The Pros and Cons of Engineered Wood Flooring
Engineered wood flooring has become a popular option in recent years, but this probably isn’t going to be something that is going to suit everyone. It is important to understand the pros and cons of this type of wood and that way you are more likely to make an informed choice and avoid buyer’s remorse later on. Here are just some of the pros and cons you will want to consider before you buy.
The Pros of Engineered Wood Flooring
There are some real benefits of choosing engineered wood and these explain why it is such a great choice.
-
When you choose engineered wood flooring you are getting real wood that has been processed for use in your home.
-
This type of wood is able to handle moisture a lot better than most other wood. This means that it should stay looking good for longer and you will be able to use it in most parts of the home.
-
Engineered wood does not shrink as much as other woods do after a few years.
-
Engineered wood comes prefinished and ready to be installed in your home. This means that it has already been sanded and sealed, and so you can just lay it down on the floor and walk on it right away.
-
The fact that engineered wood flooring is easier to install means that most people will be able to install it themselves. Although you will probably still want to pay the experts if you are not sure or don’t have the time for such a project.
-
This type of wood has been shown to accumulate less dust and so this is good news for those who suffer from allergies.
The Cons of Engineered Wood Flooring
There are some drawbacks associated with this type of flooring and these include.
-
Engineered wood isn’t very environmentally friendly because it needs to be highly processed to create the finished product.
-
This type of wood looks great but it probably doesn’t hold the same prestige value as other types of wood. This means that it might not add as much value onto your home as you expect.
-
You can’t keep on refinishing this type of wood like you can with materials like hardwood. In fact if you try to refinish it more than a couple of times it will start to look bad.
As you can see there are pros and cons to engineered wood flooring. You will want to consider both the advantages and disadvantages before you make your final choice. Many people these days find that the advantages of engineered wood more than make up for any drawbacks.
The Best Advice for Keeping Oak Furniture Clean
If you have purchased oak furniture then you will probably want to get a long life out of it. Once this furniture is maintained properly there is no reason why it can’t survive for more than one lifetime. Of course, if you don’t really take care of this furniture then it won’t look too good for long. Here is just a bit of advice to help you keep your oak furniture look good for many years to come.
The Best Advice for Keeping Oak Furniture Clean
If you want to keep this furniture clean then the following tips will help –
-
There are many furniture polishes that can be used with oak, but always check the instructions first of all to make sure that what you are using is suitable. If you want to keep your oak looking good then the best advice is to give it a polish at least once every couple of weeks. If you start up a routine for this then it should be easier to maintain it over time; just polishing when the mood hits you probably isn’t the best strategy.
-
An alternative to polish is to use lemon oil; this can also keep your furniture looking good for many years to come.
-
It is important that you dust your oak furniture at least once a week. In order to prevent any damage to the wood you should always use a soft cloth. If you leave dust on the table then it can be pounded into the wood when you place items on top. This dust that enters the wood will create a worn and dull look that isn’t very appealing at all.
-
If you use linseed oil every few months or so then this can help protect the oak and thus extend the lifetime of the furniture.
-
Murphy’s Oil Soap is a great product for keeping oak clean and fresh looking. You will find this on sale in most supermarkets.
-
You should always avoid allowing any harsh chemicals anywhere near oak as these can really harm the wood and leave stains that can’t be removed. Always make sure that any cleaning or polishing product that you are using is suitable for oak.
-
If your furniture is looking really worn you might want to consider a professional oak cleaning service. This can restore your furniture to its former glory and do away with the need to buy something new – if the professionals do their job properly your current oak furniture will look as good as new.
So there you have just a few bits of advice for how to keep your oak furniture looking good for many years to come.