2 tips to keep in mind when fitting new hardwood flooring in your home

If you have decided to get new hardwood flooring fitted in your home, here are some tips that you might find helpful.

1. Opt for engineered hardwood flooring if the temperatures and humidity levels in your home fluctuate a lot

Engineered flooring is made up of multiple layers of wood, joined together with a strong adhesive, whilst standard hardwood flooring is comprised of a single, solid layer of wood. If you live in an area where there both cold winters and hot, humid summers, and as a result of this, the temperatures and the humidity levels in your home fluctuate a lot, then you should opt for the former instead of the latter.

The reason for this is as follows; the layered composition of engineered hardwood makes it better able to withstand dramatic and frequent changes in temperature and humidity levels, without contracting and expanding to the same extent that traditional hardwood does in these environmental conditions. This means that your floors will be less likely to warp when the seasons change.

This is important to note, as warped floorboards not only look unattractive but can also increase the risk of people in your home tripping and falling over, as the warping may result in the floors no longer being level. As such, someone could trip over the edge of a distorted floorboard that is protruding upwards out of the floor, and then fall over and injure themselves.

2. Make sure the type of wood you choose suits both your decor and your lifestyle.

It is important to take your time when choosing the type of wood you want the floors to be made from, as the one you choose needs to not only suit your home decor but also your lifestyle. For example, if you have warm-toned wall colours and decorative accents, and you have a pet dog who often leaves muddy paw prints around your home, then it might be best to opt for mahogany hardwood floors, as this wood has a warm, reddish undertone that will blend in well with your decor and is also dark enough to disguise any mud or dirt that is tracked into the house by your pet.

Conversely, if your decor is cool-toned, with lots of bright white and blue-toned grey furnishings and wall colours, and you don't have any pets that are likely to leave a trail of dirt and stains on the floors, then ash flooring might be more appropriate. Ash has a cooler undertone than other types of wood, but due to its lightness, any dirt spilt on it will be immediately noticeable.

For more information, contact a company like Greenmount Timber & Building Supplies.