How long must I allow a floor finish to dry before we can walk on the floor?
If we use an oil base urethane finish, your floor is usually dry enough to walk on after 24 hours. If the weather has been rainy or extremely humid, you may want to allow an extra day of drying time. It is best to allow three days for the urethane coating to dry before you move furniture onto the floors.
If we use a water base urethane finish, we recommend waiting one hour per coat used.
What is the hardest and most durable species of wood for a hardwood floor?
Following are wood species in order from the hardest to the softest wood and their hardness rating, starting at 21 for the hardest down to 1 the softest.
Brazilian Cherry 21, Mesquite 20, Santos Mahogany 19,
Merbau 18, Jarrah 17, Purpleheart 16, Hickory/Pecan 15,
African Pecan 14, Wenge 13, Bamboo 12, Hard Maple 12,
Australian Cypress 11, White Oak 10, Ash 9, American Beach 8,
Red Oak (Northern) 7, Yellow Birch 6, Heart Pine 5,
Black Walnut 4, Teak 3, Black Cherry 2, Douglas Fir 1
The most common hardwood used is the red or white oak, which produces a long lasting floor.
Which installation method will be used to install my new wood floor?
The installation method depends on the type of floor you are installing as well as the location of the installation. We will provide you with a recommendation for the best installation method based on the type of flooring and the conditions of your home where the flooring will be installed.
Can we install hardwood flooring in the basement?
It is not a good idea to install a solid hardwood floor below grade because of moisture issues. However, it may be possible to install laminate flooring or engineered hardwood floors in the basement. We will evaluate the moisture conditions in your basement and make our recommendation for flooring type and installation method.
What is the best way to clean my floors?
The best way to keep your floor looking new is to sweep, dust mop and/or vacuum the floors regularly. Hardwood floors also clean easily with a Swiffer or similar type dry mop. Avoid excessive moisture. Use a slightly damp mop to clean only when necessary.
Can I use commercial cleaner?
Yes. However, for prefinished floors, always use manufacturer-recommended cleaners. For unfinished floors, finished at the job site, refer to the recommendation of the floor finish manufacturer. Do not use wax based cleaners. You can read more about caring for your hardwood floors on the “Hardwood Floor Care” page of this site.
Why is the floor under my rug lighter than the rest of my floor?
It is normal for hardwood floors that are exposed to sunlight to darken over a period of time. To eliminate the obvious differences, it is best to rotate rugs and furniture so that the flooring gets an equal amount of sun exposure. Any differences in light exposure will eventually fade away.
There are a number of factors that can affect the amount of shadowing or fading your floor will exhibit over time. Often certain species of wood will fade more quickly than others. Brazilian Cherry and Heart Pine tend to experience fading and shadowing much more quickly than species of oaks, which tend to be very stable over time.
Another factor that can fade wood over time is sunlight. The UV rays of the sun can fade your floor as it would carpet or upholstery. Windows made with UV protective glass can slow this process down.
Finally, certain cleaning solutions can fade or discolor certain types of wood floors. Feel free to ask us what types of cleaners you should use and what types you should avoid on your wood floors.
