Answering Some Common Questions About Timber Floors In a Residential Home

Timber floors are an investment in a home's interior; these floors may last for many decades before they need replacing and can give the home an upscale look, a rustic and country look, or a traditional feeling that you're sure to love. If you're thinking about timber floors for your home, note a few questions you might have about this material so you can determine if it's the right choice for you.

Why the difference in prices in timber species?

Homeowners often assume that timber is timber and thus all varieties of wood flooring should be priced the same. However, some timber species, such as maple and hickory, are denser and therefore stronger and may hold up better under heavy foot traffic. This added density and strength may be one reason why they're often more expensive than other varieties of timber.

Why is slat size important?

As with wood species, you may assume that you can choose any size of slat for the floors and not affect the overall appearance of the space, but this can be a mistake. Wide slats are very traditional and even a bit rustic, whereas narrow slats are good for modern homes and smaller rooms.

If you want lots of visual interest from the wood floors, your installer may also cut the length of the slats so that you have more horizontal trenches and grooves in the middle of the floor. These added cuts to the wood can also hide more dents, dings and scratches and add traction in areas where this is important, such as on stairs or in a hallway. Ask about these varying slat lengths if your home's flooring will suffer heavy foot traffic, damage from children and pets and the like.

How often do hardwood floors need refinishing?

The schedule for maintaining your home's flooring will depend on the traffic to which its exposed and other such factors. Just as you may need to shampoo carpeting more often if you have children or pets in the home, your hardwood floors will need refinishing more often if they're exposed to more overall wear and tear. Hot, direct sunlight can also fade the colour so that the timber needs refinishing, and moving heavy furniture over the floors can also cause scratches and even holes in the floor. Your installer can discuss your expected refinishing schedule, given your overall lifestyle, so you know when and how to maintain your home's flooring.