Important Things to Think About Before Getting a Timber Floor

23 October 2018
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Few floors bring as much character into a home as timber flooring. It doesn't matter if the look you're striving for is rustic or modern; there's an option out there for you. The floor creates the feeling in the room. That is why it is important for you to carefully think all your options through before deciding on what timber floors you want in your house or apartment. Some general guidelines to follow when deciding which timber will suit your needs are need, looks and price.

Need

For a busy kitchen with lots of furniture and people moving about all day, softwoods such as pine and fir are not a good idea. Marks and dents are easily created and can force you to re-grind the floor one time too many. In a kitchen or another room with a lot of moisture, tropical hardwoods and oak are much better options.

Looks

One aspect to consider when choosing which particular aesthetic you want your wooden floor to have is colour—do you want almost-white ash, rosy Oregon pine or dark chestnut? What will fit with the rest of the room? There's also the matter of choosing what type of wood from each particular tree you want.

Planks derived from the heart of the tree do not show any knots, but they are a bit more pricey, while the planks from the edge of the tree can show many knots and other surface variation, making them look more rustic. They are also easier to clean since spots and marks won't be as visible.

Another important thing to remember, especially if you're not aiming to re-do the entire room, is to not choose wood that will clash with the wallpaper or paint on the walls. Remember that dark wood will make a room seem darker; therefore, it's not the best idea to combine dark wood floors with very dark walls.

Price

Timber flooring is not the most economical of options. Moreover, there are very few shortcuts to take to save some money in the process. One solution can be to perform the work of laying the floor yourself. Depending on which type of floor it is, this might prove to be a mistake. A simple laminate click-lock pack is easy enough, but in other cases, it's almost always safer to hire someone to do the work for you. Choosing thinner planks might also be an option for cutting the price somewhat; remember that there's a limitation on how much you can grind thinner planks.