Hardwood Flooring - Care And Selection Information

Hardwood Flooring - Care And Selection Information

Many people find hardwood floors desirable, but have come to accept some common misconceptions as truth.

Contrary to what some people would say, wood floors can be used in the kitchen. Selecting the correct type of wood is important. Oak, ash and maple are some of the better wood choices for the kitchen, where it occasionally gets wet.

With the right products, wood floors are not that difficult to maintain and require minimum of effort. Water is not the best way to clean wood because it harms the urethane finish. You should use maintenance products and procedures that will prevent the slow deterioration of the wood. Be careful when using a vacuum to remove grit and debris from your wood floor. A hard bristle brush beater bar in your vacuum can damage and scratch your hardwood.

Steer clear from kitchen floor cleaners with vinegar, ammonia or abrasive cleaners. These will dull and damage your hardwood floors. Cupping or warping can be caused by trapped water pockets. This may also indicate some hidden water source like a plumbing leakage, moisture from the basement or high/low relative humidity.

Do not worry if your hardwood floor has small gaps between the boards during the winter. It is not defective. This is a common occurrence attributed to the atmospheric conditions. Homes are heated and the air is dry, consequently moisture is lost from the wood flooring and cracks appear.

Factory finished floors are superior to wood floors finished at the job site. The prefect finish is applied under dust-free, ideal conditions at the factory. Five to eight coats of finish embedded with aluminum oxide are applied to the wood, making them harder than job site work.

Never store excess wood flooring in your basement, garage, directly on cement or in outbuildings. Uncontrolled humidity or moisture vapors can enter the wood flooring engendering it to swell or cup. This can severely damage your extra flooring, rendering it unusable. Even if your basement, crawlspace or concrete slab looks dry, you should always have the installer check and protect against moisture. It will save you in the long run.

Attempting to add your own finish over hardwood that is already installed is a bad idea. Once the sealer seeps into the space, gaping is possible as the adhesive hinders normal expansion of the flooring especially during a change in climate.

Some people falsely claim that engineered wood is not real hardwood. There is a real hardwood veneer layer and under it is non-finish plywood. They are perfect for below-grade cement installations. Engineered wood can be periodically sanded to smooth over scratches. This makes engineered wood great for basement, high-traffic, or low-cost installations.

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