Installing wooden flooring in your home can add character to a property and become a timeless centrepiece in any room. Despite its many positive features, people still tend to find installing wooden flooring a daunting process due to the common misconceptions associated with it.
Here are some common myths about wooden floors.
Wooden flooring is too expensive
It is true that wooden flooring does have a higher upfront cost than other flooring options such as carpet or laminate. However, when you compare the lifetime of these options, wooden flooring can last for hundreds of years if looked after properly. In comparison, a carpet might only last five to ten years. If you are planning to live in your property for a long time, then you will end up saving money by installing a wooden floor as it won’t need replacing every ten years.
If you are only planning to stay in your property for a few years, wooden flooring is still a great option as it will add value to your property when you come to sell it. It is estimated that you are likely to get a 70-80 per cent return on your investment if you look after your wooden floors correctly. When searching for a home, many people also prefer wooden flooring over carpets as it adds a strong sense of character to a property that many people are willing to pay extra for.
Wood floors are difficult to maintain
People tend to think that wooden flooring is difficult to maintain and expensive to look after, requiring a lot of specialist cleaning. Even though this is a common belief, wooden floors are actually very easy to maintain if they are cleaned regularly. One of the best ways to clean a wooden floor is by using a vacuum, scissor mop or soft broom – a cost-effective option as most people will already own one of these cleaning tools.
Click here to discover further tips and tricks to for keep your wooden floor looking like new.
You shouldn’t install them if you have pets or children
If you have animals or children, you might be reluctant to invest in high-quality wooden floors in fear they will damage or scratch it. Despite this being a prevalent idea, scratches that occur on wooden floors can often be repaired by abrading the floor and applying a new coat of finish. If scratches have gone deeper into the wood, you are still able to repair them by simply sanding and refinishing the floor.
When choosing your wooden floors, it’s also wise to opt for a more durable wood like oak or hickory to withstand the impact of children and pets.
Wooden floors don’t provide warmth
Another common misconception is that wooden flooring doesn’t provide much warmth in a room. In reality, wood is an incredible insulator and has ten times more insulating ability over other materials such as steel or aluminium. Wooden floors also help to move heat throughout your home as they absorb and conduct heat, allowing it to circulate, whilst carpet stops heating from moving due to its insulating properties.
Fundamentally, wooden flooring can end up saving you money on your energy bills compared to other flooring alternatives.