Hardwood floors are durable and long lasting, making them a great investment for your home.
While they might not be the best option for a damp room like a bathroom, hardwood floors will look and function way better in a bedroom.
However, all wood floors come with pros and cons, and hardwood floors are no different.
Keep reading to discover the pros and cons of having hardwood floors in bedrooms.
3 Most Common Type Of Hardwood Floors
1. Solid Unfinished Planks
Until a few years back, this type of hardwood floor was the traditional option for homeowners looking to install hardwood flooring in their homes. These are unfinished hardwood planks (of whatever hardwood you choose) that are installed, then stained, and then finished in place.
What’s great about this type of hardwood is that it can be refinished multiple times during its lifespan. It can be sanded to remove scratches and any faded color, and then refinished with stain or paint to make it look new.
However, unfinished planks are losing popularity due to a more accessible and easier to install option.
2. Solid Prefinished Planks
These are individual hardwood planks of various types of wood stained and top-coated by the manufacturer. With these planks, all you need to do is install them.
The drawback of prefinished products is that they’re sometimes milled, and so the planks have beveled edges. This creates a small channel between boards where dirt and dust can collect.
3. Engineered Planks
Engineered hardwood planks are made of a thin veneer of hardwood, bonded to a base of plywood or medium-density fiberboard. The layers are glued and pressed together to form a plank, which is then sanded and finished.
Engineered planks are super easy to install because of their “click-lock” mechanism that interlocks the boards.
What’s great about engineered hardwood is that it’s more resistant to moisture than solid hardwood. This makes it a better option for rooms that tend to be damp, like kitchens and bathrooms.
Hardwood Flooring Average Cost
The average cost of hardwood boards will vary based on the type of wood you choose, as well as the thickness and finish of the boards. Generally speaking, the thicker and more finished the boards are, the more expensive they will be.
Here are some ballpark estimates for the cost of different types of hardwood boards:
- Unfinished solid hardwood boards: $3 - $15 per square foot
- Prefinished solid hardwood boards: $6-$12 per square foot
- Engineered hardwood boards: $2.50-$10 per square foot
The cost of installation will also vary depending on the type of hardwood you choose. Unfinished hardwood will be more expensive to install because it needs to be sanded and finished on site.
On the other hand, engineered hardwood is very easy to install, so the installation cost will be much lower.
Pricing Comparison With Other Flooring Materials
- Hardwood Floors – between $6 and $12 per square foot
- Laminate Floors – between $2 and $6 per square foot
- Luxury Vinyl Plank – between $2.5 and $12 per square foot
- Luxury Vinyl Tile – between $1.50 and $12 per square foot
- Cork Flooring – between $3 and $12 per square foot
Pros Of Hardwood Floors In Bedroom
High ROI
Hardwood is an elegant material that will uplift the look of your home and will also increase its functionality. But in addition to these, hardwood floors raise your property’s value on the market like no other material. When you decide to move on and sell the house, a bedroom or living room with hardwood flooring will be a good reason to ask for more money.
Compared to other flooring options like laminate flooring or vinyl flooring, hardwood is a much better choice if you’re planning to significantly increase your home’s value.
Durable
Easy To Clean
Great Aesthetic
Can Be Refinished
If you want to bring new life to your bedroom hardwood floor, you can refinish it. Refinishing is a process that brings the shine and luster back to your hardwood floor by removing the old finish and coating the wood with a new one.
It’s a relatively easy process, but it will take a few days to complete. You’ll need to sand down the old finish, apply a new one, and then let it dry. Once it’s dry, you can enjoy looking at your new, shining hardwood floor.
Cons Of Hardwood Flooring In Bedroom
Expensive
Can Be Noisy
If you’re looking for a flooring material that’s quiet and won’t make any noise when you step on it, hardwood is not the best option. While it’s true that all wood floors will start squeaking and be noisy over time, this can be a bigger problem in a bedroom where you want to get a good night’s sleep.
For example, underfloor heating will dry the wood faster, causing it to start squeaking way ahead of its time. The best way to avoid this is by using a strong sealer that will keep the fibers inside the wood healthy for a longer period of time.
Although this happens after a rather long time, squeaking hardwood floors are not easy to repair. With constant maintenance and facing the issue the moment it arises, you can avoid costly repairs down the road.
It's Easy To Scratch
One downside of hardwood flooring is that it can be scratched fairly easily. If you’re not careful, your pet’s claws or a piece of furniture can cause a nasty scar on your floor.
While scratches can be repaired, it’s not a process that’s easy or cheap to do.
If a large area of the floor is affected, your best chance is to refinish the floor altogether. If only a smaller area is scratched, wood filler products are a good and quick fix.
Susceptible To Rot And Mold
Although this mind not be the biggest issue in bedrooms, wet environments and water spills (very common in kitchens and bathrooms) will cause a hardwood floor to rot and develop mold. This is why tile flooring becomes more and more common for bathrooms.
Mold is harmful for older homeowners as it causes lung problems, and rot will cause the squeaking floor that we mentioned earlier.
To keep rot and mold away from your hardwood bedroom flooring, try to wipe any water spills fast and to mop any excess water when cleaning the floor.
Conclusion
Overall, choosing a hardwood floor in bedroom is a great investment one can make for their home. Wood flooring ensures a cozy atmosphere in a room that needs to be welcoming and comfortable.
At Randy Stewart’s Hardwood Flooring, you’ll get valuable insights and constant guidance in your flooring project. We’re your local flooring experts from South Carolina, dedicated to making your floors shine again.
Get in touch with us by requesting a quote, or call us directly at (843) 900-4880 to discuss your upcoming project!