Choosing the right flooring type for your new home can be overwhelming. There are several aspects that homeowners must consider, from hiring reliable flooring contractors to considering their family’s needs. While many inexpensive flooring options are available, including laminate or vinyl floors, the hardwood floor stands out for its increased durability and strength. Continue reading this article to understand what makes hardwood flooring better than laminate floors.   

Some Facts about Laminate Flooring

• Many homeowners consider installing laminate floors due to its low cost. However, this inexpensive alternative to hardwood floors might require costly replacements in the future.
• Laminate flooring requires adhesives and glues for installation. Also, it needs an underlayment or concrete-based subfloors to withstand heavy traffic and furnishing.
• Unlike hardwood floors, laminate flooring only lasts for 15 to 25 years with proper care and maintenance.  
• Without an underlayment, laminate flooring can reflect the dents and bulges of the subfloors.  
• Despite the concrete subfloor, laminate flooring can’t withstand heavy foot traffic and isn’t ideal for commercial spaces like restaurants, offices, schools, etc.
• Homeowners must ensure regular maintenance to increase the lifespan of their laminate flooring.

Hardwood Floors

• Compared to laminate flooring, natural or engineered hardwood can last for a lifetime with proper care and maintenance.
• Hardwood floors can be installed over any subfloor without reflecting the impressions from underneath.
• Hardwood floors can withstand heavy foot traffic and furnishing without denting. Thus, they are ideal for commercial and residential purposes.
• Engineered hardwood doesn’t require any adhesives or glues to install. The planks come with a click-together feature that allows safe and DIY flooring installation.
• They are easier to clean and maintain.
• They improve indoor air quality because they don’t trap dirt, allergens, dust, etc.
• Hardwood floors boost property value and enhance the indoor aesthetics of your house.
• They are like an investment, which brings back profitable returns to homeowners.
• Hardwood floors come in various textures, finishes, and designs, allowing every individual to meet their style and preference.
• People are more likely to buy a house consisting of hardwood floors than one that does not.

Are you looking for a professional flooring contractor in Kirkland? Reach out to Five Star Hardwood Floor right now! They are a reliable flooring company that offers hardwood floor installation and refinishing services. Click here to learn more about their services.

Hardwood floors have played a significant role in improving indoor aesthetics and boosting property value over the years. While it’s a common flooring option for many homeowners, hardwood flooring can also benefit business firms and commercial spaces.

Floors that withstand heavy foot traffic every day are more susceptible to wear and tear. In this context, hardwood floors are an ideal option for all commercial areas as they can endure heavy furnishing and foot traffic without taking a beating. Continue reading this article to learn how hardwood flooring can benefit your business.

Increased Durability

Hardwood floors are renowned for their durability and resilience. Since commercial spaces receive several clients, employees, and customers every day, the heavy foot traffic can damage the wrong flooring type. For example, laminate flooring is more likely to damage and wear out in a commercial space than hardwood floors. Therefore, business owners must install hardwood floors to prevent costly replacements in the future.  

Scratches and Scuffs Only Add More Character

Imagine having tiled flooring in your office. A single crack, scratch, or chip would ruin the entire floor’s aesthetics. However, scuffs and scratches only add more character to hardwood floors. Instead of appearing as a damaged spot, the marks camouflage with hardwood’s texture and finish, giving it more charm and visual appeal.

Versatility

Another advantage of hardwood flooring is that they come in various textures, finishes, colors, styles, and designs, thus, meeting every individual’s taste and preference. Their unique appearance can make any area warm, cozy, and eco-friendly. Customize your office rooms with varying hardwood patterns and finishes to enhance the indoor aesthetics indoors.

Improves Air Quality

Carpet flooring can easily trap dirt, dust, and allergens, risking you and your employees to respiratory diseases and skin allergies. On the contrary, hardwood floors avoid trapping these elements, improving the overall air quality inside your office.

Easy To Clean

Hardwood flooring is also easy to clean and maintain. A damp mop and a mild cleaning agent will be sufficient to keep your surroundings clean and hygienic. Nevertheless, you must avoid using harsh chemicals and detergents as they may ruin your hardwood floor prematurely.

If you’re looking for flooring installers in Redmond, reach out to Five Star Hardwood Floor in Seattle, WA. They are a reliable flooring contractor that offers professional hardwood floor installation for commercial and residential use. Learn more about their team here.

Many misconceptions have emerged regarding hardwood flooring over the years. Some believe it’s very expensive, while others think it requires frequent refinishing. These myths have turned off several homeowners from installing hardwood floors in their homes. In reality, hardwood floors improve your house’s aesthetic and last long upon good maintenance. Let’s debunk a few common myths that circulate hardwood floor installation.

Hardwood Scratches Easily

Flooring style and material can wear and tear with time. Nevertheless, hardwood floors are one style that allows you to restore their original finish. The hardwood floor’s finish is susceptible to becoming dull with time. Therefore, all you need is light sanding for your hardwood floor to make it appear as good as new again!

Hardwood Floor Is Expensive

Although hardwood floors might seem expensive compared to other flooring styles, they offer great value. Hardwood floors can last for up to a hundred years with proper installation and maintenance. It can be refinished and sanded several times throughout its lifespan to adopt a new trend or décor style!

Hardwood Is Impervious To Dents

While it’s not true that hardwood floors scratch easily, it’s also not true that they are the toughest flooring style. Hardwood floors are durable, but you need to take measures to ensure their integrity isn’t compromised. Fortunately, it’s quite easy to protect your hardwood floors from damage. For example:    

• Place padded feet under your furniture
• Lift the furniture when rearranging your interior
• Avoid dragging stuff on the wooden floors
• Avoid wearing high heels on hardwood floors

By implementing these measures, you can ensure your hardwood floors survives a good length of time!

You Should Not Invest In Hardwood Flooring When You Intend To Sell Your Home!

This is yet another myth that circulates hardwood flooring. In reality, hardwood floors add more value to your house. You will find some buyers willing to pay more if your property has hardwood flooring. This is because hardwood floors are easier to clean and maintain, making them an ideal choice for adults and kids.

Hardwood floor installation makes any home sophisticated and cozy. If you have a hardwood floor in your house and are looking for floor refinishing services in Woodinville, reach out to Five Star Hardwood Floor. They are Seattle’s top-rated hardwood floor refinishing & staining services. For more details, contact them today!  

A staircase is a style statement in every house. Whether it’s designed from hardwood floors or metallic rails, it’s bound to make a great first impression on your guests. Therefore, whether you’re renovating your old house or building a new one, here are five unique staircase ideas you can consider:

Box Newels

Box newels have been trending for the past few years. They are considered as the anchor system of the stairway that works well with various balusters, creating a unique look at your place. You can also customize them to suit your overall home’s style.

Iron Balusters

Balusters are the rods vertically installed between the floor and handrail. They come in various designs and materials. While wood balusters were the main choice in this category, people are now opting for iron balusters.

Iron balusters are becoming popular because of their affordability. You can use them in any home type, whether it’s a custom-built home or a luxury one! From ornate to straight rids, there are many styles when considering iron balusters for your home’s staircase. You can have them colored to match your house’s chandeliers, faucets, hardware, or floor.  

Square Balusters

If you don’t prefer iron balusters, you can incorporate a square baluster in your house. Square balusters that are most common in the market today are paired perfectly with wooden risers. These wooden balusters come in various styles and will compliment your home’s overall aesthetics.   

Stainless Steel and Cable Tube

Stainless steel cable and tubing were initially only restricted to exterior staircases. However, many interior stair systems are also utilizing this design to give their homes a more modern and sleek appeal. The cable is installed horizontally and gives an aura of cleanliness. It also maximizes the view through the staircase, creating a fresh and simple look!

Linear Metal Petals

Consider linear metal panels if you’re looking for the most trending look. They’re a modern stairway design that consists of pre-assembled panels. These are optimum for level run applications, knee wall staircase, and open tread stairs.

It’s essential to enhance the aesthetics of your hardwood flooring to match your preferred stairway design. For hardwood floor installation in Bellevue, reach out to Five Star Hardwood Floor. They install, repair, and refinish hardwood floors with various other services. Contact them today to learn more!        

When it comes to flooring, hardwood is by far one of the most popular options for homeowners. But is hardwood a good idea for you?

Keep reading to learn about some of the pros and cons of hardwood flooring so you can make the best decision for your home.

Pros Of Hardwood Flooring Installation

1. Durability

Hardwood flooring is known to last a long time. Some types of floors may need refinishing every few decades, but most dustless hardwood flooring can last for an average of 80 years or longer if properly maintained. Wood flooring is durable and can withstand heavy foot traffic without warping or denting.

2. Easy to clean

Dustless hardwood floors provide a firm and solid surface that is easy to keep clean and free from dirt, dust, and debris compared to other surfaces such as tile, carpet, or marble. This makes it easy to have a smooth transition from one room to another.

3. Resilience

Hardwood floors do not absorb sound because of their resilience, making them ideal for rooms where the constant noise level may interfere with your work or sleep schedule. The lack of sound absorption also makes it possible for you to enjoy music, even at high volumes, in rooms with hardwood floors.

Similarly, hardwood floors can withstand excessive foot traffic (think of school kids and dogs running in from the rain) and daily wear and tear like stiletto heels, furniture being dragged across them, or dropped objects being tossed on them.

4. Stylish

Installing hardwood floors offer a great deal of style and add to the aesthetic appeal of your home. They come in a huge range of colors and styles, from the classic look of an unfinished floor to dark and rich finishes. Moreover, hardwood is also available in many different textures and can be made even more decorative with various tones and stains.

Cons Of Hardwood Flooring Installation

1. Expensive

Hardwood isn’t cheap, especially exotic woods like oak, cherry, and hickory. Even cheap engineered wood is still more expensive than laminate or vinyl. The most inexpensive hardwood floors are $5 per square foot and up, depending on the wood type and rarity. However, hardwood floors are worth the long-term investment.

2. Regular maintenance

Hardwood is  susceptible to moisture and changes in temperature. It needs to be oiled and treated more often than carpeting. This means that you’ll want someone who knows how to keep hardwood looking its best in your home.

If you are looking for refinishing, sanding, or recoating services for your hardwood floor in Seattle, you can contact Five Star Hardwood Floor. They are a trusted hardwood flooring company known for installing top-quality hardwood and engineered flooring options.

If you’re looking for new hardwood floor installation, you’ve come to the right place.

Choosing the perfect hardwood can make all the difference to your flooring project. From design to durability, there is a lot to consider when making the right choice.

Many homeowners have different ideas of what they want, and unfortunately, don’t end up with the result they were hoping for.

So, we’ll help you avoid the three most common mistakes people make when choosing their new hardwood flooring.

Mistake 1: Trying to go cheap

Trying to cut corners in your choice of hardwood flooring can end up costing you more in the long run. Many people think that they can buy a cheaper wood option that’s not going to last, and they can get it fixed later.

But what happens is that the wood starts rotting from the inside out and peeling off in little pieces.

Mistake 2: Confusing engineered wood flooring for real wood

There are many different kinds of engineered flooring available today, and many are advertised as “real wood,” but none match the quality of true hardwood floors.

If you’re shopping for an authentic hardwood floor, you’ll want to make sure that it’s 100% solid wood. However, engineered wood flooring is often better than solid wood when working around plumbing or electrical fittings and is most suitable for high-traffic areas like hallways or foyers.

How to differentiate between real wood and engineered floors? 

Engineered floors come in many different varieties. Some look more like planks, while others look like tiles imitating the look of solid wood.

Inspect each piece of wood by taking off a small strip at the end. If you can see the layers of wood, it’s referred to as a solid wood floor. However, if you do not see any layers, it’s referred to as laminate or engineered planks.

Mistake 3: Not Getting A Pro

You should always get a professional opinion from a flooring contractor in Seattle before finalizing flooring options. That way, you know that you’ve picked out the right color, design, and type of top hardwood flooring for your room. Often, people will make a mistake when they pick out custom hardwood floors without getting a professional opinion first. Then the wood starts coming in, and they don’t like it after all. It’s better to spend a little extra money first, so you don’t have to worry about it later.

Now that you know the common hardwood floor installation mistakes, you can pick the best solid wood floors that fit your needs. Five Star Hardwood Floor is one of the best wood flooring services in Seattle, offering dustless and waterproof hardwood flooring options for you to choose from. Contact them today!

Hardwood floors are a popular flooring choice among homeowners for their warm aesthetic appeal and superior durability. However, even the strongest floor materials can wear out with time due to heavy foot traffic, sunlight exposure, and pet activities.

Continue reading “4 Signs It’s Time to Get New Hardwood Floors”

Hardwood floorings are the new norm. Hardwood flooring sales in the United States of America were valued at almost 3.57 billion US dollars.

Continue reading “FAQs About Different Types of Flooring”