7 Benefits of Real Hardwood Flooring
By Hartco Product Expert, Published August 22, 2025
When choosing new floors for your home, you want something that looks beautiful, lasts a long time, and adds value to your property. That’s why so many homeowners turn to real hardwood flooring. It doesn’t matter if you use solid or engineered hardwood flooring. Both offer timeless appeal and practical benefits that other flooring types struggle to match.
Let’s break down the top seven reasons why hardwood flooring remains one of the most popular choices for homeowners today.
1. Wood Floors Offer Timeless Beauty and Elegance
Few flooring options can match the natural beauty of solid hardwood. It brings warmth, character, and richness to any room. You can choose from a wide range of wood species, including oak, maple, and hickory, and select finishes in a range of light to dark tones.
Hardwood floors work well in both traditional and modern homes, and they age gracefully. While some materials may go out of style, hardwood’s classic look never does.
2. Hardwoods Deliver Long-Term Durability
One of the strongest selling points of solid hardwood flooring is its exceptional durability. With proper care, hardwood floors can last 50 to 100 years longer than most carpet, laminate, or vinyl products. Unlike other flooring types, solid hardwood can be sanded and refinished multiple times to restore its appearance to brand new.
With that kind of durability, quality brands like Hartco® often back their products with a lifetime warranty.
Engineered hardwood is equally durable, thanks to its layered construction, which adds stability, especially in areas with fluctuating temperatures or humidity. Although you can typically refinish them, the thickness of the real wood veneer may limit the number of times this can be done.
3. Real Hardwood Flooring Increases Home Value
Installing hardwood flooring is an investment, but it pays off, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). The report presented that hardwood floors can recover up to 106% of their cost when you sell your home.
Buyers consistently rank hardwood as a “must-have” or “nice-to-have” feature. As a result, when you invest in real hardwood flooring, your home becomes more attractive and increases its resale value. Hardwood also adds a premium feel, which boosts pride of ownership even if you’re not planning to sell soon.
4. Wood Floors are Easy to Clean and Maintain
Life can get messy, but hardwood flooring makes cleanup easier. Solid and engineered hardwood both resist stains, dirt, and pet dander. Regular sweeping or vacuuming (with a hardwood floor attachment) helps keep things tidy, and occasional damp mopping can effectively handle spills.
Compared to carpet, which traps dust and allergens, hardwood is refreshingly low-maintenance.
5. Wood Floors Can Improve Indoor Air Quality
If you or someone in your home struggles with allergies, hardwood floors can improve air quality. Unlike carpet, hardwood doesn’t trap pollen, dust mites, mold, or pet hair. Reducing indoor pollutants can significantly enhance the quality of air. That makes hardwood a wise choice, creating a healthier home.
6. Real Hardwoods Deliver a Whole Home Solution
You might think real hardwood only belongs in formal living rooms, but today’s engineered hardwood changes that. Its layered construction lets engineered hardwood handle moisture better than solid hardwood. So now, you can use wood flooring in kitchens, basements, and even some bathrooms (with care).
Indeed, companies like Hartco now offer waterproof engineered hardwood flooring, known as HydroBlok®. It includes an innovative, three-part system that protects wood floors from water damage. So, you’ll enjoy 100% waterproof protection with real wood flooring, not laminate or vinyl.
Hardwood flooring can create a seamless, unified look across multiple spaces in open-concept homes. Moreover, genuine hardwood floors can easily adapt to changing design trends.
7. Wood Flooring is Eco-Friendly and a Sustainable Choice
Real hardwood flooring can be a sustainable choice for homeowners concerned about the environment, primarily when sourced responsibly. Many wood flooring products carry certifications, such as FSC (Forest Stewardship Council), which ensure they come from responsibly managed forests.
Plus, hardwood’s long lifespan means less material goes to landfills than flooring that needs frequent replacement. Choosing products like reclaimed wood or domestically sourced species further reduces environmental impact.
Real Hardwoods for Real Life
Hardwood flooring uniquely combines beauty, durability, and long-term value. Hardwood is a choice you’ll never regret. More than just flooring, hardwood represents an investment in your home’s comfort, style, and value.
Hartco offers a wide selection of solid and engineered hardwood flooring. You can choose from a variety of species in different widths and finishes. Many of its hardwoods come from USA forests, and manufacturing occurs here.
Find real hardwood flooring for your space at a local Hartco retailer. You’ll never regret your decision!