ListingLife
NOV 2009Absolutely Floored: Your Choices for a Valuable Upgrade
By Lynn Coulter
What feature can add thousands of dollars of value to your home, yet rarely needs replacing?
Hardwood flooring.
Thanks to their beauty and durability, hardwoods “have grown steadily in popularity for the last 20 years,” says Anita Howard, a spokesperson for the National Wood Flooring Association.
How much value can hardwoods add? The NWFA surveyed real estate professionals in 2006 to find out. For a comparable home with carpeting, 63 percent of the survey’s respondents said hardwoods can increase value by up to five percent; 37 percent of respondents put the figure at 10 percent or more.
Your Two Basic Options
If you’re considering a new floor, your first step will be deciding between solid or engineered wood. Either is a fine choice, so let your budget guide you as well as where the wood will be used.
Solid woods are sold in strips and planks of various sizes, or as 12-inch X 12-inch squares known as parquet. Solids should not be used below grade, or in rooms that get a lot of moisture.
Engineered woods are made from thin sheets of wood bonded together. The layered “sandwich” is covered with a hardwood veneer. Engineered wood can be installed in almost any room.
Note that laminate flooring may have a faux finish that looks like wood, but it is different from engineered wood flooring because it is made from wood chip composite and topped with man-made veneers.
The Look
Next, consider color and style. With dozens of hardwood species available, it’s easy to match your décor. These choices include:
Imported Woods
Domestic Woods
Grades and Finishes
Once you’ve found a wood, select a grade within your price range. Grade refers to the wood’s appearance and is usually broken down into three categories:
Clear grade: This is top-of-the-line wood, without defects. It may have minor color differences or other natural variations.
Select: This wood is almost clear, but has minor milling imperfections, as well as small knots, fine holes, and color differences.
Common: This grade has more prominent knots, wormholes, and other character marks. It’s subdivided into common number 1 and number 2, again depending on the amount of color variations and milling imperfections. Common grades are popular choices for homes.
You’ll need to give your hardwood floor the right finish for the foot traffic and moisture it will receive. Most modern finishes are urethanes that provide a protective coating, and they’re available in various gloss levels, such as satin, matte, semi-gloss, and high-gloss.
The Price Tag
What can you expect to pay for your new floor? The species and grade of wood will determine most of the cost, as well as whether you hire a professional installer or do the job yourself. Tom Macedo, whose family has owned a Fresno, California-based flooring business since 1947, estimates the average hardwood floor costs from $9 to $12 a square foot, installed.
With proper care, hardwood floors can last for 100 years, and real estate agents say that many homebuyers prefer them. Whether you select a rugged red oak, a rustic pine, or an exotic Brazilian cherry, hardwoods can be an excellent investment.
