Thanks to staggering improvements in technology, and breakthroughs in resistant materials research, there are now so many high-quality flooring solutions available on the market, many of which are quick and simple for even a DIY novice to install themselves. Amongst the many relative newcomers such as vinyl flooring and some of the newer forms of tile flooring, remain the tried and tested giants of our time - wood flooring and natural stone flooring. In this article we briefly look at one of these – wood flooring, and explore a few of the various pros and cons associated with installing a wood floor in your home.

The sheer longevity of its use over the ages, provides a strong testimony for the success and evergreen popularity of wood flooring. Leaving some of the newer varieties aside, hardwood flooring in particular has truly been put to test and found to be an excellent, highly robust and durable flooring solution. Like natural stone flooring, another benefit of hardwood flooring in particular is that it is beautifully simple in its natural composition and can therefore be maintained and re-treated with ease. That of course is not all, since almost all of will be able to relate to seeing (or if you're lucky, owning) a hardwood floor that has been allowed to age to develop a rich sense of character and history. This is one of the reasons why this particular variety remains in such high demand and will typically add notable value to your home.

Newer forms of wood flooring such as laminate flooring and engineered wood flooring have seen a sharp rise in popularity in recent years. These composite materials have made this a more affordable option for people with limited budgets. Engineered wood in particular, also offers the added benefit of being more resilient than its counterparts to temperature changes thanks to its method of construction. This has allowed it to be used in settings which would have ordinarily not been suitable for a wood flooring solution, such as for use with an underfloor heating system.

Whilst there are many advantages to using wood flooring in your home, there are also a number of considerations to make with regard to its use and suitability. As just mentioned, sadly not all forms of wood are suitable for use in environments where they may be subjected to significant changes I temperature or moisture, which makes them not ideally suited for use in bathrooms or kitchens. Equally, whilst maintaining a wooden floor is a relatively straightforward task, it still requires more upkeep than you'd likely find with other forms of flooring such as ceramic or porcelain tiles. In addition, despite being available in many different forms and price ranges, it is still more expensive than other forms of flooring such as vinyl and ceramic.

All in all, wood flooring is a very rewarding, value for money product that can really transform a living space, enduring for generations if maintained properly.