Everything You Need to Know to Get Scratch-Free Hardwood Floors

Finding the perfect flooring for your home is no easy task. It should add beauty and elegance to your home and be durable and long-lasting enough to endure whatever you and your family throw at it daily. Family life is full of new experiences, and homeowners need assurance that their hardwood floors can handle even the worst causes of scratches with little to no effect. In this guide, find everything you should know to get scratch-free hardwood flooring this 2023. 

Why Do You Need to Keep Your Hardwood Floors Scratch-Free?

One of the best-selling factors of hardwood floors is the classic and sophisticated beauty they add to a home or any space. Planks of finished and uniform hardwood floorboards create a perfect flow between rooms. In addition, they blend well with any décor and interior style you have in your house.

When you expose them to dirt, grime, your pets’ untrimmed claws, and pointy shoe heels, they acquire aesthetic damage in the form of scratches and dents. Although they only harm the surface of your hardwood floors, scratched floorboards destroy the beauty and general look wooden floorings provide in your home.

Scratched hardwood floors won’t provide the flow and sophistication that clear, spotless wooden floorings offer. They disrupt the harmony between your flooring and décor, which also affects the benefits they can give your home. Due to this, homeowners must keep their hardwood floors in peak condition.

Consider Choosing Stronger Hardwood Species for Your Flooring

No material is scratch-proof, even diamonds, but some materials, like some hardwood species, are more resistant than others. While all hardwood floors are durable and long-lasting, not every hardwood tree is tough enough to resist scratching.

One of the factors homeowners need to consider when choosing their hard flooring is the strength of the hardwood planks they’ll install. They can check this with the help of the Janka Hardness Scale. The higher the Janka rating the hardwood has, the stronger and more durable they are, including resistance to scratches. Here are some hardwood species with high scratch resistance for your home floors.

Oak

Oak is North America’s favorite hardwood and the current industry standard for the wooden flooring industry. Many remodelers, experts, and homeowners love them for hardwood floorings due to their durability, high wear and tear resistance, affordability, and availability. In addition, Oak hardwood comes in red and white varieties that can blend with whatever style you prefer.

Their resistance to scratching is high due to their Janka rating, often ranging from 1290 to 1320. They’re also low maintenance. Homeowners can refinish them several times to restore their beauty while they age.

Hickory

While not as popular as Oak, Hickory has a timeless presence within the flooring industry. Their hardness and durability make them a top choice for scratch-resistant hardwood floorings in busy households. They have a Janka rating of 1820, making them one of the most durable hardwoods available.

In addition, Hickory has a distinct grain pattern and color that adds character to any space. The only issue is that they’re more expensive and not budget-friendly for many home remodeling projects.

Maple

Maple is a distinct, rich-hued hardwood specie with a high Janka rating of 1450. Their toughness and longevity make them the perfect choice for households with heavy foot traffic. In addition, Maple hardwood floors are easy to maintain.

Consider the Hardwood’s Top Layer Thickness

Solid hardwood flooring options are good and offer numerous perks. But they’re also expensive. Some homeowners can find buying traditional hardwood planks out of their budget.

That doesn’t mean owning hardwood floors is a far-fetched dream. Engineered hardwoods are the cost-effective solution to many tight-budget floor renovations.

With engineered hardwood floors, the top layer features the wood composition, and that’s essential once you install your flooring. People should also consider the top layers of their hardwood floorings when purchasing planks.

Thicker top layers, like engineered, solid, and prefinished hardwoods, are more resistant to scratches. Unlike mid-range wood, scratches can’t penetrate deeply into the plank. To remove them, you only need to refinish the floorboards and apply another coat of scratch-resistant wood polish.

Textured Hardwoods Can Make A Difference

Hardwood floorings with distinct graining and textured patterns can blend into their surroundings. They also hide scuffs and scratches well. Unlike most hardwoods with uniform grains, textured hardwoods camouflage the imperfections of your floors get from heavy foot traffic and wear and tear.

Textured hardwood flooring comes in three textures; distressed, wire-brushed, and smooth. You can add your preferred texture on new hardwood floors, but others get them as they age. While your hardwood floorings don’t have high scratch resistance, they can hide them until you refinish them. 

Getting Scratch-Free Hardwood Floors in Austin Homes

Hardwood floors check most, if not all, requirements for a perfect home flooring. They’re beautiful, durable, long-lasting, and must stay in peak condition. In busy households, dents and scratches are inevitable, but knowing these considerations can help you get scratch-free hardwood flooring over time.

Find more about hardwood floors in Austin with Kelly Hardwood Floors today!