Martha Washington had pine floors in her home and since the Colonial period hardwood floors were polished to shine. Builders did not have plywood as a sub flooring until after World War II, so hardwood is typically found as flooring until the late 1950's. Why did it go out of fashion?
It became a statement in the 50's and 60's that one could afford wall to wall carpet. It became practical as carpet at the time was easier to care for than the hardwood floors. I remember my mom polishing the hardwood floors and then as kids we would slide on them in our stocking feet. They could be slick and dangerous after a recent coat. Too many coats made them look dull and the wax would need to be stripped. I imagine it was a miserable process of keeping those floors looking nice. So--------carpet became the trend. It was so in fashion that we even went shag with it and put it in the kitchens and bathrooms. Note sure what the public health department thought of that. By the 80's buyers were demanding to see the hardwood floors and carpet became on the first floor not as fashionable. The poly coating made the floors easy to maintain.
Microfiber dust mopping has made the daily care of hardwood floors easy. The mops pick up dust and small particles. This system takes away the sand and dirt that scratches the surface over time. The floors are left looking shining as if they had ben polished.
Wood floors are in and they are seen as green. I think the price difference between wood and laminate is so small that you should always go with wood in our area. In other regions of the United States due to insects laminate is the best flooring. Watch the use of wood flooring in the basement. It is too humid and the floors can buckle. Laminate can be a good alternative for lower levels or where boots come into the house.
If it was good enough for homeowners in the 1700's, then I think we can say it has staid the test of time.
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