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General Contractors: From New Homes to Old Repairs


Choosing the Right Timber Floors for Your Home

The flooring you choose to have in your home will make a big difference not only to the atmosphere of the individual rooms but also to the value of the property overall. This definitely puts a little pressure on you to pick the right materials for the job, and although this guide won't give you the definitive answer you are looking for, it should definitely help to point you in the right direction. 

Colour 

Colour is clearly one of the most important factors when it comes to picking the right wood for your timber floors from companies like Parquetry Flooring Co Pty Ltd. The age of the wood can have a big impact here as well as many other factors. Older trees tend to be richer and darker in colour with the younger, immature trees being less dense and also lighter. The difference can be so great that younger 'sapwood' on the exterior is often so much lighter than the older, 'heartwood' inside, you'd think they came from two different trees entirely. 

There are a number of things you will need to take into account when considering the colour for your new wood flooring. Darker shades will often make a small room look smaller whereas lighter shades will bring a more airy, open appearance, giving you the opportunity to make a small room look bigger. You will also find that dark floors with dark walls can shade a gloomy atmosphere on the room unless you add rich, luxurious accessories. 

Treatment 

You will need to do your research when picking the kind of wood you want for your timber floors, and it is important to remember that the law will play a part too. In Australia all spotted gum needs to be preserve treated. The laws are there not only to safeguard you against deterioration over time but also against problems such as termite infestations. 

What you will need to remember is that although the treatment process is important, it can have an effect on the end look. The colour can change, and just one example of this is with sapwood, which will take on a brown or grey tone when it has been treated. If you are not aware of this and don't prepare for it, the final result might not be quite what you had hoped for, which can be disappointing. 

Tree Species 

You are going to want to pick a species of tree which is considered resilient. After all if you are using this as a floor it is going to get walked over and this will bring scuffs, scratches and wear and tear, especially over time.

The more resistant the wood you use in your timber floors, the less chance it will become scratched or damaged, reducing appearance as well as the value of the house. A scuffed, scratched, poor-quality timber floor will bring down the market value. A well-polished, taken care of, high-quality timber floor will add to the market value. On top of this keeping up with regular timber floor polishing and sanding will also help to keep the wood in great condition. 

Resilient, durable woods include oak, cherry, elm, mahogany and birch. Softer woods will include fir, pine and spruce trees. The latter will require more treatment and a softer approach. If you don't want a high maintenance floor, the hard, durable woods are the obvious choice. 

Although there are a lot of things to consider when looking at wood materials for your timber flooring needs, it is wise to remember that this will be a great investment at the end of it. Just the same as adding a conservatory or an extension to your property to add market value, there is going to need to be some research and a period of adjustment with installing timber floors. 

Make sure you use high-quality, appropriate materials and the right contractor for the job and you'll be sitting back and admiring your beautiful new floor in no time.

About Me

General Contractors: From New Homes to Old Repairs

Hi, my name is Toni, and I love everything having to do with home repair and design. Over the years, I have done a ton of my own repairs, helped my friends and hired many general contractors. I have learned a lot about how to choose contractors, how to do easy repairs on your own, and when to stop DIY repairs and call the professionals. I wanted to share that information with others, and I love writing so I created this blog. In it, I am going to explore countless topics about everything related to contractors. I hope you and your home benefit from the information presented in this blog, and most importantly, I hope you enjoy reading.

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