Your floor is the second thing anyone notices when they enter your commercial or residential place (first, of course, being the door). Despite what people may think or believe, it is indeed true that ‘first impressions last’ and they really do (these days more than some wedding ‘I do’s’).

Making sure the floor is set right matters to your comfort as well as for making a good first impression. When deciding to model (or remodel) your work or life space you will have to do your homework (hopefully thoroughly) before zeroing in on which would be best suited to your needs and your budget. Before you take the long and tedious research route, here’s some help! Hardwood flooring is quickly becoming one of the most popular and trusted flooring choice and here’s some insight as to why.

• Hardwood vs Laminate
• Hardwood vs Tile
• Hardwood vs Carpet

What does hardwood flooring provide that laminate doesn’t?

• Visual appeal
• Easier maintenance
• Durability
• Warmth
• Modification/Durability
• Safety
• Visual appeal
• Cheaper
• Durability
• Healthy choice
• Can be refinished

Laminate flooring

• is not as visually appealing as hardwood. Depending on what type of wood you choose, it can turn your space into a charming little den.
• In terms of cleaning and maintenance, hardwood wins again as it can easily be repaired by polishing/repolishing out the imperfections and make it look as good as new.
• Repair work isn’t easy on laminate flooring either as laminate comes in individual pieces and snaps together. Though individual boards can be replaced finding the exact match is like looking for a needle in a haystack.
• A major disadvantage of tile flooring is that it is always cold under the feet. This becomes a major concern during the winter. With hardwood, it’s always warm not only under the feet but in the space overall.
• Once the floor is set, it's set. It can’t be altered. However with hardwood, resanding and refinishing is possible whenever desired and required. This gives it more durability too.
• There’s no need to have that ‘slippery when wet’ mental note all the time in your mind when the floor is hardwood. However, tile flooring is almost always slippery. This is quite a disadvantage and likely to cause injuries if you have kids or pets in the house.
• If maintained well, hardwood flooring can last for decades. Carpet, because it is made out of cloth, wears out after a certain period and needs to be replaced every few years.
• Carpet attracts and holds dust and microorganisms, this could be highly damaging to one’s health especially if one has allergies. Hardwood, on the other hand, can be wiped and swept to get rid of such particles easily. This makes it easier to clean too.
• If damaged by a stain or some accident, a hardwood floor can be refinished or sanded again. However, this is not possible in carpet flooring. The only option is a replacement.

What does hardwood flooring provide that tile flooring doesn’t?

Though many designs and variations are available in tile flooring, it somehow doesn’t match the charm and coziness a hardwood floor provides.

Here’s the biggie! Of course pricing is important, so why not get a better deal? With hardwood, you get the above advantages and some cost saving is done too.

Getting the right flooring for your home or workspace involves considering many different variables. Thankfully, hardwood fulfils many requirements a person may have so give it a thought the next time you plan on remodelling your home!