Top Misconceptions About Hardwood Floors in 2023

Hardwood floors are home improvement projects that increase your home’s value as it age. They provide timeless sophistication that blends well with traditional or modern interior styles. Although many homeowners are going for hardwood flooring in their homes, some are still apprehensive about the advantages of hardwood flooring due to several misconceptions about wooden floors. Check whether your facts are true by reading this hardwood flooring misconceptions list in 2023.

Hardwood Floors are Difficult and Need Labor-Intensive Maintenance

Many misconceptions about hardwood flooring or any wooden floors revolve around maintenance. The top myth about this topic is that hardwood floors are difficult to deal with and are high maintenance. That is far from the truth.

Hardwood floors are one of the most convenient flooring options to maintain and require little to no maintenance, depending on which hardwood specie you choose for your home. Some hardwood floorings need more tending than most, but, in general, routine cleanups with brooms and soft static mops will do the trick.

Hardwood floorings are weak against dirt, dust, and moisture. Cleaning your floors with a broom and a slightly damp mop can help remove the grime and stains before it penetrates the floorboards. Unlike other flooring options that need monthly professional maintenance to stay in peak condition, wooden floors, like hardwood, would require deep cleaning once in a while as long as owners keep up with their daily floor cleanups.

Hardwood Floors are Expensive and Takes Time to Install

Homeowners interested in hardwood floors require higher payments when buying and installing them, but they’re more cost-effective long-term than any other flooring option. Solid hardwood flooring planks have an average price between 12 dollars to 20 dollars per square foot. Meanwhile, hardwood types like prefinished or engineered wood range between 8 dollars to 13 dollars.

Installing hardwood floorboards in a large room or space can be costly, but many experts guarantee that owners can have a ten-fold ROI over time. Real estate industry statistics in 2020 proved that hardwood floors increase your home’s value two-fold, and your overall return on investment will be ten times worth your flooring material and installation costs.

In addition, many people find installing hardwood flooring time-consuming and labor-intensive. There are instances where hardwood floor installation takes time and is laborious, and they’re due to DIY projects. Homeowners can skip the labor and waste time installing their hardwood floors by hiring professional hardwood flooring installers. You can also choose prefinished or engineered hardwood to skip the sanding and finishing processes because you only need to lay and nail them on your subfloor.

Hardwood Floors are Not Pet and Kid-Friendly

The most common misconception about hardwood floors that people tend to believe is that they’re not suitable for households with young children or pets. Many homeowners think that wooden floors scratch easily from dogs’ or cats’ claws and can’t handle heavy wear and tear from running, active toddlers. The truth is that hardwood flooring is one of the most durable flooring options available.

Hardwood floors are naturally durable and long-lasting. With proper installation, finishing, and maintenance, they could last for a lifetime. Applying scratch-resistant hardwood flooring finishes can help protect the hardwood from your pet’s claws.

Homeowners with cats or dogs can also prevent this by giving their pets routine grooming and care, like keeping their paws clean after a walk outside and cutting their claws. In addition, placing floor runners, carpets, and rugs on heavy foot-trafficked areas and underneath furniture will alleviate the daily wear and tear the floorboards experience inside the room.

Hardwood Floors are Not a Sustainable Option

Hardwood floors not being sustainable materials for homes and other spaces is an ongoing debate between industries and consumers. Many people think that buying hardwood floors will result in wider deforestation problems. But that isn’t the case for the wood flooring industry in decades.

Hardwood planks come from sustainably managed tree farms and lumber yards. In recent years, many US and international laws have been in place to ensure that the annual net growth of hardwood trees doubles the yearly tree removals.

In addition, hardwood floors are durable and long-lasting. Unlike other flooring options, it can serve your home for an average of five decades or more, depending on your care and maintenance. Due to their longevity, the saplings planted for every felled tree are already mature before needing to cut more trees.

Misconceptions You Need to Debunk About Hardwood Floors in Austin, Texas

The fight against the misconceptions about hardwood floors is ongoing between experts, industries, and consumers. While many homeowners have reasonable concerns about owning hardwood flooring, the facts about their benefits and perks remain the same. People must become more knowledgeable about hardwood and their advantages to avoid further misconceptions.

Talk to a hardwood flooring expert at Kelly Hardwood Floors today for more information!