WHICH FLOORING OPTION WILL GIVE YOU THE BEST ROI?

Hardwood floors have been the preferred flooring choice for homeowners over the past few decades. Wood floors are expensive so homeowners often wonder if it's worth the cost.

Putney Floor Sanding has a clear explanation of the advantages of three types of flooring and offers valuable insight on which one provides the highest return on investment.

OPTION #1: CARPET

A good quality carpet can make a beautiful flooring choice. With proper care, it could last several years. Carpet longevity is not an absolute guarantee.

It all depends on quality, traffic, maintenance, and other factors. Although it is possible for a carpet of high quality and well maintained in low traffic areas to last for up to 20 years, the life expectancy of carpeting cannot always be determined.

OPTION #2: TILE

Porcelain tiles are generally more dense than other types of tiles, so they have a longer lifespan. A good-quality porcelain tile floor can last up to 20 years. Porcelain tile can be as hard as granite because it is dense and hot from the firing process. The tile's color is consistent throughout, so there is no chance of fading.

The tile is very easy to clean but grout can be difficult to keep looking new. Porcelain tile can be more expensive than other tiles, with an average cost of $4-$12 per square feet. Installation can be time-consuming even for professionals.

OPTION #3: HARDWOOD FLOORS

Hardwood flooring is the most durable of all quality flooring materials. It can last for a lifetime if it is properly installed, maintained, and refinished. Hardwood floors are still being used in many old buildings. Wood flooring is timeless, beautiful, and highly sought-after.

The most common hardwoods, such as oak, maple, walnut or cherry, cost an average of $5-$10 per square foot plus another $4-$8 for installation. This is a significant investment that will not only last you a lifetime but also increase your home's market value. Leslie Piper, Home Advisor's consumer-housing specialist and a real estate agent, says that hardwood floors are a must-have for most buyers. They may even be more desirable than carpeting. Hardwood flooring is the best investment for your money.

WANT MORE INFORMATION FROM HARDWOOD FLOORING EXPERTS? CONTACT US AT020 3151 0815.

How To Maintain Unfinished Wood Flooring

Engineered hardwood flooring is a popular option with specific people who prefer to retain wood in its completely natural state. But in regards to maintenance, the lack of the likes of a lacquer or an oil end does mean which you will need to be more respectful of your floor than you might otherwise need to be.

In order to help those of you who have chosen to leave your floor bare, we have put together this guide. You'll see very quickly once you examine it that in many ways, in regards to keeping unfinished hardwood floors it is about what you should not do than what you should. So here are our Top Ten Tips:

1.Do not even be tempted only to strike your floor with lots of soap and water. Should you do so you could seriously damage the wood by inadvertently leaving too much moisture and between the boards.

2.Be gentle with your boards -- they are nude after all! It is never a good idea to place about cleaning an unfinished flooring with any abrasive or sharp object. These items could damage the surface of your ground and leave it looking sad and unloved.

3.Be cautious of products. Wood flooring cleaning goods are (nearly ) as sophisticated as hair shampoos and choosing the right product means you'll get a great outcome. Should you use a cleaning product intended for lacquered or oiled wood flooring in your bare flooring, you may end up with nasty stains that are a nightmare to eliminate -- so avoid this at all costs.

4.Invest in a Proper mop.If you use a conventional cotton mop, the chances are you will leave a great deal more water on your floor than you should. Using a moist microfibre mop using a light spritz of water from water spray, then you should not have any difficulties.

5.In a circumstance where you have stains that are virtually impossible to remove, you should give the stained area a very light sanding. But while this is a powerful way to remove stains, it is not something you would want to do too often, so reserve this option as a last resort.

6.Get hoovering! Vacuuming is the best method to maintain your bare floor in top notch condition. Simply picking up all the dust and dirt that's sitting on the ground's surface will reduce the demand for mopping and reduce the danger of damage significantly; so make certain that you do it regularly.

7.Focus...instead of thinking you need to tackle your entire floor to get it clean, think again. Focusing in on clogs and dealing only with the area that's dirty means that you can lessen your total floor soaking significantly.

8.Be cautious. One of the biggest threats to unfinished hardwood floors is spills. Being vigilant means which you can get on top of spills as soon as they occur. Clean up them with a soft cloth as soon as humanly possible and you won't have to take corrective actions too often.

9.Invest in fantastic door mats. The best approach to reduce dust and dirt putting and staying on your flooring is by buying a top quality outdoor door mat as well as an absorbent and good-looking indoor . When you have bought them, encourage people to use them and if you possibly can; make them take their shoes off!

10.Appreciate! Your flooring is a natural and gorgeous merchandise; take time to appreciate it.

And needless to say, if everything else fails, the great thing about unfinished wood flooring is that you can always choose to sand it and then put in an end at a later date -- what additional flooring alternative gives you that amount of control and flexibility? You are right -- none!

If you are concerned about your unfinished hardwood floors and can perform with a specialist helping hand, why not get in touch? In Putney Floor Sanding we are always happy to help.