5 Proven Facts About Hardwood Floors: Part 2

We’re back with the second half of the five proven facts about hardwood floors that just make sense!

If you haven’t read the first two facts, click here to read the first half of this blog article.

Regardless, here’s a quick recap –

Hardwood floors are stunning, but are they worth it?

Putting aside preference, the short answer is yes. There are numerous advantages with hardwood floors.

So far, we’ve gone over two pros of owning hardwood floors. The first proven fact we mentioned is that they are long lasting, with most lasting decades!

The second proven fact we mentioned is that hardwood floors maintain a higher level of indoor air quality. Different types of flooring affect indoor air quality differently. For instance, carpet traps air pollutants, which negatively impacts indoor air quality and overall health. Hardwood floors do the opposite of carpet. By not trapping pollutants, indoor air quality is often better, especially when cleaned routinely.

Now that we’ve done a little recap, let’s continue on to the next three proven facts. Check them out below –

Fact #3 – Hardwood Floors Add Value to Homes

Hardwood floors have a reputation for being timelessly beautiful. Whether it’s a newly built, modern home or a vintage classic, there are hardwood floors to match any home’s aesthetic.

Hardwood floors are timeless, and the benefit of this is that they add value to any home. Selling prices for homes are significantly higher when that home has hardwood flooring.

According to articles written by money.com, realtor.com, and many others, replacing your home’s floors with engineered hardwood can potentially increase the total value by at least 3%-5%.

Ask any realtor and most would agree that homes with hardwood floors are easier to sell and even expected over homes with carpet or other types of dated flooring. Since hardwood flooring is considered an amenity in real estate, the majority of home buyers seek it out in today’s market. The added luxury of less maintenance means less money spent on upkeep. This is incredibly attractive to homeowners both new and old.

With decades of experience in the industry, we’ve seen time and time again how hardwood floors add value to a home and help increase their selling price.

Fact #4 – Hardwood Floors Adds Warmth to Any Living Space

So far, we’ve discussed how hardwood floors are long lasting, help maintain indoor air quality, and add value to your house. Those technicalities are what makes the decision to get hardwood floors an obvious one.

Another reason to get hardwood floors is that they are design friendly. Whether you’re looking for hardwood floors to match a farmhouse vibe, a sleek and modern look, or something more vintage, there’s literally something for everyone.

The best part is that hardwood flooring has a natural glow, which adds warmth and comfort to any living space. They truly make a house, a home.

This is true for any color, any finish, and any specie of hardwood flooring – it is the nature of introducing a life element to your home’s design. The images below help to illustrate the kind warmth one can expect from having real wood in the home.

Pro tip: add rugs for accents and even more warmth and coziness!

Fact #5 – Real Hardwood Flooring Change Colors Over Time

When selecting hardwood floors, keep in mind that they will change colors over time.

By nature, each plank of hardwood is unique like a fingerprint, where no two planks are the same. That’s because no two trees are the same. Differences in wooden planks can often be minimal, but can be seen in the wood floor’s texture, characteristics, color, and more, even if they’re from the same tree and collection. This, again, is due to the life element found in wood and most naturally occurring resources.

Although hardwood floors are finished in different colors and textures, we are here to answer what causes them to further change colors over time?

The short answer – sunlight and daily use.

Sunlight exposure on hardwood has the ability to change the wood’s color over time. Some hardwood floors start to turn yellow, while other floors get darker. This is dependent on many factors, i.g. the tree the wood came from, treatments and length of exposure/color of glass.

In addition to sunlight exposure, daily use can cause color changes. Just like with anything else, daily use adds wear. Scuff marks, spills, and moving furniture, are just some daily use ways hardwood colors can change overtime.

However, there are ways to protect your hardwood floors and make them last longer.

The first, and obvious way to protect your hardwood floors, is to use the proper cleaning supplies. Some of these may include Bona or Woca products such as natural soaps, refreshers, gels, and more. Please make sure to check what products are compatible with your floor’s finish before moving forward with application/use.

Another way to project your hardwood floors is to prevent spills/clean spills up right away. This is especially important for any liquid spills where moisture is involved – for those it’s best to wipe the spill with a cloth towel as soon as possible. Remember – wipe clean, do not dab!

A third way to protect your hardwood floors is to get into a cleaning routine for maintenance. It isn’t enough to clean every once in a while or if a spill occurs. Maintenance with hardwood floors is key to longevity, which includes a cleaning routine. Sweeping twice a week and damp mopping once (or as needed) is a great place to start.

Final Thoughts –

So, there you have it – 5 proven facts that just make sense about hardwood floors. To recap, the 5 facts are –

Hardwood Floors are Durable
Hardwood Floors Help Maintain Air Quality Indoors
Hardwood Floors Add Value to Homes
Hardwood Floors Adds Warmth to Any Living Space
Real Hardwood Flooring Change Colors Over Time

Finally, don’t feel too bad if some things are unpreventable. At the end of the day, hardwood floors are able to be sand and refinished so those unsightly scratches, dents and damages they collect over the years can be repaired.

Hardwood floors are definitely the better option as seen from these five proven facts. Which of these facts surprised you the most? Let us know in the comments!