Hardwood

Most people simply love the way wood flooring enhances a room. It gives a room a sense of permanence, stability and warmth. Even in a small house with minimal square footage, wood floors give a house a well-crafted, "high-end" appearance. In fact, 90 percent of realtors say that wood floors help a home sell faster and for more money.

There are many good reasons why wood flooring may be right for your home. There are also a few good reasons why wood flooring might not be the right choice for you. It's definitely worth the time to educate yourself about the benefits and limitations of wood before you make the investment.

Among the reasons to choose wood are:

• Wood floors tie a room together, yet complement virtually any furniture, artwork or overall style.
  
  
• The wide range of species, colors and patterns offer endless design possibilities.
  
  
• Wood floors are easy to clean. They're ideal for people with allergies, asthma or other respiratory problems, because dust particles, pollen and dust mites stay on the surface where they can be thoroughly wiped out.
  
  
• For the price of a high-quality carpet installation, a well-maintained hardwood floor can easily last beyond a 30-year mortgage, while carpets are replaced an average of three times in that same time span.

Find out more about hardwood floors in the following articles:

• Prefinished floors
• Engineered floors
• Wood species