Hardwood flooring adds touch of 'romance'
Old houses have lots of character, but perhaps no aspect adds more character than original hardwood floors. After decades of being hidden under carpet, these floors have been making a comeback, both in homes with original hardwood and those without.
Why has hardwood made a comeback in recent years? Dave Wood, owner of the Home Improvement Center in Butler, attributed its resurgence to “ambiance.”
“It takes everyone back to a vintage idea they have in their head, or some place they've been,” Wood said. “The romance of that kind of product is timeless.”
Beyond its aesthetics, though, hardwood floors have numerous other benefits, according to Brett Miller, vice president of technical standards, certification and training for the National Wood Flooring Association.
Miller said wood floors are more sustainable than other types of flooring because they often outlast the rest of the house and that when a tree is cut down for use as a floor, most of that tree is used to create the boards.
“It's the only truly sustainable and green floor covering out there, from every perspective,” he said. “It can take 50 to 60 years for a tree to grow, meanwhile a wood floor can last 100, 200 or even 500 years.”
Not only that, Miller said, but wood floors may also have health benefits.
“They don't harbor allergens, they are easy to clean, they don't allow for mold growth or anything like that, so some studies have shown that using real wood floors can improve the air quality within a home where wood floors are installed,” he said.
The flooring change may also have an economic impact. Because the floors can add as much as $5,000 to a home's value, according to the National Association of Realtors, it may be a wise investment to rehabilitate the old wood that was covered with shag carpet in the 1970s or even to install brand-new wood flooring.
Do-it-Yourself
Homeowners who are feeling adventurous might be able to tackle such a project on their own. But, as Wood said, “it's not for the faint of heart.”
The first step — unless you have to rip up carpet — is to sand off the finish. Sanding requires some preparation.
Home improvement website Family Handyman suggests covering air grilles, removing drapes and doors, nailing down loose boards and ensuring all nails are flush with the floor.Then it's time to bring out the sander. For larger areas, a drum sander would be best, while an edger works well in smaller areas like stairs and near baseboards. Family Handyman recommends starting at a grit as course as 24-grit and progressing to 80-grit or 100-grit on birch or maple.Vacuuming between each grit can prevent scratches and even deep gouges. To blend between the drum and edge sanding, This Old House recommends using a buffer.After sanding, the end is in sight. The final step is to apply multiple coats of sealant or finish. Wood said sealants and finish come in many different materials — they can be polyurethane-, oil- or wax-based — and colors so that each homeowner can choose a stain that's right for them.Hiring a ProWhile it seems simple, refinishing hardwood floors can be time-consuming and energy-intensive. As a result, having a professional do that job can save a lot of frustration.The first step in hiring help is to ensure the contractor is qualified.“Make sure they've paid their dues out there and will get you through it to the finish line,” Wood said.Miller added there are contractors who specialize in rejuvenating wood in older houses and are more familiar with some issues — for example, the wood being unevenly sanded and covered for decades — newer floors may not have.When the contractor arrives, Miller said, they will first determine if the floor can still be sanded and refinished. Sometimes the wood is so worn, or was badly sanded, it cannot be used as a main floor, he said.After that, the contractor will work with the homeowner to figure out what look they want. That will determine what finish will be used.Prices vary widely for this type of work, Miller said. It can range anywhere from $4 per square foot to more than $10 per square foot. But, as the work can add resale value to a house, it can be a good investment.New WoodIf the wood under that carpet is too worn to be used, or if the house never had wood floors to begin with, hardwood is still a possibility.There are two types of hardwood floors that can be installed: engineered wood and three-quarter inch wood, according to Wood.He said the engineered option is a thin layer of hardwood that sits on top of plywood. It can create fewer problems during installation, and it “floats,” rather than being nailed down.“They boast it to be a little more sound than solid hardwood,” Wood said.The other option, three-quarter inch wood, is, of course, thicker than engineered wood. Wood said this can recreate the look of solid hardwood, but it can require a homeowner to cut the length of doors to accommodate the extra thickness.“That generally always requires doing some extra work,” he said.The National Association of Realtors estimates that this sort of remodel costs around $5,500, which is slightly more than the monetary value wood adds to a house.Wood said that 90 percent of floor jobs he completes involve replacing the existing floor with luxury vinyl tile, a product that is made to look like wood but acts like laminate.“You can live on it a little harder than you would a hardwood product,” Wood said.Despite the positives of the vinyl tile, Wood said he still thinks hardwood is one-of-a-kind.“You can't replicate it,” he said.
