The Secret to the Best Hardwood Floors

There is nothing like the look of just finished hardwood floors.  That picturesque shine that erupts from them adds a distinct class to any house once they are installed.  If you are envious of the new found glory that you neighbor has with his new flooring, you can have the same thing as you long as you know what the best hardwood floors are for your type of house.

Of course, we are not talking about the style of house that you live in, but rather how busy your household is during the day.  For instance, you would more than likely not use the same type of flooring for a house with 4 kids and 2 dogs as you could use for a home of only a married couple.  The traffic along with the wear and tear that it would take on a daily basis would dictate two different needs.

One of the first considerations that you are going to have in choosing your floor is the type of traffic that it is going to be subject to and where the floor is going to be located at. For instance, if the floor is going to be in a moisture rich environment or a heavy traffic area, you may consider laminated hardwood flooring as it is easier to clean, scratch resistant and will hold off moisture.

If you are in light traffic areas, you may want to choose something that will have a much more luxurious look to it and choose engineered or strip flooring. Engineered hardwood flooring is real wood flooring that has already been finished and will save the DIY remodeler a lot of the time in sanding, staining and finishing. You also do not run the risk of making a mistake on the staining and finishing. This product is more expensive, but you will be saving significant time in labor and other finishing supplies.

Something that not many people consider when they are looking at the best hardwood floors for their home is the type of environment that they live in.  If you live in a cold environment of your home will be air conditioned during the warmer months, excessive moisture will not be a concern and you can basically use any type of flooring that you would like.

Dry climates can be murder on hardwood floors as when the weather changes, your floor will expand and shrink with the climate.  Warmer weather will introduce moisture into the wood and make it expand.  When the weather dries out, the wood will shrink and this could result in disaster.  If you are in this type of climate, you will need to introduce moisture into the air to prevent the wood from shrinking and destroying it.

As with all things, there are different levels in quality and while a wood such as Cabreuva or Cherry Wood will cost you more, it is much more stable that a wood such as Maple or Beech.  Volatile environments are no place to skimp on the quality of your wood.  Make sure you perform your due diligence and ensure that you buy the best product for your area and take the proper precautions so that you can have the best hardwood floors for you money.