Despite the popularity and proliferation of various materials such as ceramic and vinyl, many homeowners prefer hardwood flooring to other options. There are hardly any other materials that can match the timeless elegance and classic look offered by maple or oak. Aside from the sheer aesthetic appeal, the resale value of your residence increases by a margin when hardwood floors are installed. However, you need to choose the right type for your home. For this, it is necessary to consider specific aspects.

thinking about the budget

Unless you’re born with a silver spoon in your mouth, it makes sense to budget before installing hardwood flooring. The price largely depends on the type of wood. You need to calculate the total area that will need to be covered and think about areas that will require other materials such as laminate.

Thinking about the use

This is another important aspect to consider before contacting a logging company. Not every room in a house will witness the same amount of foot traffic. For homes with many people, children, or large pets, durable flooring materials are recommended. On the contrary, for families with few members, the use of less durable woods is fine. This also applies to the color of the wood. Lighter shades are more prone to recovering dents and scratches than darker shade variants.

Thinking about General Aesthetics

If you are interested in symmetry and aesthetics of the interiors, think about the furniture and decoration of your rooms before buying wood. In general, traditionally and formally decorated rooms look good with dark-toned wood. The contemporary style interior blends well with the lighter colored wood. For elegant and modern interiors, choose variants such as maple, Australian cypress and beech. Traditional-style rooms look great with variants like walnut and Brazilian cherry.

Choosing the right type of wood

Each type of wood comes with specific characteristics. Maple is ideal for areas with high traffic. However, it is not suitable for staining. Northern red oak is another popular choice for homeowners. If you want something more durable, choose American walnut or Brazilian cherry. Brazilian maple is another durable variant, but the hardness makes it difficult to cut and polish.

Choose wood wisely and use it with caution

You can opt for various types of wood for the home. Even when you choose variants focused on color, durability, and use, a few precautions can play a role in extending the life of wood. For the entrance area, choose a durable wood. It makes sense to use large area rugs in those parts of the house to minimize damage to the flooring. Typically, people do not use wood for kitchen surfaces. However, in case you want to, choose a variant that is very durable and apply a protective coating to protect it from water spills.

Additional but important aspects

If wood is used on the upper floors of an apartment, soundproofing may be a requirement. You should also think about ventilation and the condition of the subfloor. The subfloor must not be wet before wood can be installed on top of it.