What you need to know when shopping for hardwood flooring

Hardwood flooring is a very popular option for many homeowners these days. They know the rustic yet elegant quality it adds to the home, along with the many other benefits. There’s just nothing quite like hardwood flooring for your home.

While the popularity of this flooring material cannot be denied, neither can the array of options that come with it. We want to provide you with some of that information today, so that you will have a simpler selection process. Read on to find out what you simply must know as you shop for hardwood flooring.

Decades of life in hardwood flooring

No other flooring material will last as long as hardwood. Not only is it beautiful, durable and packed with options from which you can choose, but you can also refinish it several times during its lifespan. This is great for more than one reason.

Refinishing will give you a nearly new finish after years of wear and tear are starting to show. It doesn’t take nearly as long as installation, and will seem like you’ve had your entire floor replaced.

On the other hand, should you decide you just want a different color of stain, refinishing can accomplish this as well. Sanding off the old stain leaves a prime area for a brand new coat, in any color you’d like. That means you don’t have to worry about switching to a new décor.

Deciding between prefinished or unfinished hardwood will be a completely personal decision. However, you should know a bit about each before deciding. Prefinished wood floors have already undergone the sanding and sealing procedure while being manufactured. When choosing prefinished wood, you’ll get a faster installation,and you’ll be able to walk on your floors right after they’re installed.

Unfinished hardwood has to be sanded and sealed after it is installed in your home. While it does give you more options for color, the prep time necessary is extensive. Not only is the process messy and dusty, but it can take as long as five days to finish. As far as the cost of materials go, unfinished is cheaper. However, you’re likely to spend more in finishing costs than if you had bought the prefinished equivalent.