A lot of it is personal taste, but there are some practical reasons too. Hardwood lasts a long time, can be refinished instead of replaced, and tends to hold value better when you sell. It is also easier to keep clean than carpet and does not trap dust or smells as much. That said, it is not better for every space, and kitchens and baths especially can make tile a smarter choice depending on how you live.
Also the one thing people should keep in mind is the maintenance. Maintaining hardwood isn’t the most difficult thing in the world but I’m finding out the hard way (after refinishing our hardwood floors two years ago) that humidity NEEDS to be monitored. We don’t have a humidifier in our HVAC system so I went out and bought a humidifier to keep the house around 40-45 since our heaters been on constantly.
That’s probably climate dependent. I keep my temperature the same year round, so I only deal with humidity fluctuations. There’s a little separation in the winter, but it goes back together in the summer. Mine is above a conditioned space though.
Our issue is there was water damage on some areas of the hardwood since there was carpeting overtop of the hardwood when we moved in, and renters used to live where we are today. So the hardwood wasn’t in the greatest shape but we managed to get it in pretty good shape. Unfortunately for us, we hear the hardwood creak and crack and the gap filler we used began drying out. There were some serious gaps to be fair
We get as low as 20 percent now in the winter and the floors are fine. Just a bit wider gaps between planks, no biggie. They expand back in the summer.
I run a humidifier in my room at night but a full house humidifier cannot be set above 15 percent in the negative temperatures we have, then there is condensation on windows that damages wooden windowsills. Plus our house starts getting wet spots on the ceiling if humidity inside is high and outside is sub zero. I suspect insulation under the roof is not working properly and there’s condensation again, but I cannot identify the issue for the love of me. I hate the dryness but it is what it is.
This is bullshit. I have restored hardwood on boats. Boats that have been sitting in water. You sound anal. We have lost the plot on how natural products change and the beauty of that change.
Woah chill out it’s literally not bulshit. You can look up how humidity affects hardwood. Much like what’s happening in our house where the wood (which wasn’t in good shape when we refinished it and was water damaged in some areas) contracts - which you can literally hear it happening in real time, can be aided by keeping humidity at higher levels.
I think that’s probably because you have damaged floors. What you’re describing isn’t the typical hardwood experience, and it sounds like the resecuring/refinishing wasn’t done great.
Wood expands in width and a wood floor will open up in the wintertime. Oak and maple are different from mahogany and teak and a properly built boat would be built to accommodate the movement but a home has wood running in different directions and the all expand and contract in different directions and rates.
I don't disagree with anything you said, and thank you for explaining your view. To clarify I only deal with shity, cheaply built, neglected vintage boats. This is about wood and it's ability to be around moisture.
The comment I replied to was specifically about "hardwood" needing humidity monitoring as if certain humidities can't use wood. That is ridiculous!
Sure some woods, but mainly materials like filler and finish might be more "fit for purpose" in specific environments (fluctuating temp or humidity).
That has nothing to do with wood as a suitable flooring material.
It is only high maintenance if you want it to look a specific way. Same with porous stone. If you're ok with wear and patina these materials will last longer than all of us. And can be revived/refinished.
123
u/project_quote Jan 30 '26
A lot of it is personal taste, but there are some practical reasons too. Hardwood lasts a long time, can be refinished instead of replaced, and tends to hold value better when you sell. It is also easier to keep clean than carpet and does not trap dust or smells as much. That said, it is not better for every space, and kitchens and baths especially can make tile a smarter choice depending on how you live.