Economic factors are also encouraging the shift towards wooden flooring. Popular wisdom says that hardwood floors can increase a home’s value, so they’re a popular choice for renovations. Their durability also makes them cheaper than carpeting in the long run, which makes it popular with the tiny house movement and other groups that are building new homes on a small budget. The real estate industry in North America is also rebounding after several years of decline, which is encouraging people to build new homes for profit. Many of these builders are choosing hardwood flooring to appeal to environmentally-conscious consumers.
Shifting Westward
The increase in demand is leading to increased production, but that production is not spread evenly all over the world. In general, the production of hardwood flooring has moved towards Europe and North America, while China has actually seen a decrease in production in recent years.
Several trends are contributing to the shift towards western production. Many people who choose wood floors for environmental reasons prefer to buy local products in order to cut down on carbon emissions from shipping. Most of those consumers live in Europe or North America, so they choose wood that comes from those regions. Other consumers are concerned about the quality of floors that come out of Chinese factories, and they are opting for other sources to prevent potential problems. The final contributing factor is the consumer preference for certain woods, including oak and ash, which do not grow in large quantities in China.
Looking Forward
Production is likely to increase for as long as the demand for wood floors continues to grow. Since the move towards environmentalism and cost-efficiency shows no signs of slowing, demand is likely to increase for several years to come. That is an excellent sign for the wood flooring industry, which will most likely prosper in the future. If you want to learn more, you may be interested in checking out the resources at Fuse Flooring.