Wood Floors are Growing in Appeal

When it comes to floors, nothing's as good as wood.

Just ask Lynn Luttenberger, who last year covered 1,100 square feet of her West Islip, N.Y., Colonial with red oak flooring. After 20 years in the same home, Luttenberger was adding on a great room and a master bedroom. For her floors, she wanted a combination of elegance and durability.

"I just had to have wood," Luttenberger says. "It really is an eye-catcher. When people see it, their reaction is: 'It's gorgeous.' "

Like Luttenberger, lots of Americans are pining for wood flooring. Since 2001, according to the National Association of Home Builders, about 11 percent of the flooring in new homes is solid wood or engineered wood, which is a real wood product. This past spring, American manufacturers shipped nearly 57 million board feet of wood flooring, almost a 6 percent increase from the spring of 2004, according to the Wood Flooring Manufacturers Association.

This steady consumer demand for wood in display areas of the home - living rooms, great rooms, dens and formal dining rooms - can be explained by wood's many virtues. It's durable and can be refinished. It adds warmth and never goes out of style. It can be the focal point of a room or play a supporting role under an expensive area rug and cozy family room furniture. Plus, it adds resale value to just about any home.

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