This is a question that comes up a lot. Here are 7 questions to help you narrow down those choices. I am often asked, should I go with a dark wood, a light wood, or a neutral wood?
- Dark wood examples are: brazilian cherry, mahogany or maybe a dark stain on oak.
- Light wood examples are: maple, birch, yellow pine, or natural bamboo.
- Neutral wood examples are: red oak natural, or white oak natural.
Before making this decision you should ask a few questions of yourself and your wood floor expert. 1. What am I trying to achieve? Is the look of the floor more important, or the durability? 2. How will this floor hold up under my situation? 3. How durable is my selection? 4. Does my family wear shoes in the house- especially work boots, or high heels? 5. Will my children’s toys be rough on my floor? >6. How much sunlight will be on the floor? (Direct light will change floor color and fade flooring.) 7. Do you have dogs? (Their nails will dent the floor). Consider these tips for wood floors, after answering these questions: Dark floors will require more cleaning and more easily show scratches. Once a board is scratched, it will be easy to spot. Very dark or light floors tend to cost more to re-finish someday. Moldings and transition pieces will cost more for very dark or light floors. Once light floors are dented, dirt will build in the dents, much like a new wood baseball bat that is now used. Light floors tend to have little wood grain and will show scuffs easier. Neutral floors tend to be the most cost effective and resilient. Neutral flooring is in more than 90% of all homes. The Moral of the story? Think before you leap Giving some thought up front and having realistic expectations of the potential wear and tear the floor might receive from children, pets, and your capacity for how often you can refinish over the years will enable you to make the a decision you’ll be happy with for years to come.