Having a wooden flooring can greatly improve the look and aesthetic appeal of your home. It also increases the house value. In spite of a number of stone flooring and slate flooring options available today, wood flooring continues to be a firm favorite. It provides depth and warmth to your home. There are a wide variety of choices when it comes to hardwood or some different wood types. Depending on your personal choices the type of wood you select will differ. It will also depend on the kind of theme and decor your home has. Wood flooring can safely be used for any room on the house. However due to increased moisture levels in bathrooms and kitches, wood flooring may not be a good idea in these areas. Choices for wood floors One of the most popular choices remains hardwood as far as wooden flooring goes. There are many different varieties of hardwood some of the most popular being hickory, oak, maple, cherry, bellawood as well as walnut. You can stain these in a multitude of tones and shading effects or even choose to leave the natural color of the wood intact. The hardwood varieties like walnut or cherry have their own rich tone and color and hence do not necessitate additional staining. Finishing Once the type of wood has been selected, you need to decide upon the finishing alternatives. You could buy a pre finished wood which is stained and has a clear coating protection beforehand. While pre finished wood is more expensive it can save you a lot of hassle and time. Installation Many people prefer to finish with the installation and then follow up with finish of the wood. The installation involves sanding, staining and applyign urethane on the floor surface. Every subsequent coat will require the floor to be sanded. It can take many days to finish the process. The more urethane coats you provide the better the surface gets protected. Reclaimed flooring Reclaimed or distressed flooring do not have a smooth finish. They have texture and can look gorgeous with a unique depth and character of their own. The advantage of this type of flooring is that they do not reflect scratches as much as urethane floors show. Other options Instead of the traditional hardwood varieties there are many other options available nowadays. Laminate flooring can be a good option as these resemble regular hardwood flooring at a fraction of the price. If you use a high quality laminate people won't be able to make out the difference between real hardwood and this laminate. There are companies like the Armstrong Flooring which manufacture superior grade laminates. Other choices are bamboo flooring or cork flooring.caring for the wood floors Caring for your wood flooring will ensure a long shelf life and a good finish, irrespective of whether you have chosen laminate, hardwood or some other option. You need to regularly vacuum or sweep the floor to eliminate all traces of dust and dirt. Too much dirt and grime and erode the finish and surface of the wood. It can also leave unslightly scratches on the flooring. You need to place mats at the door entrances so feet can be cleared of dust before entering the house. You need to also do light cleaning of the floor whenever necessary. You could use a dry mop if you feel the need for mopping on an occassional basis. Excess moisture can damage the floor as it seeps through the slats.
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