Hardwood Flooring Gains in Home Remodeling Design Trends
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Hardwood Flooring Gains in Home Remodeling Design Trends MINNEAPOLIS - Home remodeling with hardwood surfaced flooring continued to make inroads  among U.S. floor coverings categories last year, says Catalina Research, which does studies for the Floor Covering Institute and the National Wood Flooring Association.

"Premium residential neighborhoods have chosen hardwood flooring significantly more often for three years in a row," says builder, Bruce Sprenger, owner of building firm Destiny Homes, which has an upscale housing development in Wayzata, MN.

Catalina, which issues quarterly updates, says estimates the value of hardwood flooring sales has increased three consecutive years: 15.8% gain in 2010; 4.4%  in 2011; and 4.3% in 2012.

"Homes with hardwood floors hold their value better, sell homes quicker and fetch higher prices," says Sprenger, who reports local realtors tell him having hardwood floors sometimes "make the difference between selling your home or watching a potential buyer turn around and purchase a home that does." 

Key factors include:
• Quality of the wood grade used, says the study. Top grade suppliers select hardwood lumber devoid of naturally occurring character marks, though homes designed with a rustic country will want character grades that match.

• Dings and dents - Reclaiming floors from older commercial buildings, a big hit in the 1990s, has returned, with character of hardwood floors coming from the scars nail homes, gouges and scrapes. along the way, and are regarded as part of the beauty and history of the wood.

• Exotic wood choices add style  - Exotic flooring hardwoods include species such as Brazilian Cherry, Ipe, Chestnut, Tigerwood and Amendoim. In weighing  American hardwood over exotic wood, it's worth noting several exotic wood types – including Brazilian walnut, Brazilian teak, Tiete rosewood, and Santos mahogany – require less pampering because of their high Janka Hardness Rating.

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