If you live in the Nashville and Greater Middle Tennessee area, then you’ve probably experienced something that many other people in the area have experienced this week: waking up, shivering, and retracting your feet back into your bed after they touch the ground. The temperature is dropping, so you might be surprised at just how cold your floor gets.
If You Have Cold Hardwood Floors, It Might be Because of the Insulation
Cold floors are to be expected regardless of the materials you use (with the exception of residential carpeting, which is well known for the warmth it provides). If you enjoy the feeling of a traditional hardwood floor, then you probably expect to live with the problem and simply wear warm socks. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Cold hardwood floors could indicate problems with the way the flooring was installed or evidence a lack of insulation beneath the floor. Tearing up the floor to install new insulation or to add heating elements isn’t a prospect anyone wants to think about, but it could make your home a great deal toastier. As the temperature continues to drop, this might look like an attractive option for when the dead of winter comes.
Install Something Warmer, Like Cork
If the problem is too daunting, then you might want to look at installing a warmer and more inviting floor. Residential carpeting is the obvious option, but if you want something natural and affordable, cork flooring is definitely worth a look. For one thing, cork floors are full of little air pockets which work to create a nice heating effect. These floors are constructed to trap heat inside and to keep the warmth from leaving your home. This effect also works the other way around to keep your home cooler during the summer, however slight this particular effect might be. Cork is also very eco-friendly since harvesting the material doesn’t require cutting down the tree. Cork floors can be installed in variety of styles perfect for any home, ranging from tiles to a mock hardwood look.
Rugs are a Neat Fix
Of course, if you are in love with your current flooring and have no plans to fix it since Nashville is so warm most of the year, you can work around the problem by throwing down a couple of rugs. Rugs can be used to cover large surface areas and to break up a larger room into something more cozy and intimate. Much like cork and residential carpeting, rugs can be styled in a number of ways and you can mix and match a couple of different styles to your liking. A perfectly matched rug is one of the simplest and most elegant ways to tie the many elements of a room together.
It’s cold outside, but it doesn’t have to be cold inside. Check the insulation near your walls and joints, think about making a change, or throw some rugs down. If you have any questions or if you’re considering a more substantial flooring change, contact Ozburn-Hessey and we’ll help you find the right flooring solution to keep your home warm this winter.
