Expectations are extremely important with large purchase items like flooring. This is especially true with hardwood floors. There is no question that a new hardwood floor will add a dimension of beauty and warmth to your home. Many consumers do not know that wood flooring has some unique characteristics that make it not the perfect choice for everyone. This article is by no means meant to discourage you from buying a hardwood floor, but you do need to take into consideration this information about hardwood floors before making a purchase.
Wood Floors are Guaranteed to Age
Aging with most floor coverings typically relates to how a floor loses its luster over time due to wear and tear on the floor. If I were to say, Your carpet has aged, you would think it was time to get new carpet. However, one of most unique attributes of wood flooring is its ability to actually look better with age. Wood floors already come with a lot of natural character and beauty. With proper maintenance, normal use and traffic should just increase the beautiful character of your wood floor. A real wood floor can also be refinished to restore its original luster and shine. This is something that can not be done on wood look products like laminate, vinyl and porcelain.
These are all nice attributes, but what I really want to touch on in this section is the photo-sensitivity of wood flooring. Wood tends to change color over time when exposed to sunlight. In fact, some wood floors can take up to a year and a half to mature into full color. Other floor coverings, on the other hand, might be vulnerable to fading or discoloring when exposed to prolonged sunlight. So while sunlight makes other floor coverings look older overtime, it beautifies wood floors, allowing them to reach their true color. This is an important attribute for consumers to know, because a freshly laid wood floor might not always look like the sample you saw in the showroom, which has been allowed to reach its full color.
Consumers also must be conscientious about moving their area rugs and furniture periodically to avoid discolorations. Exotic hardwoods and hardwoods with a natural finish on them tend to be the most photosensitive. Most hardwoods darken and become bolder over time, but some woods like Santos Mahogany actually get lighter from sunlight. If you are really concerned about sunlights affect on your floor, purchase a hardwood that has been colored with a darker stain or purchase a species like Northern Red Oak which is a less photosensitive species.
About This Article
Atlas Floors San Antonio has been a family owned flooring store since 1948. We serve San Antonio and South Texas with 3 beautiful showrooms. Whether its Carpet, Tile, Wood, Laminate, Vinyl, or Area Rugs that you are looking for, Atlas Flooring San Antonio has what you need! We pride ourselves on being San Antonios flooring professionals.
