Hardwood pros and cons

The wood flooring business owes a huge debt of gratitude to Manfred von Ardenne. He was a German physicist born in 1907 and creator of the world's first scanning electron microscope. That's the optical device that makes it possible to see and publish those terrifying, close-up images of microscopic dust mites. Experts tell us that hard-surface floors — wood among them — offer a fighting chance against the dust that feeds these microscopic monsters as they lay in waiting, ready to crawl into your nose.

Considering a wood floor for your home? The options can be divided into four main categories. Here's the 411 on each:

Site-finished, traditional solid hardwoods
Pros:
*classy good looks that can be sanded and refinished 3 to 5 times
*boosts physical solidity of the floor under foot
*immediate customer acceptance, increased resale value without need for explanations
*custom finishing options a possibility

Cons:
*disruptive levels of sanding dust, machine noise and fumes during installation/finishing
*heavy use of high-grade hardwood per unit of visible floor
*comparatively fragile, non-warranted finish strength
*possibility of gaps from seasonal expansion and contraction

Prefinished hardwood
Pro:
*clean, quiet and fume-free installation process
*extra-tough, factory-warranted finish
*DIY-friendly installation

Con:
*short wood lengths typically create choppy appearance
*beveled edges look different than site-finished hardwood
*heavy use of high-grade hardwood per unit of visible floor

Prefinished engineered wood
Pros
*real wood surface coupled with dimensional stability
*large amount of finished floor area per unit of high-grade hardwood consumed
*easy, clean installation process
*warranty surface finish

Cons
*incomplete consumer understanding of the product
*some types can't be deeply sanded and refinished

Laminates
Pros:
*super-tough, warranted surface on high-end selections
*free-floating design doesn't need to be fastened to subfloor
*rated for use on concrete surfaces, dry basements and in unheated cottages
*easiest do-it-yourself installation of all wood-type flooring choices. For more information on successfully installing your own laminates, send me an email at laminates@stevemaxwell.ca.

Cons:
*surface damage can't be repaired
*some wood grain patterns are less than convincing
*cheap brands wear quickly

Wood flooring is a big topic to figure out, but worth the trouble of doing your homework. Besides looking great, a good wood floor might just help you feel better next time you come across one of those monster dust mite photos.