Are you tired of the dirty carpeting in your house or the outdated laminate floors? Hardwood floors are one of the best investments you can make if you want long-lasting flooring that looks great. If you're considering hardwood flooring, check out these eight benefits.

1. Aesthetics

The undeniably sleek style of hardwood flooring is one of the reasons homeowners love it so much. Hardwood floors are the real deal, so they don't have the engineered or faux look that laminate and vinyl flooring have. Upgrading to hardwood floors is one of the best things you can do to give your home a completely fresh and updated look. Even better, you can keep hardwood floors looking great for years.

2. Home Value

You might not be planning on selling your home anytime soon, but you still need to consider your home's value. Some upgrades look great but don't add a lot of value to your home. With hardwood flooring, you can upgrade your home while adding significant resale value. Not only that, but it's also easier to sell your home when it has modern features, and hardwood floors are a timeless style when it comes to flooring.

3. Cleanliness

If you've ever waited too long to vacuum your carpet, you know how much dirt and dust can build up over time. Clean carpets are great, but they don't stay that way for long without frequent shampooing and vacuuming. Carpets even provide a perfect spot for fleas, bed bugs, carpet beetles, and other critters to live and reproduce. With hardwood flooring, you don't have to worry about dirt and dust getting trapped and there's nowhere for bugs to lay their eggs. As long as you sweep regularly, you'll have a lot less dirt in your house without carpets.

4. Easy Maintenance

Hardwood floors are one of the easiest flooring options when it comes to maintenance. If you've got quality hardwood flooring, you can keep it clean by sweeping daily. Any hard-to-clean spots can be cleaned with a wet mop and a cleaner that's safe for hardwood floors. You don't have to worry about shampooing, vacuuming, or letting dirt and dust build up in your carpets.

5. Long-Lasting

The longevity of hardwood has made it a popular choice for several decades. According to HGTV, hardwood can last between 20 and 30 years before you need to refinish it. In fact, a lot of older homes have laminate or carpet covering up hardwood floors, and those floors can be restored and refinished even if they're decades old. Carpet, on the other hand, only lasts about five to 15 years. As long as you take good care of your wood floors, they'll probably outlast you.

6. Able to Be Refinished

There's only so much you can do to clean your old carpets. If your carpets are a decade or two old, you probably need to have them replaced. If your hardwood floors are 20 or 30 years old, you can simply refinish them to restore their original look. You can even refinish hardwood floors with different stains and finishes to give your home a new look.

7. Versatility

Hardwood flooring is one of the best options if you hate cookie-cutter styles. Laminate and vinyl flooring are made to look like hardwood with natural grain, but you can tell that grain isn't authentic because it's too consistent. Hardwood floors come in tons of styles, including different finishes and materials, so you can find a unique look that's perfect for your home. Plus, the variation in the grain means every hardwood floor is unique.

8. Improved Air Quality

If you or someone in your home has allergies or asthma, carpets are a bad idea. All the dirt and dust that gets trapped in your carpets gets stirred up into the air, where everyone can breathe it in. With hardwood floors, you can see any dirt and dust that's building up and sweep it away. You should still clean hardwood flooring with a wet mop occasionally to keep it looking shiny and new.

It's not easy deciding on the right flooring for your home. New floors are a big investment, so finding the best material for your home is crucial. If you're considering hardwood flooring, contact IC Building Supply to get a quote or learn more about the benefits of hardwood floors.