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Welcome to Hardwood-Flooring Tips
Hi, I'm R. Astarte Piccione, one of the hundreds of writers here at LifeTips.com. Enjoy these 100 Hardwood-Flooring Tips! If you’re a business, why not hire the expert writers at LifeTips? And if you’re a writer, apply for freelance writing gigs.
Bamboo Flooring
A fantastic and ecological choice for exotic hardwood flooring is bamboo. Because bamboo grows abundantly, renews efficiently and is incredibly strong, it’s an ideal choice for flooring. In fact, areas like South America, India and Southeast Asia use bamboo to build entire homes! When it comes to flooring, bamboo is available in both solid and engineered (layered) planks. You can leave the bamboo in its original light blond color or get a darker color by high-pressure steaming, which results in a medium brown hue. Bamboo flooring requires exactly the same care and maintenance as any hardwood floor; no extra steps or special products are necessary.
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Laminate Flooring Basics
What is a laminate hardwood floor actually made of? There are four layers of a laminate floor that keep it looking great and staying strong:
Wear Layer: Protective layer that includes aluminum oxide. This important layer protects against stains, scuffs, and general wear.
Image Design Layer: A high-quality photographic image of wood, stone, or some other surface. (Here’s where innovative designers can have a lot of fun!)
Inner Core Layer: This core layer is made of high-density fiberboard(HDF), and often a plastic resin called melamine is added. This combination gives the layer intense strength and resistance to moisture.
Backing Layer: The final layer that lies against the existing flooring is made with a resin-infused paper. It acts as protection against moisture from the floor, keeping your laminate flooring dry and sturdy.
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Refinishing Your Hardwood Floors
One radical difference between solid and engineered hardwood flooring comes when making the decisionon whether to refinish your floor. Solid wood flooring lends itself to refinishing more easily, as the planks are made of a singular sturdy piece of lumber. On the other hand, engineered hardwood flooring has several plies of wood, so sanding is not as necessary. In fact, sanding usually takes 1/32 inch off the top of the floor, so an engineered floor with a 2mm top hardwood layer can really only be sanded once or twice in its lifetime.
If you have a damaged area of an engineered hardwood floor, it's best to have that area removed and replaced by flooring professionals rather than attempting to refinish the entire floor.
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Hardwood Floor Cleaning Tips
Diligent hardwood floor care will keep your floors looking clean and beautiful for years to come. Small scratches caused by dirt and sand can dull the finish on hardwood floors. Sweeping with a broom, dry mop or vacuuming will help to keep this type of damage to a minimum. Spills should be cleaned up immediately with a soft cloth to prevent the wood from swelling. A damp cloth can be used for cleaning up more difficult stains, however hardwood floor care with a wet mop is not recommended.
• There are cleaners available that restore the shine to a hardwood floor and can be purchased at a local home improvement store. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the appropriate cleaners. Cleaners are specifically designed for the type of finish on your floor, so it is important to note the finish before purchasing a cleaner. Hardwood floors should never be cleaned with soaps or waxes since these types of cleaners can damage the finish and over time, even the wood itself. • To prevent surface damage, avoid rolling heavy furniture and appliances on the floor. Use plywood, hardboard or appliance lifts if necessary. Use protective castors/castor cups or felt pads on the legs of furniture to prevent damage to the flooring.
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Hardwood Floor Repair for Warped Hardwood Floors
Warped hardwood floors, also known as sagging, is a serious problem for any homeowner. It can make the flooring less attractive and also less valuable. Warping is often the result of severe moisture problems and any evidence of warped hardwood floors needs to be addressed immediately to prevent more serious problems. Warped hardwood floors are usually not the result of faulty hardwood or installation, but are indicative of significant moisture problems in the home itself that need to be remedied.
Hardwood floors which are seriously warped may not be reparable. However, hardwood floor repair is possible for floors which are only a little warped. To repair these floors, it is necessary to clean and dry the floor completely. Then it is necessary to remove the warped floorboards and plane them as necessary to remove the bulges.
Oak hardwood flooring is a very popular choice of domestic wood. Both white and red oak hardwood flooring are known for their solidity and resistance to wear. White oak has a high tannin level which makes it resistant to fungi and insects.
Red oak is light-colored with a reddish tone, while white oak is more white or creamier in color. The red variety of oak hardwood floors also has a grainier texture due to its porosity. White oak, in contrast, has longer rays.
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Types of Hardwood Finishes Available
There are many types of hardwood finishes available to homeowners. Some of the hardwood finishes available include oil modified urethane, moisture cured urethane, water based urethane, penetrating sealers, paste wax, varnish, lacquer and shellac. Each of these options has advantages and disadvantages so homeowners are encouraged to research each option to determine which is ideal for their home. For example, oil-based urethanes are easy to apply and are capable of producing a durable surface which is moisture-resistant and generally require approximately eight hours to dry. Water-based urethanes produce a surface which is similar in terms of durability and moisture resistance, but requires only two to three hours of drying time. Moisture-cured urethanes are much more difficult to apply and have a strong odor. The drying time with these finishes will vary depending on the relative humidity. With so many hardwood finishes to choose from, it is a good idea to research all of the options and, if necessary, consult a flooring professional for recommendations.
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Learning How to Install Hardwood Floors
Learning how to install hardwood floors involves a great deal of research, but can result in cost savings. The “DIY” homeowner should learn how to perform the installation, find tips on making the process easier and learn to avoid common mistakes.
There are a number of resources for those who want to learn how to install hardwood floors. The Internet, books and home improvement stores are just a few of the popular options for learning how to install hardwood floors. The Internet and books typically offer text and pictures which help the homeowner to understand the process. Home improvement stores may offer classes which enable the homeowner to take a hands-on approach to learning about hardwood floor installation.
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Before You Install Prefinished Hardwood Flooring
There are a number of factors to consider before installing prefinished hardwood flooring. Prefinished flooring offers advantages over onsite finished flooring, such as the ability to walk on the floors soon after installation and the absence of sanding and harsh chemicals in the home. However, homeowners who have already selected prefinished hardwood floors still have a wide number of options available to them.
Color is just one of the options homeowners will have to make. The number of color options available for prefinished floors is considerably less than the number of options available for onsite finished floors. However, there are still a wide variety of options from which to choose. This decision is largely based on personal preference and requesting floor samples will help the homeowner to make this decision. The type of finish is another decision which must be made. Homeowners should select a finish which will be durable under their living conditions. Factors such as average temperature, humidity levels and the presence of children or pets should be factors in the decision.
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Considering the Cost to Install Hardwood Floors
The cost to install hardwood floors is a variable which cannot be easily defined. Using the Internet to research the subject may produce information which estimates the cost of installing hardwood floors at approximately $3.00 per square foot. However, it is important to note there are a number of factors which can influence this cost. Some of these factors include the type of wood chosen, the installation process, the experience level of the contractor and even location. Higher quality woods will typically be more expensive to install than other types of woods. Likewise, a contractor with a great deal of experience and an impressive resume may charge more for installation than a less experienced contractor. Also, the location in which the hardwood floors will be installed may also factor into the price of installation. Installation costs will likely be higher in areas with a higher cost of living. Finally, the installation process is also a factor. Generally, floating wood floors are the least expensive to install followed by nail-down floors and then glue-down floors.
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Comparing Laminate Flooring to Hardwood Flooring
There's a fairly long list of the pros and cons for both laminate and hardwood flooring. What you need to ask yourself is how much you want to spend, where you want to place your flooring and how much maintenance you are ready to put into your flooring.
Cost The cost of laminate flooring is significantly lower than hardwood flooring. However, if you're a stickler for a real-wood floor, take a good look at your budget; you may find that engineered hardwood flooring (which used real wood throughout its layers) may still fit into your budget.
Location
The most significant difference between hardwood and laminate wood flooring is the latter's resistance to moisture and wear. So, if you desire a wood-look in your bathroom, for example, laminate may be the perfect choice. Also extremely high traffic areas in your home could benefit from laminate flooring's extra durability.
Care
Both laminate flooring and hardwood flooring need a certain amount of extra care. Neither should be cleaned with abrasive cleaners, wax or soap detergents. Laminate flooring does not need sanding or resurfacing, but unlike hardwood, damaged sections are not as easy to repair.
