Hardwood flooring continues to be a popular option for new construction and remodeled homes. However, when a person decides that they want hardwood flooring in Chicago, there are many things that may need to be considered. Here are a few helpful tips when choosing the right wood flooring materials.
Cost Factors for Wood Flooring
From a cost standpoint, solid hardwood flooring is going to be the most expensive material. It’s also going to be the product that will last the longest. However, because of its expense, many people building a new home or renovating an existing home may not have the money in their budget for solid wood.
Alternatives to Solid Wood
An alternative that offers hardwood flooring appearances while being more affordable is engineered wood flooring. This is a wood flooring product that incorporates several layers of either plywood or manufactured wood products with a veneer of wood on top. For all intents and purposes, this is wood flooring, but it doesn’t come at the high cost of solid wood. However, a person may not be able to sand down engineered wood flooring, especially if it has very thin wood veneers, but it may be a small concession to make for having wood flooring on a particularly tight budget.
Saving Money on the Finish
The other thing to consider is pre-finish floors as opposed to unfinished wood floors. If a person hasn’t decided what type of stain that they want or they’re looking to save more money, unfinished wood flooring may be the best option. This will give a homeowner time to decide on a stain, and they can save money on the process by choosing a hardwood material that hasn’t been pre-stained.
Choices in Wood Types
Another thing to consider is the type of wood that is used. Wood flooring can come in materials like maple, oak, and pine. There are also more sustainable materials, like bamboo or more exotic woods. The more standard wood products and sustainable products may be cheaper while more exotic woods are going to be on the higher end of the price scale.
Whether you can afford solid wood floors or engineered wood floors and whether those floors are pre-stained or unstained, hardwood flooring in Chicago can be a significant addition to your home. To learn more about your options for wood flooring, you may want to visit the website for more information.
