooring is a real statement, so it needs to be installed in rooms that have a lot more natural light in them.
Take Care of your Wood Flooring
When you have finally decided on the wood flooring that you like and you get it installed, you need to make sure that you take care of it. If you notice that your planks have expanded or contracted, then that probably means that they were fitted in wrong. If they were good quality planks from the start, then this shouldn’t really happen.
You should make sure to keep an eye on your flooring, particularly when things get hot. If the environment becomes too dry, then gaps might form, and you will need to buy a humidifier or something to help prevent this from happening. You should make sure to adapt your cleaning routine as well, and that you use the right cleaning supplies. You should try and avoid things with chemicals in. If you aren’t too sure about what to use, then you can check out this article here about natural floor cleaning solutions.
