Wood Floors For Your House - Picking A Wood Floor

The benefits of engineered wood flooring have been common knowledge since before Victorian times. Evidence of this remains today, since a lot of Victorian buildings still have their wood flooring down. It is a testament to the durability and reliability of a quality wooden floor.

The Way Your Flooring Feels

A wood floor might be treated with a variety of different products, in an attempt to change the floor's appearance and feel to the way the customer requires. A variety of oils, lacquers and waxes could be used to achieve a range of effects. The majority of wooden floors tend to be treated with a lacquer, whether it is varnish or acrylic they will give wood floors the appearance of a noticeable sheen with smooth characteristics. Using a wax or wood oil, the treated floor will absorb the oil into the top layer of wood. When it's then received a wax finish it'll have the appearance of a more damp sheen to it.

Which Grade Of Wood?

Wood Floors can be bought in numerous 'grades'; based on a widely recognised method of gradation utilised across the country. The most cost-effective grade is 'Rustic'. This grade might have little knots along with variations in colour throughout the floor. Quite a few customers love this variation and actively seek Rustic floors. At the top of the scale is 'Select'. Select is guaranteed to be without any kind of knots and possesses a uniformity of colour. For a 'perfect' floor, this should be selected. That said, the grades are frequently regarded as a representation of style instead of quality. A Rustic floor will probably last as long as a Select floor.

Which Kind Of Timber Should You Pick?

The ideal timber for a wood floor is hardwood. This is on account of softwoods (as the name implies!) generally being too soft for continuous use and the load-bearing task which flooring must perform. Hardwoods range from maple to beech to oak, etc., and are all adequate for use as floor boards. Pine as well as other softwoods are not appropriate for use as wooden floor materials, because of their fragile and much more pliant characteristics.

Hardwood Floor Routine Maintenance

By simply following a couple of simple steps, hard wood flooring can be kept looking fantastic and in a strong condition. Washing the floors can be done pretty much as one would clean any other surface in one’s home, although, it's highly recommended that the solution used to clean the floor doesn’t contain any kind of corrosive components, because the sealant on the wood can easily degrade with time. All previously oiled floors really should be oiled bi-annually, it is simple to do, as the oil is simply rubbed into the surface and will soak in naturally. Just as before it's suggested that only a natural oil product is used, rather than a low-priced, corrosive oil based product.

Are Wood Floors A Good Investment?

Wood Floors are absolutely a long-term investment. A well-fitted hardwood floor will last for years and years, and with the right maintenance and care, the homeowner is not going to experience any problems. The reason Victorian-era (and earlier) residences often retain their original flooring is because of this very reason. During the cold of the winter season, the wooden floor will contract and also, in the summer months, it'll slightly expand. Installing the floor while allowing for these properties, will guarantee that there is never a problem. The reason that reclamation yards are visited day-in, day-out by enthusiastic customers is because wooden floors, when taken care of, just never become “useless”.

Health Benefits

Wood Floors, it has been established, are more healthy than using rugs and carpets around ones home. A wood floor cleans a lot easier than carpet and its oils contain anti-bacterial properties, cleaning as they go. Carpets, however, are well-known to hold on to dust (as well as dust mites) which might also irritate those with asthma. Greenpeace (amongst others) advocate wooden floors. Reports have indicated that carpeted floors could harbour 10,000 to 100,000 dust mites in a square metre. Carpets also collect waste materials from household pets, all manner of waste materials walked in from outside the house and also generally harmful dust which has developed with time.