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Are you curious about how luxury hardwood flooring compares to other high-end materials? Floors are a primary part of every home’s design. It’s one of the first things new homeowners look for when buying their first home, and when they’re ready to make some improvements, they typically start with the floors.
Hardwood is an age-old, perfect choice for flooring that has never gone out of style. Whether you’re a contractor or DIYer, hardwood floors are an elegant pick for your next flooring installation.
Advantages of Real Hardwood
Hardwood floors aren’t the only luxury option, but they might be the most popular. They aren’t just used for aesthetic appeal, although it is a huge plus. They’re also elegant, durable, long-lasting, and provide additional value to the home. Here are a few of the advantages of natural hardwood floors:
Warm, Natural Feel
Hardwood floors allow homeowners to make their rooms feel cozy, warm and inviting. When you step into a room with hardwood floors, you immediately feel more comfortable. That’s the power of this hardwood. Simply put, hardwood floors just feel like home.
Paired with the right décor, they can make a room feel rustic and breathtaking or modern and elegant. The warm and natural feel of hardwood fits into any aesthetic, making it an incredibly flexible flooring option.
Elegant Design
For any homeowner with an eye for interior design, hardwood floors are an obvious choice. Whether your desired home style is Colonial, Craftsman, or Traditional, hardwood floors are the perfect addition to a designer’s vision. They seamlessly blend into any interior design aesthetic and always add a touch of elegance and sophistication.
Natural Wood Grain Variation
There’s nothing quite like knowing that your floors are completely natural and have come from outdoors. Unlike the printed alternatives, hardwood isn’t pretending, it’s the real thing.
Wood grain variation is a natural property of wood. When a tree is cut into boards, its growth rings appear in patterns. These patterns tell the story of the tree’s environment. In a way, they tell the story of its life. It’s a lot like a fingerprint. Natural hardwood has personality and uniqueness that can’t be duplicated, which definitely sets it apart.
Added Home Value
Some experts in the real estate industry report that a home with hardwood floors could sell for up to 10% more than an identical home without hardwood. That’s a lot of value!
Many homeowners and, specifically, homebuyers are on the hunt for a house with natural hardwood floors. This uptick in value is a direct result of supply and demand. If a house has hardwood floors, more people will want to bid on it, ultimately driving up the home’s value.
Long-Lasting
Hardwood floors are durable, which means they’re less likely to be damaged and need repairs. They’re easier to clean, which means they require less maintenance. Yes, they will need to be recoated every so often, but hardwood floors can last for generations if taken care of properly.
Can Be Refinished
Refinishing wood is an incredible option that isn’t possible with other high-end materials. Due to constant foot traffic and everyday wear-and-tear, floors may start to appear dull and scuffed. With other types of flooring materials, you have to replace them entirely, but that’s not the case with natural hardwood.
Refinishing hardwood floors can make them look brand new and freshly installed. This is a quality that is entirely unique to hardwood.
How Does Hardwood Compare to Other Materials?
There’s no denying that hardwood floors are elegant, long-lasting, and can add incredible value to homes. What are other high-end flooring options available on the market? And more importantly, how do they compare to hardwood?
Let’s take a look:
Vinyl
Vinyl floors are a great high-end flooring option that competes well with natural hardwood. One of the benefits of vinyl floors is water resistance. Because vinyl is water-resistant (or waterproof in most cases), it can be installed anywhere, including kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and basements. This isn’t the case with hardwood. With hardwood, water must be removed quickly to avoid permanent damage. Vinyl is also less expensive than hardwood, which is an essential benefit if you’re on a budget.
Laminate
Laminate is a popular option among flooring experts. It is scratch-resistant and water-resistant, so it’s much more durable than hardwood flooring. It’s also a relatively cheap alternative to hardwood that provides a natural wood look.
Engineered Hardwood
Engineered hardwood is an incredible innovation that looks and feels like real hardwood but doesn’t require all the maintenance. Both options have very long lives, though hardwood will last longer if properly maintained. Engineered hardwood is usually less expensive than natural hardwood, so it’s a friendlier option for smaller budgets.
Make the Choice that’s Right for Your Budget and Goals
Hardwood floors are luxurious, elegant, and long-lasting. They fit into any design aesthetic and create cozy and inviting atmospheres. Homeowners love them, and they’re incredibly popular among new home buyers.
Unfortunately, hardwood floors aren’t for every home, every homeowner, or every budget. Vinyl, laminate, and engineered hardwood are all high-end options that look amazing and offer great benefits. Homeowners should choose the option that’s right for them.
At BuildDirect, we offer an array of high-end and luxurious flooring options, including natural hardwood, engineered hardwood, vinyl planks, laminate, and more.
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