3 Things You Should Know About Hardwood Flooring

Installing hardwood floors is a great way to increase the value of the home, update the look and make your home more timeless. There are many people who wonder if hardwood is right for them, and it is hard to answer that without considering multiple factors. There are lots of things that you should consider before you install hardwood flooring. Here are some things to know.

1. Pets Scratch The Floor

If you are a pet person, you may want to rethink the flooring. The concern is that people with indoor pets are likely to have more problems with scratches on the floor. Although hardwood is very durable it will scratch if little paws with hard nails are crawling around on it everyday. If you do choose to get hard word with pets, encourage the pets to stay off the floor ,or at the very least, get their nails trimmed often. Otherwise you will have many scratches on your flooring.

2. You Can't Have Moisture On The Floor

Second, you need to know about moisture and wood. This is one factor that can be challenging if you have small children at the house or if you entertain large crowds of people often. The wood will not do well with moisture. This means if someone spills a drink, it will need to be cleaned up right away. Timely hardwood cleaning is important because the wood, although sealed, is still porous. It will soak up any water or liquid on the floor so that it has a bulging, pooling effect. Additionally, if the house is very humid, you may need to install a dehumidifier in your home, or consider installing tile. The wood can absorb humidity in the house so even a humid summer can damage the wood if you don't have a way to control the humidity in the house.

3. Think About The Color

Lastly, it is important that you think about the color of the wood that you choose. Many people only think about the look of the wood against the cabinets and carpets. They choose a color based on what they like to see rather than the functionality. The darker the wood the more it will show. People with young children and lots of traffic may become frustrated with a dark wood because it shows a lot. However, don't go too trendy because the flooring will be hard to change the trends.

These are just some things you should think about before installing hardwood flooring.