Hardwood Flooring Basics

Beyond Tradition: the Hardwood Flooring Advantage

Hardwood flooring is looked upon by many as the flooring option that lends a sense of permanence to an interior. Whether it's a residential interior, or an office installation, hardwood flooring adds an air of class, as well as structural strength. For these reasons, hardwood flooring remains to be a classic choice. It is a flooring option that has the advantage of tradition behind it; many cultures and civilizations have used hardwood flooring, and have done so for centuries. But, there are reasons beyond those of tradition that make hardwood flooring a practical and decorative choice.

One of the most attractive attributes of hardwood flooring is the range of options open to you in terms of finish, surface, stain, and species. All of these aspects play a very important role in determining the look of your flooring. With all of these choices, hardwood flooring is known to make for a unique effect in each interior. To this point, an advantage you will experience will most likely be all of the compliments you'll get because of your hardwood flooring for years to come.

Pre-finished and Unfinished Hardwood Flooring

Hardwood flooring can be purchased in either prefinished or unfinished varieties and there are distinct advantages in both. For pre-finished hardwood flooring, the obvious advantage is that of convenience. No sanding is required for these types of hardwood floors, and therefore more time is saved on preparation as well a mess; sanding a hardwood floor involves both. Also, no time must be allowed for the finish on your hardwood flooring to dry, a period which can take a half a day to longer, depending on the kind of finish you use.

As far as unfinished hardwood flooring goes, the most compelling advantage is that of a more uniform seal. This is the reason why many professionals offer unfinished hardwood flooring to clients; it is easier to make sure that all of the minute gaps between the hardwood flooring boards are sealed when finish is applied on the whole surface of the flooring, and not on a board-by-board basis. This means extra protection against moisture, the hardwood floor's most dangerous enemy. In this sense, all of the preparation and mess is worth the effort.

Hardwood Flooring Surfaces and Stains

The diversity of hardwood flooring extends not only to finish, but also in the range of surfaces and choices in stain available to the customer. Some hardwood flooring is planned evenly at the mill, offering a smooth, refined surface that many consumers have come to admire in hardwood flooring. But another variety of hardwood flooring that is becoming popular with flooring professionals and homeowners is that of the handscraped hardwood flooring. In this case, the hardwood plank is actually worked by hand to create a contoured, seasoned surface that gives the hardwood flooring a more rustic, lived-in appearance.

The variations in hardwood flooring are further extended by the variety of stains available as well. Some stains serve to bring out the natural range of color in a chosen species. Others effectively change the color altogether, allowing a consumer to enjoy the benefits offered by one species, while enjoying the color of another. Hardwood flooring is probably one of the more flexible choices with regard to appearance and personal taste.

Hardwood Flooring: the Luxury of Choice

Overall, hardwood flooring is not just an option which relies upon tradition, although hardwood flooring has been relied upon for centuries because it is such a durable material. What hardwood flooring offers is the luxury of choice and an ease of integration into an interior design. Along with the advantages of appearance, hardwood is and continues to be a choice in flooring that can add structural strength to a residence or office.

Popular Species of Hardwood Flooring

Red and White Oak - These species are naturally pale in color, with hints of pink running through the Red Oak. Both are known for their utility across all kinds of applications. White Oak is known to be slightly harder than red oak, although red oak in turn is slightly easier to saw and nail.

American Cherry - Used for cabinet making as well as flooring, American Cherry is known to be an attractive species that is very easy to work with. It is not as hard as either red or white oak, but offers a greater tonal range of color that darkens over time to become even more rich in tone, due to photosensitivity.

Hard Maple - Harder still than oak, the uniform texture of maple as well as its naturally abrasion-resistant surface makes it an excellent choice for hardwood flooring. Early North American settlers relied upon maple for its hardy nature, and it continues to be popular today.

Brazilian Cherry AKA Jatoba - One of most notable features of this exotic species is its color - a rich, reddish brown that eventually ages into a lustrous burgundy. Another important as aspect of Jataba is how hard it is; it is harder than some species of mahogany. So for look as well as durability, Brazilian Cherry excels.

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Hardwood Floor Care Will Keep Your Hardwood Looking Fantastic

Hardwood is still the homeowner's favorite choice of flooring and caring for it takes minimal effort. Unlike laminate or engineered wood, hardwood can be refinished many times, and will add years of beauty and warmth to your home, as well as increase its value and speed its resale. Ongoing floor care is needed to keep your hardwood looking its best, however, and there are four major aspects of hardwood floor care:

1. Hardwood floor cleaning

2. Hardwood floor repair

3. Hardwood floor refinishing

4. Hardwood floor protection

Clean Your Hardwood Regularly

Knowing how to clean hardwood floors is important because the bane of hardwood is dirt and grit, which will scratch and mark the floor if not removed promptly. As well, dust is seen more easily on wood floors than it is on linoleum or on carpet, especially in the sunlight and especially if the floor has a dark stain. Hardwood floor care, therefore, means sweeping and dusting regularly - once a week, at least, and after any event that leaves dirt and grit behind. Regular household dusting and cleaning products will cause damage, however, and you must use only products specifically designed for hardwood. Vacuuming is preferable to sweeping because it allows the dirt and dust to be pulled from between the boards, but use a vacuum with a bare floor attachment, not a beater bar, which can damage the wood.

When a more in-depth cleaning is required, use a cleaning method appropriate to the finish on your floor. If your floor has a glossy finish, it means that polyurethane, or a water-based urethane, or a similar finish has been used to form a protective barrier over the hardwood. If it has a matte finish, it means that the floor is protected with a penetrating seal of oil and/or wax. On neither of these finishes is water an acceptable cleaning agent, but both of them can accept a surface, damp-mop cleaning, which means the mop is not wet but only damp to the touch. You are cleaning only the surface and not using enough water to penetrate even the oiled-and-waxed hardwood. When using a damp mop on oil and waxed hardwood, you can add a little neutral ph hardwood floor cleaner to the water before dipping the mop into it. A floor with a protective glossy barrier can accept a generic hardwood floor cleaner providing it doesn't contain any wax or oil.

The don'ts are every bit as important as the do's in hardwood floor care;

1. Don't use ammonia, regular floor cleaners, household cleaners, or dusting products on hardwood.

2. Never use wax on a floor with a urethane or other glossy finish.

3. Never wash hardwood; use only a slightly damp mop.

Repair Any Damage to Your Floors as Soon as Possible

In most cases, when your oil and waxed hardwood floors have suffered surface damage, you have to remove the finish with a wax or oil stripper before dealing with the damage. After completing the repair, you then re-wax or re-oil the area. Surface damage occurs less often on hardwood protected by polyurethane or a similar type of sealer, and when it does, the damage is not as obvious. When repairing floors with such finishes, strip the finish from the entire board or boards where the damage has occurred. Make your repairs and then apply a finishing product to those boards that is consistent with the rest of the floor.

1. Water marks: Remove the protective finish, rub the marks with fine grade steel wool. Repeat if necessary, clean, and then refinish.

2. Burn marks: Lightly sand the area, use a damp cloth to pick up the grit, and then refinish as desired.

3. Scratches and gouges: Conceal shallow scratches with matching wood putty or a putty stick. After the area is dry, sand and refinish.

Refinishing Your Worn Hardwood Floors Will Recapture Their Original Beauty and Value

In a home with shabby hardwood floors, the biggest improvement you can make is to refinish the floors. Begin by making any necessary repairs, and then removing all the furniture and drapes and sealing the vents and registers in the room so that you won't spread dust throughout the house. Sanding floors is easiest to do with a drum sander and an edging machine for the sides and corners of the room. You can rent these machines, and it is a good idea to rent a buffer or floor polisher at the same time. Plan to make three passes with your sanding equipment, using increasingly finer sandpaper each time. Vacuum carefully and pick up every bit of fine dust and grit with tacking cloths. All dust and dirt must be removed. You can now apply a stain if you wish or you can leave the natural color and design of the wood - such as the popular oak, maple, or cherry - to be displayed.

Polish and clean the dust and dirt from the floor again, and then apply your sealer - a polyurethane or a water-based urethane that provides a protective barrier, or oil and wax, which penetrates the wood and protects from within. Carefully read all the information accompanying each product, follow the safety advice, and apply as many coats of stain or sealer as suggested by the manufacturer of the products you are using.

Hardwood Floor Care Means Providing Ongoing Floor Protection

As well as regular cleaning, and repairing and refinishing when necessary, there are a number of protective measures you can take to preserve the beauty of your hardwood:

1. Use area rugs and mats in high traffic areas and sites of frequent spills (e.g., in front of the stove, sink, and refrigerator). Move these rugs frequently so that these areas of the floor remain the same color as the exposed floor. As well, it is best to choose cotton mats as they do not trap water under them as rubber or vinyl might.

2. Keep high-heeled shoes in good repair and avoid using stiletto heels.

3. Keep nails trimmed on pets.

4. Clean up spills immediately with a paper towel or dry cloth. A damp cloth can be used for sticky spills, but dry the spot immediately afterwards with another towel or cloth.

5. Lift rather than drag furniture when moving it and use felt contacts under furniture legs to prevent scratches and gouges.

6. Use sheers or blinds to protect your floors from the discoloration caused by direct sun rays.

With proper care and maintenance, your hardwood floors will retain their beauty and enhance any décor that you choose. When your floors become worn, or if they become damaged, they can be restored to their former glory with a little time, effort, and money. Use the Internet to check out quality products, read the information on how to use them, compare prices, and place your orders. We can help with all your hardwood floor care needs - everything from discount hardwood flooring to hardwood cleaners - and all items can be purchased online and delivered to your door. Let us help you keep your hardwood floors looking their best.

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Types of Flooring Industrial Burnishers, Buffers, Polishers and Scrubbers Are Ideally Suited For

Floor burnishers, buffers, floor polishers and scrubbers can dramatically transform almost any flooring surface. Below is a breakdown of the flooring surface these floor cleaning machines are ideally designed for:

Vinyl or PVC floors

Vinyl is a type of resistant flooring which is waterproof and heard wearing. This type of flooring can normally be cleaned easily enough with traditional techniques. The problems with cleaning vinyl floors arise when persistent stains, or other hard to remove materials, start to appear that cannot be so easily wiped off, for example gum.

Cleaning this kind of persistent substance off vinyl and PVC flooring requires using the right type of tools to accomplish this without damaging the floor in the process. This is where a floor polishers and buffers come into their own. The floor polisher pads allow persistent substances to be removed with out leaving scratches on your flooring after cleaning.

The floor pads extension to the floor polishers should be used for vinyl or PVC flooring.

Linoleum floors

If Linoleum is washed rather than polished it can appear rather dull and fade very quickly. This decolouration happens as the colours in the Linoleum flooring literally get washed out of the floor during the cleaning process.

To keep your Linoleum flooring looking it's best for longer Linoleum ideally needs to be polished using a floor polisher. Polishing Linoleum flooring will not wash the colour out of the floor and as a result your floor will retain the colour locked inside keeping its vibrant look for longer.

The floor pads extension should ideally be used for Linoleum flooring.

Wood floors

Commercial wood floors should ideally not be cleaned by traditional mopping techniques but by being polished instead. This is because traditional cleaning techniques, such as mopping, are very timely to complete to a high enough standard in comparison to polishing.

Polishers provide several other benefits that mopping alone cannot achieve. These benefits include:

The wood doesn't swell

When a wood floor is cleaned using traditional methods, and too much water is used during cleaning, the water can be absorbed into the wood. This can make the wood increase in size and swell which is far from ideal. Polishing a wood floor will not cause this type of swelling to occur and still keep the floor looking clean.

Polishing the wood adds a protective layer to the floors surface which washing with water simply cannot. This protective layer provides an extra barrier between the wood and any future spills and general dirt build. This layer has the added benefit of reducing your long term maintenance costs as it helps to add to your floors longevity.

Polishing a wood floor also has the benefit of adding a shine effect which mopping cannot. This shine effect lasts long after the floor is cleaned and provides a more professional first appearance for your business to your clients and customers.

Ceramic and quarried tile floors

9 times out of 10 ceramic and quarried tile does not require much in the way of cleaning, in fact a simple mop will be just as good. The problem with tiles arises when after a while they start to look dull. The reason that tiles start looking dull is down to scratches appearing on their surface as their protective layer over time starts breaking down.

This break down in the protective layer allows dirt to start accumulating in these scratches. This is where you will need an industrial polisher, or buffer, as these types of floor cleaners will remove the scratches from the tile, and thus the dirt with them, returning your tiles back to looking as if they have just been laid.

The other area that can make your tiled flooring look dull and uninviting is not the tiles themselves as the tiles are not naturally porous and therefore don't stain easily without scratches in them, but the grout used to secure them. This grout on the other hand is extremely porous and can be easily stained.

This staining can make your floor look far from ideal, especially in commercial bathrooms. If left untreated this staining can mean heavy cleaning chemicals may need to be used on them to lift the stain. The problem that then occurs is that these heavy cleaning chemicals can break down the grout and if this is broken down too much the grout will need to be replaced.

Industrial polisher pads will lift the stains out of your grout before this happens, giving you a cleaner looking tiled floor. This will save you the expense of having to re-grout your tiles to keep that clean look.

Marble, granite and stone floors

Marble, granite and stone flooring is some of the most elegant types of flooring that you can choose. They look vibrant and give your clients a first impression of your organisation that will last long after they have left. That is of course if they have still kept their amazing looking shine and are not dull and weary looking. If these types of hard surfaces are not kept regularly polished, then like tiles, scratches and stains start to appear in their surface and dirt can then accumulate.

Industrial polishers, when equipped with the right polisher pads brushes, can remove these scratches, dirt and stains and restore your flooring back to its sensational appearance once again.

Concrete and Terrazzo floors

Keeping polished concrete or Terrazzo flooring looking pristine can be a costly exercise because you have to constantly strip and reapply waxes. A more modern and cheaper approach however is to do away with waxing entirely and instead use an electric floor polisher. Electric floor polishers will not only save you time and money but will leave your floor looking at its very best.

Floor pads and the floor brush extensions for floor polishers should be used for concrete and Terrazzo flooring.

Anti-slip and industrial safety floors

Anti-slip and safety flooring is simply a must in some environments, such as swimming pools and some types of factories, where safety from a person slipping is paramount. The problem with keeping this type of flooring clean however arises because of the texture that is needed to make the floor anti-slip.

The texture of this type of floor may help to prevent slips but it also acts like a magnet for dirt and grime which can quickly build up around the notches. This buildup of grime can make your flooring look stained and discoloured as a result and can be troublesome to resolve using traditional cleaning techniques and some types of mops can even disintegrate entirely when used to clean this type of flooring.

One of the most cost effective cleaning techniques for this type of flooring on a commercial scale is a floor polisher. This is because a floor polisher can restore your floor back to its original appearance as the polishers brushes are especially designed for removing dirt build-up on these kind of textures.

Terracotta floors

Terracotta floors can give a great first impression but their drawback is that they take a large amount of time to maintain to a high standard. This is because Terracotta on the whole is a porous material and as a result of Terracotta being porous dirt can easily build up on its surface making it hard to keep clean.

Even worse basic cleaners such as bleach can't be used to remove this build up as they will damage the Terracotta.

Floor polishers however do not use heavy cleaning chemicals and can lift the grime out of the flooring taking the hassle out of cleaning and maintaining your Terracotta flooring.

Carpets

Carpets can acquire dirt, and become stained, rather easily. In high traffic places such as schools, universities, hotels, nursing homes and shops it is important to keep this type of flooring looking clean, otherwise your flooring will rub off negatively on your organisation.

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Hot Tips on Radiant-Heated Floors

 

You're remodeling the bathroom and have dreams of adding some spa like comforts. A garden tub with pulsating jets, luxurious tile and comfortable fixtures come to mind. And maybe even a heated floor. Lots of people are considering radiant-heated floors because of that extra level of spa-like comfort. Before you make a decision about a heated floor, you should know some of the pros and cons of these types of heating systems. Here's a brief run down on the main types of systems and the pros and cons for using this type of heating system. Of course, your local HVAC professional will have more detailed information.

Heating Floor Systems: Which to Choose?

There are two main types of radiant-heated floors. The first is electric, which provides heat through electrically heated coils. The second is hydronic, which provides heat through water-filled tubes. The tubes can be heated in a variety of ways using solar power, oil, gas or kerosene. Not sure which to choose? Ask your local HVAC professional for their advice.

The Upside of Electric Radiant-Heated Floors

If you are adding heated floors to the bathrooms or to the whole house, there are some definite positives to radiant-heated flooring. The first of course is comfort. There is nothing like waking up on a cold morning and putting your feet on warm hardwood floors. Radiant-heated floors also take up no extra space. Because this type of flooring is installed underneath the floors, it is completely out of sight except for the thermostat. Usage cost is a pro as well. Users of radiant-heated flooring report about a 15 percent to 30 percent increase in their heating bills, depending on the size flooring they have installed. Contact your local HVAC professional to get a more localized estimate. Durability is also a great factor with radiant heated floors. Protected by two solid layers, these systems were designed to last. And on the plus side, the installation time is fairly short. Allergy sufferers benefit from these systems too! They provide cozy warmth without blowing around a lot of dust.

The Downside of Electric Radiant-Heated Floors

There are a few down sides to adding an electric heated floor. One is the heated floor system can't be retrofitted under your existing floors. Your local HVAC specialist will have to take up the old floor, install the heated system and replace the flooring. Look to spend about $15 to $20 per square foot. Also, you may need new wiring from the main electric circuit panel in order to adequately power your heating system. And lastly, radiant flooring doesn't heat up as quickly as a space heater. You may have to wait for an hour before your floors are warm.

The Upside of Hydronic Radiant-Heated Floors

You'll find the same positives as you did with the electric system in addition to some fuel-cost savings. Whether you go with solar or oil, these electric alternatives will save you money. Ask your HVAC specialist which system he recommends and why.

The Downside of a Hydronic Heated Floor

Add the same cons as the electric counterpart plus one more. While electric systems are durable, with a hydronic heated floor, you have the chance of experiencing water damage. With a significant leak there could be damage to your floors, your furniture and your home. Contact your local HVAC professional for his suggestions on radiant-heated floors.

You're remodeling the bathroom and have dreams of adding some spa like comforts. A garden tub with pulsating jets, luxurious tile and comfortable fixtures come to mind. And maybe even a heated floor. Lots of people are considering radiant-heated floors because of that extra level of spa-like comfort. Before you make a decision about a heated floor, you should know some of the pros and cons of these types of heating systems. Here's a brief run down on the main types of systems and the pros and cons for using this type of heating system. Of course, your local HVAC professional will have more detailed information.

Heating Floor Systems: Which to Choose?

There are two main types of radiant-heated floors. The first is electric, which provides heat through electrically heated coils. The second is hydronic, which provides heat through water-filled tubes. The tubes can be heated in a variety of ways using solar power, oil, gas or kerosene. Not sure which to choose? Ask your local HVAC professional for their advice.

The Upside of Electric Radiant-Heated Floors

If you are adding heated floors to the bathrooms or to the whole house, there are some definite positives to radiant-heated flooring. The first of course is comfort. There is nothing like waking up on a cold morning and putting your feet on warm hardwood floors. Radiant-heated floors also take up no extra space. Because this type of flooring is installed underneath the floors, it is completely out of sight except for the thermostat. Usage cost is a pro as well. Users of radiant-heated flooring report about a 15 percent to 30 percent increase in their heating bills, depending on the size flooring they have installed. Contact your local HVAC professional to get a more localized estimate. Durability is also a great factor with radiant heated floors. Protected by two solid layers, these systems were designed to last. And on the plus side, the installation time is fairly short. Allergy sufferers benefit from these systems too! They provide cozy warmth without blowing around a lot of dust.

The Downside of Electric Radiant-Heated Floors

There are a few down sides to adding an electric heated floor. One is the heated floor system can't be retrofitted under your existing floors. Your local HVAC specialist will have to take up the old floor, install the heated system and replace the flooring. Look to spend about $15 to $20 per square foot. Also, you may need new wiring from the main electric circuit panel in order to adequately power your heating system. And lastly, radiant flooring doesn't heat up as quickly as a space heater. You may have to wait for an hour before your floors are warm.

The Upside of Hydronic Radiant-Heated Floors

You'll find the same positives as you did with the electric system in addition to some fuel-cost savings. Whether you go with solar or oil, these electric alternatives will save you money. Ask your HVAC specialist which system he recommends and why.

The Downside of a Hydronic Heated Floor

Add the same cons as the electric counterpart plus one more. While electric systems are durable, with a hydronic heated floor, you have the chance of experiencing water damage. With a significant leak there could be damage to your floors, your furniture and your home. Contact your local HVAC professional for his suggestions on radiant-heated floors.

You're remodeling the bathroom and have dreams of adding some spa like comforts. A garden tub with pulsating jets, luxurious tile and comfortable fixtures come to mind. And maybe even a heated floor. Lots of people are considering radiant-heated floors because of that extra level of spa-like comfort. Before you make a decision about a heated floor, you should know some of the pros and cons of these types of heating systems. Here's a brief run down on the main types of systems and the pros and cons for using this type of heating system. Of course, your local HVAC professional will have more detailed information.

Heating Floor Systems: Which to Choose?

There are two main types of radiant-heated floors. The first is electric, which provides heat through electrically heated coils. The second is hydronic, which provides heat through water-filled tubes. The tubes can be heated in a variety of ways using solar power, oil, gas or kerosene. Not sure which to choose? Ask your local HVAC professional for their advice.

The Upside of Electric Radiant-Heated Floors

If you are adding heated floors to the bathrooms or to the whole house, there are some definite positives to radiant-heated flooring. The first of course is comfort. There is nothing like waking up on a cold morning and putting your feet on warm hardwood floors. Radiant-heated floors also take up no extra space. Because this type of flooring is installed underneath the floors, it is completely out of sight except for the thermostat. Usage cost is a pro as well. Users of radiant-heated flooring report about a 15 percent to 30 percent increase in their heating bills, depending on the size flooring they have installed. Contact your local HVAC professional to get a more localized estimate. Durability is also a great factor with radiant heated floors. Protected by two solid layers, these systems were designed to last. And on the plus side, the installation time is fairly short. Allergy sufferers benefit from these systems too! They provide cozy warmth without blowing around a lot of dust.

The Downside of Electric Radiant-Heated Floors

There are a few down sides to adding an electric heated floor. One is the heated floor system can't be retrofitted under your existing floors. Your local HVAC specialist will have to take up the old floor, install the heated system and replace the flooring. Look to spend about $15 to $20 per square foot. Also, you may need new wiring from the main electric circuit panel in order to adequately power your heating system. And lastly, radiant flooring doesn't heat up as quickly as a space heater. You may have to wait for an hour before your floors are warm.

The Upside of Hydronic Radiant-Heated Floors

You'll find the same positives as you did with the electric system in addition to some fuel-cost savings. Whether you go with solar or oil, these electric alternatives will save you money. Ask your HVAC specialist which system he recommends and why.

The Downside of a Hydronic Heated Floor

Add the same cons as the electric counterpart plus one more. While electric systems are durable, with a hydronic heated floor, you have the chance of experiencing water damage. With a significant leak there could be damage to your floors, your furniture and your home. Contact your local HVAC professional for his suggestions on radiant-heated floors.

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