The Many Advantages of Wood Flooring

Wood flooring is beautiful in every home and creates a feeling of warmth and friendliness unsurpassed by any other type of flooring.

Suitable to all types of architecture and decor, wood flooring enables you to create or enhance any design scheme. There is a large choice of wood species from which to choose, each having its own color, feel and charm. Add that to today’s choices in stains and finishes, and the possibilities are endless and exciting.

We’re experts at helping you pick the perfect wood, stain and finish for your home or project. Call us for a free home estimate or to set an appointment to visit our showroom.

Because of wood’s ability to reflect light, a wood floor will brighten and “enlarge” your room. Should a room be too wide, or too narrow, you can change the perceived shape of the space by the way in which the boards are laid. The eye naturally follows the directional flow of the wood, adding “length”.

In addition to evoking a feeling of warmth, wood is an efficient thermal insulator- better than most structural materials. Given the critical condition of our energy resources, and the high cost of fuel, heat loss in the home is a large concern. Here in toasty Tampa, wood floors add comfort. You can kick off your shoes at the end of the day and feel refreshed as your feet touch the cool wood floor. Where beauty and insulating value are desirable, wood is always your first choice.

YOUR FAMILY'S HEALTH…
The Environmental Protection Agency recently conducted a study of pesticides used in gardens and homes and found that once tracked inside, these poisons accumulate on floors and other surfaces. While the poisons outside soon wash away, those tracked into your home may last for years. These poisons are then absorbed by your bare feet, by your children playing and your baby crawling on the floor.

The EPA suggests that wood flooring greatly reduces the amount of pesticides accumulating in your home because a simple mopping easily removes the poisons from your floors.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has received many complaints of toxic fumes in homes, caused by new carpeting. Sadly, after the carpeting has been in your home for a period of time, dirt and mold may accumulate in its fibers.

A noted authority on indoor air quality states, “Carpet holds large quantities of dirt, only some of which is removed by vacuuming or carpet cleaning. This dirt contains various allergic, irritating and toxic components. A wood floor is healthful in Tampa, with its high humidity and sandy soil.”

Additionally, the active ingredient often found in carpet shampoos (which frequently leave residues) is a known human carcinogen. Other common carpet shampoo components have been found to cause such effects as liver and central nervous system damage from long-term exposure.

A solid wood floor is more than just a covering; it adds strength and stability to the floor system. A wood floor is a safe and healthful floor.

…AND WEALTH
A large majority of real estate agents surveyed stated that a home with wood flooring will sell more quickly and for a higher amount of money than a comparable home with any other type of flooring. Look through a Tampa newspaper or home sale publication and you’ll see “hardwood floors” listed as a top feature! They are in demand!

A sound investment here in Tampa, hardwood flooring can last the lifetime of your home, unlike other flooring materials which require replacement after about seven to ten years.

There are floors today, dating back to Renaissance Europe that are still structurally sound and beautiful. In comparison, the stone steps leading up to them are deeply worn and irregular. Here in Tampa, hardwood floors in historic homes are a prized feature. Because it is a permanent part of your home, your wood floor’s value increases as your home appreciates in dollar value.

YOUR PLANET
US Forest Service statistics show that almost twice as much hardwood timber is added every year through new growth as is harvested. The forest from which your floor comes is replenished, not depleted.

A strong market for exotic woods will create an economic value for our endangered rain forests, which will encourage their protection. Currently, the majority of rain forest destruction is the result of forest lands being burned in order to convert the land to agricultural use. Maintaining the forests for selective cutting and natural harvesting (rubber, nuts, medicinal plants, etc.) makes far more sense than the burning of thousands of acres of these trees. By increasing demand for rain forest products, we will increase economic reliance upon the forests and promote their conservation.

It is estimated that 2% of the waste materials making up our landfills is rolls of used carpeting. This huge waste will take about 20,000 years for nature to digest. The life span of a hardwood floor can be well over 100 years and if it should ever be taken up and discarded, it’s biodegradable!

Many people love the look of antique woods, recycling old warehouses, barns, and other structures, giving these materials second lives.

Wood is a natural, earth-friendly, product.

EASY CARE
Your grandmother probably spent many hours on her hands and knees, waxing her wood floors. No more! With today’s scientifically formulated finishes, you will spend little time keeping your floors shiny and clean. There are cleaning products specially created for wood floors which will ensure that they sparkle and have a long and beautiful life. Manufacturers have developed durable finishes, able to withstand your family’s active lifestyle and keep your floors looking great.

To request a free estimate, call us at 813.232.3985 or fill in our free estimate form.