The Flooring Project HGTV's Scott McGillivray Recommends Starting A Reno With

When renovating a home, it's often hard to figure out where to begin. Whether it's small, subtle changes or huge reconstruction projects, it can be overwhelming to know where to invest your financial and labor resources first. This is particularly challenging when moving into a home that requires serious updates or looking to rehab the home you currently live in. HGTV's Scott McGillivray recently told Modern Wellness Guide that when it comes to figuring out the first projects to tackle, you can't go wrong with installing hardwood flooring. While flooring options are seemingly endless, McGillivray says the surest way to increase the beauty of a home or space, as well as its ultimate value going forward, is to opt for wood over other materials.

One of the most desirable elements when buyers or renters are looking for property, hardwood's classic appeal is understandable. Long ago, homes were usually decked out in wood flooring that homeowners have been uncovering and refinishing for decades now, particularly after the popularity of carpets, tiles, and linoleum in the mid to late 20th century. If your home is newer or has other flooring materials at play, there is no reason you can't also enjoy this style by laying down hardwood floors in rooms that lack them.

Though hardwood can be more expensive than luxury vinyl plank flooring or carpet, it is one of the most durable and adaptable flooring materials. Just think of the wood in many older homes, barring damage from pests or moisture, that has stood up so well to the test of time. Well-installed and preserved hardwood floors can last decades, possibly centuries, as old European buildings will attest. They are also one of the easiest materials to keep clean and maintain without full replacement, coming in far above carpets and other materials that become stained and require a more rigorous cleaning regimen. Unlike carpets, they also do not harbor allergens.

Wood is also one of the most eco-friendly alternatives for flooring, as it is an ever-renewable resource and a completely natural material. It is also a recyclable material; many homeowners take advantage of salvaged wood flooring to make everything from furniture to bookshelves. What's more, the wood of older renovated or demolished homes can be harvested to use in new homes instead of newer timber. While laminate can often create a similar look for less cost, the durability of genuine hardwood will always win out.

The look and feel of wood is also always classic and timeless, giving an immediate warmth that stone and tile cannot replicate. Studies have shown that wood floors are also a more comfortable alternative to stand on for long periods of time over concrete or tile. Wood floors are also available in a number of finishes, grain varieties, cuts and widths, and timber materials that can help you find the perfect wood for your floors, particularly if you are looking to work with existing woodwork, trim, or cabinetry. Wood is also greatly adaptable, and can be painted, refinished, and refreshed down the line as your decor tastes change.

Hardwood floors, because of their classic appeal, can fit any number of design schemes from modern and Scandinavian rooms to traditional, boho, and farmhouse styles. Because of this, it's often one of the most desirable things for new buyers, who can look at a space with wood flooring as a blank space to be filled with their own furnishings, decor, and vision for the room. A simple oak floor can host decades of changing styles and design trends gorgeous without batting an eyelash.