It is important to realize that although our first interaction with a space is a visual one, the first physical contact a person will have with the space will be the flooring. The finish that is underfoot will immediately have an impact on our psyche even if it is subconscious. The way we interact with an interior also plays a huge part on the floor, for example Walking into a beautifully designed space and having to walk extra carefully because of a surface that isn’t suited to formal footwear. In a similar fashion there is nothing worse than walking into a beautifully designed reception where the floor is all scratched and scuffed because the the flooring material didn’t take into consideration that staff from the factory or other work areas use the main reception to access the office area.

There are hundreds of flooring options to choose from though which can be overwhelming. Moreover, it’s important to choose the right flooring from the outset as the wrong floors can actually detract from a house and cost you money to replace.There are a few factors which need to be considered when choosing floors for a home, the function of a room influences the flooring required.

For example, if you are refinishing the living room, hardwood floors will add an elegant appeal to the room, ensuring it can withstand the foot traffic of the living room. However, when selecting flooring for your bathroom, you will need to consider different factors, such as finding a floor that can handle a high level of moisture.

Wooden Flooring

Most homeowners dream of having wooden flooring in their homes. The warmth at your feet, the natural sheen of wood and the vibrant colors of natural wood allure most people who naturally gravitate to it eventually. Of course, few other types of flooring material can match the natural beauty and majesty of wooden flooring.

You can see natural wood flooring on palaces and old premium buildings. It looks very premium even after centuries.

Perhaps you’ve noticed old-fashioned homes that have a particular section of their homes with wooden flooring, or all of it. The moment they invest in wood to this extent, the value of their homes go up dramatically. You might not want to invest in pure wood but perhaps choose laminate. No matter which wooden flooring type you choose, it comes with several advantages, such as:

Advantages

Contributes to a healthier indoor air

Unlike carpets, wooden floors don’t accumulate allergens.What is the benefit of wooden flooring? One of the biggest reasons why you should choose it is that it ensures better indoor air. If you have family members who suffer from allergies, you’ll be glad to know that hardwood floors don’t absorb particles such as dust and pollutants. Carpets are known to harbor these particles, including parasites. So if your main purpose is to avoid allergens at all costs, go for wood material.

 Maintenance & Hygiene

General maintenance and cleaning of a wooden floor couldn’t be easier. Wood floors are more resistant to liquid spills and dirt so simply wiping or brushing these away is incredibly easy unlike if the same was to happen on a carpeted area. Straight away this gives you a little more peace of mind when cleaning up after children or pets.

Hygienically wood floors are far better than carpets. Pet owners and allergy sufferers will particularly benefit from this as wood floors do not harbor parasites such as fleas, dust mites, ticks or allergen producing spores. Also unpleasant odors left behind by pets or liquids that have been split will no longer be an issue thanks to the simplicity of cleaning a wooden floor.

 Eco-friendly

Wooden flooring is considered eco-friendly because of improved timber harvesting methods and strong rules in force for tree cutters. Among eco-friendly hardwood flooring are two more parameters–the kind of wood that has the least impact on the environment and that which is reclaimed from old homes.

Aesthetics

 For an elegant and aesthetic appeal, nothing could be better than hardwood flooring. For one, it ages beautifully and develops a silver-grey patina, and it also has a beautifully natural look, is warm to the touch and is of great value. It also does not go out of style.

Durability

Wood floors whether solid or engineered are highly durable and resistant to every day wear and tear. Due to them being natural products they hold the warmth much better than any man-made laminates, tiles or stone floors so under foot they are much more comfortable, especially in the colder months of the year. Laminates are always cold to the touch so although the initial cost benefits are good, aspects such as this will ultimately always make wood flooring a more appealing alternative.

Insulator

Since wooden Flooring is a good insulation materials, it prevents excessive heating and cooling of the floor. So the floor is always good to step on with your bare feet.

Increased Value

The value of the house (for resale or rental purposes) is generally more when you have wooden flooring installed. Good for people suffering from arthritis or knee issues.

Types

Before installing a wood floor, it is important to know about the available types. Learning about the pros, cons, cost, and design options available for: laminate, solid hardwood, engineered hardwood will help ensure the right floor is selected for the project.

Laminate

Laminate flooring is made by compressing layers of fiberboard together and placing a photographic image of wood grain, stone, or tile pattern over the fiberboard. After the image is added to the surface, a protective coating is added to help prevent damage and add a finish to the flooring.

There are many brands available in market costlier to very cheaper. Important to select the more durable brand. We use the best brand available in the Indian market “Quick Step” from Belgium. Comparing to hard wood or engineered wood this is the cheapest option. It may have to replace after 10 or 15 years but the look and feel they give is much better than the usual tiles give.

Solid wood flooring 

Each solid wood board is made from a single piece of wood, typically 18-20 mm thick. It is usually fitted using tongue-and-groove. All types of wood have a hardness score, which indicates how easily they can be damaged, dented or worn by everyday wear and tear. Solid wood flooring can be sanded back to restore the finish – the number of times you can do this is determined by how deep the tongue is set from the top of the board.

We use natural teak wood and water based polish from “Bona, Sweden” . This is the costliest but most premium option in the wooden flooring segment.

Engineered Hardwood Flooring

On the other side of the floor is engineered hardwood flooring. Engineered hardwood flooring is a hybrid flooring option that utilities hardwood, as well as other materials to produce a cost-effective flooring solution that is perfect for the modern-day home. Engineered hardwood floors are ideal for condominiums and basements (concrete sub floor), they are great for residential and commercial units. Engineered floors are more stable than solid wood floors. Engineered hardwood has the benefit of being able to withstand even the busiest of homes, and is generally installed in high traffic areas such as the recreational room, hallways and kitchens.

wood flooring is worth considering for what it is, rather than be rejected for what it is not. It classes up your family pad at once, and will stay with you for generations. If the idea of doing up all your floors in wood seems too overwhelming, then consider doing part of the house floors in wood. A thing of beauty is a joy forever!

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