Walnut flooring may not be first type of hardwood floor that comes to mind — unless you happen to be a member of the First Family. We never get to see it because of the more famous oval rug covering it, but the floor of the Oval Office in the White House consists of a contrasting cross pattern of walnut and oak. This makes the perfect statement about walnut wood flooring and all hardwood floors in general. Not only is it the choice of presidents, kings and commoners alike, there is such a wide range of variations and choices that the result for all can be delightfully unique.
It doesn’t matter whether we’re admiring the design and elegance of the Oval Office or the rustic hand-hewn floor of a cabin in the mountains of Tennessee, there is a timeless quality to a walnut floor that can not be denied. All too often we find that we are asked to choose between aesthetics and strength, design and function and especially between what we enjoy and what is good for us. For once, that is not the case. The reason that the demand for hardwood floors has experienced such a surge in recent years is that they not only add a natural warmth and beauty to any room but, properly cared for, they will last for years and years and they are proven to be an excellent choice for suffers of asthma or other breathing problems.
While the way it makes our favorite rooms look may be a prime motivator, few of us can afford to not take into consideration how something affects the value of our homes these days. This is another area in which your walnut hardwood flooring will shine! Talk to a realtor or anyone recently involved in buying or selling a home. Wood flooring is one of the most significant features included in the listing description. Real Estate professionals know that the first few seconds after a prospect walks in the door makes or breaks a sale. Few things increase market value more than the warmth and richness of a well-cared-for wood floor.
Whether you choose walnut or oak flooring or another of the hardwood varieties will depend on your personal taste and preference as well as the durability factor. How well something stands up under the kind of constant use that flooring gets has to be a concern. American Walnut, found mainly in the heartland of the U.S., is considered to have a medium hardness rating, somewhat less than oak. Brazilian Walnut flooring, on the other hand, comes from one of the densest woods available. While there are products like walnut laminate flooring that are marketed for high traffic areas, most hardwood floors, properly finished and cared for, will hold up just fine and look great long after imitations have had to be replaced. Chances are, though, that there will eventually be some damage. One of the advantages with wood flooring is that it is not difficult to refinish or even replace an area to return it to its original state. There are wood floors all over the world that have been in place for well over a hundred years.
Beauty, value and durability aside, perhaps an even more compelling reason to replace that carpet is the health benefit for people with allergies or breathing problems. Nearly 20 million people in the U.S. alone suffer from asthma. This chronic lung disease, which often restricts activities in its milder form, can be life-threatening. Dust, mold, pollen residue, insect droppings and animal dander are among the more common factors that are known to trigger asthma attacks. These are found in almost every home but it is next to impossible to adequately get rid of them from a house with carpeting.
The decision to add walnut flooring to your home is one that you can make with confidence. This choice will add to the beauty and value of your home for years to come and, at the same time, protect the health of your family.