Keeping Your Carpets and Floors Clean

Top 3 Aspects to Consider When Deciding Which Type of Hardwood Flooring to Install

With proper installation, hardwood flooring will add warmth, style and value to any home. But before spending your hard-earned money on this type of wood flooring, there are a number of important aspects you will need to consider to determine which type of hardwood is right for your flooring installation. 

Below are a few vital factors to consider when deciding on the right hardwood flooring type for your home.

Room use

The different rooms and areas within the home get different volumes of traffic, and it is important that you evaluate how foot traffic moves through your living space before reaching a final decision on which type of hardwood flooring to install.

High traffic areas such as hallways and stairways receive high foot traffic and will, therefore, require medium- to high-grade wood that can bear up against the wear and tear of daily use. Low traffic rooms like adult bedrooms, which get light foot traffic, will require 'softer' hardwood — hardwood with a lower hardness rating. Family rooms, dining rooms, game rooms and other areas of the home that receive medium foot traffic will require hardwood whose hardness rating falls between that for high traffic areas and low traffic areas. 

In short, choose your hardwood depending on how much traffic it will receive. 

Local climatic conditions

Because hardwood is a natural material, it can be affected by local weather patterns. If you live in a high humidity area, your hardwood floors will be highly susceptible to cracking and gap formation as the seasons change. High humidity during winter increases the moisture content of hardwood floors, leading to expansion of the wood. As the weather starts getting warmer and drier, the wood begins to contract, leaving unsightly cracks and gaps on the surface of the flooring. 

Though winter cracks and gaps on hardwood flooring are normal, installing the right type of hardwood can go a long way in ensuring your flooring lasts decades before requiring replacement. While no hardwood is completely moisture/water-resistant, some species are definitely more naturally water resistant than others, so choose carefully.

Aesthetics

While hardwood is naturally beautiful, it is important to look at the bigger picture when you are thinking about the look of your flooring. You will want a look that matches the colour of your walls and ceiling, but also complements whatever you will have going on with regards to your interior décor. Luckily, hardwood flooring comes in a range of colours and finishes, so you should be able to find something that suits your home perfectly.

With these points in mind, you should be able to select the right hardwood flooring for your home. Remember, you can always approach hardwood flooring installation experts to help you with your project.