Q: What is the most common
finish used for hardwood floors ?
A: Polyurethane is the most common finish used for hardwood floors.
The urethane is available at many stores and can be applied by spraying
or rolling it on. It is also available in several gloss levels to
give you the look you want. Polyurethane is durable finish and requires
low maintenance. Many pre finished hardwood floors also have oxide
added to the polyurethane for an additional protection against wear. |
Q: Why I am getting color
changes or fading colors ?
A: Visual changes in the color of the wood species caused by exposure
to light, deprivation of light and air, or some chemical reaction.
The change is very common among all hardwood floors. Maple, oak and
other floor will have the same change due to lighting. This color
change is common to wood types of products and any other products
that are exposed to light for long periods of time. While we don’t
typically notice it happening until we move something, it is still
consistent and will always happen. |
Q: How will a hardwood floor
hold up with pets ?
A: This depends on how tame or active your pets are. The simple reality
is that any floor can be adversely affected by a pet, through either
scratches or stains from urine. Hardwood is more susceptible to scratches,
so a larger pet with claws will have impact. Even tile, though nearly
impervious to scratches, is vulnerable to staining because of grout
line and having a potentially porous surface. As with any floor, to
prevent stains from urine or other accidents, it is utmost importance
to spot clean
immediately at the site of the accident to maintain the floor through
vigilant care the rest of the time. If you are providing good maintenance
on the floor, it will retain its beauty for a longer period. |
Q: What is required flooring
maintenance ?
A: Removal of debris and dust – This is the number one cause
of wear and tear on a floor. When dirt is ground into the floor from
common household traffic it causes scratches since the abrasion actually
acts like sandpaper on the flooring. All types of floors therefore
must be swept as often as possible. A dry swifter or similar product
is very helpful at removing this type of dust and debris. Sanitization
cleaning – the steps required to wash the floor and provide
the clean sanitized surface are things that are very specific to each
floor. One key to remember is that wood base floors like hardwood,
laminate and engineering are prone to moisture damage and over cleaning
can cause problems with the floor. |
Q: What is the best way to
clean a hardwood floor ?
A: 1 Gallon of water 1cup of vinegar – dampen mop or towel with
mixture to clean surface. No need to dry, but you can if you want
to. |
Q: What does it mean to screen
and re-coat a floor ?
A: In many cases, a customer does not want to have a company come
in to sand and refinish their newer floor because of the cost, hassle
and dust it creates. In many cases this does not have to happen. A
simply screen and recoat procedure is all that is needed when the
damage is not deep and most of the problem is just surface scratches.
This procedure refreshes the appearance of the floor by sanding very
lightly over the existing finish with a buffer. Screening with the
buffer prepares the already finished floor to accept another coat
of finish. Without the screening (buffing) process, any new finishes
are very likely to peel off. |
Q: How do you refinish hardwood
floors ?
A: Hardwood floors are refinished through a sand and refinish process.
The floors must be sanded with a floor sanding machine to make the
surface of the floor smooth again. Then a new wear layer must be applied
to the floor to protect it from wear. Not all floors can be refinished,
usually only solid hardwood floor can be considered for sanding and
refinishing. Hardwood floors can be sanded and refinished as often
as three four times in life time. The exact number depends upon the
total thickness of the product. |
Q: Can I install flooring
in basement ?
A: The basement is moist place. Make sure the flooring you choose
is suitable for basement installation. The manufactures warranty will
mention where it will or will not cover moisture damage. If you are
not sure about your floor’s moisture level – you can take
an extra precaution by using a moisture barrier. |
Q: What flooring materials
available for damp basement ?
A: There are no indoor hardwood flooring materials available that
can be installed in a damp area. If you have a room that has an excess
amount of moisture, you will first need to solve the moisture problem
before can be installed. However there is some laminate flooring and
engineering flooring which could be used in moist areas . |
Q: How do I test my sub floor
for moisture ?
A: A simple way to test a sub floor for moisture contents is to tape
down a 1’ by 1’ Sheet of plastic to the sub floor and
leave it for 24 hours. If, when removing the plastic, the sub floor
looks darker or there are moisture droplets, additional testing is
required before a new floor. Consult a professional. |
Q: What is pre finished hardwood
flooring ?
A: Pre finished refers to when the finish is applied to the floor.
A pre finished floor has finish applied at the mill where the floor
is made. This allows a more consistent looking finish with less imperfections
than a floor that has been installed and sanded and finished. This
also means a pre finished floor can be installed and walk on much
sooner than a sand finish floor and also with less mess and smell. |
Q: How do I install over concrete
?
A: Certain floors are made specifically for concrete sub floor installation.
You may either glue down the flooring directly to sub floor or use
floating floor installation. Just make sure the manufacturer of that
flooring recommends the specific installation method use. Also plywood
sub floor underlayment could be installed on concrete and then nail
down a real hardwood floor to the plywood sub floor. |
Q: What are condominium flooring
codes – requirements ?
A: Building codes will vary from building to building and project
to project. Many of the standard underlayments provided with laminate
and wood floating floors do not meet Condo Codes. A cork underlayment
is option for most of these projects. Some times a plywood sub floor
is needed to be installed with a real solid hardwood floor. |
Q: What is the best acoustic
underlayment ?
A: Cork is one of the best acoustic underlayments in the market. Its
natural properties deters noise and feedback often associated with
floating floors.
( over 200 million air cells per cubic inch for sound reduction ) |
Q: What is the difference
between an engineering floor and solid hardwood floor ?
A: Solid products, available in planks, strips or parquet are manufactured
from solid piece of wood. Engineered products, available in planks,
strips or long strip, are manufactured of hardwood using a three or
five cross directional laminated construction,
With a top layer of premium hardwood. This construction counteracts
the natural tendency of wood to expand and contract with seasonal
changes in temperature and humidity, making engineering products dimensionally
stable. |