Wood is sustainable. This is apparent by looking at examples of homes built hundreds of years ago. Some of them are still in good shape, for example, the 8th century Tôdai-ji Buddhist temple in Japan, a UNESCO World Heritage site, as well as the Urnes Stave Church in Norway built in the 12th century. Wood buildings can last a very long time provided they are well-designed and maintained.
The same can be said for wood flooring. All types of wooden floors can easily last over 25 years, even 100 years if they are not changed. By comparison, vinyl or ceramic tile coverings can last a maximum of 30 to 50 years. Linoleum, about 25 years; cork coverings, 30 years; carpeting, 10 years at the most.
In addition, wooden floors maintain their value over time. Whereas other types of flooring appear faded and outdated after a few years, wooden floors keep their charm and are a valuable asset when selling a house. In a survey of real estate agents in the United States, 90 per cent of respondents said that houses with wooden floors sell faster and at a higher price that those without them.
Their durability compared to other types of flooring along with their lower maintenance costs over 15 years make them the least expensive of all floor coverings, according to the Fédération française du bâtiment.
The author of an American study on floor materials also wrote that “carpet, for example, typically has the lowest purchase price of any option, but expensive maintenance and low durability make its life span cost highest of all options considered.”
Source: The many virtues of hardwoods/ Image: Stock image
