hardwood floor installer ambler pa

There are 3 different types of living creatures that can be real pests for a hardwood floor. Since a hardwood floor is a considerable investment, it’s wise to be aware of these perils and take action should one find evidence of their existence.The EPA estimates that more than 2 billion dollars is spent annually treating wood-damaging pests. As real estate agents you are familiar with one of these buggers, the dreaded termite! They can do so much damage to a house that looking for them is a key component of a home inspection. But there are two other wood-damaging pests that we will look at as well. Here I will tell you what evidence to look out for so you and your clients can protect your investment. Termites –  Termites are the most destructive pest when it comes to wood damage. They eat wood, and their bodies convert the wood fiber into sugar. In only a few years, a colony of subterranean termites can destroy the entire structure of a house. And because they eat wood from the inside out, their damage isn’t immediately noticeable, and it can sometimes take quite awhile for a homeowner to even notice their presence. This compromises the structural integrity of wood until there’s nothing of substance left in it. It’s important to get your hardwood inspected for termites regularly so that you can prevent impending damage while there’s still time. Signs of termite damage include hollow-sounding wood, buckling floors, and visible tunnels or galleries in the wood. Also, if you notice any swarms of winged insects indoors, discarded wings, or pencil-thin mud tubes on exterior walls, you most likely have a termite problem. Powderpost Beetles –These are wood-boring insects that damage both hardwoods and softwoods. Their damage to hardwood flooring happens when their larvae bore into the wood through surface cracks. First, the adult beetle lays its eggs on the wood surface, then the larva bores through. The holes are created when the adult beetle emerges from its underground “womb”, and they can also cause a lot of damage from within the flooring, too. They can bore a million holes in the wooden mass and also weaken the flooring from within. Signs of powder post beetle damage include small holes in the wood, fine sawdust or “frass” around the holes, and weakened or crumbly wood. Carpenter antsThese ants are often mistaken for termites, but they do not eat wood. Instead, they burrow into it to create nests. While they do not cause as much damage as termites or powderpost beetles, they can still weaken the wood and cause it to become structurally unsound. Signs of carpenter ant damage include small holes in the wood, sawdust or debris around the holes, and rustling or tapping sounds coming from the walls or floors.Please pass this info on to your clients so they know what to look out for! Wood is too good to let it be ruined by these buggers. But in the event that you have a client that wants to address some existing damage, or needs a different kind of hardwood flooring service, you know where to send them!

The major selling point for hardwood flooring is that they are durable and easy to maintain. Now, hardwood floors aren’t just going to take care of themselves, they need some help from the owner! Here I have compiled a list of essential products and techniques that will help your clients preserve their hardwood floors so they can go the distance. These tips will enhance the performance of the floor, will prolong the lifetime of the floor, will promote long-term sustainability of raw materials, and ultimately, will protect their investment. And here they are… Cleaning – Routine cleaning involves sweeping, dust mopping, or vacuuming and is absolutely essential for overall hardwood flooring maintenance. Notice I said dust mopping and not wet mopping. Please do tell your clients never to mop their hardwood floors! I’ve had many customers insist on using water or water/vinegar when mopping their hardwood floors but this is not a good idea at all! Water will damage the finish as well as the hardwood itself and vinegar will definitely wear down the urethane finish. Best to use a dry swiffer type mop with a hardwood floor cleaning solution made by Bruce or Bona.Shoes off, please – Out on the road we can get little pebbles and other debris stuck to the bottom of our shoes. These can leave scratches and unsightly wear on the hardwood floors. Taking shoes off ensures theses and other flooring enemies won’t be an issue.Area rugs about the house – By adding area rugs to your hardwood floors, you not only enhance the aesthetic appeal of your rooms but also provide a layer of protection to your floors. Area rugs help to prevent scratches and scuffs caused by foot traffic or furniture movement.They also add warmth to your space, making it feel more cozy and inviting. Area rugs even act as a sound buffer, reducing unwanted noise and echoes throughout the space. Furniture Pads – These are essential for avoiding scratches, dents or scuffs caused by sliding furniture. For some odd reason my wife likes to rearrange the furniture every couple months, I think it’s a Feng-sui thing..and she does it all by herself! Thankfully we have felt pads underneath everything otherwise my floors would be a mess! Sliding legs of chairs and tables will eventually leave wear so these pads are a must!Buff and Coat – Now this approach is a little involved. Firstly, this is not a DIY type of project. Better to trust a pros (like us) to determine if a hardwood floor would benefit from a buff and coat and if the answer is yes, let a pro (us) do it. This involves using a light grit sandpaper with a buffer so to remove the old, worn-down urethane finish in order to apply a fresh coat or two (preferably two). This approach will not remove deep scratches and wear nor will it resolve any discoloration issues. This approach is more for hardwood floors that are still in very good shape but just need some life brought back to them. Once done, a buff and coat should give a hardwood floor another 10 years or so until they’d need to be addressed again.