It's not as common as it used to be, but you can leave the floor unfinished. These are often called raw floors or bare floors. Stains and finishes keep out dirt and moisture, though.
Durable. Pine flooring is highly durable and around the country, pine floors of 100 years old or even older are still in use today. A pine floor will serve you well for the full life of your home, unlike a temporary floor covering such as linoleum.
Pine Flooring A pine floor will be soft, so it will acquire dings, dents, scratches, and scuff marks easier than other harder flooring options.
Yes, you can use pine subfloors as primary flooring.
The only problem with pine wood is it dents and scratches easily because of being softwood....Is Pine Wood Strong for Furniture?AdvantagesDisadvantagesInexpensiveLess strength than most hardwoodsResist for swelling & shrinkingAttractive wood grainHas good moisture resistance4 more rows
Does pine get harder with age? Because wood does gain strength as it loses moisture content. At around 12 percent moisture content, it might be as much as 50% stronger than as rough-cut green lumber! Aged lumber, unlike fine wine or whiskey, generally does not get better with age.
Refinishing pine floors is more challenging than sanding oak floors as the wood is softer. This is definitely a job best left to the professionals. There are multiple species with varying hardnesses, each requiring different grits.
Most pine floors have goldish and red undertones. They tend to darken more over time (compared to oak) and many have "aged" in their Westchester homes for over 100 years.
Affordability: No matter which softwood you choose, it's bound to cost less than any hardwood. For example, you can typically get pine for half the cost of oak, perhaps the most ubiquitous hardwood flooring material. And many cases, pine costs even less than vinyl flooring!
“Adequately protected from moisture, most subfloor materials can be expected to last for the lifespan of the home.” However, if the subfloor is consistently exposed to moisture, you may need to replace it after 20 to 30 years or sooner.
Subfloor: The subfloor is installed across the joists. It is a flat structure that can be made from a number of different materials (we'll discuss the types of subflooring materials next). Subflooring is sturdy and strong, but definitely not pleasing to look at or walk on.
Well-constructed subflooring is built to withstand the weight of interior walls, a roof, household furniture, finished flooring, and people. However, wood subflooring isn't designed to accommodate daily wear-and-tear, moisture or soiling. Concrete subflooring is generally durable enough to withstand daily use.