Hardwood floors are one of the most classic and well-loved flooring options. There are plenty of reasons to love hardwood, from their timeless appearance to their durability. In addition to these obvious benefits, there are some lesser-known “pros” that make hardwood a fantastic option for many homeowners.
Hardwood flooring improves the indoor air quality of your home. While carpeting can trap pollutants like pet dander, dust mites, and mold, hardwood does not have the same issue. It’s non-porous, so you don’t have to worry about microscopic pollutants sticking around after you’ve cleaned.
Speaking of cleaning… Hardwood floors are very easy to clean. You can sweep, mop, steam, or even scrub them (if you want) and they will be as good as new. Compared to other flooring options like carpeting, which must be regularly professionally cleaned in order to stay sanitary, hardwood flooring only ever requires a simple do-it-yourself maintenance routine.
Another plus for hardwood flooring is that it can last a lifetime — or longer! It’s no surprise that hardwood floors are considered a classically sophisticated look; this style of floor has been around for a very long time. Hardwood is durable enough to last for generations in one house without being replaced. The wood takes a long time to succumb to wear and tear. The good news is you can always refinish your hardwood floors if they do start to appear scruffy.
Hardwood flooring is also versatile: you can make hardwood flooring work with whatever interior design style you love. Adding removable rugs to hardwood floors is a great way to update a room while maintaining that hardwood charm. If you’re putting in new hardwood floors, there are many styles and colors to choose from.
Most homes built before the 1970’s were actually built with hardwood floors! So if you’re looking for a change, pull up that old carpet and refinish your floors!
After seeing all these benefits of hardwood flooring, it will not shock you to read that hardwood floors also add resale value to your house. Having hardwood flooring in your home will increase the list price and often even lead to a faster sale. It’s estimated that installing new hardwood flooring has about an 80 percent return on your investment when it comes time to sell (which is significant compared to many other home upgrades).
