ver time, home flooring takes a beating. That once beautiful, yet inexpensive,
laminate flooring your home
’s previous owner installed in the bedroom gets scratched or the vinyl tiles in
the kitchen get worn and lose their original luster. Then there are the muddy
footprints, accidental spills and pet mishaps of everyday life that take a toll
on the living room carpet.
In short, life happens.
When it does and you find yourself ready to replace your home’s flooring, consider trying to get the most bang for your potential resale buck
by going with a natural resource.
“Stone and wood flooring are excellent choices for home flooring,” says D. Christopher Davis, president and CEO of the World Floor Covering
Association.
“Not only are they natural and from the earth, both perform extraordinarily well.”
What’s more, each can bring beauty and an everlasting sense of style to your home’s décor.
The Timeless Beauty of Hardwood Flooring
Hardwood floors have been a mainstay in fine American homes for generations.
Valued for both beauty and elegance, today
’s hardwoods come in a variety of wood species, each with its own distinctive
texture and graining. When those unique characteristics are combined with the
natural color variations and knots found in wood plank flooring, every floor
can have a custom look.
Options for wood species range from the more formal, darker shades of American
black walnut, mesquite and black cherry to the casual and lighter tones of
hickory-pecan and sugar maple. Somewhere in the middle are the warm browns of
red oak, white oak, birch and white ash, which can compliment a variety of home
design concepts.
Choosing the wood species right for your home and lifestyle is a matter of
taste, style and budget.
Choosing Between Pre-Finished and Unfinished Hardwoods
The biggest decision when purchasing hardwood floors is in choosing a
pre-finished or unfinished hardwood floor.
Pre-finished means the hardwood flooring planks were prepared—as in sanded, stained and finished—right at the manufacturing plant before they ever reached the showroom floor.
Part of the process includes the application of approximately 5-8 coats of
ultra-violet (UV) cured urethane, which makes the planks better able to
withstand those everyday mishaps of life.
However, if you’re not able to find the right look within the pre-finished styles, or if you
want a more customized look,
then the unfinished hardwood flooring is probably your best choice because it
gives you control over each aspect of the process. In other words, you choose
the wood species, and the sanding, staining and finishing of your choice is
applied on-site, ensuring a custom look and finish.
Protecting Your Hardwood Floor Investment
Taking proper care of your hardwood floor investment is essential to ensuring
the flooring
’s lasting beauty. But the time-consuming, and labor-intensive, methods utilized
by our grandparents no longer apply for today
’s hardwood floors.
Generally, using a good-quality broom and sweeping your floors regularly will
pick up any dirt or dust that may have accumulated. Cleaning between the planks
can be harder, but a vacuum cleaner without a beater bar can usually get the
job done.
For more extensive cleaning, check with your retailer, who can recommend the
right wood-floor cleaning product for your floor
’s finish, which you can then apply with a good-quality terrycloth mop, per the
manufacturer
’s instructions.
But What About The Environment?
If you’re worried about the impact wood flooring will have on the environment, good
news. Hardwood flooring can be a very eco-friendly choice, according to Davis.
“Today, consumers can know the history of their wood flooring,” says Davis. “Each floor comes with a certification that explains where the tree was grown and
how it was harvested, along with a guarantee that it isn
’t depleting the earth’s natural resources.”
As a result, consumers can feel good about their new hardwood floor without
having to worry if they are being environmentally responsible.
The Modern Sophistication of Stone Floors
When it comes to your kitchen and bathroom flooring, few options make the bold
statement of natural stone. Beautiful, timeless and unique
—no two stone floors are exactly alike—stone flooring could be one of the smartest investments a homeowner can make,
thanks to its significant resale value.
Another plus, according to Davis: Stone floors are extremely versatile. “They come in a variety of options that can match any consumer’s personal taste and budget,” says Davis.
Stone comes in three types. First is igneous rock, which is formed when lava
cools and hardens. The best example of an igneous rock is probably granite,
which works well as both a countertop and flooring.
Next is sedimentary rock, such as limestone. This type of rock is created when
sedimentary deposits are crystallized or consolidated over time. Limestone has
become a popular choice among kitchen designers because it
’s available in a variety of neutral colors that can complement any room design.
Finally, there is metamorphic rock. This type of stone is formed when great heat
and pressure are applied underground. The result is marble and slate, which are
some of the most durable and prized stone flooring options on the market today.
Ultimately, the decision of which type of stone is right for your home rests
with you. After all, your home
’s flooring should reflect your personal style, plans for the room and budget.
Protecting Your Stone Floor Investment
Much like a natural hardwood floor, a stone floor requires routine maintenance.
Stone floors should be swept regularly with a high-quality broom, and extra
care should be taken to remove dirt, sand and other abrasive materials before
they scratch your investment.
Damp mopping is also recommended. Your retailer can recommend the best cleaning
product for your specific stone floor to maintain its luster and beauty.
The Advantages of Locally Quarried Stone
So, how does stone flooring fit in with a goal to remain environmentally
friendly?
Quite well, actually. In fact, with many consumers looking for local flooring
options, stone has become a very eco-friendly option.
“Buying stone flooring that was quarried locally leaves less of a carbon
footprint,
” says Davis, “because it cuts out the expense of shipping from overseas.”
So, which will you choose? The elegance of hardwood or the timeless beauty and
durability of stone?
“The single most important thing to remember in choosing flooring is that it has
to speak to your lifestyle,
” Davis reminds us.
Davis also suggests you ask yourself the following questions when making your
decision:
“What kind of ‘look’ do you want to achieve? What kind of ‘feel’ do you want your flooring to have? Most of all, how will your new flooring fit
into your lifestyle?
”
We couldn’t have said it better.
