Most people automatically think of hardwood flooring like oak for their home, rather than the softwoods, because of the hardness factor. The softwoods are not as well thought of for flooring, but they are less expensive and some people think that they are not as sturdy and durable. Softwood flooring choices include spruce, fir, and pine flooring. They are just as beautiful as the hardwoods and in most cases cost much less. There are some things that you need to keep in mind before purchasing these softwoods, however.

When looking for softwood flooring, you will need to learn the names of the wood varieties that you are interested in. The reason is that softwoods are not normally marketed for flooring use and most stores will not offer them as a choice unless you specifically request them. By doing your research beforehand, you will be able to walk into the store with the knowledge that you need to get what you want and desire for your home. Sawmills are your best source for the least expensive price, but lumberyards may be another source as well.

You need to keep in mind that softwoods are categorized that way for a reason. They are softer than the hardwoods, which means that they are more easily dented and pitted. For most people, they think that this only helps to make the floors more beautiful, but if you do not think that worn floors are beautiful, then you will probably not want to choose pine flooring. To minimize the appearance of dents, you will want to refrain from using a dark stain, because this stain makes them more noticeable.

Pine flooring can be found in most stores, but it is usually found unfinished. You can find tongue and groove varieties, which it great for the do-it-yourselfer. By being able to finish it yourself, you are in control of how light or dark you stain it. You may enjoy the beauty of the wood so much that you just want to leave it basically the natural color by applying polyurethane to it. It will look beautiful no matter which stain you choose.

Installing and finishing unfinished wood flooring takes longer, but the added beauty and value is well worth the time and effort. After installing the unfinished pine flooring, you need to sand the boards to ensure they level and mars are removed. After sanding, vacuum the dust from the floors using a shopvac, getting them ready for finish. Your finish options include polyurethane, stain, tung oil, or varnish, to name a few. You may even want to stain and seal the wood to get the look you seek. Consider using a floodlight to make sure that you get the finish evenly on the floors. It's also important that you lightly sand the floors between each layer of finish. The last layer of finish does not need to be sanded, but it must be completely dry before allowing people to walk on it. Then all you need to do is enjoy your floors.

Pine flooring is a great choice for almost any home and it can help you to save money for more important things. If you love the look of wood flooring, but not the price of hardwoods, then this may be just the flooring for you.