Selecting perfect wood floors for your home is an excellent investment you can make into your property and still expect profits even in years to come. Wood floors are divided into two types which include hardwood and softwood. Most floor experts have promoted hardwoods because they are more robust and durable. However, using softwoods for your home floor can also turn out to be a better choice than suit some of your specific home needs.
Differentiating the two types of wood floors will help you know if cedar flooring is a better option for you. Most homeowners with a deep sense of color and beauty now choose cedar flooring to make their homes look fantastic and beautiful. This can also influence your choice for the next flooring project of your home.
You need to know certain facts if you’re considering choosing cedar flooring for your home. This will help you know why you should choose this type of flooring and how to care best and maintain it.
What is Cedar Flooring?
A cedar floor is exclusively made from cedar woods. These woods are softer and give your home that pleasant experience when you walk because of the delicate fragrance you get from the wood. Cedar is a popular wood found in North America and it is a common wood used for constructing the floors of some parts of your home. This is because of the fantastic properties that come with the wood.
Cedar floors are more suitable for home areas such as your bedroom, guest room, closet, or any other part of the house that have less traffic. This is because of the delicate nature of the wood. It gives an extra smooth texture and feels, which you may not find with other hardwoods.
Cedar floors come with a protective coating that helps minimize the cases of damages or showing marks due to their delicate and soft features. With cedar flooring, you can get different finishing depending on your preference. Since they’re soft, it makes it easier to make changes to the floor to suit some specific needs.
Color Considerations for Cedar Flooring
Cedar comes in different colors depending on the growing conditions on the tree. The color of the wood often changes over time when it is exposed to oxygen and sunlight. The majority of the cedar woods are pinkish-red in color with some purple tones. However, cedar flooring also comes in classic golden yellow or rich brown colors to give it that glowing feature. It could also turn gray or silver color as it ages.
To retain the original color and glow of cedar floors, you’ll need to take proper care of the floor and change the patina over the years. When choosing the cedar floor color, it should fit the style and design of your home. This will add to the beauty and appeal of the home.
Pros and Cons of Cedar Flooring
If you’re wondering whether cedar flooring will be good for you, you must compare it with other types of flooring. While using cedar woods for your home flooring has numerous advantages, there are still some disadvantages that come with it. We’ve come up with some advantages and disadvantages of cedar flooring.
Pros
Cedar floors are attractive: Cedar floors come in different attractive colors and give your room a rustic look. You might choose cedar if you like a rustic and traditional look in your home. However, it adds to the beauty of the house.
Affordability: Cedar flooring is less expensive when compared with hardwoods. You’re sure of getting high-quality cedar woods for low prices. This means that you’ll be saving much when you choose to use cedar woods for your home flooring.
Easy to install: Cedar woods are more flexible than most hardwoods because of their lower hardness rating. While it may be advisable that you hire a professional to help install your cedar flooring, you can also easily install them with less risk of damaging the ends of the boards.
Sustainable: Most softwoods, including cedar woods, are more environmentally friendly than hardwoods. This is because cedar woods grow quite quickly. They’re considered renewable resources, especially as they’re suitable for sustainable farming and harvesting.
Cedar is Aromatic: Using cedar woods for your bedroom gives the atmosphere a pleasant smell. This will ensure that you have a more comfortable and healthy sleep.
Easy to maintain: You can quickly sweep, dust, or vacuum clean your cedar floors. You can easily sand out the damaged parts to lower the density even when damaged. Refinishing cedar floors is also very easy.
Cons
Durability: Cedarwoods are not as hard and strong as hardwoods. This will affect the floor’s durability, especially when that area of the home is frequently used. It can easily get cracks or breaks when not properly maintained.
More vulnerable to dings and scratches: Cedarwoods are highly prone to dents, scratches, and dings. This is why it is not advisable to use them in the most frequently used parts of your home. It can easily begin to wear off once it is stepped on too many times.
Fading color: You’ll likely experience quick cedar floor color fading when there is no proper maintenance. Other factors such as chemical reactions and exposure to sunlight can make the color change from red to gray.
Flammable: Due to oil on the cedarwood, it is highly volatile. This is why you need to treat your cedar floors with care.
Maintenance and Care of Cedar Flooring
It’d be great to take care of your cedar flooring if you wish to maintain the glow and appearance of the floor even after a long period. Cedar floors are very soft and delicate, so it is prone to damage if not properly maintained. Here are things to do to keep and care for your cedar flooring.
Sweep daily: You need to sweep dirt and dust your cedar floors as many times as possible in a day. Such floors attract dust and may get stained if not cleaned on time.
Clean spills as soon as possible: Spills can cause wet or steam mops, which can cause damage to the cedar floor over time. To avoid this, you need to keep the humidity level down. Always clean spills immediately. You can use a slightly damp or dry cloth.
Vacuum regularly: This doesn’t just keep your home clean alone; it also ensures that dirt and crumbs you probably missed while sweeping don’t scratch your floors. Regular vacuuming may be stressful, but it is worth it.
Re-finish: Once you notice that the color of the floor is getting dull, you can add a new coat of wood floor finish. This will restore the beauty of the floor.
Can You Use Cedar for a Shower Floor?
Cedar is a good floor material that you can use for your shower floor. This is because it is moisture resistant, easy to maintain and 100% natural, which is safe for your health. It also resists bug and fungal growth since it is a bug repeller due to the oil present in the wood. The wood can stay stable and stand any weather conditions. You can go for cedar when considering your next shower floor.
Conclusion
Cedar woods are known for their versatility, beauty, and spicy aroma qualities. It can be a perfect home flooring choice for you if you wish to give your room a rustic and simple look. You also need to consider the merit and demerit of cedar flooring so that you can make a better choice.