In case you've got small kids or pets at home, you may believe that installing hardwood flooring is an impractical fantasy. But does this mean you should avoid hardwood flooring completely?
Not at all. For one thing, hardwood is naturally resistant to spills as long as they're addressed right away. And there are plenty of alternatives open to realistic homeowners that understand that they won't have the ability to maintain their floors in pristine condition. The key is selecting the most appropriate floor.
There are lots of factors to consider when seeking the appearance and longevity of hardwood flooring yet need the capability to take the wear and tear. Some styles of flooring will conceal scratches and pet hair greater. And some finishes and textures can even make the dings look dull.
Let us take a peek at a few of the ways parents and pet-owners -- or even only people who expect high traffic -- can have great-looking hardwood floors without having to constantly worry .
Texturing
One excellent -- and now fashionable -- option for people who fear they will be not able to maintain their flooring looking pristine would be to employ one of a range of kinds of texturing. Texturing, as you may suspect, involves various methods to add texture to your flooring.
Hand-scraping and wire-brushing are just two texturing methods that make a more rustic appearance. The final result will help hide any harm brought on by high traffic and pets. Pet hair and grime are also visible.
If you like the aged look, you might also think about distressed floors. Distressing wood involves adding those marks, holes, and scratches most homeowners seek to avoid. This helps achieve a naturally-aged, lived-in look. And it clearly helps mask any harm from children and pets.
Reclaimed Wood
Another style that has been trending for some time is retrieved wood flooring. Engineered wood is lumber that's been salvaged from old buildings and repurposed to add vintage character to some other floor. Pet hair and small dings are not as inclined to show on reclaimed wood, and it frequently has an attractive natural patina that can make it even more resistant to scratching.
Hardness
When choosing flooring for your space, a crucial aspect to consider is the hardness of the wood. Generally, the harder the wood is, the less probable it is to be scratched or dented. Very hard woods are best for high-traffic places, whereas softwoods might want to be prevented.
To discover how hard a particular species of wood is, you'll want to check its Janka rating. This measurement indicates the number of pounds of force necessary to push a 0.444-inch steel ball bearing halfway to some board. Thus, the greater the Janka rating, the harder the timber species is.
The following wood species are among the more popular and durable hardwoods used in flooring.
Red and White Oak
The two most popular species of hardwood for flooring from the USA are red oak and white oak. Both species are tough enough to resist a fair amount of abrasion, yet are still easy to utilize. This combined with their abundance helps make either species a more cost-effective alternative for high-wear homes. Additionally, quarter-sawn wood of both species have"beams" of grain (particularly white oak) which are visually pleasing and will help mask minor dings and pet hair. Red oak has a Janka rating of 1,290 while white walnut has a score of 1,360.
Hard MapleAlso known as black maple or sugar maple, hard maple is -- as its name suggests -- a very tough domestic wood species. It is heavy, strong, and highly resistant to wear. Hard maple has a Janka rating of 1,450.
Hickory
Hickory is a very hard wood that's abundant in the USA. Hickory is not as commonly used for floors since there's a wide variation in colour patterns from board. While hickory isn't a fantastic alternative for people who seek uniformity of look, its extreme durability can help withstand damage. What's more, its broad color variation will go a long way toward concealing that harm if it does happen. Hickory has a Janka rating of 1,820.
Exotic Hardwoods
A few of the hardest woods in the world are found in tropical climates. All these are lumped together in the United States under the general heading of"exotic hardwoods." Some of these wood species are far less commonly used for flooring as a result of their high cost and lower availability. Yet their hardness makes them quite resistant to wear, and their appealing color and grain variation can Also Help mask minor marring.
Parquet
In addition to hardness and texture, the style of floor you choose can affect how visible abrasions and stains will be. A somewhat"beyond the box" alternative to high-wear homes would be to forego plank floors in favor of parquet. Parquet flooring is installed by arranging small, uniform pieces of wood into replicating patterns across a floor.
While nothing about parquet makes it naturally more resistant to marring (again, that is more a result of hardness), the lively, replicating patterns of parquet will obviously divert from any minor dings and scratches. This is much like the way a stain is not as noticeable on a patterned shirt compared to a simple one.
Character-Grade Woods
Character-grade forests are forests which are naturally marked with mineral streaks, knots, wormholes, and other"imperfections" On species such as character grade white pine, as an instance, marring is not as noticeable among the abundant markers. Character-grade forests are often a good lower-cost solution for anyone looking for a rustic appearance. Softer species may also create a natural patina fairly quickly, which both improves wear resistance and makes a floor more aesthetically pleasing.
Refinishing
If you are concerned that, despite your best efforts, your flooring will still be marred by heavy usage, think about a periodic refinish/screening. Though refinishing won't get rid of all scratches and dents, it will partly fill them and make them far less visible.
Think about a high-quality, low-gloss oil complete. In reality, with oil finishes you need not refinish the entire floor -- partial oil refinishes can be performed on high-traffic areas to get your floors looking like new again.
When picking a finish, opt for matte. Not only is that on trend, but any scratches, dents, discoloration, and pet hair that might appear will be far less visible than on a glossy finish.
Floors for the Whole Family
The type of floor that is ideal for your own pet, high-traffic home will finally depend on the appearance you're trying for, your budget, and your family situation. These variables are unique to you, and so there's no one-size-fits-all solution.
For this reason, it is important to consult with experienced professionals. The expert artisans in Oshkosh Designs will work with you to come up with the perfect flooring design for your area. Call us today -- we would like to hear your dream floors, your children, and your pets!
