REAL WOOD FLOORS
A SOLID INVESTMENT
For most people, their homes represent their largest single investment. Whether you have been in your home for decades, or weeks, the money you spend to improve your home is an investment in your future, so it is important that you research your options carefully to get the most value for your money.
When it comes to choosing flooring for your home, there is no doubt that real, solid wood floors offer the best long-term value. While many other flooring options, including engineered wood floors, generally have a life expectancy of 10 years or less, solid wood flooring’s estimated life expectancy is 100 plus years! That’s value that stands up to the test of time.
In addition, many real estate agents agree that homes with real wood floors sell quicker and for more money than homes without. Real wood floors add significant value to your home, so it’s important that you choose a wood flooring professional who can guide you through the process, whether you are installing a new floor, or revitalizing one that has been around for many decades.
COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS REGARDING SOLID WOOD VS ENGINEERED WOOD
MYTH #1
MYTH 1: “Engineered wood floors are better suited for Montana’s dry climate.”
We regularly have customers in our showroom who have been told this, and we encourage them to read the manufacturer’s warranty. Even though some claim engineered wood is more stable, you will find that warranties will require your home to maintain constant humidity levels between 35 to 55%, which can be difficult, particularly in the winter months. Falling below the required humidity levels will not only void your warranty, but could cause your engineered wood floor to fail.
MYTH 2: “Solid wood floors will develop gaps wide enough to roll a nickel down them!”
While slight seasonal gapping is normal and to be expected, large gaps can be a sign of a problem related to, among others, installation and environmental conditions. We take a number of steps to prevent large gaps. The flooring we purchase comes from mills that harvest their lumber in the northern, colder regions of the country. We take professional moisture content readings of your subfloor and wood floor, as well as indoor temperature and humidity levels to ensure a proper installation.
MYTH 3: “Engineered wood flooring will last as long as solid wood floors.”
Our company regularly repairs and restores solid wood flooring in homes that are 50 to 100 or more years old. This is possible because the milling profiles of solid wood flooring have remained the same for decades, which allows us to buy new flooring to repair old floors. Manufacturers of engineered flooring not only often change their flooring profiles and installation mechanisms, but also regularly phase out styles and colors due to shifting trends. This makes repair of engineered wood floors very difficult, and many times impossible.