When it comes to flooring, the market offers plenty of different categories. Even in each category, the number of options can be staggering. Hardwood floors are an enduring choice with a classic, traditional feel and aesthetic. If the idea of hardwoods in your home intrigues you, learn the benefits, how to shop and care for them, and the kinds of Australian hardwoods that can beautify your home.
Benefits of Hardwood Flooring
Including hardwood flooring in your home has numerous benefits. Durability is perhaps the most important. When properly maintained, hardwood floors are long-lasting materials that can save you money over time. Repairs and maintenance don’t cost much but also let you keep the flooring far into the future.
Cleaning is easy. You can usually wipe away spills to prevent stains, and regular cleaning can involve washing, vacuuming, and sweeping without hurting the wood. If a scratch does happen, you can sand it out before restoring the surface with refinishing.
Many hardwoods are hypoallergenic, improving interior air quality in your home. They also reduce vibrations and hollow sounds to enhance the acoustics in any room they’re installed in. These beautiful floors bring warmth to your home and increase property value.
How To Shop at Flooring Stores
When you shop at flooring stores, you need to factor in several considerations. Physical flooring samples help you see how a particular option feels and looks in a specific space.
The physical aspects of a room determine a lot about the potential flooring. Measure a space’s length and width before multiplying the two together to determine the total square footage. With some kinds of flooring, you might need extra material. When doing all your calculations, factor in variables such as baseboards and traffic patterns in a room.
Your budget needs to include installation costs. While some flooring types might be installed as a DIY project, you should consider the advantages of professional installation.
How Can You Clean Hardwood Floors?
The first thing you should do to clean hardwood floors is remove dirt, dust, and pet hair with a vacuum or dust mop. Avoid vacuums with beater bars attached to them, which might damage your flooring; floor-brush attachments are typically safe. Make this a weekly chore, but do it more often if you have many kids or pets in your home.
Dust mopping can prevent a lot of grime accumulation, but it won’t deal with anything already built up. Period deep cleaning requires liquid cleaner, such as wood-cleaning products you can get from commercial retailers. Alternatively, make a homemade solution of one part vinegar for 10 parts warm water with a dash of liquid soap. Saturate a sponge mop or rag with your solution after you dust mop or vacuum, and then mop your floor gently. Rinse your mop using clean water before wringing out the excess. Use your damp mop to get the cleaner off of the floor. Use clean, dry towels to remove standing water before it hurts your floor.
Scratches can often be sanded and refinished, but you might want to cover them until then. Get a crayon the color of your floor, and rub it into the scratch so the gap fills. Heat the crayon area with a blow dryer set to high before buffing it using a soft cloth. Prevent damage with doormats inside and outside entrances to your home to minimize moisture and dirt. Floor protectors underneath furniture and rugs across high-traffic areas also protect your flooring.
What Is Australian Hardwood?
Australian hardwoods are among the most desirable options worldwide, especially for their beauty, durability, and strength. In addition to flooring, they’re used frequently for decking and outdoor furniture because they naturally resist decay and rot. Australian woods are found in many colors, including brown, red, black, and gray. There is also a wide variety of grain patterns available.
Eucalyptus is durable and resistant. This reddish-brown wood shrinks easily and needs routine covering and treatment. Blackbutt is closely related, and this tough timber is also called Eucalyptus Pilularis.
White Mahogany is a premium hardwood sourced from Australia’s eastern coast; its heartwood ranges from light to yellow-brown in color. Tallowwood is another east-coast timber from Queensland that many architects love working with.
Victorian Ash is a straight-grain wood ranging from yellowish brown to pale pink. Its interior applications include flooring, joinery, furniture, and staircases.
Pick What’s Right for Your Home
Whether you’re choosing flooring for your entire home or select rooms, you have many options. Hardwoods have many benefits but require the right cleaning and maintenance. Knowing how to shop for them and pick the right ones enables you to install them in your home, but make sure you care for them so you can enjoy and protect your investment for years to come.
Lynn Martelli is an editor at Readability. She received her MFA in Creative Writing from Antioch University and has worked as an editor for over 10 years. Lynn has edited a wide variety of books, including fiction, non-fiction, memoirs, and more. In her free time, Lynn enjoys reading, writing, and spending time with her family and friends.
