Advantages of Using Narrow Plank Flooring

The choice of whether to go with wide or narrow planks in your natural material floor is usually thought to be one of taste. But there are many other considerations when choosing flooring. Floors have a huge amount of wear and tear to worry about. How will differing widths affect that? Woods are susceptible to humidity and temperature changes. Maintenance is another factor to think about. Cost may be what ultimately sways you one way or the other as the wide vs. narrow is quite a price difference. Going into your flooring experience with your eyes open will ensure that you love your floor for years and years to come.

Wood flooring has been popular for centuries. In times past it was mostly out of necessity that wood was used. Now wood flooring is valued as a top of the line flooring for its rich textures, colors, and enduring wear. These days more exotic woods are available and are becoming popular. Cork flooring is beautiful and wears well. Bamboo provides a different sort of grain to traditional wood that many prefer. Drastic changes can be made to the look of a home with a simple home improvement of changing the flooring.

The weather can affect a wood floor quite a bit. High moisture environments can wreak havoc on wood. Wide plank flooring is much more susceptible to warping than narrow planks. The more the wood the more likely it is to warp. Large flat pieces of wood always take a hit in high humidity. Small compact pieces endure it well. Temperature also affects a wood floor. Temperature is especially an issue during installation. Wide planks must be acclimated to their environment before installation. Narrow planks can benefit from this process as well. But wider planks require more time than narrow ones.

Maintenance of wood flooring can be relatively simple for narrow plank floors. Occasional sanding and resurfacing along with careful cleaning is enough to keep a narrow plank floor looking its best. Wide plank floors require much more daily maintenance and professional care. Once again, larger slabs of wood are much more susceptible to change through environment and how they are cared for, or neglected. Cost is the final point to consider. Wide plank floors can be the most costly type of floor to install, hands down. Even marble might cost less. Narrow plank floors on the other hand can be afforded by many. Costs also depend upon the type of wood used.