Expert Hardwood Floor Installation & Refinishing

Menu
Facebook-f Twitter Instagram Houzz

hardwood floor refinishing

Is Bamboo Flooring Actually Durable?

news and facts /

Technically, Bamboo is a type of grass and not really a “hardwood”. Despite this fact, it’s actually harder and than some species of wood used to make hardwood flooring. It’s a favorite of those who are environmentally-minded as it is a resource that is abundant. It grows quickly and plentifully and is used for many different applications. Bamboo has a grain pattern that can give a floor a very unique look. It can work well with both a contemporary and traditional design. But, is bamboo a type of a floor that will hold up to wear and traffic? Let’s talk about this… Back in the day Bamboo only came in the natural color we all know and a carbonized option that gave it a warm brown look. These days you can get Bamboo in a variety of different stains and can even go with a rustic finish. These additional options help when looking to incorporate a bamboo floor into a decor. Also, regardless of the misinformation floating around stating the contrary, bamboo floors CAN be refinished! One thing to look out for with bamboo is the fact that it readily absorbs moisture so it will not be a good option for areas in the home with high humidity or moisture (basements/bathrooms). The first question in most home owners minds when shopping for a floor is whether or not it will stand up to traffic and wear. On this matter, from my experience, bamboo will not hold up as well as most species of real hardwoods (oak, maple, etc) will. I’ve seen bamboo floors with indentations from high-heel shoes, bamboo floors that would scratch just from looking at them and even bamboo flooring of such low quality that no proud hardwood flooring contractor would feel good installing because they’d know the floor just won’t stand up to normal wear and tear. That is one of the big issues with bamboo flooring – the availability of cheap, poorly made products. How do you spot them? Well, like anything else, you get what you pay for. If the price is much lower than comparable floors, best to stay away. This is especially true when dealing with engineered bamboo flooring. The thin veneer used in engineered flooring can easily be damaged if coming from a low-quality manufacturer. Me personally, I’m not a big fan of bamboo. I think it could look cool in a special room to compliment a particular decor, but I don’t think it’s a very practical floor to put throughout the house. Again, superficially it seems to scratch and dent easily. Beyond that, the clean/uniform look doesn’t hide any of the wear you will inevitably get throughout the years. But, that’s me.

Is Bamboo Flooring Actually Durable? Read More »

Hardwood Floor Install and Sanding

Essential Tips To Maintain Your Hardwood Floor

repairs and maintenence /

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.

Essential Tips To Maintain Your Hardwood Floor Read More »

Hardwood Floor Installation and Refinishing Blue Bell PA

Is A Hardwood Floor A Good Investment For Your Home?

news and facts /

Of all the upgrades and remodel projects a home-owner can take on, Hardwood Flooring gives both the best return on the investment and delivers the most satisfaction above all the other work one can do! Home-owners remodel to upgrade worn-out surfaces and to bring new life to existing features in a home. No one wants to look at an old scratched-up hardwood floor and further use/traffic will only make it look older and more damaged. Sure, carpet is warm and fuzzy but you won’t get a warm and fuzzy while walking on nasty old carpet! Once the deal is closed, most home-owners can’t wait to get rid of it and put down a new hardwood floor. When they do so, they have an increased sense of enjoyment when home. So, not only do home-owners get their money back (and then some) when addressing the hardwood floors, they appreciate their homes more after they do it. * Cost Recovery – 147% on Hardwood Floor Refinishing, 118% on new Hardwood Flooring Installs! * 100% of home-owners have a greater desire to be at home after completing the project! * 64% have an increased sense of enjoyment at the home after hardwood floors are addressed! * 64% feel a major sense of accomplishment after doing their hardwood floors! Some examples on the ROI – if a home-owner were to spend $3400 to have the floors refinished, NAR estimates $5000 in recovered cost. At 118% ROI on hardwood flooring installs, if one should spend $5500 on a new floor, NAR estimates $6500 recovered cost! Of course a kitchen remodel is a big “to-do” but for ROI it pales in comparison to hardwood floors, only 67%! The most disappointing stat I found was that it’s only 22% of Realtors that recommend refinishing the hardwood floors prior to listing. For a new hardwood floor installation, it’s only 13%. Now I understand there can be a lot of factors involved with this but with these kinds of numbers on ROI, hardwood floors should be at the top of the list on the scope of work. Either way, it’s clear that hardwood floors give the best return on money as well as highest level of satisfaction.

Is A Hardwood Floor A Good Investment For Your Home? Read More »

hardwood floor refinishing

Do Hardwood Floors Improve Air Quality?

news and facts /

Individually there is only so much we can do in regards to the air quality outside of our homes. But when it comes to the inside, picking the right materials can ensure the air inside the home is free from irritants and allergens. Hardwood Flooring can achieve this! Wood floors contribute to better air quality because they don’t collect the dust and dirt that are often embedded in carpet. Further, carpet can hide the harmful bacteria, mold spores and pet dander. We consistently track pollutants into our homes from outside, including pesticides and other harmful chemicals. Wood floors tend not to accumulate these pollutants, nor does walking on the floors release these toxins into the air. Ventilation is also improved with hardwood floors, as they do not obstruct air flow. This can be particularly beneficial for individuals with respiratory issues or allergies. The natural properties of wood also play a role in regulating humidity levels, which helps to deter the growth of mold and mildew. Wood floors also stay pretty dry. Rugs and some tile floors can get damp which leads to mold growing. Mold makes indoor air really unhealthy to breathe. But sealed wood floors don’t let moisture in much so mold can’t grow and ruin the air quality. Having smooth solid floors with no carpets means less stuff trapped underneath. A room with wood floors looks and feels airier. That fresh open feeling comes from the easier air flow too. No more lingering odors of whatever’s lurking deep in the pile of carpet hair.Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are chemicals that can vaporize into the air, potentially leading to adverse health effects. Many synthetic flooring materials release VOCs over time, contributing to indoor air pollution. Hardwood floors, being a natural product, have lower VOC emissions compared to some synthetic alternatives. When choosing hardwood flooring, especially those with low levels of finishing chemicals, homeowners can minimize their exposure to harmful VOCs, creating a cleaner and healthier living space. It feels good to be able to provide a product that not only will give the home a warm and natural beauty, but will also contribute to the well-being of all who live in the home. So now that we’ve cleared the air, give us a call next time you’re in the market for a hardwood floor.

Do Hardwood Floors Improve Air Quality? Read More »

Hardwood Floors Can Come In A Variety Of Gloss Levels

Stains and tones /

Over the 20 years I’ve been working in people’s homes I’ve noticed that everyone has a different take when it comes to how much gloss they want to see on their hardwood floors. Some folks like to see a high or semi-gloss that looks clean and vibrant. Others prefer a matte or satin finish with little to no gloss at all! What seems to always be foremost in their minds is which will be easiest to clean and maintain… Truth of it is….is…..the more gloss you have on your floors, the more the wear and tear will show. A higher gloss can illuminate scratches and knicks you’ll get throughout the years. Any home with pets and kids running around should definitely avoid a higher gloss..maybe even a semi… The most common gloss levels available are: * High Gloss – Pretty self-explanatory. Like a mirror on the floor… * Semi-Gloss – A nice in between. Gives the floor a nice clean look but will still be easy to maintain. * Satin – This is the most sought-after finish lately. Great for older/rustic floors or any floor with a grey or dark stain. Does well at hiding wear. * Matte -No sheen whatsoever. This finish works well for those looking for that muted/unfinished wood look. Beyond the tone of the stain, another consideration might be how much natural light the house receives. If a house has darker walls and little natural light coming in they may do better with at least a semi-gloss to help distribute some light around so things don’t look so drab. BTW, I had a huge response from my post regarding the LED finishing process we now offer. That particular finish is very versatile as you can have spot repairs done even months/years after the job is done. That is not possible for standard urethane finishes. Also  comes in all the standard gloss-levels. Just to clarify, gloss-level in no way effects the durability of a finish…which is a misconception some folks have.. In summery, if you like a little pizazz on your hardwood floor then go with a nice sheen to give you that bright look. Now, if you’ve gone dark or grey and have much traffic on your floors, best to stick with a satin or matte.

Hardwood Floors Can Come In A Variety Of Gloss Levels Read More »