The Pros and Cons of Hardwood Floors

When people think about flooring materials, the first choice that comes to mind is usually hardwood, and it’s easy to understand why when we look at all of its benefits. First of all, most people love hardwood floors, and if you want your house to be attractive to buyers in the future, then hardwood is the way to go. Hardwood floors also have a rustic feel while still being very versatile. 

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Hardwood is not perfect, however, and there are materials out there that could give you most of the benefits of hardwood without the drawbacks. Let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons of hardwood floors.

Pro – They Look Nice

The biggest benefit of hardwood floors is how nice they look and how long they can maintain their appearance. If you care for your floors properly, it will take years for them to show signs of wear, and when they do, you’ll be able to treat them to give them a second life. Hardwood floors are also very easy to clean. So, if you want something that will look great for decades and look as good as new with a simple treatment, then go with hardwood.

Con – Harder to Install

One issue with hardwood is that it’s usually harder to install than a lot of alternative flooring options out there. If you want to install the floor on your own or to keep the installation costs down, this will be very hard to do with hardwood.

You should know, however, that not all hardwood floors are the same and new advances in manufacturing have made them easier to install. You could get a wooden floor from Quick-Step, for instance, and have it installed in as little as a day thanks to their patented Uniclic Multifit Click technology. You may still need professional help to install them, but the process won’t be as long or expensive.

Pro – Better Air Quality

One of the most underrated benefits of hardwood flooring is how much it can benefit air quality. Materials like carpet can become a breeding ground for bacteria, parasites, and pathogens. Artificial materials can contain all sorts of chemicals that can either lead to issues when walking barefoot or affect the lungs when they escape into the air. 

Hair and dust can’t take hold of hardwood floors which makes them a great option if you have toddlers or pets. They also don’t trap moisture, so you won’t have to deal with the unpleasant odours you often have to deal with when you have carpeted floors.

Con – Does Not Work in All Rooms

As you may already know, hardwood floors don’t deal well with humidity, and will usually not work for bathrooms. They are also not recommended for basements for the same reason.

If you want to get the hardwood look in those rooms, however, know that you can always go with alternatives like vinyl. We’re not talking about your nana’s vinyl floors here. Quick-Step’s vinyl floors can replicate the look of natural materials and are made of a vinyl base with a print and a protective layer on top of it. They are a good option for bathrooms, kitchens, basements, or laundry rooms as they will not buckle as natural hardwood will.

Before you decide to go for hardwood floors for your home, consider these facts first. There are plenty of options out there and some might have hardwood floors beat in many categories, so keep your mind open.