Ten Things to Know While Selecting Hardwood Flooring - Part 2

5. Make sure to take the cleaning commitment into account when selecting hardwood flooring:
The best way to make a floor finish last is to vacuum it regularly to keep dirt and grit away, preventing abrasion and scratching on the floor. One important thing to remember is that a lower shine floor shows lesser wear.

6. Hardwood flooring is also available with textured surface:
Many retailers offer handscraped and brushed flooring in addition to smoothly planed hardwoods. Selecting hardwood flooring of these varieties gives a seasoned look to homes and adds great aesthetic value. The best feature is they don't show much wear due to their textured surface, and draw attention to their rich character.

7. Use engineered flooring in the basements:
In both high moisture areas and basements, engineered flooring is a good choice. The engineered flooring has a thin layer of hardwood with a cross banded plywood base and can be glued down to the concrete. This makes the flooring more stable and does not necessarily require nailing down like a solid hardwood floor does. It is also the most resistant wood flooring material for humid areas, which is an important consideration in the type of floor you're selecting. Hardwood flooring is known to be vulnerable to consistently high levels of moisture. Engineered flooring can give you the look of solid hardwood, without the vulnerability.

8. Hardwood flooring is unique:
Hardwood flooring excels in the areas of history, character and atmosphere. If you want your home to have a warm and elegant presence, then selecting hardwood flooring is a logical choice. It gives an extraordinary look of wood that cannot be replaced or imitated.

9. Hardwood flooring is a long term investment:
Selecting hardwood flooring can increase the value of your property. They are a good long-term investment and can actually help in the resale of your home, that too faster and on a higher price.

10. Easy cleaning and low maintenance:
Hardwood floors are very easy to clean on a day-to-day basis. They do not retain any foreign agents like dirt, dust or pollen. Selecting hardwood flooring is a great 'hygiene-friendly' strategy.