Is your flooring covered in dust and stains? Was it damaged by moisture? Is it full of scratches? If yes, then it is the perfect time to replace your old flooring with some good quality materials. Probably hardwood since it has its benefits. it’s a popular choice, but has its share of disadvantages too. So, in this article, we will talk about the advantages, disadvantages, and the best alternative to timber flooring.
Advantages of Timber Flooring
Enhances Room Interiors
Whenever people talk about timber flooring, the one thing that comes into the mind is its appearance. To lay out the truth, timber or hardwood provides an elegant and warm feel to your home’s interiors. Unlike other flooring materials, hardwood tends to maintain its quality for a long time. Moreover, hardwood looks brilliant with most interior decorations, be it modern or ancient, it gives a very satisfying aesthetic feel.
Easy Maintenance
Compared to most flooring materials out there, timber flooring is one of the easiest to maintain. You don’t need some bulky machines or call the maintenance person for regular maintenance. If you want to remove dust particles, simply sweep the floor. Or if you want to remove spillage, simply wipe it with a clean cloth. To bring back the luster, use a floor cleaner at regular intervals. Easy right?
Easy Restoration
Just like maintaining timber decking and flooring is easy, so is its restoration. If you have seen some damaged parts in your flooring, just remove those areas and apply a fresh layer of coat, it will look as good as new.
Disadvantages of Timber Flooring
High Cost Of Materials And Installation Service
Is timber flooring expensive? The answer is Yes! The cost of timber is comparatively higher than that of other flooring materials. The cost of timber is higher because of the high-quality material and the workmanship invested in coming out with good quality timber. Moreover, the installation of hardwood is expensive because it demands expertise. Only experienced professionals are allowed to install hardwood flooring. The estimated cost of installation often ranges between $4000 – $4500. And good quality hardwood costs around $10 to $15 per square foot.
But the cost is held reasonable when it comes to the material’s long-term value.
Vulnerable To Water Damages
Since hardwood is a natural material, it is prone to water damage or simply moisture when it is exposed for a long time. And so, it is always advised to wipe off any water spillage or moisture damage as quickly as possible. Failure to do so might cause your floors to discolor, deformation or develop rough edges. All these could affect the longevity of the wood and would require early replacement.
If there isn’t any flooding or water pooling, then drying off the wood with a simple vacuum cleaner will do the job. In other cases, you might have to call the maintenance team for water damage restoration.
Prone To Scratches
Accidental scratches are one of the most frequent problems with hardwood. These scratches can be caused by anything, domestic pets, objects falling on the floor, moving furniture, no protective coating, and so on. These scratches reduce the floor’s beauty to a great extent. Light and minor scratches can still be removed by applying some protective coating or wax filler, but deep scratches need immediate professional help.
Best Alternatives of Timber Flooring
#1 Bamboo Flooring
Bamboo flooring is the best alternative of timber flooring, as its very easy to install, is cheap, better looking, durable and moreover sustainable and eco-friendly too! Bamboo flooring by plantation bamboo is made by compressing “moso-bamboo” which is the species of bamboo grass specialized for commercial use. This is so because moso bamboo unlike all other bamboo species is not eaten by panda and hence it is eco-friendly!
#2 Laminate
The reasons why laminate is a good alternative to hardwood flooring is that it is attractive, inexpensive, and durable. Laminate is available in different styles and colors, especially designs that replicated wood, stone, and various other natural materials. Unlike hardwood, laminate is resistant to moisture and stains making it a perfect suit for heavily frequented areas such as bathrooms, hallways, and kitchens.
#3 Porcelain
Pretty porcelain is one of the best alternatives to hardwood when it comes to wooden flooring. Porcelain tiles comes in a range of size, color, and custom designs. Pretty porcelain can be designed in a way that it looks like natural stones or marbles, or sometimes, it can mimic wood-grain textures. Unlike hardwood, porcelain tiles are durable, easy-to-clean, and water-resistant, so these are mainly used in bathrooms and kitchens. Porcelain can also be used as a décor element, all thanks to its minimal grout lines.
Conclusion
Timber flooring does have an array of benefits when it comes to the other counterparts. But being a natural material, it has to face some of those disadvantages that other alternatives don’t come with. So, whenever you are choosing to go with a hardwood flooring, make sure you have your ideas clear.
