Thinking of installing wood floors? But carpets are easier on your feet. That means carpets are better, aren’t they?
If you have a spouse or other family member trying to convince you that hardwood floors aren’t worth the hassle, we’ve got you covered. Below, you’ll find five convincing arguments for why hardwood is better. When you’re ready to discover to truth and convince would-be naysayers, read on.
1. Improve Air Quality
Did you know that carpets reduce indoor air quality? They act as a kind of sink for air pollutants such as dust, animal dander, and pollen. When agitated by walking feet or even vacuuming, the pollutants spring into the air and redistribute themselves around the room.
Sure, that makes things dusty. It might also make them dangerous. Asthmatics and those suffering from COPD or emphysema have bronchial tubes easily irritated by pollutants.
For these folks, such pollutants could cause anything from a simple asthma attack to a complete bronchial obstruction resulting in death.
2. Color Doesn’t Fade
The colors in carpet and vinyl floors fade when exposed to sunlight and time. Hardwood floors fade less or not at all. If kept away from sunlight, hardwood flooring will retain its stain and natural luster for hundreds of years.
With carpets, you must also be wary of spills. When they happen, you must clean them immediately. That’s true even of stain-resistant carpets made from nylon, polyester, or Olefin.
Flooring solutions that rely on wood, on the other hand, come with a built-in stain barrier. It’s called a sealant, and it’s used on every wood floor installation. That’s why a bottle of red wine won’t stain when it shatters on your floor.
3. Wood Floors Can Be Refinished
What if you already have a gorgeous oak floor installed, but you’re looking for a different style? Or your old oak floor is showing wear and tear that you want to get rid of? Then let your next home renovation include refinishing your floors.
You can refinish your wood floors for a modest price, unlike carpets and laminates. The only question that remains is which style do you prefer?
4. Higher Resale Value
Wood floors are one of the home upgrades that homebuyers are willing to pay for. It lends them assurance of the cleanliness of the home, and they’re apparently willing to pay for that peace of mind. If you want to improve the resale value of your home, focus on the following:
- Minor bathroom remodels
- Landscaping upgrades
- Real wood floor installations
- Minor kitchen remodels
You’re looking for visual appeal. You want your shiny new installations to pop, so your prospective homebuyers say, “Oh, wow!”
5. Timeless Style
The first tongue-and-groove wood floor was created in 1885 by a machine called the side-matcher. But wood floors have been style since long before that. They lay in such prestigious halls as the Vatican, Buckingham Palace, and the White House.
They’re timeless. They’re ubiquitous. And they never fail to impress.
What’s Next?
Now you know why homebuyers and historians alike love wood floors. If you’re still uncertain whether wooden floors are the right choice for you, pop by your local hardware store for stain sample cards. Bring them home to see what a new hardwood floor would look like in your house.
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