Pros and Cons of Hardwood Floors
Choosing to renovate or remodel a home comes with expensive decisions, such as whether installing hardwood floors is worth the expense. While hardwood floors are timeless and elegant, they can also be hard to maintain and may not be suitable for all families. Does this Spark an idea?
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The Cost
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A big downside of installing hardwood floors is that they can be expensive. In order to have hardwood floors in a home, the homeowner must purchase flooring and pay for installation costs, and in some cases other materials used for installation.
Home Decor
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Hardwood floors are elegant and beautiful, and look good in any home. Hardwood floors are also easier to match with wooden furniture pieces. A big pro of hardwood flooring is that decorating a home is easier, and it is not as complicated as trying to match a couch with outdated pink carpeting.
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Added Value
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Hardwood floors add value to a home, and are often a desired feature of home buyers.
Pets
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A big con of hardwood floors is that they can be scratched and damaged by pets. Larger dog breeds can scratch deep grooves into hardwood flooring, which can be costly to repair.
Moisture Damage
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Hardwood floors are sensitive to moisture and water damage. Spills need to be cleaned up immediately, especially pet urine. Repeated water damage can cause floor cracking or buckling.
Cleaner Than Carpet
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Hardwood floors are cleaner than traditional carpeting because there are no allergens being trapped in the carpet fibers or padding. Cleaning hardwood floors is usually easier than cleaning carpets, as no dirt is trapped that can remain there for years to come. Carpet can also be soiled by pets, and urine can penetrate deep into carpet fibers.
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