Residential flooring has to be able to handle plenty of traffic and weight from an assortment of people and pets. Many people opt for hardwood flooring because, unlike carpeting, wood doesn’t retain bacteria, mites, fleas or dust. Hardwood flooring is good looking, durable and when sealant has been applied, cleaning with a dust or wet mop is very low maintenance.
There are numerous wood choices on the market today to use for residential flooring purposes. Oak has been a perennial favorite because it is among the hardest of woods, able to take the punishment of plenty of family traffic yet still be durable and beautiful. Color choices range from deep reds to white.
Maple wood is another durable choice featuring a hardness that resists scratches and marring. Color choices range from pale white to reddish brown.
For a flooring with a more rustic feel, pine is a less expensive choices than oak or maple. But because it is a softwood, it is not as durable as hardwood options and shows dents and scratches much more readily.
Teak has long been prized for its resistance to rot, fungi and mildew and is an excellent choice for areas in the home where dampness occurs such as kitchens and bathrooms.
Bamboo woods are gaining in popularity as an environmentally sound residential flooring choice. It’s prized for its exotic looking striped grain, and like teak, resists moisture and is a solid choice for humid climates.
One of the fastest rising stars of the residential flooring market is Ipe, also known as Brazilian Walnut, rated as the hardest and most durable wood choice available.
Ipe is an excellent hardwood residential flooring choice because liquid spills can be mopped up without soaking into the surace. Ipe is a hardwood that is decay, rot and insect resistant, making it a perfect choice for tropical and humid climates. In addition, Ipe is extremely fire resistant, an outstanding safety feature.
Color choices range from lighter golden browns to olive greens, and black and brown, although color uniformity can pose a problem. Because of its extreme hardness, installing Ipe requires special drills and saws to prevent the wood from splitting. But Ipe’s overall beauty and durability make it an outstanding residential hardwood flooring selection.
