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Wood floors boost charm, price of homes
When general contractor Shane J. McNeill decided to spruce up the white oak floors in his Stoughton ranch home, he didn’t just sand and refinish the aging hardwood: He put down an inlay of Brazilian cherry, American walnut, and maple, creating an intricate border in his kitchen and dining room.
“That’s the beauty of wood flooring,” says McNeill, adding that it provides “warmth to your home”
That’s not all it does: A survey of realtors by the National Wood Flooring Association showed homes with wood floors sell faster - for higher prices.
And although the $24.6 billion floor covering industry has felt the effects of the housing slowdown, sales of hardwood flooring have been constant, says Christopher P. Ramey, a flooring expert and columnist for Flooring Covering Weekly.
At one point, wood flooring had 96 percent of the residential market share, says Howard Brickman of the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification, which sets standards for hardwood flooring inspectors.Add today’s tough urethane finishes, and most floors require little maintenance other than sweeping and cleaning. And don’t worry about the scratches. “If you’re someone who likes to push your piano around for exercise, you’re going to scratch your floor. That’s part of the patina,” he says. boston globe
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