Investing in hardwood flooring is an exquisite decision that will last a lifetime and look great. Unfortunately, even the most resilient hardwood floors begin to show wear and tear with time. The longevity of your wooden floors depends on how well you maintain them, just like everything else in your house. Nothing in nature lasts in pristine condition for an eternity, and to keep your investment paying dividends, you’ll need to undertake some regular maintenance. Also, ensure to treat the floor properly; otherwise, it won’t last as long as you expect.
Hardwood floors are so popular for a reason in homes. If appropriately maintained, hardwood floors deliver beauty and warmth to any room in which they are put – not to mention that they will last for years. However, what precisely is the appropriate care, and how long can you expect your hardwood floors to survive is a mystery. How long do wooden floors last? The longevity of wooden floors can vary greatly depending on the type of wood, the type of finish, and the amount of care it receives.
It is possible that wood flooring is one of the most popular forms of flooring available. Nonetheless, it needs a significant amount of supervision, maintenance, and upkeep to guarantee that it lasts for its whole useful life. However, this takes us to the point where we need to know how long wooden floors endure in terms of durability. While some may believe it may last a lifetime, many others will argue that that is not the case.
The reality of the issue is that hardwood flooring will survive longer if it is cared for and maintained properly throughout its lifespan. The typical lifespan of hardwood flooring is between twenty-five and thirty years, assuming that it is refinished at regular intervals and is maintained according to the wood’s natural characteristics.
Choosing the Type of Flooring
Because solid oak flooring and engineered oak flooring are prepared in various ways, the number of years that the wooden flooring will last vary. Solid oak flooring will last longer than engineered oak flooring. Solid oak flooring is no longer popular among homeowners, primarily due to the high maintenance required to keep it in good condition. On the contrary, engineered oak flooring is becoming increasingly popular because it is constructed with no more than 6mm of raw flooring. The top layer is typically solid flooring, with the remaining layers consisting of pieces of plywood adhered together to make a single entire board.
Installation of the Flooring
Another factor that influences the longevity of hardwood flooring is how it is installed. Essentially, the installation step before the actual installation is something to consider. Wood flooring installation comprises a few processes, including floor preparation, acclimation, and other procedures. We may have a question how long should wood floors acclimate before installation? The answer is wood floors should be allowed to acclimate to the area they will be installed in for a minimum of 48 hours. Furthermore, the subfloor must be thoroughly leveled at the same time.
In addition, floorboards must have sufficient space to account for seasonal temperature variations between each plank. Because the wood stretches out in the summer and condenses in the winter, leaving enough space between each floorboard is critical to allow for this expansion and contraction. Your floors will wear out faster if these wedges are not placed between the floorboards.
Lastly, it is essential to highlight that hardwood flooring requires special attention to ensure that it remains good. Wooden floors are sensitive to cleansers, and it is vital to exercise caution when choosing which wooden cleaners to use. Because chemical cleaners are acidic in nature, it is crucial to be selective in the cleansers that are used daily. If you want to avoid ruining your hardwood floors during your everyday cleaning tasks, ask your hardwood suppliers about the finest cleaners they recommend.
Engineered Wood Floor´s Longevity Determinants
Engineered wood floors are created by layering genuine hardwood veneer wear layers on top of a plywood core to create a solid wood floor. A wide range of options is available in width, length, and thickness. There are several other methods for installing them as well.
Because the plywood core in engineered wood floors is more dimensionally stable than solid hardwood floors. It is made up of multiple thin plies of wood stacked on top of one another, with the grain direction of the top ply running perpendicular to the grain direction of the bottom ply. In addition, the plywood core is more resistant to dimensional changes caused by variations in moisture levels because of the cross-ply structure. The basic rule of thumb you may follow in most circumstances is that the thicker the engineered hardwood board and the greater the number of layers it has, the more sturdy and long-lasting it will be.
Engineered hardwood floor manufacturers will have their own blend of the top wear layer, plywood core thicknesses, and construction procedures in their engineered hardwood floors, which will differ. Therefore, you should research the structure and finishing of each product before making your final selection on which board to buy.
For instance, the advantages of using engineered wood floors include their more excellent resistance to both mildly lower and slightly higher moisture levels than solid wood flooring; consequently, their application in moist basements or in sections of the nation where relative humidity levels are more significant or lower than predicted is particularly tempting. In addition, except for the more modern Click Lock flooring, engineered flooring may be installed directly over concrete slabs or stapled down over a wood subfloor.
As a result, quality engineered hardwood flooring will have the same market value as solid wood flooring, depending on the species, if and when you decide to sell your home. View our engineered collections, including Vintage Flooring Solid Sawn and Vintage Flooring Northern Solid Sawn. These collections can be placed in a broader range of Relative Humidity than our other collections.
Installing Engineered Hardwood Flooring is Quick and Straightforward
Engineered Hardwood is a long-lasting product that may be used for an extended period. It has an attractive appearance that complements any decor and can be used in any setting. Engineered Hardwood offers a stunning original finish and several alternatives to ensure that our customers discover the appropriate floor for their needs. For a more modern look, engineered flooring may be stapled down over a wood subfloor for a more modern appearance.
However, engineered flooring can be installed directly over concrete slabs if you want a more traditional look. The glues and materials used in the middle and bottom layers of Engineered Hardwood Flooring determine whether or not the floor is non-toxic and environmentally friendly. Their center and bottom layers are constructed of solid wood, and they are joined together with non-toxic glue of superior quality. As a result, they are comparable to solid Hardwood in their environmental friendliness. Comparatively to carpet, engineered wood is also a sustainable product that is regenerative in nature, and it increases the value of a property.
Some people believe that engineered flooring is inferior to solid 3/4″ thick flooring because they think it is manufactured inexpensively. As is the case with all consumer goods, producers create items of varying quality, each to match a specific price point on the market. There is engineered flooring on the lower end of the price spectrum designed to be economical for a particular market segment. Consumers are sometimes duped into believing that these inexpensive items are a bargain, but we would want to disprove this notion.
Conclusion
Dust mop your floor every few days or use an attachment for your vacuum with the wood floor option to sweep your floors. Dirt might build up over time, resulting in a scratch on the floor; this prevents soil from getting in. Even while engineered wood floors can handle moisture better than solid wood floors, we advise against allowing the floor to become soaked. Instead, use a moist mop only, not one that has been thoroughly soaked.
