Reasons to Like Hardwood Flooring

Value

• Too many variables exist to calculate precisely how much value a hardwood floor will add to your particular house, but you can rely on history to show you that, as a lifetime product, the value of a hardwood floor rises along with the value of the house. Though real estate prices move in periodic waves, the overall trend is always that hardwood floors increase in value and add value to a house. In contrast, carpeted floors are doomed to get yucky, worn and eventually have to be replaced, often with hardwood.

Maintenance

• You probably already know how quickly a carpet gets dirty if not vacuumed regularly. Today's hardwood floors need little more than a quick sweeping and occasional application of a professional cleaning product thanks to the latest in stains and finishes. You should take care to only use a product compatible with your particular type of wood. Your local flooring store should be a good source of information.

Renewable

• Often overlooked is the fact that wood is a renewable resource. Parts of houses, barns and wooden ships from previous decades and centuries eventually find themselves recycled into homes being built today. This "second life" of wood flooring combines utility with history to provide a nuance that is simply unavailable from a spiffy new laminate. Leading health associations like the Asthma and Allergy Foundation say you should remove carpets from your house to reduce airborne allergens. Smooth surfaces like wood are a healthier choice since they don't collect dust or allergens as readily.

Variety

• The tremendous variety in species of wood available as hardwood flooring options is a benefit often overlooked. No matter what room of the house or what style of decor, there is bound to be a wooden flooring to meet your needs. From traditional options like oak or pine to the more exotic vision of bamboo or teak, your local flooring store is likely to have more than enough choices to fit your house perfectly.