I’m willing to guess you already love your hardwood flooring. Its look is classic, the memories you’ve made across it throughout your home are precious, and the resale value isn’t bad, either.
And you know those benefits will be greater with a hardwood floor that’s well cared for. If your hardwood floors have stood forgotten for a time, or if you’re considering a different type of flooring, read these fascinating hardwood flooring facts first. You might never look at your hardwood floors the same.
Did you know?…
- Just like snowflakes, there are no two hardwood floors that look totally alike. Every wood has its own grain that even varies from tree to tree. You can see different patterns in the grain, the wood has different colors, and you even notice different mass and weight.
- Wood flooring was first used in interior design in the late 1690s. Most notably, it was installed in the Palace of Versailles when the original marble floor had to be replaced.
- From the 16th to the 19th century, wood flooring was always solid, hand produced, and pricey. Hardwood floors were considered a sign of wealth and designed to impress.
- The oldest wood floors usually included wide and long planks (up to eight inches wide and 18 feet long), and were at least 7/8” thick.
- In 1926, American inventor Art Emmons created the portable electric belt floor sander. Before that, hardwood floors were scraped manually by dragging a heavy set of scraper blades across the surface.
- You can thank the 1960s for the first real dip in hardwood floors in homes. Home construction moved to cheaper options, and carpet was the winning choice for most.
- By the 1980s and early 90s, hardwood flooring made a comeback. Pre-finished options hit the market along with new stains and finishes, making hardwood an even more attractive and easy-to-install option.
- It wasn’t until the late 1990s and early 2000s that real estate agents started noting (and made a selling point of) how hardwood floors add significant value to home resale prices. And, naturally, the better the floor’s condition, the better the ROI.
What other hardwood flooring questions do you want answered? Want to know more about the changes the industry has seen since the 1980s? We’re working all winter long in Belleville and surrounding areas, so schedule a consultation now on the website! I’ve got plenty more fascinating flooring facts where these came from.
