Do you know the feeling you get when you step onto a nice fall? What, exactly, a nice floor is may depend in part on your personal preferences. Some people really like hardwood, while others think carpet is the premier type of flooring. Also, some types of flooring work better in certain rooms than in others. For example, hardwood looks lovely in a dining room but is not the best choice for a bathroom. As you can see, there is a lot to know about flooring. That's why we are proud to offer an array of articles all about flooring right here on this website.
What's The Difference Between Hardwood And Softwood?
Wood flooring can be a beautiful accent to your house. If you are going to go with wood flooring, you need to know the difference between hardwoods and softwoods. Knowing the difference between the two will mean that you are able to make the best decision as to which kind of wood you want to use on your flooring
Hardwoods vs. Softwoods
The difference between these two kinds of woods isn't actually how hard the wood is. For example, balsa wood, which is incredibly light and soft, is classified as a hardwood. The basic difference between the two of them is what kinds of leaves they have and how quickly they grow. Hardwood trees are deciduous trees. That means that they lose their leaves every year and then grow new ones back in the spring. These trees also tend to be very slow-growing. That makes their wood denser than the softwoods are. Softwood trees are evergreen trees. They generally have needles as leaves, and they don't lose their leaves. They also grow much faster than hardwood trees, and their wood tends to be less dense.
Hardwood Benefits
One of the benefits of choosing to use hardwoods as your flooring is that they tend to be sturdier than softwoods. They aren't going to get as many dents, dings, and scratches as a softwood might. This quality makes them good for a high-traffic area, like a kitchen, entranceway, or living room. That also means they are going to have a longer lifespan than softwoods tend to have.
Softwood Benefits
Softwoods tend to cost less than hardwoods do. If you have a limited budget and you want wood, that can make them a good choice. Softwood flooring doesn't generally come finished, so you can stain or finish it the way that you want. For example, if you really want to have oak flooring, but it's out of your price range, you can get pine and then finish it in oak colors. You will look like you have oak flooring, but without the oak price. Staining or otherwise finishing the floor will give it some extra protection, especially if you use a sealant
If you want to use wood flooring in your house, you need to know about the differences in hardwood and softwood. You also need to know what some of the benefits of each kind of wood is. Without that, you can't make the best possible choice for your needs.