| There are few things that make a home look more | | | | on extra layers of polyurethane, the process will be |
| beautiful and add more value than wood floors. They | | | | lengthened, but you will have more protection on the |
| are more popular among homeowners than flooring | | | | wood. |
| of stone or slate. Beautiful wood adds a lovely color | | | | Some people liked the option of reclaimed flooring, |
| and warmness a home that you do not get from | | | | sometimes called distressed floors. These floors have |
| any other flooring. | | | | their own unique character, with a rough finish that |
| There is a wide variety in choices of wood flooring. | | | | does not show every little scratch and nick as a |
| You can choose anything you like, depending on your | | | | smooth surface will. |
| taste or the kind of decor you have chosen. Wood | | | | Outside of using traditional wood flooring, you can |
| flooring looks good in any area of the house, except | | | | also choose laminate flooring. These resemble |
| perhaps the kitchen or bathroom where there is a lot | | | | hardwood and with the best laminates, you will have |
| of moisture. | | | | a hard time telling the difference between the |
| One of the most popular choices for wood flooring is | | | | laminate and a real hardwood floor. Such well known |
| hardwood. Hardwood is a certain kind of wood that | | | | flooring companies like Armstrong make quality |
| comes from trees that are more dense than others. | | | | laminates. Some other choices in wood flooring are |
| These include bellawood, walnut, maple, hickory, | | | | cork floors, or bamboo. |
| cherry and oak. You can stain hardwood to just | | | | If you take care of your hardwood flooring, it will last |
| about any color you like, or you can leave the wood | | | | a lifetime, no matter what you choose: real wood, |
| in its original. There are hardwoods, like walnut or | | | | laminate or one of the other choices. Caring for them |
| cherry that have such a rich texture that you do not | | | | is essentially the same for all of these. |
| even have to stain them. | | | | Make sure you dust or vacuum your floor frequently |
| After you choose the type of wood you want, you | | | | to reduce dust and dirt. These scratch the surface |
| have to decide upon how you want it finished. You | | | | which, over time will wear away at it. |
| can purchase prefinished wood, which has been | | | | Put mats down at all of the entrances. This will |
| pre-stained and covered with a coating of | | | | remove a large portion of the dust and dirt from |
| polyurethane. It is more expensive than unfinished | | | | coming into the house at all. |
| wood, but it saves a lot of time. | | | | Dust the floor lightly when required. Use a mop that |
| Or, you can install the wood and do the finishing | | | | is only slightly dampened when you mop; water |
| yourself. In this case, you have to do the sanding, | | | | sitting on the surface may leak between the boards |
| staining and finish coat such as urethane. You let dry | | | | and damage the floor, which will cause warping as |
| and sand the wood between coats, so this whole | | | | the backing of the floor is damaged. It may also |
| procedure will take several days. If you decide to put | | | | cause mold to start growing under the floor. |