How Do I Choose A Wood Floor In Minnesota?
Choosing the right hardwood flooring for your Minnesota home doesn’t have to be complicated, but it’s still best to rely on professionals to help guide you to the best wood floors for your space. If you want to improve your home’s appearance, upgrade your current flooring, and add value to your home, then hardwood flooring is the way to go. Hardwood floors have been popular for hundreds of years due to both their durability and how versatile their looks can be.
Both engineered or solid hardwood floors can be a lively option for your house. However, the advantages of hardwood flooring outweigh the disadvantages, which is why it’s so prevalent in many Minnesota homes. Hardwood flooring is easy to clean and maintain and, with proper care, can last decades. It’s also better for people with allergies since dirt, pet dander, and pollen don’t hide in the fibers. Hardwood is also better for high-traffic areas, as they hide wear and tear better and are less prone to discoloration than carpeting.
Because hardwood floors have so much variety in color and pattern, no two floors are identical. This can make it harder for people to choose the best hardwood floors since there is simply so much choice. At Dave’s Floor Sanding & Installation, we often get asked what the best hardwood floors are for our Minnesota clients.
What is the Best Species For My Hardwood Flooring?
The best hardwood floors are made from readily available tree species, such as:
- Oak
- Maple
- Cherry
- Walnut
- Ash
- Mahogany
These kinds of species are readily available and reasonably accessible for our professional team to install. When you’re considering which type of species to pick for your floors, consider a few things:
- Color
- Grain pattern
- Hardness (for durability)
- Maintenance
- Cost
We’ll explore some of the benefits of our most common types of flooring.
Oak
The hardness varies by species, but it’s still a reasonably durable material. It ages well and, over time, will take on a unique patina. Oak ranges in color from dark red to bleached white, and minor damage is relatively easy to fix.
Ash
Ash is similar in hardness to white oak, ages well, and doesn’t splinter. Ash is also shock-absorbing, comfortable to walk on, and flexible, which means that it can tolerate humidity and temperature fluctuations better than other types of wood.
Maple
Sugar maple is harder than ash and white oak, making it a little more durable. Plus, it’s resistant to minor scuff damage from something like a chair leg. The light texture and open grain pattern make maple a good option for modern-style houses and are readily available.
Cherry
American cherry is a domestic species, that’s beautiful and has nice warm tones – but is softer than most hardwoods and not recommended for busy households.
Brazilian cherry is much darker and distinctive in color with a traditional look, and is an extremely hard wood, but has trouble staying put through our Minnesota cycles of heat and humidity. It can have a tendency to shift and create gaps in the floor.
Choosing the Right Hardwood Flooring For Minnesota
The best wood floors for your Minnesota home depend on your needs and personal taste. Choose a local flooring company that understands the local area’s humidity and weather conditions and who can guide you to flooring that works best for these. Call Dave’s Floor Sanding & Installation today to explore your options for beautiful hardwood flooring in Minnesota.