When it’s time to renovate your floors, it’s important to look into the most durable options if you want your floors to last for several years. If you’re dead-set on softer wood floors that looks beautiful upon installation, you’ll need to be prepared for the short lifespan of softwood floors.
To get the most out of your new floors, you need to consider the level of hardness the wood has, the finish, sheen and overall colouring. All these contribute to the level of durability you can expect from your floors. For an in-depth understanding, this is the best durability-focused flooring guide for you!
The Hardness
The hardness of wood is measured through the Janka hardness test, which measures the amount of force that’s required for a steel ball to embed itself halfway into the hardwood. Each species of wood has a different level of hardness to it. For example, Brazilian walnut or teak hardwood is among the hardest woods, with a high dent resistance, whereas white pine and cedar are among the softest. If you’re looking for a flooring option that’s resistant to everyday wear and tear, then harder wood types are your best bet.
The Finish
Properly finished floors will make or break how resistant they are to dents and other forms of damage. Polyurethane and oiled finishes are among the most widely used for hardwood floors, as they add a strong layer of resistance directly to the wood. The addition of aluminum-oxide to polyurethane wood finishes adds abrasion-resistance to the top of the wood. Oil finishes are absorbed into the wood’s pores, hardening from within to add durability as well as preserve the wood’s natural texturing.
The Sheen
While high-gloss sheens can make hardwood floors shine and look breathtaking, it also does a lot to show any wear and tear your floors have experienced. High-gloss sheens also diminish over time, meaning in order to keep the ‘wow factor’ of your floors intact, you’ll need to do regular maintenance. However, both oil and polyurethane finishes are available in low sheen and matte finishes in order to disguise any surface scratches, small dents and other minor imperfections that don’t require the entire board to be replaced.
The Colour
The colour of any hardwood is chosen based on the design and colours of whichever room you’re having them installed in. The rich brown or ashy grey hue can be used in contrast with cabinets and existing furniture, or to compliment them. Whatever the case may be, the idea of choosing a colour that will also hide surface damage is often overlooked. Lighter hardwoods help to reduce the visual presence of scratches from being too obvious, as does having planks that vary slightly in colour tone.
At Pour it On, our experienced team is ready to help you choose the best flooring options for your home. We offer reliable installation, repair and maintenance to clients from all industry aspects, including builders, designers, homeowners and more. We also offer floors levelling services, radiant heating system installation and soundproofing underlayment assistance. For your free quote today, call us or visit our website!
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