HARDWOOD FLOORS

If you are considering hardwood floors for your home, here's information you can use to help you decide if hardwood floors are right for you


It's time to do some remodeling and you want to do something about the flooring in your home. Your carpets are worn out and no longer attractive. Will you replace the carpeting with more carpeting? Or will you consider another type of flooring, such as hardwood. Even if you've never considered hardwood flooring before, this could be the time for a major change in your flooring. Hardwood flooring is durable, long lasting, and in the long run, less expensive to install if you consider that it will last for 30 or more years, while carpeting will need to be replaced again in 10 years or less. If you'd like to learn more about hardwood flooring, we give you basic information you can use to seriously consider adding hardwood floors to your home. Included are sources for the flooring itself, as well as places to go to learn more than what we can cover here. When you're finished, you should know more than when you began.

For More Information

Consider the following sources to help you make your decision or for just more information, about hardwood flooring:
  • iFLOOR.com has one of the most informative sites we've seen. Even if there's not a distributor near you, you will still find lots of information here to help you make a decision, and good "how-to's" should you decide to go with hardwood floors.
  • Andersonfloors.com is the web site for one of the best-known wood floor manufacturers around. Their motto is "No one knows floors like Anderson."
  • Bruce Hardwood Floors: From here you can browse Bruce's selection of hardwood floor styles, species, finish, or construction type, or search for the perfect hardwood floor
As with most any other home improvement project, you will also find excellent help at your local Home Depot or Lowe's home improvement store.

Hardwood vs Laminates and Carpeting

Hardwood flooring improves with age, and is among the longest lasting of all flooring types. They are beautiful, highly durable, and are very affordable. It will initially cost you more than other floor types, but it will increase the value of your home, while others won't. Hardwood flooring will outlast any other type of flooring, Laminate flooring may look as good as hardwood, but it will eventually chip and lose its coating. When this happens, you must dispose of the laminate and install new. Hardwood flooring is easy to care for and can be recoated to return it to its original look.

Comparing hardwood flooring to carpeting will give you similar results as far as durability and cost-effectiveness. In a 30 year span of time, your hardwood floor will still look good. Your carpets would have been replaced several times over this time frame in order to maintain an attractive appearance. And no worries about dirt hiding in carpet fibers with wood flooring. There's no place for dirt to hide, it's easily taken care of, while dirt in carpeting is mostly ground into fibers and lays well hidden from view.

Installation

Installation of your hardwood flooring can be done by professional installers, or if you are handy with this sort of thing, you may enjoy a do-it-yourself experience. iFLOOR has several installation packages available, ranging from complete removal and installation of the new flooring, down to a basic package, which gives you the opportunity to do some of the work yourself. Even if you decide to have full professional installation, you should be able to save money by doing some of the work yourself. Moving the furniture, removing molding and toe guards must be done before installation begins. Some installers will do this for you, but not cheaply! It's not rocket science, and you can save money if you will take care of these details yourself.

If you decide to install it yourself, you'll find plenty of help at your local Lowe's or Home Depot, in do-it-yourself books, or some web sites such as Bruce Hardwood Floors.

While there's a lot of work involved, you will enjoy the results!

Resource Index

Audio-Video-and-Cameras:
Plasma TV, LCD TV, MP3 Players, TIVO, Satellite TV, Dgitial Cameras, Digital Camcorders, Bose iPod Speakers, Multimedia Projectors, GPS, Blu-ray Disc

Computer and Accessories:
Choosing a Laptop Computer, Computer Memory Upgrade, Copying a Hard Drive, Dual Monitors, Networking Computers, Microsoft Office, PDA's, Cheap Ink/Toner, Color Laser Printers, Multifunction Printers, Scanners, USB Flash Drives, Wireless Printers, Dell computers, Wireless Routers, Wireless G Routers, Wireless N Routers, Laptop Carrying Cases

Computer and Video Games:
Age of Empires III, Battlefield 2

Entertainment:
Online Gambling, Poker, Routlette, Blackjack, Craps and other Online Games, Online Casinos, Movies, Online DVD Rentals, Home Theater Systems , Home Theater Components, HDTV, HDTV Buying Tips, HD Radio, Portable DVD Players, Magazine Subscriptions

Fun-Hobbies:
Tropical Fish, Aquariums, Scrapbooking, Rubber Stamping, Geneology, Geocaching, Soap Making, Candle Making

Legal:
Criminal Defense Attorneys, Tax Attorneys, Lemon Law Protection, Structured Settlements, Investment Fraud, Bankruptcy Attorneys, Personal Injury Attorneys, Family Law

CellPhones-and-Communication
Cell Phones, Cell Phone Carriers, Prepaid Cell Phone Plans, Cell Phone Ringtones, Headsets, VOIP, Cheap Long Distance, iPhone, Blackberry, Bluetooth Technology, SmartPhones

Jobs-Schooling
Online College Degrees, Business Degrees, Home Schooling, Drivers Education, Job Resumes, Online Job Search
Internet:
Cybercrime Prosecution, IE Security, Affordable Web Hosting, Web Hosting, Domain Name Registration, Search Engines, Web Site Design, Internet Mailing Lists, Blogging, Internet Serive Providers, Free Email, Clip Art

Finance and Insurance:
Auto Insurance, Car Insurance Quotes, RV Insurance, General Insurance, Travel Insurance, Business Insurance, Basic Guide to Consolidating Student Loans, Cash Advance Loans, Federal Student Loan Consolidation, Debt Consolidation, Debt Management, Credit Card Debt Consolidation, Free Credit Reports, Home Mortgages, Home Equity Loans, Mortgage Refinancing, Mortgage Rates, Mortgage Companies, Second Mortgages, Mortgage Brokers, Health Insurance, Insurance Quotes, Term life Insurance, Mortgage note buyer, Renter's Insurance, Household Budgeting

Home:
Home improvement, Outdoor Lighting, Kitchen Remodeling, Kitchen Countertops, Espresso Makers, Food Processors, Coffee Makers, Coffee Grinders, Slow Cookers, Popcorn makers, Blenders, Cutting Boards, Refrigerators, Freezers, Washers & Dryers, Bathroom Remodeling, Kitchen & Bathroom Faucets, Bathtubs, House Windows, Closet Organizers, Window Treatments, Hardwood Floors, Carpeting, Home Security, Water Heaters, Water Filters, Carbon Monoxide Detectors, Bamboo Flooring, Portable Air Conditioners, Dehumidifiers, Siding, House Cleaning Services, Home Organization, Vacuum Cleaners, Cannister Vacuum Cleaners, Handcheld Vacuum Cleaners, Upright Vacuum Cleaners, Stick Vacuum Cleaners, Wet-Dry Vacuum Cleaners, Furnaces, Fireplace Inserts, Electric Space Heaters, Pellet Stoves, Wood Stoves, Heat Pumps, Buying a used car



Business-Office-Supplies:
Discount Office Supplies, Home Office, Office Furniture, Copiers, Home Business, Business Cards, Business Brochures, Mailing List Companies, Affiliates, Franchises, Business Telephone Systems, Employment Agencies, Call Centers, Fax Machines
Health and Wellness:
Fioricet for Migraine Relief, Online Pharmacies, Phentermine for dieting, Tramadol for Chronic Pain Relief, Mesothelioma, Mesothelioma Lawyers, Acne Treatment, Contact Lenses, Drug Rehabilitation, Cerebral Palsy, Hair Loss, Hair Loss Products, Human Growth Hormones , Diet Pills, Treadmills, Fragrances, Reducing Cholesterol, Diabetes, Obesity, Arthritis, High Blood Pressure, Heart Disease, Acid reflux, Cialis, Understanding Depression, Unraveling Diet Plans, Erectile dysfunction, Lipitor, Sleep Loss, Viagra, Autism, Asperger Syndrome, Living With Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Seasonal Affective Disorder

Gifts:
Gift Ideas, Corporate Gifts, Gift Cards, Wristwatches, Replica Watches, Sunglasses, Wholesale Jewelry, Jewelry Boxes, Wedding Gifts, Food Gifts, Books, Music, Flowers, Gift Baskets, Candles & Candleholders, Chocolate & Candy

Sports:
Health Clubs, Home Gyms, Treadmills, Golf, Golf Vacations, Golf Schools, Golf Clubs, Fantasy Baseball, Fantasy Basketball

Travel:
Railroad Train Travel, Greyhound Bus Travel, Moving Guide, Rental Cars, Luxury Cruises, Maui Vacation, Spain Travel, Panama Cruise, Mexico Travel, Europe Travel, Disneyland Vacation, Disney World Vacation, Airline Tickets, Las Vegas Vacations, Las Vegas Sights, Las Vegas Entertainment, Las Vegas Dining, Lake Tahoe, Reno Vacations, Grand Canyon Vacation, Alaska Vacation, San Juan Island Vacation, Seattle Vacation, San Francisco Vacation, San Diego Vacation, SeaWorld Vacation, Yellowstone Park Vacation, Los Angeles Vacation, Bed & Breakfasts, Las Cruces New Mexico Vacation, Texas Hill Country Vacation, Columbia River Gorge Vacation, Albuquerque Vacation, New Mexico Vacation, Utah Vacation, Denver Vacation, Carlsbad Caverns, Branson, Missouri, Arizona Vacations, Jackson Wyoming, Skiing Wyoming, Skiing Oregon, Skiing Utah, Skiing Colorado, Skiing California, Skiing Washington State, Skiing Idaho

Yard-and-Garden:
Lawn Care, Patio Furniture, Hot Tubs & Spas, Gazebos, Fences, Decks, Barbeque Grills, Greenhouses, Patios, Sprinkler Systems, Landscape Design, Backyard Ponds, Bird Baths, Hedge Trimmers, String Trimmers, Wheelbarrows and Gardencarts, Lawn Mowers, Lawn Mowers, Lawn Care Tools, Lawn Edgers, Leaf Blowers, Now Blowers, Rakes