Hardwood Floor Experts Lane

If you ordered prefabricated hardwood floors and had them installed by a contractor, you probably would have gotten the standard look and design, which is usually good. The standards for producing quality material are usually high, as manufacturers compete for the market. The floor you have may last you a lifetime with proper care. But if you are remodeling the house, it may be the best time to consider refinishing your floors.

Spot Finish or Overhaul?

Pre-fabricated hardwood floor planks usually come treated for protection against moisture and insects. They are coated with a varnish to keep in their luster. This gives the floor its finish.

You can maintain the spotless and elegant look of your floor by waxing often and minimizing friction. Use rags when moving furniture and never mop across the floor. But even with great care, the color of the wood fades and dents and scratches ruin the glossy surface over time. If the problem is kept to a minimum, like just a few scratches and a few stains, you can deal with it by adding another layer of finish. You can start with restoration by refinishing some areas or re-doing the whole floor area.

Since refinishing your floor can be quite expensive, you have to be a little bit more practical and make sure you really need one before taking on the project. You can conduct a simple test to find out if the original finish of the floor still works its protective ability. Pour a tablespoon of water on the floor. If the drops bead up and you can easily wipe them off with a dry towel, the finish is still working.

If the test fails, you may proceed with refinishing that spot. But if you think you won?t have the time to do another round of refinishing anytime soon, you may as well reapply the coating to the whole floor area.

If you’re considering having hardwood flooring installed, you’ll undoubtedly want to know what it’s going to cost you up front. There are many things to think about when making your decisions. You can start by visiting a home improvement store to get flooring prices. Depending on the brand of flooring, the material it’s made of, and if it’s interlocking or not, the prices often vary from about $5.00 to $15.00 per square foot.

All of the different options need to be explored in order to make the best possible decision. Comparison shopping is always a good idea. You may be surprised at the difference you can find in both the price of the flooring and the price of the installation between two similar companies. In addition, talking to a manufacturer’s representative will give you in-depth information about the flooring that store personnel can’t tell you.

With any hardwood floor you’ll find that the flooring material is just part of the installation cost. Some types of hardwood are intended to be glued to the sub-flooring so that there won’t be any screw holes visible. Other types need to be secured with countersunk screws and the holes then filled with wood putty. The floor will also need to be coated with a heavy-duty urethane so that it is protected from spills and general wear-and-tear.

You’ll be able to buy screws at a hardware store either in bulk or by the box. No matter whether you use glue or screws, however, it’s probably going to cost you about $30.00. In addition, your wood putty will run from $4.00 to $6.00, and the urethane coating will likely be between $30.00 and $60.00, depending on the size of the floor. If you’re going to do your own installation, add in another amount for the supplies you’ll need to sand the entire floor prior to putting on the final coating.

Tongue-and-groove flooring might be a good option for you if you’re trying to work within a budget. Since the flooring strips interlock, you won’t need to buy either screws or glue. In addition, this type of flooring is pre-finished, so you won’t have finishing costs.

If your budget isn’t quite as restricted, you may want to consider having your floor installed professionally. Costs will vary from company to company, so you’ll be doing yourself a favor by getting bids from several different contractors. Make sure they all quote the same flooring material that you have chosen.

All contractors will give you a quote that includes labor costs based on the number of man hours they estimate it will take to complete your job. The current cost of labor will run you between $30.00 and $60.00 per man hour. Of course, these charges will also include other costs, such as what the contractor has to pay for insurance for the job or travel expenses based on the amount of travel that is necessary.

In a nutshell, the cost of installing a hardwood floor will depend on the amount of square footage you are planning to cover, the brand of flooring you choose, and whether or not you do any or all of the work yourself. Keep in mind that the more labor equity you’re willing to put into the project, the lower the cost will be.

A gleaming hardwood floor is so beautiful to behold. Beyond the aesthetics, hardwood floors increase value to the home, has versatility in home decorating and has health benefits. Hardwood floors come in a variety of styles.

Quality hardwood flooring increases the value of a home. The durability of hardwood has improved due to advances in technology processes. A recent survey for the National Wood Flooring Association asked real estate agents their opinions regarding flooring styles. Real estate agents state that houses with hardwood floors sell faster. New homebuyers prefer the look and ease of hardwoods. They are also sold at higher prices than homes with other types of floor covering.

Hardwood floors compliment any home décor. There is a timeless appeal that only hardwood floor can give. It adds interest to a room by allowing a backdrop to furnishings. Its versatility is outstanding, whether a contemporary feeling or a country mood. Hardwood floor used to be limited to living rooms and dining rooms. Now they can be installed in every room in your home including the kitchen, bedrooms, bathrooms and the laundry rooms. Specific hardwoods are designed for humid steamy areas such as the bathroom.

Hardwood floor covering is easy to take care. Only minimal care is needed to preserve the splendor of these floors. The simplest way to clean sealed hardwood floors is to first remove all dirt and dust either using a broom or a lightweight vacuum cleaner. Then simply mop using water, rinse and repeat. If using a floor cleaner, pick one that is neutral. As they age, tones deepen and grain patterns surface.

There are health benefits associated with hardwood floor. Dust and other irritants are trapped in carpeting and the grout of ceramic tiles. Over a period of time, these irritants can cause problems for those suffering with allergies. Hardwood floors can ideal for those dealing with indoor allergies. Additionally, chemicals that are used to clean carpeting can be potential harmful.

The options in hardwood flooring are outstanding. The types of wood floors include solid, engineered and acrylic impregnated. Solid wood floors range from 1/4″ to 25/32″ with some product of 1″. Engineered wood flooring is made of various layers, alternating the grain. This allows for stability in areas where sold wood floor products cannot be installed. Engineered wood flooring comes in plies or layers with 3-5 ply being the most common. If a wood floor has wood grain that has been injected with acrylic material, it is considered acrylic impregnated.

There are different styles of wood floors. Strip wood flooring has a lineal tongue and groove composition; it is most often in 1.5″ and 2.25″. Plank wood flooring is the same as strip flooring except the widths are larger; they can range from 3″ to 14″ width. Parquet wood flooring is wood constructed into a geometric pattern or design.

Area rugs compliment wood flooring beautifully. They allow the appearance of a room to be changed with ease. The variety of styles, patterns and material is exceptional. Area rugs provide a finishing touch to gleaming hardwood floors. They also protect the floors from wear and tear.

Beautiful hardwood floors are an excellent addition to any home.