When the opportunity presents itself, more often than not, people will choose to install wood flooring in their homes. While ceramic tile is gaining popularity, particularly in those areas with warmer temperatures, there is an appeal to walnut, maple or solid oak flooring that is simply unrivaled.
The Janka Rating Scale lists hardwoods based on how dense they are, and one of the reasons that oak, in particular, is so popular is that it falls mid-way on the list. Some locations, those with high traffic and frequent abuse, require an extremely dense variety, but for most homes, the level of hardness found in oak is more than sufficient. Too dense a variety loses the grain patterns that are so prominently displayed when oak is stained. Of course, too soft a wood might look good but would create considerable maintenance issues.
Although how good a floor looks and how well it holds up to traffic are certainly prime motivation factors, there are other reasons for choosing to install hardwood flooring. Homeowners are increasingly choosing to rip the carpeting out of houses and replacing with wood or tile because of what has been learned about the health advantages for those with breathing issues.
In the United States, alone, asthma affects the lives of nearly 20 million individuals. Sufferers with this chronic lung disease experience attacks of not being able to breathe that are brought about by not only environmental and seasonal factors, but also by seemingly harmless allergens found in almost every home. The more common ones include mold, pollen, dust, insect droppings and pet dander. Keeping the home as clean and free of these triggers as possible is vital. Unfortunately, it is nearly impossible to remove them from carpeting, no matter what type of cleaning system is used. Many have discovered that the only effective method is to remove the carpet.
As you admire your new oak or walnut floor, you can feel good about the choice you made. Hardly anything adds more market value to your home than hardwood flooring, and you have taken a positive step toward protecting the health and well being of the members of your family.
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