Hardwood flooring – the choices are limitless

Today’s choices in flooring materials, styles, and colors are mind-boggling. This vast array of materials ranges from vinyl to ceramic to carpeting to wood to bamboo to laminates…and on and on. But of all the choices one stands out as a classic: hardwood! Hardwood flooring is renowned for its timeless natural beauty, its character, its warm colors, and its great durability. A beautiful hardwood floor can last for decades and can be a visual delight that blends seamlessly with any architectural look, style, or interior theme.

Solid hardwood flooring comes in many different types of wood…all with their own distinct grain, color, place of origin, and durability. Domestic hardwoods include such species as white oak, cherry, black walnut, maple, pecan, and mesquite. Many exceptional hardwoods are woods that have been reclaimed from old barns, wine barrel staves, and long sunken timber.

Other hardwoods are exotic species imported from around the world, including purpleheart, Brazilian cherry, African pedauk, Canadian maple, and many others. Most of these imported woods are now harvested from certified sustainable, managed forests – which is something to look for when you are shopping for the hardwood that fits your lifestyle and budget.

So what are the main considerations for choosing a hardwood? Begin by asking yourself which room or rooms you wish to include hardwood. Will they get lots of wear and tear or be subject to moisture? Are you looking to create room-to-room continuity? Will the wood you choose fit the style or character of your room or house?

Is it expensive? The answers to these questions is varied, but basically are this: Your floors are (other than walls) the biggest area of color and pattern in your house. Wood flooring can beautifully set apart a single room or wonderfully tie-together many rooms. Most hardwoods of today are prefinished and have high-tech coatings such as aluminum oxide, ceramics, or ultra-tough acrylic monomers that make them ideal for nearly any above-grade room in the house.

Modern hardwood floors are much easier to clean and maintain than the old strip floors of the past. Typically, you can expect to pay anywhere from $3 to $15 per square foot for the hardwood and (depending on the complexity and size of the job) another $4 to $9 for professional installation. Hardwoods are one of the most environmentally-friendly, sought after floors in renovation, remodeling, and new home construction…but the pay-off is well worth the expense in practicality, eye-catching beauty, and long term added-value to your home.

Installing hardwood floors is one of the most difficult home projects, but not beyond the scope of a skilled do-it-yourselfer with the right expertise, experience, time, and tools. However, if you are ready to renovate now and bring the warmth and character of a hardwood floor into your home, the experienced professionals at Corvus Construction can guide you in both the aesthetic and functional aspects of a gorgeous long-lasting hardwood floor.

Contact us today for a free estimate!

Call Corvus Construction at (206) 355-4981 for a free estimate on professionally installing your hardwood floor. You can also contact us 24/7 by filling out our website contact form or sending us an e-mail at info@corvus-construction.com. We look forward to hearing from you!