It seems that children and flooring do not mix well. Small children with wet diapers, boys with hammers and girls with muddy boots and their coaches overturned cause scratches on the floor, rubbed places, dirt and stains. Carpets in such conditions will soon be worn, dirty and damaged. Wood has advantages over carpeting such as easy cleaning, repair and restoration, can withstand years of working children and their misbehaving. Wood is a good choice for floors where children play and run extensively.
Advantages of wood flooring for families with children
Wood flooring in the room has a warm natural feel. It is warmer than other types of flooring because the wood insulates well. It contains thousands of tiny tubes that naturally retain heat. Since the wood can be sanded and re-painted, it can withstand virtually a hundred years. Carpet will not last nearly as long, unless it is avoided.
Wood is also suitable for children with allergies because it does not capture dust and mold as carpet. It also can be easily cleaned with a broom and a mop. Over time, namely it may make scratches and dents, but those woods, as well as antique furniture, give what is called a “character”.
The best types of wood for families with children
There is a large selection of wood flooring and each of them has different types of cut and surface hardness. Each type of wood is yet assessed differently, so there is no common ranking system of colors and textures. Here you have some wood types, from which you can choose from:
- Oak: The commonly used oak wood floors are the red and white oak. Both are very tough and look good. Since red oak has a tighter structure, it is better to hide scratches and dents than the white.
- Brazilian cherry is twice as hard as oak and resists moisture. This makes it easy to be incurred spots, making it suitable for the kitchen and hallway.
- Australian cypress, which is also harder than oak, has a corrugated structure and many knots. Around the knots may crack or chip. Its dense structure may hide child accident. Quality bamboo is very different. Stained “caramelized” bamboo is usually less rigid than untreated. Roofing made of bamboo fiber is very strong and it’s not nearly to notch.
- Maple, which may have shade from white to light reddish brown, is also very strong and particularly resistant to wear and tear. Since it is widely used, it is available about everywhere.
- Teak has been increasingly used because it is now often grown in renewable tree nurseries. It is about as solid as oak and insect resistant.
- Pine, Douglas fir, American cherry and American walnuts are softer and susceptible to scratches and notches. Do not abide these floors in areas with too much moisture and spillage. Softwoods tend to be cheaper than hard, making it beneficial for the family budget.
Safety
Parents certainly interested in the demand of safety of children on wood flooring. Safety issue can be resolved by placing small rugs in places where children are playing and running around. Another solution is square rugs that unfolded around the room as needed and can easily move later.