Hardwood Floor Information & Tips
Taking some extra precautions after your floor has been installed or coated will help preserve its quality. These tips will help prevent damage to the coating and the floor itself and help keep your floor looking brand new!
- After the last coat of finish has been applied, wait 3-4 hours before entry and only in stocking feet. Water based finish reaches 90% cure in 24 hours and reaches full cure in 10 days.
- Be sure to wait 24 hours before you move furniture back into the room and make sure to always put felt pads on all legs of the furniture.
- Allow 10 days before placing area rugs on the floor and make sure to put a pad under them.
Why chose hardwood floors?
Homeowners who are renovating their home can be put in the situation where they must chose between hardwood flooring and carpet. In some cases, choosing carpet may be less expensive, a hardwood floor can last a lifetime with proper care and maintenance. Below are some examples why homeowners chose hardwood floors over other surfaces:
- Everlasting beauty
- Durable
- Clean-looking
- Adds value to home
- Ideal for a home with people who suffer from allergies
- Indoor air quality is generally better
- Easy to clean
- Low maintenance
- No waxing
Types of Wood Floors
Technology has advanced in such a way that you can now have hardwood flooring in almost any area in your home or business. However, there are things to keep in mind before deciding on what type of wood you would like installed.
There are two types of wood floors available: Solid and Engineered.
Solid wood flooring is wood that is solid from the top to the bottom. Though the thickness can vary, it generally is from ¾” to 5/16”. It is often the preferred type of flooring because it can be sanded and refinished many different times.
Engineered wood floors are real wood floors that are manufactured using three to nine layers of different wood veneers. The layers can be of the same species or can be varying species. Because each layer is run into different directions it is very stable. When there are change sin humidity and temperature, engineered wood floors will expand and contact less than solid wood flooring. Usually, the top layer is of the highest quality wood. Similar to solid wood flooring, engineered flooring can be sanded and finished. However unlike solid wood, it cannot be done as many times as the solid flooring.