Pine is a well-known flooring material, and with good reason. It’s strong, economical and is able to be finished to your personal preferences. Although it’s a popular choice it isn’t for every person and there are circumstances where it’s not the best choice. Knowing the ins and cons of flooring made from pine will aid you in deciding whether it’s an appropriate option for your home.
Pros for: Beautiful Flooring That Lasts For Decades
A popular choice for its rustic appearance and its ability to withstand the rigors of usage, pine comes with added advantages, including being low on costs and the environmental.
Astonishing Appearance
Pine comes in a variety of colors which range from white to golden yellow , to deep reds, deep browns and rich. The wood’s distinctive pattern, its pinholes and knots add the appearance of a wood with a warm rustic look.
Since pine flooring is typically unfinished, you can have the opportunity to finish your flooring in any shade that fits your style and the colors of your house. Tung oil by itself can give your floor a traditional appearance and an inviting glow. However, pine also takes paint and stain well.
If you like the natural wood color make sure to treat your flooring with whitewashing or clear varnish to keep it from becoming dark as it ages or leave it as is. As the wood ages, it becomes distressed, resulting in obvious wear and patina, which many believe is an element of the appeal of wood.
The rustic look of pine is a great option for a log-home or country cabin , or to add the warmth of a contemporary interior or even a business office.
Durable
The durability of pine flooring is high and is widely used across the country. pine floors that are 100 years old or older are still used even today. The pine flooring can last throughout the time you live in your home unlike the temporary flooring like the linoleum. It is not prone to shrinking or expanding, but in humid environments it can benefit from a layer of polyurethane.
Ecologically sustainable
Since it is a softwood species it grows more quickly than other hardwoods employed for flooring, like walnut or oak. As a result, pine is more suited to sustainable forestry practices.
To ensure that you’re buying a product that is sustainable, search for pine that is certified through the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Also, consider the reclaimed pine that is made from the demolition of older structures and is available from a variety of lumber stores.
Budget-Friendly
Softwoods generally are less expensive than hardwoods. Pine is typically cheaper than hardwoods like maple, oak and mahogany. It is sometimes even less that luxury vinyl tiles (LVT) that is usually made to resemble the appearance of wood. Although softwoods like cedar, fir and cypress are less in price than the majority of hardwoods, they do not have the properties and combination that make pine so sought-after.
Cons Pros: Visible Aging and less convenient requirements for finishing
100 Year Old Pine Floor Refinished
Pine wears faster than most wood species and it’s common to finish and stain your new floor with your own hands.
Shows Wear
If you want to keep your flooring in good condition, then pine isn’t the ideal floor material. Like all softwoods that are susceptible to scratches and dents and wears out quickly after installation. You’ll need to be careful in moving furniture and other heavy objects across the floor , to avoid creating deep scratches or gouges on the wood.
While pine wood generally is tough, the longevity of your flooring is contingent on the kind of pine you pick and the method you use to finish it in addition to the quantity of foot traffic it receives. Your flooring is more durable if finish it by staining it and sealing it by applying three or two coats of polyurethane.
Although you may enjoy the look and feel of pine that is moderately worn appealing however, you should be wary of installing wood flooring around areas that receive frequent foot traffic, or if you have small children or pets that are large. In these instances the pine flooring can be severely damaged.
Maintenance
For them to look their best, the floors of pine should be regularly vacuumed or dusted to get rid of any debris that may cause excessive wear and scratching. As with other floorings they also have to be maintained regularly through sanding or staining and applying a coating of polyurethane.
The frequency you’ll have to maintain the floor is contingent on the amount of use your flooring gets. If your home is populated by just two people, the floor can last for a long time. If your home is populated by children, adults or pets could need to replace the flooring each five-to-8 years. Refinishing will increase the lifetime price of the floor.
It is required to finish the installation after installation.
It is usually sold unfinished, so if prefer a specific shade or want to shield your floor from damage you’ll have to complete the work yourself. This gives you greater control over the appearance and longevity of your floor but it also makes it an extremely labor-intensive flooring choice unlike wood that’s sold as with a finished.
The specific process of finishing that you’ll need to adhere to depends on your preference. The typical process involves thoroughly washing the floor with sanding, cleaning, then applying an adhesive for floor sealing, then applying a stain if needed and then applying two or three coats of a polyurethane finish that is protective. It is also possible to buff and wax the floor to provide extra protection but it is possible to do this prior to staining, or even without stain.
If you’re in search of flooring that is character-building as it gets older and will endure the entire life of your home If you’re comfortable making a few efforts applying a stain, or a different finish, then pine is the best choice for you. If you’re looking for flooring that is done, and shows minimal wear and is on a budget opt for hardwood flooring like solid oak or engineered hardwood.
