How do we stop a solid hardwood floor from gapping?
Gapping cannot be stopped entirely, as wood will swell and contract naturally with the change in humidity of the room. To combat the issue, use a humidifier during winter months to keep the year round humidity relatively stable. Certain species of wood will expand and contract more than others. Using an engineered hardwood floor will reduce the appearance of gapping as these are more dimensionally stable than solid hardwoods.
Why is my floor changing colour?
A continued exposure to UV light such as sunlight and indoor light will eventually darken your hardwood floor. This is a natural process that occurs even if surfaces are coated with UV protection. UV protected floors just take longer to reach the darkening stage.
Should I use unfinished or pre-finished hardwood?
Unfinished hardwood is installed in your home before the finish is applied, which can be matched to existing / surrounding hardwood floors. Prefinished hardwood is stained and sealed by the manufacturer prior to installation. Under certain conditions home owners may choose to go with an unfinished hardwood floor particularly when they are opting to go with a custom colour stain that conforms to their unique décor. Unfinished hardwood is easier to customize with border inlays and complex layout patterns.
What is the difference between solid wood and laminate?
Solid wood flooring is made from one plank and is solid all the way through, with no engineering or gluing. Laminate flooring is a high-density base, with a photographic image of a wooden plank, finished with an acrylic lacquer. Laminate floors feature no solid wood.
What is engineered flooring?
Engineered flooring is made from plies of wood stacked in alternating patterns, finished with a hardwood veneer. These floors provide more flexibility than solid hardwood flooring as they can be used in areas with higher moisture content due to a stronger dimensional stability that resists warping.
How much material should I buy when installing new hardwood in my house?
As a general rule, you should plan to order 10% more flooring than is needed for the installation. Much of the material will be cut to fit the exact space, and once the boards are cut, they likely cannot be used elsewhere in the room because the end tongue or groove will have been removed. Once that happens, that board can no longer adjoin with another board, so there is some waste involved.
You may need to order slightly more or less depending on the room. For example, if you need to work around stairs, a bay window, a fireplace, and a closet, you may need to have more than 10%, but if the room is square with no interruptions, less than 10% may work. Your contractor is your best resource for helping you estimate the material that will be needed to complete the job.
I’ve seen different finish sheens on wood floors; some are shiny and some are not. Which is better?
It really is a matter of preference. If you choose to install a site-finished floor, you can choose any sheen that you like. Gloss finishes offer the most shine, and will reflect the most light. Semi-gloss finishes offer some shine, and will reflect some light. Satin or matte finishes offer the least shine, and will reflect the least light.
Generally speaking, the less sheen, the less you will notice small scratches and other wear that is normal with wood floors. If you choose to install a factory-finished floor, you will be limited to the sheen available for the material you select. All sheens will offer the same protection for your floor, so it truly is a matter of which look you like best.
How do I keep my floors looking new?
All hardwood floors should be cleaned regularly. To accomplish that, simply sweep, dust mop or vacuum the floors.
Avoid using a wet mop on hardwood floors as water can dull the finish, or even damage the wood over long periods of time.
Place scatter rugs at all entrances, avoiding those with rubber backs, which can discolor wood floors.
Special rug mats can be purchased from a wood flooring retailer that will protect the floors from discoloration. Scatter rugs will help keep outside dirt and other debris from scratching the floors. Scratches also can be prevented by placing floor protector pads on the bottoms of the legs of any furniture that comes into direct contact with the floors.
When spills occur, be sure to clean them immediately with a dry or slightly damp cloth. Allowing spills to remain on the wood floors could damage the finish, and possibly the wood. Avoid walking on the floors with sports cleats or high heel shoes that are in disrepair. These can scratch the finish, or even dent the floor.
Finally, when the floor begins to look a little dull, use a wood flooring cleaner. We recommend Bona Wood Cleaner from Home Depot Be sure to use the product as directed, and use only products that are compatible with your wood floor as using the wrong type of cleaning product could damage the finish, and possibly damage the wood as well.
Installation and hardwood refinishing is so expensive. Why can’t I just do it myself?
Installing wood floors is a lot more complicated than painting your walls or replacing the hardware on your kitchen cabinets.
First of all, you will be spending several thousand dollars on material alone, so if you damage it, it’s not as easy as buying another $30 gallon of paint or $200 of hardware and starting over again. Plus, wood flooring requires special tools to install and refinish that you will likely have to rent and will have little experience using.
More importantly, however, you will need to make sure the room you’re working in is flat, that the subfloor material will work for wood flooring, and that no moisture issues are present that will damage the wood long-term. Testing for moisture requires special tools as well, and you must test both the subfloor and the flooring to ensure a successful installation.
In addition, you will need to know how to center the room, how much space should be left for expansion gaps, how to work around obstructions like closets, fireplaces, bay windows, staircases, and cabinets, and if you make cutting mistakes, you may end up running short on your material and not have enough to finish the job.
With refinishing hardwood floors improper sanding techniques will show when you stain or put finish on the floor. As well as it can get very dusty without proper dust containment systems.
The bottom line is that installing wood floors or refinishing them is not recommended as a DIY project. In the long run, you will save money and time by using a professional
GENERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT HARDWOOD REFINISHING
Is there a lot of dust when sanding the floors?
With our Bona Dust Containment System there is very little dust. Not like the old days when bags were attached to the sanding machines and the dust was still kept inside the house. With the trailer system we have hoses that are ran from our trailer outside to our sanding equipment minimizing dust 99%.
Can you change the color of the hardwood when sanding it down?
Yes, you can go from light to dark, or dark to light or anywhere in between.
We can mix colors together the options are endless.
When sanding our floors we want to use a product that is 100% natural is this possible ?
Yes.We offer a product called Rubio Monocoat it is a 100% natural product made from plants.I has 0Voc’s and is a very durable.
For more information please call Dynamic Edge Hardwood.
What if we have pet stains on the floor, will they sand off?
We come across this often. If you have some areas that have pet stains or water damage (i.e. they have turned black), then the best thing to do is replace those hardwood boards or sometimes the stains may be sanded off.Alternatively, you could choose a darker stain to cover up the darker portions of the hardwood.
Where do I store my furniture when refinishing the floor?
Most of our customers use other parts of their home – areas that may have tile or carpet. Sometimes, we can move it to the basement or garage. Sometimes, we can do the job in 2 phases to accommodate space for the furniture. A few of our customers use a storage container (such as PODS).
When can we walk on the floors after they have been refinished?
Depending on which product we use.
If we use Water Based finish 3 hours with socks on.
If we use Rubio Monocoat Penetrating Oil 24hours-36 hours with socks on.
If we use Oil based finish 8 hours with socks on
Its best if Pets wait 2 days.
Furniture after 24 hours.
Area rugs 4 weeks
How long will the finish last after refinishing my floor?
The lifestyle of the home determines how long the finish will last. With regular maintenance cleaning, a floor finish can last many years., often 7-10 yrs. When the finish becomes dull there are several professional service maintenance methods, such as a screen and recoat which can available to restore the luster without sanding.
What is a Screen and Recoat? What is floor buffing? Would that work for my floors?
A screen and recoat is synonym for floor buffing. It’s a non-invasive method where you buff/abrade the hardwood floors so that you can add an extra coat of polyurethane. It allows you to add sheen to floor and an extra layer of protection. It works if your floors are in good condition from a color perspective. It will not solve scratches through the color, but if your floors are in good shape, it will protect the color longer. It’s an affordable cosmetic maintenance method that isn’t messy. You have the option of making the floors shinier or less shiny – you can choose from matte, satin, semi-gloss or glossy finishes.
How can I tell if my floors need a screen and recoat rather than a complete refinishing?
A screen and recoat is a cosmetic method that adds a clear coat of poly. Not all floor conditions are candidates for this process. Floors should be in a decent condition with the existing color in good shape. It will take care of minor scratches and dullness; it will not solve deep gauges nor scratches in the color. It usually takes 1 day to complete.
For More questions answered please call Dynamic Edge Hardwood 780-904-0408
