Are Hardwood Floors Tax Deductible? + Other Questions You Didn’t Know You Needed to Ask

Design: Lauren Cabral | Photo: Jessica Brydson | Floor: Faye

Whether you are renovating a new home or updating your current flooring in your well-loved family residence, there are many questions to consider, some you may not even think to ask. That’s where we come in. Flooring is a big investment, so you should have all the information before finding the right floor for your space. 

We went through some of our most-asked questions and recent emails to share our best advice.

What is the most popular installation method? Is floating or gluing a floor good for a lake home where moisture is a constant issue?

When deciding on which installation method to use, it comes down to what you and your contractor decide is best. If you are planning to install Stuga floors over tile, other hardwood floors, or LVP, floating is the only installation method. For floating installations, it’s best to purchase our underlayment, which is antimicrobial and protects from moisture. It works wonderfully over radiant heat systems, plus has excellent acoustic ratings, which means it will reduce step sounds. Floating is a favorite for DIYers. 

If gluing, you can glue our floors directly to the wood or concrete subfloor. Gluing is a great option for customization yet tends to be the most costly and takes longer to install. We recommend Bostik GreenForce and Bona R851 glue as a moisture barrier to keep your floors under warranty. These glues are also approved for radiant heat.

Stapling is the most popular installation method with custom home builders. It feels good underfoot and is easy to repair and replace damaged boards. 

What installation methods can you use with a radiant heat system?

We recommend floating when installing over a radiant heat system. If you or your installer would like to glue down instead, written approval (via email) is needed from the glue manufacturer. You cannot staple down over a radiant heat system.

Can other floors besides Old Town and Sisu be laid in a herringbone pattern?

Yes, any of our floors can be cut down and customized on site by your contractor for a custom herringbone floor. Here are two examples of past projects showcasing herringbone in Fika and Shell, two of our most popular blondes. 

What is a capital improvement and is flooring considered a capital improvement?

A capital improvement is an addition to a property that raises its value, is an energy-saving feature, or is an adaptation for future use. With tax season right around the corner, now is the time to consider updating your flooring, something you’ll enjoy for years to come and be a selling point for the new owner(s). If you’ve done capital improvements, you’re able to deduct those costs from your taxes when you go to sell. 

Furthermore, new flooring elevates the look of your home, is universally appealing, offers a sense of permanence, and is a better environmental choice than toxic LVP. Our floors can last a lifetime with the right care, while LVP, made from polyvinyl chloride, a known cancer-causing material that doesn't break down in landfills, will only last 10-20 years. 

Why is now the best time to remodel?

Spring is a great time to add new flooring to your home. Not only is the weather likely more temperate, but if you start your remodel now your home will be completed by the summer, so you can enjoy sunny days with your family in your home and not have to deal with construction qualms. 

Do you have any preferred installers in my area?

Yes! We are currently building out our list of preferred installers, but have many that we recommend. Check out our map to view preferred installers in your area. Plus, get to know our Central Texas installer, BJ Brown, in our latest blog. 

What are the Rebels and how do they differ from LVP?

Our new Rebels collection includes seven-layer floors that feature real white oak, waterproof joints, and reinforced interior for impressive durability. Plus, they are crafted in Europe. The Rebels are 3-5x times stronger than traditional engineered hardwoods and are also more sustainable as they use 10x less wood than traditional flooring. 

While LVP, luxury vinyl plank, has been a popular choice for renovators and home flippers over the years, hardened wood is a much better choice when considering health, beauty, cost, and longevity. 

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, real wood floors improve indoor air quality. Our hardened wood floors are also GreenGuard Gold certified, the most strict chemical and VOC testing process that certifies a product as low-emission. Because the Rebels are real wood, they offer one-of-a-kind beauty and warmth, have a lifetime residential warranty, and are just as cost-effective as LVP (without the toxins!)

How do I use the families page? Is it an alternative shopping experience?

The families page showcases our most popular floors by cost and tone. Looking for a blonde hardwood floor? Check out our collection of blondes where you can look at individual floors, see related floors (floors our team thinks you would enjoy), compare large samples, and add free samples to your cart. 

Yes, you can use our families page to not only dive deeper into our offerings but add as many free small samples to your cart as you’d like. 

How do I see what floors are in stock and can I pre-order? 

Yes, on each of our flooring pages we show available square footage and if a product is out-of-stock or low in stock, you’ll see information for when we expect more from our European manufacturing partners. 

In order to pre-order flooring, please reach out to us at hej@stugastudio.com. Once payment is received, we can put aside your floors and offer free held orders and delayed shipping. 

I love the look of Shell but don’t want the maintenance of an oiled floor, do you have other non-oiled floors in similar tones?

Shell is a Stuga favorite, and for good reason with its unique knots and cracks, inviting tan hue, and wide planks. Oiled floors, like Shell, should be re-oiled with our Satin Oil once every 6 months to one year in high-traffic areas. 

If you’d prefer a non-oiled floor, Frida, one of our natural oak floors, has an ultra-matte acrylic urethane finish and is a similarly toned floor with plenty of warmth.

Can you use a steam mop to clean the floors?

No. Avoid a steam mop as it can damage your flooring and instead vacuum once weekly to keep your floors clean. If you want to mop, our floor cleaner and dry mop are the best options.

Have a different question? Ask us here!