Why You Should Splurge on Hardwood Floors During the Home Building Process

There are a lot of reasons to love hardwood flooring. From its durability and longevity to its aesthetic and ability to boost resale value, it's often worth the investment when you're building a new home. If you’re still on the fence, Maleno takes a closer look at four reasons you should consider splurging on hardwood flooring.

1. Resale Value

Homebuyers and investors alike love hardwood floors. According to a survey of real estate agents by the National Wood Flooring Association:

• 99 percent believe homes with hardwood floors are easier to sell
• 82 percent believe they sell faster
• 90 percent believe they sell for more money—up to 10 percent more.

To put this in perspective, let’s consider some statistics from the National Home Builders’ Association:

• Average price of new single-family homes: $665,300
• Average size: 2,647 sq. ft.

Using the average cost of installing hardwood floors in the U.S. ($9.00 per sq ft.), it would cost $23,823 to add hardwood flooring to a new 2,647-sq ft. home. While definitely a sizable investment for a house this size, that could add around $66,530 of value when it came time to sell.

A 2022 study from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) also found that for every $1.00 spent on hardwood floors, you’ll recoup $1.18 upon selling the home.

2. Aesthetic

Beyond the resale value, hardwood floors elevate a home's overall look. Whether you want the richness of walnut, the creamy tones of oak, or the auburn streaks of cherry, they’ll add a one-of-a-kind element to any house that synthetic materials simply can’t. We recommend:

For a Natural, Lighter Look

• Best Choice: White Oak
• Tone: Light beige to golden honey with subtle grain.
• Why we think it works: White oak takes stains beautifully or can be left natural for a clean, airy look. It is also very durable and widely available.
• Runners Up: Maple, Ash, & Birch

For a Darker, Warmer Look

• Best Choice: Walnut
• Tone: Deep chocolate to coffee-brown with rich variation, sometimes with purple or red undertones.
• Why we think it works: Walnut brings instant warmth and elegance to a space. Its natural richness needs little stain and offers timeless appeal.
• Runners Up: Mahogany, Black Walnut, Brazilian Cherry (Jatoba)

For Durability

• Best Choice: Hickory
• Tone: Medium to dark brown with natural color variation and bold grain.
• Why we think it works: Hickory is one of the hardest domestic hardwoods, making it ideal for high-traffic homes with kids or pets.
• Runners Up: White Oak & Maple

For Affordability

• Best Choice: Red Oak
• Tone: Warm undertones with a prominent grain, typically more reddish than white oak.
• Why we think it works: Red oak is readily available, easy to work with, and gives you the classic hardwood look without breaking the bank.
• Runners Up: Birch & Engineered Hardwood

For Uniqueness

• Best Choice: Reclaimed or Salvaged Wood
• Tone: Varies by species and age, often includes knots, nail holes, and a natural aged patina.
• Why we think it works: No two planks are alike, and reclaimed wood adds authentic character and a story to your floors.
• Runners Up: Acacia, Teak, and Tigerwood

3. Air Quality

Hardwood floors look incredible and add value to a home, but the benefits don’t stop there. In a 2022 study, researchers found that carpeting can significantly affect indoor air quality (IAQ) through the emission and resuspension of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and particulate matter (PM) pollutants indoors. More specifically, when crunching the numbers from this study, VOC emissions and PM resuspension are about 20x higher and 5x higher on carpet than on hard flooring, respectively.

It should be noted, however, that not all hard flooring has an equally low impact on air quality. A study on the degradation of synthetic flooring finishing materials found that microplastics are released into the air as the material breaks down, potentially affecting people’s respiratory, cardiovascular, nervous, reproductive, and digestive systems.

4. Long-lasting

Over time, wood flooring often proves to be one of the most cost-effective choices for the home. When properly installed and maintained, hardwood floors can last for generations. While synthetic flooring typically needs replacing every 10 to 20 years, you can make hardwood last 100+ years.

Unlike other materials, wood floors can be sanded and refinished multiple times, restoring their original beauty without complete replacement. Their timeless look also adapts easily to changing styles and décor trends, whereas many other floors can quickly feel dated.

When you consider their longevity, flexibility, and ability to be renewed rather than replaced, wood floors offer exceptional long-term value and one of the lowest costs per year of service.

The Trade-offs of Hardwood

Hardwood floors are beautiful, durable, and long-lasting, but, like any material, they come with trade-offs. The most notable issue with hardwood is its susceptibility to moisture and humidity, which can cause significant warping, cupping, or gapping. For that reason, we recommend avoiding hardwood in bathrooms, basements, and laundry rooms.

Further, hardwood can be noisy underfoot and often requires area rugs to dampen the sound.

While hardwood is durable, it does require maintenance—and eventually refinishing—as it's prone to scratches, dents, and fading.

All that said, the above trade-offs can be managed with the right finish, the right wood, and the right building plan.

Hardwood Is an Easy Choice

With decades of experience installing hardwood floors in custom homes, Maleno is here to help you make the right choice for your home. If you’re interested in learning more about our home-building process, reach out today to learn more.