Family-Friendly Hardwood Floors (NAPSA)—Most families have to make special considerations when choosing flooring for their homes. Affordable, durable floors are important, while healthy flooring options are increasingly beneficial to families with allergies or chemical sensitivities. Because of these factors, hardwood floors are becoming a popular choice for many families. Beautiful and stylish, hardwood floors can fulfill all of the practical needs of a family and satisfy the aesthetic need to make a house a home. But not all hardwood floors are created equal, and choosing the right hardwood floor for a busy family takes a little bit of time and effort. The experts at Bruce hardwood floors, the nation’s largest hardwood flooring manufacturer, recommend asking your flooring retailer which floors are best for your circumstances, taking into account yourlifestyle, the construction of your home, and even the region in which youlive. Before you start shopping, read the timesaving facts below. Then, when you go to the store you'll be armed with information you need to make thebest selection for your needs. Durable hardwoods According to Bruce, red oak is considered the “hardness benchmark” for hardwood flooring. Red oak is a sturdy species that resists many indentations and most wear. For floors that show less wear and tear, choose a floor that is as hard or harder than red oak. Other species to consider are white oak, maple, merbau, beech and bangkirai. Softer floors will show dents and impressions moreeasily. A surprise to manyis that engineered floors—floors that are madeof layers of hardwood glued together—are more stable than traditional solid hardwood flooring. Because of their construction, engineered floors are more adaptable to especially dry or humid conditions. And, engineered hardwood floors are often more afford- This will floor you—floors made of layers of hardwood glued together are more stable than traditional hardwood flooring. able than their solid hardwood counterparts depending on grade. An affordable floor Installing hardwood floors in your home doesn’t have to break the bank. Many hardwoodflooring manufacturers offer a variety of price ranges to suit every budget. The main differences between the prices of floors lie in the floor’s thickness, face grade, width, and finish. Floors rated “Good” are the most affordable, but can be thinner in construction, show more natural wood characteristics and offer a shorter finish warranty, often 10 years or less. “Better” and “Best” rated floors have the best finish and a warranty of 15 to 25 years. Their design options, construction, grading, profile and finishes offer a wider range of choices. For your health Hardwood floors are a good option for families with allergies because they won’t trap dust, pollen and other allergens, allowing your hometo be kept cleaner and healthier. Added Value Lastly, hardwood is one of the only flooring products known to add value to your home and last a lifetime. Now that’s value. meee nnn nee eee n nee e ene e eeeieee en nee n nee e nnn ene eee Editor’s Note: This article is the fifth in a series.
