Wooden flooring is considered as one of the classiest and traditional flooring options among the different types of flooring materials. If properly maintained, it could last you a lifetime or maybe more!
But is wooden flooring the right option for you? Maybe natural stone flooring is more apt for your needs? You need to consider all these factors before deciding to invest in wooden flooring. Moreover, you have different types of wooden flooring options available at a wide range of price points.
Below, let’s look at the advantages and disadvantages of these options based on the factors discussed earlier.
1.Hardwood:
When we are looking out for flooring which suits your budget and gives that rich feel to our feet, then wood is the option that always stands out. The natural beauty and warmth of wood attract us to dream of having a house with hardwood floors. Even though we can find different types of flooring material that can eventually match the grandiose of wooden flooring, wood gives a sense of luxury and elegance, by enhancing the overall ambiance of your home.
Advantages:
- Regular sweep and vacuum are enough to keep the hardwood floors clean. It is easy to maintain.
- With proper maintenance, wooden flooring tends to last for more than a lifetime. As the value of wooden flooring continues to increase with time, it provides a good return on investment.
- The grip provided by the wood makes it smooth underfoot. Slipperiness is less.
- The natural beauty and warmth of wood makes it more authentic and enhances its aesthetic appeal.
Disadvantages:
- One of the main disadvantages of hardwood flooring is its cost. Because of the cost, it can be difficult to add hardwood floors to our entire home. Hardwood flooring is difficult to install and need specialized help, which increases the initial cost.
- These floors provide an elegant look, but they are noisy. Hardwood floors magnify the footsteps sound.
- As wood is a natural material, regular contact with water is not good for wooden materials. It is prone to termite attack.
- Any of the wooden flooring materials are not fire resistant in nature.
- It is not good for high water contact areas such as the kitchen and bathroom.
2. Engineered wood Flooring:
A core of plywood and it has a real-wood veneer of around 4 mm thick on top comprises the structure of engineered wood flooring. Engineered wood flooring gives an attractive look. It gives more appealing than common laminate wood flooring.
Advantages:
- It is less costly when comparing with solid hardwood flooring.
- Resistant to fluctuations in temperature and humidity than solid wood flooring. Engineered wood flooring can use underfloor heating options.
- Engineered wood is mostly found with a click and fit system, which makes it quick and easy to install.
- It gives more aesthetic appeal than laminate floor.
- It is durable than real wood because of its manufacturing way.
- Because of the wood grip, it is not slippery in nature
Disadvantages:
- It is not advisable to use in kitchen, bathrooms or any other potential wet areas.
- As it is wood, it is not fire resistant in nature.
- It does not provide sound insulation, they are noisy.
3. Bamboo:
These type of flooring has got a lot of attention since it was first introduced a couple of decades ago. Bamboo is really a grass with high processing techniques to supply flooring. Bamboo flooring is engineered, as the strands of grass are sliced and shredded, then pressed back together with heat and glues to form the flooring boards.
Advantages:
- Top-quality bamboo flooring is as durable as normal hardwood flooring. All bamboo flooring is not created equal.
- Bamboo flooring provides a clean, contemporary look for those who prefer modern decor.
- The bamboo floor is simple to maintain. Because a properly finished bamboo flooring cleans easily with a mop and mild soap.
- It is dimensionally stable which means it can be used in rooms with fluctuating temperatures.
Disadvantages:
- Bamboo floor is not fire resistant in nature.
- It is susceptible to damage from water and excessive humidity. We cannot use bamboo flooring outside, in a bathroom or any other area with excessive water which limits the areas of applicability.
- Even though bamboo is typically quite easy to clean and maintain, it is also prone to scratches. Furniture legs, pet claws, and even small bits of dirt can result in scratches on the flooring quite easily.
4. Laminate Flooring:
Laminate flooring may be a compressed fiberboard plank covered with a picture of a cloth-like timber, stone, tiles then thereon is then given a protective coating.
Advantages:
- The biggest and most valuable advantage of a laminate floor is the budget-friendliness.
- Main reason for the popularity of the laminate floor is its nature of being extremely tough and durable.
- It is a versatile flooring option due to its flexibility to be get installed over wood or concrete. This makes laminate flooring a durable option with low costs.
- It needs less maintenance and you can clean easily by using a vacuum or a broom.
- Another plus point of a laminate floor is its resemblance to real wood.
Disadvantages:
- Laminate floor does not provide sound insulation and it produces some unwanted sounds.
- Surface of laminate is smooth as compared to other wooden floor materials, which causes high chances of slipping and may cause accidents.
- You can make the laminate floor by using HDF (High-Density Fiberboard). It cannot be used in wet areas. Which limits the areas of application.
- Laminates are not fire resistant in nature.
Now we have seen the second type of flooring materials. Hope you understood the advantages and disadvantages of these. We will see the types of tiles in the next article. Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.