IN THIS POST
– What is Hardwood?
– What is Softwood?
– Pros & Cons of Hardwood Flooring
– Pros & Cons of Softwood Flooring
– Hardwood vs Softwood Flooring
– Which One Is Better for Your Home?
Choosing between hardwood vs softwood flooring is one of the biggest decisions one has to make when getting ready to install wooden floors in their home. Apart from the difference in their origin and appearances, one must also consider the advantages and disadvantages pertaining to each type of wood flooring.
In order to make the best decision for your home, you need to know the main differences as well as the pros and cons of hardwood vs softwood flooring. However, before we discuss the benefits and drawbacks of installing hardwood and softwood floorings, let’s take a quick look at what they actually are.
What is Hardwood?
Hardwood comes from deciduous trees that lose their leaves in the falls and grow new ones in the spring. They are also predominantly angiosperms, which means hardwood trees bear flowers and produce seeds enclosed within a carpel. Some of the most common examples of hardwood trees include oak, walnut, teak and mahogany.
Though all types of woods have distinct grain patterns, hardwoods tend to have closed grains and are usually available in dark brown and red hues. However, you can also find hardwood floors in shades of white. Owing to their vast range of colours and styles, hardwood floors offer homeowners a number of options to choose from.
Moreover, one of the main characteristics of hardwood flooring is that it is resilient to general wear and tear. Flooring made out of this wood is also considerably more durable. However, since hardwoods have a slow growth rate and high market demand, they are relatively expensive.
What is Softwood?
Softwood comes from evergreen trees that don’t shed their leaves every year. Some of the most common softwood trees include spruce, fir, cedar and pine. They tend to have a yellowish or lighter red colour and a looser grain.
Contrary to popular belief, softwoods are not very soft or less dense than hardwood trees. They are perfectly suitable for flooring. Compared to hardwoods, softwoods are relatively more prevalent. In fact, they make up around 75 to 80 percent of timber used for flooring and furniture all around the world.
One of the most noteworthy characteristics of softwood is that it’s more flexible in nature, making it an ideal choice for construction. On the flip side, softwood flooring is slightly more prone to wear and tear and a little less durable than its hardwood counterpart. This type of wood flooring is not suitable for dining rooms with heavy tables and chairs, rooms with heavy furniture, and kitchens.
Softwood floorings are also less expensive than hardwood floorings.
In order to compare hardwood vs softwood flooring, we need to study their individual pros and cons first.
Pros and Cons of Hardwood Flooring
Here are the most prominent advantages and disadvantages of installing hardwood flooring in your home:
Pro: One of the main properties of hardwood is its longevity. Hardwood flooring is pretty durable and has a relatively long lifespan
Con: Hardwoods have a slower growth rate and take a longer time to replenish. Therefore, using them for construction is not very eco-friendly
Pro: Floors made from hardwood are easy to maintain, clean and repair
Con: Owing to their density, hardwood can be a little difficult to work with
Pro: Hardwoods are sturdier compared to softwoods, making them an ideal option for flooring
Con: The price of hardwood flooring is slightly higher than softwood flooring
Pro: You can find hardwood flooring in a wide range of colours and finishes to complement your home décor and design
Con: Refinishing hardwood floors in high traffic areas can be quite costly
Pro: Hardwood timber is more resistant to fire than softwood
Pros and Cons of Softwood Flooring
These are the most noteworthy benefits and drawbacks of installing softwood flooring in your home.
Pro: The price of softwood flooring is relatively lower, making it a great option for those building or renovating their home on a budget
Con: Softwood timber has a lower density, which means it is less durable and sturdy than hardwood
Pro: Since softwoods grow at a much quicker pace, they are considered more environment-friendly. In other words, they are easy to replenish
Con: Softwood flooring is not suitable for high traffic areas in your home and it can be easily scratched and dented
Pro: One of the main properties of softwood is its flexibility. Since it is easier to work with, it can be used to build furniture and flooring among other things
Con: Floors made from softwood are not resistant to fire unless treated
Pro: Compared to hardwood flooring, refinishing softwood flooring is a lot less challenging
Hardwood vs Softwood Flooring: A Comparison
The main difference between hardwood and softwood flooring is durability, which in turn affects their rates.
When it comes to a comparison between softwood vs hardwood, the former offer varying degrees of resilience but is more prone to general wear and tear. On the other hand, hardwoods are generally denser and considerably more durable. They can also endure heavy foot traffic without looking distressed.
On the other hand, softwoods are easier to stain and seal to add to its durability. Hardwood, on the other hand, mostly comes prefinished.
The average starting price of hardwood flooring in Pakistan is around PKR 585 per sq ft, whereas the average starting price of softwood flooring in Pakistan is about PKR 200 per sq ft.
For more information, you can check out our detailed guide on wooden floorings and their rates in Pakistan.
Which One Is Better For Your Home?
If you compare the pros and cons of hardwood vs softwood flooring, hardwood stands out as a better option in terms of strength and durability.
Ideally, you can install both of these types in your home. While hardwood flooring is a great option for the kitchen, living room, hallway and dining room, softwood flooring is the perfect (and a lesser expensive) option for basements, attics and guest bedrooms.
In case you are not interested in either, here are some budget-friendly alternatives to wooden flooring in Pakistan that can add a hint of elegance to your home. Installing wooden parquet flooring is also a great way to enhance the beauty of your house and make it look luxurious.
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