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I'm shopping for hardwood floors to replace the carpeted areas of our house. I've noticed some interesting styles in the showrooms that are referred to as "hand-scraped", or "distressed". Has anyone seen these styles of hardwoods in any houses? They look kinda cool, but I'm not sure they'd look as cool if they were covering a large area. Do they tend to be used in smaller rooms? Are they becoming the "in" thing? Will they go the way of sponge-painted walls and be out of style in 5 years? Have you seen any model homes in the Raleigh area with these hardwoods? I'd like to take a look at them installed instead of just a few square feet in a showroom.
My opinion, I don't like them-they look to me like the floors in my rented house, which are nice wood but at 50yrs old, need refinishing. I wouldn't want to see that in a new home, I'd perceive them as needing work.
They can look good, but I would be afraid of them being a turnoff to any future buyers (my mother in law for example would hate them). I'd stick with the classic hardwood floors. I think distressed floors would be best suited for a French Country or Tuscan style home.
My gut is that you would get tired of them after a while. They sound like they'd be distracting and you may prefer to have your floors enhance your decor rather than be an integral part of it. Particularly since they're so expensive to replace - unlike paint color or curtains Now if you do decide to go for the look, don't pay extra for it - just get the cheapest hardwoods you can find and I'll send my boys over for a few hours. They'll have them distressed in no time
They are beautiful floors. They wear well. I have done several clients homes with them as they were all the rage about 4 years back. One big down fall IMO is the fact that your furniture does not sit evenly on them. So if you have them in the kitchen be prepared to have a wobbly table!
My sister-in-law and a friend of mine both have them. I can say that they're really awesome. I believe my sister-in-law got hers from Armstrong flooring and they are superdurable, wear dirt well, have withstood a lot of abuse from my nephews and their cars and still look great. We definitely plan on using them if/when we ever find our dream home.
Last edited by omamia; 05-06-2007 at 11:13 PM..
Reason: grammar
One big down fall IMO is the fact that your furniture does not sit evenly on them. So if you have them in the kitchen be prepared to have a wobbly table!
That alone would drive me crazy! I'm the kind of person who is always folding up napkins and sugar packets to stick under the table legs at restaurants!
Does anyone know of a place where I can see a floor done with these distressed hardwoods? Is there a flooring store in the Raleigh area, or perhaps a model home?
So far the voting is 3 against them and 2 for them.
Hmm this link makes them look very pretty. That being said, I think they may go "out of style" or in 20 years make the house look older than it really is.
If you are interested in the distressed floors how about reclaimed wood? That is a green concept and there are places where you can buy planks from old barns, etc.
Wow! Those are some nice looking floors. I looked at some of the pictures of walnut floors and I'll bet the planks were 12" wide. If I had a $5M home, I think that I could afford them, but I'll bet that they are too rich for my blood. Thanks for the link Buckhead_Broker.
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Now if you do decide to go for the look, don't pay extra for it - just get the cheapest hardwoods you can find and I'll send my boys over for a few hours. They'll have them distressed in no time 
They're really great
