Oak Flooring
Whether we are talking about the elegance of oak flooring in an English castle or the rustic plank floor of a cabin in the Appalachians, there is a timeless quality to wood flooring that is undeniable.
So often it seems that we are forced to choose between beauty and stability, design and function or even pleasure and health. But that is definitely not the case when it comes to flooring. Solid oak flooring is experiencing a surge in popularity due to the fact that it is not only incredibly beautiful but, with just a little care, will last for years and years and is an excellent choice for those suffering with breathing issues.
If you talk to anyone who has recently been involved in buying or selling a home, they will tell you just how significant it is when wood flooring is included in the description on the listing. Real Estate professionals know that a house is sold or rejected within seconds of when the prospective buyer walks in the front door. The warmth and richness of a well-cared for oak floor quickly translates into thousands of dollars difference in market value.
Durability is key when it comes to something that is required to stand up under the kind of constant use that flooring gets. Many advocate engineered oak flooring or even oak laminate flooring for heavily trafficked areas but, with the correct finish and proper care, solid oak floors will stand up to just about any situation. For those instances when there is damage or when the floor was not adequately maintained, it is not difficult to refinish or even replace an area to return it to its original state. It is not uncommon to find wood flooring that has been in place for well over a hundred years.
Despite the draw that a hardwood floor has because of its beauty and resilience, perhaps even more compelling is the potential health benefit for people with allergies or breathing problems. Asthma is a chronic lung disease that affects almost 20 million Americans. Documented triggers known to bring on asthma attacks include dust mites, animal dander (dead skin flakes), molds, pollen, and insect droppings. These are found in practically every home but are nearly impossible to remove from those with carpeting.
Whatever the reason for choosing oak flooring or another variety of hardwood, you can do so with confidence. With this decision alone you will have added to the beauty and value of your home and, at the same time, protected the health of your family.
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Reduce Asthma Attacks With Oak Flooring
Whether you are in the exciting process of building a new house or remodeling your current home, there are a lot of great reasons to install oak flooring. Some people make the choice based on the overall warm glow that oak seems to permeate throughout a dwelling. Others love the distinctive grain patterns that display so prominently, especially after staining.
Oak, maple, ash, beech and the other hardwoods that fall mid-range on the Janka Scale, which rates the relative hardness of the wood, are extremely popular choices. That they are not so soft that they won’t stand up to wear and tear nor so hard that the beauty of the grain is lost, make these ideal for both home and office. Appearance and durability have always topped the list of prime motivators when it comes to flooring. Nevertheless, there is another reason for installing wood floors that may well be the most important of all.
It is estimated that almost 20 million people in the United States, alone, suffer from asthma. Environmental pollutants and seasonal factors have long been credited as being triggers for the attacks that are symptomatic of this chronic lung disease. More recently, it has been determined that allergens found in the home can be just as guilty. Commonly included on the list are dust mites, mold, pet dander, pollen and insect droppings. Hard as it may be to accept, most, if not all of these are found in virtually every home.
The key to controlling asthma attacks is to remove the irritants. However, that is next to impossible when carpeting is present. Many homeowners have come to the realization that their best recourse is to remove the carpets and replace with a surface that can be thoroughly cleaned, such as wood or tile. Studies have documented the difference it makes for those with any sort of breathing issue once carpeting has been replaced with hard surface flooring.
Is there anything more frightening than the feeling of not being able to breathe? A sudden asthma attack, brought on by seemingly harmless and practically invisible particles, can be more than scary. Untreated, it can be fatal.
Fortunately, the good news is that ripping out that carpeting and replacing with oak or one of the other varieties of hardwood flooring will go a long way in reducing the frequency of reactions. This is true whether you choose to install solid planks, engineered wood flooring or the reclaimed oak that has become so popular.
Realtors will tell you that wood floors are an excellent way to increase the market value of your home. Now you can be confident that they are also an investment in the health and well being of your family.
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