Enhancing the life of your floors
Why hardwood flooring?
Is hardwood really more cost effective than other floor coverings?
Yes, despite the cost normally associated with the initial purchase and installation of hardwood floors, they are actually significantly less expensive than most alternatives, including vinyl, linoleum, and carpet, when you take into account maintenance costs and useful life expectancy.
While hardwood lasts up to 50 years or more, other floor coverings, such as tile and carpeting have an average life span of 4 to 6 years. More important, after 15 or 20 years of use, hardwood flooring can be refinished to give it a fresh, new appearance for about half the cost of replacing carpet or other flooring alternatives.
Hardwood flooring also increases a property's market value by $7,000 to $10,000 or more!
What about the environment?
Often seen as one of the original “green” building materials, hardwood flooring is environmentally friendly. According to the American Hardwood Information Center, hardwood forests in the United States are now producing nearly double the amount of wood that is harvested every year. This is not only in keeping with current environmental conservation efforts, but also ensures that hardwood flooring will likely remain popular for generations to come. Moreover, when hardwood flooring is discarded it can be reused or recycled. It is also biodegradable.
Is hardwood healthy?
Yes. As a matter of fact, hardwood flooring is often recommended for those suffering from allergies, asthma or sensitivities to chemicals. Unlike carpeting and other flooring options, hardwood floors do not trap allergens, like mold spores, bacteria and dust mites. In addition, they are easy to clean with non-toxic products.
For this reason, among others, hardwood is increasingly being used in places that must meet high cleanliness and health standards, like hospitals, restaurants, retail establishments and other commercial and institutional settings.
Can I install hardwood flooring in my basement?
People don't generally think of installing hardwood in areas below ground level, because moisture can cause solid hardwood to expand, causing warping and other problems. However, engineered wood floors are a perfect alternative that can be used in below-grade levels.
Engineered flooring carries the same warmth and elegance as regular hardwood flooring. However, because it is made of several layers of wood stacked and glued together under heat and pressure, it is less affected by extremes in temperatures and humidity. This makes them perfect for basements and other areas that may suffer from dampness. Engineered floors are also available either pre-finished or unfinished in a variety of hardwood types and styles.
Is it wise to install hardwood flooring even though I have pets?
Actually, hardwood floors are a great choice for homes with pets. Unlike carpeting, wood floors will not trap animal dander, fleas, ticks, mites or other allergens.
If you have pets, you may want to use three coats of oil-based polyurethane finish to provide the best protection for your floors. To keep them well-maintained and worry-free, take the follow measures:
- Clip your pets’ nails regularly.
- Sweep, vacuum or dust mop at least once a week to remove dirt, grit and fur.
- Clean up spills and other liquids immediately. Standing liquids can damage floors.
- Wipe up urine or spills immediately with a slightly dampened towel.
- Choose water bowls with stable bases or in stands that are designed to avoid spills. A throw rug or matt placed under the pet’s bowl can also help absorb liquids. However, the mat should be removed and dried immediately if it gets very wet.
Design
What types of hardwood flooring are available?
While there is a vast assortment of wood types and colors to choose from, solid wood floors usually fall into three main types:
- Strips - the majority of installations use strip flooring. This is where separate floor boards approximately 2 ¼ inches wide are fitted together by tongue and groove and nailed to the subflooring below.
- Plank - plank flooring is similar to strips, only the boards are 3 inches or more wide.
- Parquet - parquet flooring comes in blocks, rather than strips. These blocks are fitted together to create a pattern over the floor's surface. While standard blocks are 6” x 6”, some specialty patterns can be up to 36” square.
What are inlays?
Inlays and borders are used to incorporate designs into hardwood floor surfaces. These designs can be as intricate as a family crest or as simple as stripes or other geometric patterns. These designs are usually created by combining different types of wood, like maple, cherry, ash, and walnut, to produce variations in color and grains. Sometimes inlays and borders are creating by combining hardwood with other materials, such as
- Aluminum
- Brass
- Leather
- Ceramic tile
Once the design for the inlay is created, templates of the individual parts of the pattern are laser-cut from hardwood flooring planks and joined together with glue or urethane adhesive. When the inlay is dry, the edges are routed to match the tongue and groove joints for the rest of the hardwood floor. Then, the installer will remove the entire thickness of the floor where the design is to be put in place. The pre-finished inlay is then glued into the space like a puzzle piece. Some common designs include the following:
- Borders - the outer edge of the floor may be surrounded with inlaid wood, stone or brass to help add definition to an entryway or room.
- Medallions - inlaid designs of a variety of materials can provide a focal point, such as a crest or a geometric pattern.
- Aging - tumbled stone combined with distressed wood or pickling can be used to mimic the look of old European floors.
- Marquetry - in-laying shaped wood forms or other materials, such as metals, mother of pearl or ivory into wood to create unique designs.
Maintenance
What is the best way to care for my hardwood floor?
Please see our list of tips you can do at home.
What will happen if my hardwood floor gets wet?
Letting water stand on your hardwood floor can damage its luster and even lead to warping or other problems. Be sure to wipe up all spills immediately with a soft, dry cloth. Also, do not mop your floors with water; use cleaning products recommended by the manufacturer.
Do I need a special vacuum cleaner for my hardwood floors?
It is important to sweep, dust mop or vacuum wood floors regularly. Dust, dirt and grit can dull the finish and cause scratches over time. It is best to use a canister vacuum cleaner with a special attachment for hardwood floors. Upright vacuum cleaners with beater bars can create dents in the floor's finish, causing it to appear dull over time.
It is a good idea to place doormats at the entrances to your home. Maps help trap dirt and grit so that it does not get tracked into your home. Be sure to keep maps clean and in good repair.
Can sunlight harm my floors?
Actually, the ultraviolet radiation from sunlight can cause discoloration in hardwood floors over time. Just as ultraviolet sunlight can burn our skin and cause it to age, sunlight can also affect other organic materials.
Fortunately, some floor finishes include sunscreens to help block ultraviolet sunrays. The newest water-based urethane finishes also offer advantages in slowing color changes. Nevertheless, it is a good idea to protect your floors from too much sunlight by using window coverings, like blinds, curtains or sheer drapes.
The most common type of surface finish is polyurethane. To find out whether your floor has a polyurethane finish, apply a small amount of paint remover to an area of the floor that is inconspicuous. If the finish bubbles up, it is most likely polyurethane.
What sort of pads should I use on my furniture?
It is best to place glides made of felt or other fabric under the legs of furniture to prevent them from scratching the floor. It is also better to use barrel-type casters made of rubber, rather than ball casters made of plastic or metal. Remember to place cloth or pads under furniture when you move it to avoid scratching the floor's surface.
Special maintenance problems
How can I repair scratches in my floor?
Try rubbing the scratch with a piece of oily nutmeat, like Brazil nut, walnut, or pecan. Alternatively, use a commercial scratch remover or stick wax that matches the color of the wood. After you have treated the scratch, apply fresh wax to the floor surface and buff it to a shine.
How can I remove stains caused by dried-on food or other substances?
Remove dried on dirt and stains by using a cleanser recommended by your floor manufacturer. For tough spots, remember to clean from the outer edge and work toward the center. If the material is really stuck onto the surface, you can use a knife or a sharpened blade to scrape it off. However, be careful not to scratch the floor's surface. When you have scraped off the material, rub the spot with a damp cloth. If necessary, you can then re-wax and buff the area to bring back its original shine.
How can I get chewing gum off of my floor?
Apply ice to the gum until it become brittle. Then, use a knife or a sharp blade to scratch it off the floor's surface. Be sure not to scratch the floor. Use cleanser and a soft, dry cloth to dry the floor's surface when you are finished.
Is there a way to remove heel marks?
Marks left my high heels or furniture casters and other scuff marks can usually be removed by rubbing the mark with fine steel wool dipped in floor cleaner. Be sure to use a soft cloth to dry the floor surface when you are finished.
Is there a way to remove marks left by mold or mildew from the floor?
Dip No. 1 steel wool in floor cleaner and gently rub the mold or mildew spot to remove it. Be sure to use a soft cloth to dry the floor surface when you are finished.
Is there a way to remove a cigarette burn from the floor?
Often cigarette burns can be repaired by dipping very fine steel wool into a small amount of water and soap and then rubbing the mark left by the burn. Be sure to wipe the area with a soft, dry cloth to dry the floor surface when you are finished. Then, re-wax and buff the area to bring back the floor's original luster. For more serious burn marks, it may be necessary to sand the area lightly with fine sand paper and re-apply floor stain in a color that matches the existing floor. Once the stain has dried, re-wax and buff the floor.
What causes squeaky floor boards?
Some squeaking in hardwood floors is normal and to be expected. While squeaks in flooring can be caused by improper installation, they are most often the result of normal aging. Over time, hardwood expands and contracts with natural seasonal changes, from humid summers back to dry winters. As the wood expands and contracts, fine cracks develop. As the wood swells with humidity, the boards can rub together, causing minor squeaking noises.
How can I silence squeaks?
The easiest way to silence squeaky floorboards is to apply lubrication. Identify the squeaky floor boards and then apply powdered soapstone, talcum powder, or powdered graphite between them. Place a cloth over the area and step on it to work the powder into the areas between the boards. It may be necessary to use two or more applications.
Sometimes squeaking may not result from the floor boards rubbing together, but rather come from between the boards and the subflooring. One method for solving this problem is to carefully pound a shim into the gap between the subfloor and the joist in the area of the squeak. Another technique is to apply construction adhesive to the seam where the joist meets the subflooring. Then, drive a screw in at an angle through the side of the joist into but not through the subfloor.
Is there a way to prevent squeaks?
Although it may not be possible to prevent squeaks entirely, one step you can take is to maintain a consistent humidity level in your home to reduce the effects of seasonal changes. The most simple and cost-effective way to do this is to install a humidifier.
Floor finishes
How can I tell what kind of finish is on my floor?
There are two main types of floor finishes: surface finishes that form a protective layer on the floor's surface and penetrating finishes that are absorbed into the floor.
The most common type of surface finish is polyurethane. To find out whether your floor has a polyurethane finish, apply a small amount of paint remover to an area of the floor that is inconspicuous. If the finish bubbles up, it is most likely polyurethane.
To see whether you have a penetrating floor finish, simply run your hand over the floor surface. If you can feel the grain of the wood with your hand, it probably has a penetrating finish.
How can I tell when it is time to refinish my floors?
Properly maintained hardwood floors will last a lifetime. However, the key to ensuring your floor's longevity is to ensure that the finish is always doing its job of protecting the wood. To test the finish, pour about a tablespoon of water on a high-traffic area of the floor that gets the most wear and tear. If the water forms into little beads that you can wipe up without leaving a trace, your floor finish is in great shape. If it soaks into the floor, but darkens the wood only slightly, your finish is becoming partly worn. You probably do not need to refinish the floor immediately, but keep an eye on it. However, if the water immediately absorbs into the wood leaving a dark spot, your finish has become worn, and the floor should be refinished to bring back its original health and beauty.
How long will it take to refinish my flooring?
The time it takes to complete a refinishing job varies with the scope of the project. For example, refinishing the floor of a single room is much faster than refinishing the flooring for an entire house. Also, the preparation time varies, depending on how much furniture needs to be moved. Nevertheless, most on-site refinishing projects take about five days from start to finish.
Keeping your floors brand new
How often should I clean my floor?
It is important to sweep, vacuum, or dust mop your wood floor at least once a week to prevent the build up of dust and grit, which can scratch the floor's surface and make it look dull.
Why should I wax my floor?
Wax provides a protective finish that seals and preserves the integrity of the wood. By creating a barrier against moisture, it can prevent damage from water and humidity. It also reduces the appearance of grooves, scratches, and imperfections in the wood while giving the floor an attractive sheen.
How often should I wax my floors?
You should never wax pre-finished polyurethane flooring. Instead, use a floor polish recommended by the manufacturer or consult a professional. You should avoid over-waxing floors with penetrating finishes. Waxing the floor once or twice a year is usually sufficient. However, you may wish to wax your floors more often if you live in drier climates or if the flooring is in an area that gets very heavy use.
Is there anything I can do to maintain the floor’s luster between waxing?
Buffing your hardwood floor will usually work to restore its original sheen. Large, heavy weight buffing machines generally create a cleaner-looking shine faster than smaller, lightweight machines.
How do I know when it is time to use polish or wax?
When you can no longer restore your wood floor's luster by deep cleaning or buffing, you may want to apply a polish or wax recommended by the manufacturer. If you are not sure which treatment to apply, it is best to consult a professional.
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