Hardwood Floor Options Offer Ageless Beauty

Hardwood floors have been installed in homes for centuries. No other floor has the enduring beauty and character of a fine hardwood floor. Today you have a variety of gorgeous hardwood floor options, including the latest fusion of classic woods with modern technology.

Pros and cons of hardwood floors

A beautiful wood floor brings warmth and coziness to a house. Hardwood floors are not perfect for every situation, however. Here are the strengths and weaknesses of wood floors.

On the positive side, hardwood floors are durable. The Janka Rating is a scientific measure of wood hardness. Hardwood floor options with a high Janka rating, such as oak, hickory or Brazilian species of walnut and cherry, are hard enough to withstand a lot of traffic and use. And when these woods finally appear worn, they can be sanded and refinished. Three-quarter-inch thick hardwoods can be refinished as many as seven times.

Hardwood floors are easy to maintain. Depending on how heavy the traffic is, sweep the floor once or twice per week and damp mop, preferably with a liquid cleaner made for hardwood floors.

Hardwood floors add value to a home. They never go out of style and are always in demand. You will see beautiful, original hardwood floors in century-old homes.