There are lots of different types when choosing to get hardwood flooring, One of the most durable is the solid oak flooring. The Oak has a reputation for being extremely durable and it is among the hardest woods you may get, but there are some things to consider before putting your money into that flooring you might be eyeing at the hardware store.
There are two options when you are looking to get the hardwood look for your home: solid wood or engineered flooring. Solid wood is as it sounds and solid oak flooring will look just as wonderful as you would expect, but engineered flooring does have its benefits as well.
Instead of the wood being solid in this type of flooring, it may be veneered. This reduces costs significantly, and they are also much easier to install. The cost for engineered varieties can be just a fraction of the real thing, and in many cases, it will look just the same. There is also no need for a professional installation because they come in interlocking pieces. That all being said, it is also easily damaged, and there are instances when a piece can come undone or damaged and ultimately reveal that it is not real oak flooring.
The real thing is by no means cheap, and it is necessary to have it professionally installed. There needs to be a gap in between the wood and the wall to allow for expansion, which happens naturally to wood in certain temperatures and moisture levels. This is a difficult thing for a do-it-yourselfer to pull off since it needs to be precisely measured and installed, and shoe moulding must be put down as well. The costs of the flooring are expensive enough, but the costs of installation can be that much more. This alone is what puts many people off from getting the real thing.
One of the major causes of its fame and accomplishment is that solid oak floor is more suitable than carpets. It is very much easy to clean it as compare to the carpets, for which vacuum-cleaner is very much needed for its proper cleaning otherwise it’s very much difficult to clean the carpets.
This oak floor has only a little higher cost than carpets, but the advantages are much larger than carpets. Those who loved to purchase the stylish and good looking carpets for their living and working places in the past are now shifting their focus towards the purchasing of this Solid oak flooring.
Though expensive, the real thing will last for years and years. Most retailers will provide a 10 to a 15-year warranty on it in case of any possible accidents, though often that is not even a problem. Oak is sturdy enough to stay perfectly intact in even the highest traffic and busy areas of the home for years.
It is possible to find both real and engineered oak flooring at most home improvement stores, and some hardware retailers will carry them as well. It’s crucial to comparison shop either way and giving some heavy thought as to oak flooring will work best with your budget. Both are great options, but if the budget allows then the real thing is the best option.