Hardwood
Hardwood - Prefinished Wood Flooring -They are becoming the main stream of the "new" hardwood floor products. These new tough factory finishes are one of the main reason for making this type of hardwood floor product so popular with home owners and builders. The other reason is the ease of installation and the elimination of dusty sanding procedures. These products can cost from $2-$7 per sqr. ft. not including installation cost, prep, moldings and added accents, borders, and custom work. Typically these prefinished wood floor products come in various thicknesses and widths.
Unfinished Wood Floors (No finish-bare wood floor)-This product whether solid or engineered must be job site finished. This can be a very dusty experience unless a dust containment systems is used. Job site sanding and finishing can take several days to over a week according to square footage, stains, and number of coats of top finish. Finishes are oil or water based in different sheens. This process needs to be done after ALL other trades have completed their work, allowing enough time to complete the job such that finishes can cure properly. Using this service will increase the cost per square foot. Maintaining these finish are very important in providing a long life for your hardwood floor products. These unfinished wood floor products come in various thicknesses and widths.
White Ash
Beech
Birch
Cypress
Douglas Fir
Hickory
Pecan
Maple
Oak (red & white)
Pine
Walnut
Other
Bamboo
Brazilian Cherry
Cork
Merbau
Teak
Tigerwood
Other
Engineered Hardwood - uses multiple layers of wood glued together, with the grain of each running at 90-degree angles to the layers adjacent. As the wood fibers absorb moisture and want to expand, each layer is restrained by the other and improved dimensional stability results.
Because it displays far less expansion and contraction with moisture changes, engineered flooring can be successfully installed in areas with wide humidity variations. A room that is exposed to excessive moisture would be prone to trouble if solid wood flooring were installed. Keep in mind that even if the humidity is stable under the house, the atmopshere type humidity, especially houses near or by water, definitely needs to be put into concern when picking out the structural type of hardwood. If ignored or neglected solid woods installed in these type environments can eventually start showing signs of cracks and seperaation between boards, cupping and crowning, and buckled floors.
Cleaning
The enjoyment of wood floor depends on some routine but minimal maintenance details. These include:
- Sweep your floors or use a dust mop daily, but do not use a household dust treatment, as this may cause your floors to become slick or dull the finish.
- Vacuum your floors regularly, as often as you would vacuum carpets.
- Clean your floor’s coated surface with a lightly dampened cloth using a recommended cleaning product, and according to the manufacturer’s directions for use.
- Never damp mop a wood floor. In all cases, use minimum water, because water causes deterioration of the wood itself, as well as the finish.
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Buy a “floor care kit” that your installer or flooring retailer recommends instead of counting on a home-made remedy of vinegar and water to clean your floors. Different finishes have different maintenance requirements, and its best to follow professional advice in this area.
Clean light stains by rubbing with a damp cloth. - Avoid using mops or cloths that leave excessive water on the floor. Never let a spill of water dry on the floor.
- Control humidity levels by use of a dehumidifier or humidifier. You may need to add portable units in some rooms.
- Do not clean your wood floors with water or water-based products on a regular schedule. Clean only when necessary and clean only the soiled areas.
Links
www.mannington.com
www.bruce.com
www.cwf.com
www.lmflooring.com