Yes, it will. Sellers often change the flooring before putting their home on the market. If you think you might be selling sometime in the near or far future, you can expect all hardwood, whether solid or engineered, to increase your Baton Rouge home’s value by 2.5 percent.
According to Professional Builder Magazine, the return on investment for these floors lies somewhere between 70 to 80%. Theoretically, if you were to spend $20,000 (only an assumption, based on a supposed large square footage), you can expect a return of $14,000-16,000, as reflected in the selling price.
The two kinds of hardwood
There’s solid, which is what most people probably know. The planks are the same wood all the way though. Yes, it is beautiful, but there is one big challenge: It can be damaged by excess water, so there are places where it is never recommended for installation.
Engineered is the other type. The top layer is solid wood, just like the hardwood we all know, but the core is constructed of various woods and materials, all placed in various directions, making this flooring more stable, water-resistant and giving it more flexibility in installation. For example, if there were basements in Louisiana, you could install it there, unlike solid which is never recommended for below level grades.
Real estate sales associates can legally refer to engineered as hardwood in their marketing materials when describing the flooring.
How to buy the best engineered hardwood
Thickness does matter with this flooring material. It’s typically ⅜” thick. It’s also a must that you look at samples before you buy; don’t just look at color, but also the grain and overall richness.
Caring for your flooring
Whether it is engineered or solid hardwood, the rules are pretty much the same:
Sweep with a soft broom or dust mop. For more thorough cleaning, use a damp mop and manufacturer-approved soap.
The most important thing to remember is that, although it handles moisture better than solid, it still has its limitations, so don’t install it in a room with leaky pipes, steam or soggy towels.
To learn more, feel free to come into the Wholesale Granite & Flooring showroom in Baton Rouge, LA.
