Whether it's the living room, the dining room, or the family room, hardwood flooring is the material of choice for most people. The main reason behind this is that wood is known to be a practical option as it is extremely durable. Hardwood floors tend to work in any part of the house even if the area is prone to water and spills.

Wood floors can be installed on concrete slabs, below or above grade, over plywood subfloors, or even over already existing wooden floors. With concrete, it becomes very important to manage the moisture, which can be controlled with a film barrier put directly on the concrete. Engineered wooden subfloors have to be screwed or nailed prior to installation. Once they are in place, smoothed and sanded to give a level, installation can begin.

Here are some of the benefits of hardwood flooring:

Coziness And Warmth

Hardwood is definitely more pleasurable to walk on than anything else. It is naturally warm. In addition, it is an outstanding insulator because of the tiny air chambers that tend to hold in the heat.

Easy To Clean

As compared to any other kind of floor, hardwood flooring is easier to clean. A little sweep and mop and the floors will look spick-and-span for a long time. Families that have kids and dogs realize that it's far easier to clean a wood floor than spray or scrub a carpet. Another bonus is that scrapes only add more character to these floors.

Increase The Value Of A House

It is a fact that the flooring selected for a house will affect the price the owner gets for it when it's put on sale. The carpet will start looking used and old in just a few months. Whereas, hardwood flooring lasts for a very long time and adds more worth to a home. Even laminate flooring that looks a lot like wood flooring is a second option for the buyers. But, they just don't have that kind of warmth and feel.

Durability

Wooden floors are extremely durable and can last for a lifetime. These floors are easy to repair, and are extremely solid. There has not been any kind of flooring which has been around as long as the wood floor. Since centuries, it has been a durable choice. Other materials still need to prove themselves.

Hypoallergenic

Unlike carpets which can become a breeding ground for mildew, mold, and dust, leading to allergy, wood floors do not let pollen, mold, and similar infectants to thrive. Even if one gets the carpets steam-cleaned it's impossible to get them cleaned entirely. In fact, getting them wet makes them more prone. Hardwood flooring is a great choice for anybody with environmental allergies. And it's also great for those who like to lie down on clean floors, with no hidden moulds.

Although installing hardwood flooring on one's own saves a lot of money, but it's very important to do it correctly. It's best to seek advice from a professional on how to install hardwood floor before starting the installation.