Wooden floors are quite common in households across the country, primarily because they are sturdy, durable, and easy to maintain. They also lend themselves to cold climates because they provide good insulation. That said, installing wooden floors is an elaborate process, requiring thorough planning and expertise. So, it is a good idea to understand the benefits of installing wooden flooring, the cost of installation, and best practices to maintain the flooring before getting started.

Benefits of installing hardwood flooring
1. Easy to clean and maintain
Cleaning and maintaining floors is essential to ensuring they last without major repairs. Hardwood floors are incredibly easy to clean and maintain. Plus, they are easy to vacuum clean. So, many individuals prefer hardwood floors to other types of flooring.

2. Increased home value
Buyers usually prefer homes with hardwood floors over carpeted ones, especially if the current homeowner has already used the carpet. Also, carpets are prone to trapping dust, pollen, and animal dander, which can pose a health hazard. As a result, having hardwood floors increases the value of one’s home considerably.

3. Enhanced air quality
Without animal dander, pollen, and dust getting stuck to the floor, the air quality in one’s home is also enhanced. Also, laminate and tile floors have embossing and grout lines, which can invite dust and allergens. For these reasons, having wooden flooring instead of carpets or other flooring types can enhance the air quality in a home.

4. Better looking
Wooden floors are versatile and go with most home decor themes. So, even if one needs to renovate their home, they do not have to change the flooring to align it with the new interior design.

5. Cost-effective in the long run
While wooden flooring might be more expensive than certain other flooring types, it is usually a low-maintenance option, which can significantly reduce long-term maintenance costs.

6. Possibility of refinishing the flooring
Unlike tile or carpet flooring, which has to be replaced over time, wooden flooring can be refinished, increasing convenience and reducing costs. When looking for hardwood flooring refinishing companies, one can check out Angie’s list of nearby hardwood floor refinishing contractors, contact them individually, and discuss the services, costs, timeline, etc.

Tips to maintain hardwood floors
While hardwood floors are quite easy to maintain, taking some care and proactively maintaining them well can increase their longevity.

1. Maintain ideal indoor temperature and humidity levels
Generally, the suitable indoor temperature level for wooden floors is 60 to 80 degrees, with a relative humidity range of 35–55%. So, it is important to maintain these temperature and humidity levels as much as possible to preserve the quality of the wooden floors.

2. Avoid using ammonia and other abrasive cleaners
Using abrasive cleaning solutions on wooden floors might seem tempting to increase their luster, but these products yield contrary outcomes. For this reason, it’s best to use mild products, such as a gentle vinegar solution or a plant-based liquid soap, to clean wooden floors.

3. Use furniture pads
It is natural for home occupants to move their furniture around from time to time, but this can cause scratches on wooden floors. To tackle this problem, it is best to fasten furniture pads to the legs of chairs, tables, and other furniture pieces so that they do not damage the hardwood flooring.

4. Protect the surface from direct sunlight
Exposure to direct sunlight can change the color of wood, causing it to lose its esthetic appeal with time. So, it is best to draw curtains and blinds to protect wooden surfaces from direct sunlight.

5. Avoid using wax, oil, and furniture spray
These ingredients can spoil the texture and color of wooden surfaces. So, one should prevent hardwood floors from coming into contact with oil, wax, and furniture spray.

6. Clean spills immediately
It is natural to spill food on the floor occasionally, but cleaning it immediately is essential to ensuring that one’s hardwood floors don’t develop a permanent stain.

7. Vacuum regularly
It is a good idea to vacuum hardwood floors regularly so that any dust particles or animal dander lying on the floor are instantly cleaned.

8. Refinish every three to five years
As mentioned earlier, one of the biggest advantages of wooden floors is that they can be refinished. But this process should be carried out without fail every three to five years so that the wooden flooring lasts and looks as good as new.

9. Sweep and dust every day
Besides vacuuming weekly, it is important to sweep and dust wooden floors daily so that dust doesn’t accumulate on the surfaces. Additionally, use a mild wooden floor cleaner once a month.

Cost of installing hardwood floors
The average cost of installing hardwood floors depends on the type of hardwood flooring chosen, ranging from $4 to $6 per square foot. For example, to install engineered hardwood flooring over a 2,000-square-foot area, one can expect to spend anywhere between $12,000 and $32,000.

In general, the more one researches the companies offering hardwood flooring services, the better idea one can have regarding the average market price and services offered. For example, AMP has considerable experience in hardwood flooring, laminate, and LVP services. The company offers complete installation services and several warranty options. As mentioned earlier, one can also check out Angie’s List for a comprehensive list of hardwood flooring and refinishing companies in one’s area and their contact numbers.