Wooden flooring is one of the most amazing and beautiful flooring options available in the market. It is the most comfortable flooring as it feels very soft on the underfoot and brings warmth and beauty to the interior of your home with so many style options.
It becomes an even better choice if you live in a climate that gets very hot in the summer and very cold in the winter. The wooden flooring can easily withstand the variations in temperature and it can remain cozy and comfortable through these changes.
The wooden flooring is quite easy to clean on a daily basis and it is also long-lasting if you take proper care of it. It must be vacuumed every 4-5 days and should be polished at regular intervals. It adds a lot of value and class to the interiors of your home.
Types Of Wooden Flooring
On the basis of the type of wood material used for the flooring the wooden flooring can be categorized into following three categories –
Hard Wood or Solid Wood Flooring
Hardwood or solid wood flooring is the most popular type of wooden flooring and it has been around for a very long period of time. In this type of flooring, the wooden flooring tiles are made from hardwoods like oak, maple, etc.
Depending on the species of wood and the size of the planks hardwood is an expensive flooring option. It offers an unmatched look with a variety of widths and lengths of wood planks, that cannot be obtained from any other type of flooring.
Once the floor is installed you can select a stain color and have it finished on-site, you can choose from an endless number of colors and shades as per your liking. You can also choose from the prefinished hardwood tiles option available in the market.
Engineered Wood Flooring
Engineered wood flooring tiles are made up of a combination of wood products. The top layer is of good quality solid wood and it has less thickness in comparison to the overall thickness of the plank or wood tile.
The cost of engineered wood flooring varies widely depending on the type of species of wood on top and the type of composite on the bottom. It also depends on the overall thickness of both kinds of wood, the thicker the overall wooden tile the more expensive it is.
Engineered wood flooring is more stable than hardwood flooring as it is better suited to a variety of climates. All wood products expand and contract, the composite underneath the top layer helps to limit the expansion and contraction making floors more even.
Laminate Wood Flooring
Laminate flooring is an aggregate wood product made up of wood fibers that are pressed into the planks or tiles under high heat. The top layer in these tiles is not wood but instead a photograph of a wood plank.
When you lay all these planks or tiles down together the floor will have the appearance of a wood floor. This flooring is inexpensive as compared to both hardwood and engineered wood flooring and it is also fairly easy to install.
Laminate wood flooring is also scratch, moisture, and dent resistant. But it never looks like the real thing, the photographs of the wood tend to be repetitive and that makes it pretty obvious that the floor is not real wood flooring.
Advantages And Disadvantages Of Wooden Flooring
Wooden flooring has been the primary choice of flooring for many homeowners. It has a lot of advantages over any other type of flooring. But with the evergoing decrease in the availability of good quality wood people have been looking for alternative options. Let’s have a look at some of the main advantages and disadvantages of wooden flooring in your home.
Advantages Of Wooden Flooring
Durability
The wooden flooring is very durable and long-lasting and once it has been installed properly it can function properly for very long. With proper care and maintenance, the wooden flooring can sustain well for a long period of time.
Comfortability
The soft, gentle texture of hardwood tiles is very easy and comfortable on the feet. This makes wooden flooring an ideal option for usage in places like the kitchen where you may need to be on your feet for a while.
Premium Feel
The wooden flooring gives your home a great premium feel that cannot be matched by any other type of flooring option. The rich and classy look of good quality wooden flooring enhances the overall beauty of your home.
Rejuvenation
The hardwood flooring tiles can be sanded and refinished time and time again for as long as your home is there. This helps you to bring new life to your wooden flooring and make it look as good as new again.
Environment Friendly
The wooden floor tiles come from a natural source – timber that is grown in carefully managed forests to ensure a sustainable supply. Therefore this flooring is an environmentally friendly choice as compared to most other flooring options.
Variety Of Options
The wooden flooring has a lot of varieties in all segments, that you can choose from. There are many options for colors, shades, price brackets, type of material, quality of material, sizes, and shapes.
Disadvantages Of Wooden Flooring
Expensive
The wooden flooring option can be a little bit expensive especially if you go for hardwood or solid wood flooring. Although there are other inexpensive options too that you can choose from.
Scratch Prone
The wooden flooring is quite prone to scratches and it can scratch easily by pointed items, children’s toys, etc. It can also dent easily if any heavy item falls on it.
Vulnerability To Moisture
The wooden flooring is not at all a good option for places with high moisture content. The moisture can make wooden flooring tiles swell and breakdown ultimately.
Termite Attack
The wooden flooring has to be checked properly at regular intervals to watch for any kind of termite attack. Any kind of termite infestation can destroy the wooden flooring very easily.
Noise Issues
The wooden tiles if not set and installed properly, would make noise while using the floor. This problem especially arises with the usage of low-quality wooden tiles.
Cost Or Price Wooden Flooring
The overall cost or price of wooden flooring can vary a lot with different factors. There are many varieties and qualities of wooden flooring material available in the market. And the overall cost of wooden flooring varies to a great extent with the choices that the homeowner makes.
For a general reference, you can have a look at the following table to get an idea of the overall cost of wooden flooring per square foot in your home.
| S. N. | Flooring | Approx. Min Price | Approx. Max Price |
| 1. | Hardwood Flooring | Rs. 500 per sq.ft. | Rs. 6000 per sq.ft. |
| 2. | Engineered Wood Flooring | Rs. 200 per sq.ft. | Rs. 1200 per sq.ft. |
| 3. | Laminate Wood Flooring | Rs. 100 per sq.ft. | Rs. 1000 per sq.ft. |
Wooden Flooring Installation Process
The process of wooden flooring installation is very crucial as it can make a huge difference in the overall performance of the floor. There are some important factors that you need to take utmost care of while laying down the floor. Let’s have a look at the step-by-step process of wooden flooring installation.
Prepare The Base
The first step for the installation of this flooring is to prepare the floor base properly. The floor should be even and you should use a layer of good quality underlayment to protect the wooden tiles from moisture and pests.
Measure The Floor
The next step is to correctly measure the floor area so that you have an exact idea of the number of wooden planks or tiles that you would require to cover the floor. Also, let these wooden planks or tiles sit for at least 72 hours to get them acclimatized.
Start The First Row
When the flooring has acclimated, pick out the straightest boards for the first row. Hold the first wooden tile on the starting line with the groove side towards the wall. Set spacers for the expansion gap which is typically about a quarter of an inch.
Secure The Wooden Tiles
You have to secure the wooden tiles using an air nail gun or else you can drill pilot holes if you are using a hammer and nail set. You can fill the nail holes with matching floor putty later.
Fix Other Rows
To start the second row, push the groove onto the tongue of the first row and tap the boards together with a tapping block. Keep installing the next few rows this way, staggering the joints at least 6-inches.
Continue The Process
Continue installing the rest of the floor, staggering the joints, and maintaining the expansion gaps. For the last two rows, you will have to face nail along the tongue side. To fit the very last row, cut the pieces keeping in mind the expansion gap.
Finishing The Process
Finish up by cutting the excess underlayment, filling nail holes with wood putty, and reattaching the baseboards and shoe molding. Attach the trim to the wall and not the floor and then attach the transitions to finish the process.
