The home improvement industry is booming and not showing signs of slowing down. Experts project Americans will spend more than $409 billion in 2019.
While kitchen and bathrooms may be the most popular remodels, flooring is one of the most popular projects. And, considering you can’t finish a remodel without new flooring, it’s included in those popular renovations too.
It’s true: your flooring can make or break the aesthetic of your home. You can install gorgeous cabinets and custom countertops, but if you’ve kept the old linoleum tiles intact, people’s eyes are drawn right to the floor.
And not in a good way.
Like all things in design, flooring goes through different phases. New trends emerge and replace old ones. It’s hard to believe, but at one point, that yellow and lime green linoleum flooring was in.
In recent years, one of the biggest trends has been wide plank flooring. It’s durable, gorgeous, and makes a statement. But, you have to choose which type suits your home carefully.
If you’re considering wide plank wood flooring, but don’t know where to start, we’ve got you covered.
We’re giving you some advice if you’re looking to upgrade to this popular trend.
Wide Plank Flooring: The Benefits
Without question, wide plank flooring is stunning. But, there are other benefits to installing it. For starters, the installation itself is easier.
Due to the width, one wide plank can take up the space of at least two standard size planks. This means fewer planks and seams. Installation is faster, which means installation costs can be lower.
Like over sized ceramic tile, having wider planks gives you visual expansion. This means that a smaller space looks larger. It happens due to the eye having more space to look at without interruption.
Wood flooring also gives your home a natural feel. This can make your home calmer and even reduce stress levels.
All this and you end up being the envy of everyone you know!
Now that you’re sold on the idea, don’t go rushing into any decisions. There’s actually a lot to take into account when you’re installing wide planks.
What Style Is Your Home?
In general, wide planks work best in traditional housing designs. But, don’t let that shatter your dreams if you have a stucco ranch or mid-century modern home. 4″ and 5″ Rift & Quartered White Oak is very popular in MCM and ranch homes too.
You’ll have to take a few things into careful consideration, like the wood material, size, and color. But, you can have wide planks, even if design magazines tell you that you can’t.
Choose Your Size
Standard wood planks are 2-1/4 inches to 4 inches wide. Once you get to 5″ or wider the flooring is considered plank flooring.
Wide planks are–you guessed it!–wider. They start at 5 inches and can be as wide as 20 inches.
The size plays another role–quality. Narrow strips tend to come from any part of the trunk. Wider planks come from specially selected portions of the trunk.
So along with getting a higher quality wood, you’ll also have flooring that’s more durable and stronger.
When you’re choosing your size, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. Wood with a lot of knots can make your room look smaller. However, if you have a larger space, it can evoke a Colonial feel.
There are two ways to determine which width suits your home best. The first is to get samples and lay them on your floor. The second is to look at those samples for several days in the light as it naturally changes in your home. Its a big decision after all.
What’s Your Climate?
There’s a long-standing myth that if you live in a humid climate hardwood floors aren’t a good option. While there’s some truth to that, keep in mind engineered hardwood is an option (more on that in a minute!).
In general, if you want hardwood floors, you want to stay within a range of 30-50 percent humidity. The ideal temperature is a controlled one between 60-80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Now, does that mean if you live in Florida you’re disqualified? Absolutely not!
But it is something to consider as we move into our next tip when shopping for wood flooring.
Let’s Talk Materials
Options for wide plank flooring are vast in the new millennia. That’s mostly due in part to the emergence of engineered hardwood.
Don’t mistake that for laminate! Laminate is not wood at all.
Engineered hardwood is real wood. It’s constructed in thin, wood layers fused on top of each other. Traditional hardwood is one solid piece of wood.
You need to explore the differences between engineered hardwood and traditional hardwood. The look of the flooring will be similar, but there are other factors to consider.
Most people prefer hardwood floors if their installation allows for them. If you maintain them, they’ll last for decades. They can look much better compared to cheaper engineered hardwood of yesteryear. High quality American made engineered planks will look nearly identical however.
It all depends on the quality of flooring. Because of the way they’re constructed, engineered planks can be more durable and humidity resistant.
Cost-wise, engineered is sometimes cheaper but not always. Always remember good quality hardwood flooring adds value to your home.
Choose Your Wood
After you’ve taken all those other things into consideration, it’s time for the fun part–choosing your wood!
Regardless of where you live or the maintenance that goes into it, the reason you want to replace your flooring is for appeal. Even if you didn’t think your small mid-century modern home in Miami could have wide plank flooring, you now know you have options.
The wood itself is another option to think about.
Most people go with White Oak. Not only is it a harder wood, but there are several colors and grains to choose from. It will open up a room and make it lighter, which makes it have a larger, airy feel.
So, if you have a Spanish ranch-style home in Florida? There’s an Oak color and finish for you.
If your home’s architectural is traditional, colonial, or rustic, Black Walnut flooring is a great choice. The deep hues of Black Walnut will make your home more elegant. A wide Black Walnut plank is strong and hard, making it one of the most durable hardwood options.
Are You Ready to Speak to a Specialist?
Now you know the benefits wide plank flooring gives you and what to look for when you’re shopping. If you still aren’t sure, check out our portfolio examples There’s only one thing left to do–contact a wood flooring expert who specializes in wide planks.
We’ll give you a no-pressure consultation and send you samples. When you’ve made your selection, we’ll get started crafting your bespoke wide plank flooring.
You’ll receive your flooring after it’s created so your local contractor can install your dream floor. Are you ready to get started? Contact us today for your consultation.