Wood Floor Doctor


	Many consumers are impressed by wood's natural beauty, but forget another aspect of wood flooring: its environmental soundness. From Its sustainable source to its healthy qualities indoors, wood flooring makes a smart choice for the environment in your own home. Prefinished versus unfinished? What species and color should I choose? Which rooms can I install a hardwood floor in my home? Engineered floor versus a solid hardwood product? What about installing wood in high traffic areas like kitchens? Are hardwood floors hard to maintain and can I damp mop them? Should I use a prefinished versus unfinished? Most hardwood flooring sold today is prefinished. Factory finished with several coats of UV-cured polyurethane are applied. These factory finishes are tough and durable. Installing a prefinished floor eliminates the time, the dust and the odors associated with the on-site sanding and finishing of an unfinished product. A prefinished floor can be installed in a day. An unfinished flooring installation may require twice as much time for the same area. Go Back What species and color should I choose? There are several species, colors and grain variations to consider. Other than the walls, the floor represents the largest expanse of color or pattern in a room. Your floor should complement the fabrics, furnishings and accessories already present in the space, as well as enhancing the unique personality of the room as a whole. The most popular color : red oak natural, maple natural running second, but with today's eclectic decoration styles, anything goes. Go Back Which rooms can I install a hardwood floor in my home? Any room except a full bath. With the variety of products available and a choice of installation options, hardwood flooring can now be installed in any room of the home. The only consideration is whether the floor will be installed on above or below-grade. For example, solid hardwood is not recommended for installations below grade, such as in a basement. Engineered products, which are inherently dimensionally stable, are better choices for this type of area. All types of hardwood can be installed on- or above-grade. Go Back Engineered floor versus a solid hardwood product? Engineered products, available in Planks, Strips are manufactured of hardwood using a cross-directional laminated construction (3 to 5 layers), 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 engineered products inherently dimensionally stable. Solid products, available in Planks, Strips or Parquet, are manufactured from a solid piece of wood. Go Back What about installing wood in high traffic areas like kitchens? The urethane finishes on most new wood floors stand up to water and traffic, bringing wood flooring into bathrooms, kitchens, and other higher-stress areas. These finishes resist wear and stains better than other finishes and require no stripping, no buffing and no waxing. High traffic areas include exterior doorways, hallways, mud rooms, and the areas in front of the sink, stove and refrigerator. To protect the floor just inside exterior doorways, use walk-off mats or small rugs to catch tracked-in dirt and grime. Place small rugs or mats at other high traffic locations. Watch for grit or pebbles that might be brought in on waffle soles of athletic shoes and collect these with a hand-held cordless vac. This should be done a regular basis. Go Back Are hardwood floors hard to maintain? Can I damp-mop my floor? No. A hardwood floor finished at the factory features three to seven layers of a UV-cured polyurethane. This finish gives the floor a tough, durable and smooth no-wax surface that is both luxurious and easy-care. DO NOT damp mop - Water and wood do not mix. Therefore, we suggest that you use the maintenance products and procedures recommended by the manufacturer of your floor. Maintenance kits can be purchased from your retailer or contractor. Go Back