Hardwood floors can last a hundred years or more with proper care. Many modern manufacturers feel comfortable giving a 50-year warranty on the hardwood flooring they sell. Their confidence is justified. Look at homes from the turn of the 20th century that have been well-maintained and you might well see the original flooring.

One of the major reasons for this is that the term hardwood floor exactly describes what the material is: hard wood, very hard wood. Brazilian Teak, Walnut, Mahogany, Cherry and many other flooring materials are made from trees with extremely strong and dense fibers. They stand up well to walking, vacuuming where the rotation brushes are often left on and many other forms of daily punishment.

But durability is only one good reason that hardwood floors are so popular, and perhaps not the most significant reason. Hardwood floors are beautiful. Those same trees that offer such long-lasting material are not just attractive while growing. They form the base of flooring material that is esthetically pleasing to nearly everyone.

They appeal to the senses of sight and touch. Whether it's the dark, soothing brown of a fine Mahogany or the lighter look of Maple, they show color and finish that will dress up any home. The grain lends a flair to any floor design while evoking hints of nature that invites walking on. They may have the rich, sensual look of a deep red Cherry or convey a happy mood from a light Ash.

Hardwood floors are also easy to care for.

Certainly scratches, wear on veneer and other problems can occur with even the hardest of hardwood floors. But no other material allows for sanding, refinishing, crack repair and other fix-it methods like hardwood flooring.

Even everyday care is simplicity itself. Often a little swipe with a cloth dustmop is enough. Spills are easy to remove, thanks to the fine wax or polyurethane finishes applied to hardwood floors. Stains are rare on a properly finished hardwood floor, but when they occur they can often be bleached out, sanded out or covered over with a fresh coat of wood stain.

Hardwood floors are not without their potential downsides, of course. They are more expensive up front than many other options. They are subject to expansion and contraction that can reveal poor installation or even lead to cracking. They can readily look shabby if not properly maintained.

But on balance, those who want a long-lasting, beautiful flooring will often opt for hardwood flooring for one very good reason. It's simply outstanding.

Caring For Your Floor

A good hardwood floor with proper surface treatment will resist coffee, tea and other common kitchen spills well. But hot coffee can easily melt through wax and before long make its way into small grooves where it's nearly impossible to get out. Stronger compounds, like grease and acid-containing tomato juice can be even larger problems. Wipe them up completely and your hardwood floor will last for years.

Avoid scraping furniture over hardwood floors. Make the extra effort to lift it up before moving sideways. Once a scratch is made in the surface of hardwood, the only way to get it out is to sand it out and refinish, or use wood putty and stain to cover it up. Felt on table and couch legs will help eliminate the problem before it can occur.

Excess sunlight will, over time, fade even the best hardwood floors. Keeping curtains closed or having a diffuser curtain will cut down the incident UV that does the damage. Using louvres rather than blinds allows you to direct the sunlight up and away from the floor, bouncing it off the walls and ceiling. That drastically cuts down on any UV radiation reaching the floor.

Treat the floor regularly with a protective compound made especially for hardwood floors. That will help deflect sunlight and provide partial protection against stains and scratches.

Brazilian Walnut or Teak, American Oak and other hardwood floor materials will often be sold with as long as 50-year warranties. But that covers only major defects in the plank. Surface scratches, scuff marks and stains can occur in any wood surfaces so they're not covered. Keep problems at bay as long as possible by the proper care and treatment of your hardwood floors.