The Drawbacks of Heart Pine Flooring

Identification

• Heart of pine flooring is made from the center of hardwood pine trees. This type of flooring is desirable because it is dense, hard and has a characteristic dark shade of color. Heart of pine flooring requires some care because it can become scratched over time or become damaged if moisture problems are present in the home.

Cost/Installation

• One drawback of installing heart of pine flooring is its cost. Heart of pine flooring typically costs around $7 to $8 per square foot for an average-grade flooring product. Premium-grade heart of pine flooring can cost as much as $12 to $20 per square foot making it more costly than tile flooring. Natural stone tiles usually cost around $2.50 a square foot and terra cotta tiles range from $1 to $2.50 a square foot. Heart of pine flooring is also more difficult to install and most homeowners must hire a professional to install it.

Damage

• While heart of pine flooring is scratch resistant, it may become damaged over time. Deep scratches must be filled in with putty and sanded to avoid further damage to your floor. If you have uncontrolled moisture in your home such as water leaks or water seeping into your home in hidden areas, your heart of pine flooring could begin to rot. Wood rot stains the floor and the flooring begins to crumble. Uncontrolled moisture can also cause mold to grow on your flooring, which is unsightly and must be removed.

Considerations

• Before installing heart of pine flooring, examine your home for signs of water leaks. Water can seep into your home through leaks in your roof or plumbing. Outdoor moisture can also slowly seep into your home, causing damage to your floors and walls. Be sure the lot your home is built on slopes away from your home to avoid damage. Repairing all areas that can introduce moisture into your home before installation is important to the life of your floor. To avoid scratching your floor, follow the product recommendations provided by the manufacturer at installation.