Wood Flooring Boosts Home Price

The Boston Globe reports: Wood floors boost charm, price of homes

By Cindy Atoji, Globe Correspondent | October 21, 2007

When general contractor Shane J. McNeill decided to spruce up the white oak floors in his Stoughton ranch home, he didn’t just sand and refinish the aging hardwood: He put down an inlay of Brazilian cherry, American walnut, and maple, creating an intricate border in his kitchen and dining room.

“That’s the beauty of wood flooring,” says McNeill, adding that it provides “warmth to your home”

That’s not all it does: A survey of realtors by the National Wood Flooring Association showed homes with wood floors sell faster – for higher prices.

And although the $24.6 billion floor covering industry has felt the effects of the housing slowdown, sales of hardwood flooring have been constant, says Christopher P. Ramey, a flooring expert and columnist for Flooring Covering Weekly.

“Wood floors last longer than the current fashions or than other surfaces such as carpet or vinyl,” says Ramey. “They are not a design liability.”

If you live in a house built before the 1970s – and for New England, that is much of the architectural landscape – chances are you have wood floors, even if they’re hidden under carpet. At one point, wood flooring had 96 percent of the residential market share, says Howard Brickman of the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification, which sets standards for hardwood flooring inspectors.

“You didn’t really get a choice in those days,” says Brickman. “It was either red oak or white oak.”

Today’s flooring market has introduced a forest of newcomers, including bamboo, cork, mahogany, teak, and even wood-imitating laminates.

With more than 50 kinds of woods to choose from, Peter Fallon, a Needham-based builder and renovator of luxury homes, recommends homeowners decide what look they want to achieve and then let selection be dictated by cost. “Wood floors come in different types and styles, as well as colors, cuts, and grades,” says Fallon. “You also need to consider whether the flooring will be in a high-traffic area and what sort of maintenance it might need.”

Bamboo, for example, is an increasing popular eco-flooring option, a versatile material that is made of stems or strands compressed into durable planks that can be stained.

Teak, an exotic hardwood available from renewable sustainable plantations, is an oilier, water-resistant flooring suitable for high-end applications.

Whatever the kind, wood that is properly cared for should “last forever,” says Brickman of the certification organization. He’s a master craftsman who helped create the interior wood paneling of the Hatch Shell in Boston.

Add today’s tough urethane finishes, and most floors require little maintenance other than sweeping and cleaning. And don’t worry about the scratches. “If you’re someone who likes to push your piano around for exercise, you’re going to scratch your floor. That’s part of the patina,” he says.

1-800-Hardwood.

Green Flooring

No, we here at flooring.org aren’t talking about the athlete-knee-destroying abomination of Astroturf. Remodel.net has a new post about environmentally-friendly remodeling tips.

Bamboo flooring has rapidly become a natural floor of choice for millions of people worldwide, not only for its status as an environmentally friendly product, but because it is an extremely stylish one too!

Most people need not be reminded of how quickly bamboo grows or replenishes itself after being harvested, for this has been much talked about and documented for centuries. In fact, most consumers are fully aware of this wonder of nature and its benefits, but more importantly nowadays they know that it is being turned into numerous practical and stylish products, and they want some of them!

The natural beauty of bamboo is something that will never fade away, the processed finish on a bamboo floor may differ somewhat.

How long will the finish last? Again you have some options here, bamboo flooring is offered with warranties ranging from virtually zero, to lifetime. Obviously this is where price will come into the equation in a big way.

The way you intend to use your floor will dictate which warranty you need, as will the amount of time you anticipate having the floor in place. Heavy use or commercial installations may require one to consider a floor with a long term, possibly lifetime, warranty. If you plan on replacing your floor within 10 years, there may be little point in opting for one that is warranted for any longer than this.

Some flooring will have a warranty which varies depending on where it is installed, for example, either in residential or commercial premises. It may well be the exact same floor for either application but the commercial warranty will be shorter as the floor will receive more foot traffic in a shorter space of time and therefore reach its limit of normal wear and tear much sooner than a floor in a residential property.

Even flooring without a warranty will suit some consumers, an example might be the small business that conducts two trade shows annually and is looking for something to make their stand look unique. The floor gets walked on for about 10 or 15 days a year and is then stored away for the rest of the time.

Ultimately your choice of bamboo flooring will come down to a mix of the following considerations:

• How much you are prepared to pay
• How easy you want the flooring install to be
• What your anticipated use of the bamboo floor will be
• How long you expect to have the floor installed in your premises

By bearing in mind the above you will surely be able to conclude what is the best option for you. Now all you need to do is visit some of the online stores to see exactly what is available. Remember what we said about making a statement? Take steps on a bamboo floor to make yours now!

In the greater Los Angeles area, David Alan Flooring has done excellent work with bamboo floors and other kinds of hardwood. Give them a call at 1-800-Hardwood.