Hardwood Flooring FAQ
Several questions may come to your head when you think of hardwood flooring. Here is a collection of the most frequently asked questions.
Is there a difference between prefinished and unfinished flooring?
Can a hardwood floor be floated?
How can I acclimate my hardwood floor?
Does moisture have any affect on my hardwood flooring?
What is the accepted moisture content for hardwood floors?
Can hardwood flooring be installed in the basement as well?
Do I need a moisture barrier if it is above grade?
What are some potential moisture problems I might have?
What is the best way to clean my floors?
Can I use commercial cleaner?
How do I deal with insisting stains?
Can I put a wax finish on my prefinished floors?
What can I do about the floor beneath my rug which is lighter than the exposed floor?
How can I protect my floor from a fast finish wear?
What is the most durable hardwood floor available?
When purchasing hardwood flooring, how much extra should I order to allow for waste?
What are different molding and how they are applied?
How do I take care of my hardwood flooring?
Where can I install hardwood flooring?
How do I install hardwood flooring?
What are the benefits of hardwood flooring?
How can I make my hardwood floor look like it did when it was new?
Should I expect color variations to appear?
Unfinished or Prefinished hardwood?
What is the difference between the Select and Better, Mill Run and Rustic grades?
Can I install a solid wood floor on top of a concrete slab?
What wood floor can I install on top of a concrete slab?
Can I install a hardwood floor over a vinyl floor?
Can an engineered wood floor be refinished?
If I have animals, is hardwood a good choice?
Enginered flooring and laminate flooring?
Can you install nail down hardwood floors over a particle board subfloor?
When should I install hardwood floors?
Is it safe to use throw rugs on a hardwood floor?
Can I stop gapping from developing?
What can I use to prevent the furniture from scratching the floors?
Should I avoid oil based cleaners?
How can I soundproof it?
What can be done to level out dips and dings in the flooring?
What if the transitions are uneven?
How can I remove air bubbles?
What’s the best way to conceal scratches?
How can paint be safelt removed from the harwood?
Is there a difference between prefinished and unfinished flooring?
Prefinished hardwood floors are sealed with multiple coards of finish when they come from the factory. The finish coats typically contain aluminum oxide, which is the second hardest substance next to diamond. This is to provide a hard-wearing protective finish to the floor. Unfinished flooring must be finished on site after installation takes place. Aluminium oxide cannot be used in the finish on site because the longer drying time causes the aluminium oxide particles to sink to the bottom of the finish. Floors which are finished on site are better at protecting against floor moisture.
Can a hardwood floor be floated?
Yes, engineered hardwood floors can be floated.
How can I acclimate my hardwood floor?
Leave it inside the room, ready to be installed in, for at least 5 to 7 days. This way it gets accustomed to the conditions in the room before being applied. If you have extreme humidity issues, it may be necessary to install a system such as a humidifier or dehumidifier to have control over the environment inside the room.
Does moisture have any affect on my hardwood flooring?
Moisture may lead to many other problems for a hardwood floor, such as cupping, cracking and crowning. With time, excessive moisture will completely destroy a wood floor, so it is recommended not to use excessive water when cleaning hardwood floors and to mop up spills as fast as possible.
What is the accepted moisture content for hardwood floors?
Anywhere from 4 to 18 percent depending on a couple of factors, including where the wood floor is installed geographically, the species of wood used and the time of year. For these reasons, most wood used for flooring is kiln dried from 6 to 9 percent moisture content to assist in keeping it from getting so dry it shrinks and so wet it contracts.
Can hardwood flooring be installed in the basement as well?
Yes, but only in case of engineered hardwood. Solid hardwood sloors should not be installed below grade, due to excessive moisture that will cause them to contract and expand.
Do I need a moisture barrier if it is above grade?
Yes, because the barrier will help keep water away from getting to the floor and causing damage. Install the barrier in between the subfloor and hardwood flooring.
What are some potential moisture problems I might have?
Water caught between the wood flooring and the subfloor may be the cause if crowing or cupping occurs. Crowning is when the center boards are higher than the outer boards and cupping is when the outer boards are higher than the center boards.
What is the best way to clean my floors?
It really depends on how the floor is finished, for example, penetration-sealed versus surface-sealed.
Can I use commercial cleaners?
Yes, if they are applied on both prefinished and site finished floors; however, it is adviced to refer to the guidelines for each type. The manufacturer of the prefinished flooring will offer recommendations as well as the manufacturer of the finish/sealer used for the finished flooring. It is important not to use a wax based cleaner on any surface-sealed floors.
How do I deal with insisting stains?
Follow the manufacturer’s recommended cleaning guidelines to handle any kind of stains. Use a damp cloth to blot stains and spills, to avoid forcing any material into the wood. Scrubbing should be avoided on a surface-sealed floor, as this could scratch the flooring surface.
Can I put a wax finish on my prefinished floors?
No. Wax based finishes as well as wax bassed cleaners should never be used on any surface-sealed floors.
What can I do about the floor beneath my rug which is lighter than the exposed floor?
It is not unusual for certain types of hardwood floors to darken over time if they are exposed to sunlight. To reduce the obvious tone differences, it is best to rotate rugs and furniture so that the flooring will get an equal amount of sun and exposure. Any difference in light exposure will eventually fade away with time.
How can I protect my floor from a fast finish wear?
As simple as establishing a consistent cleaning routine by the manufacturer’s recommandations. This includes using a vacuum rather than wet mops and using plastic or felt discs under furniture to keep the legs from scratching the floor surface.
What is the most durable hardwood floor available?
Hardwood floors finished with multiple coats of aluminum oxide finish. While this will certainly help keep the floor’s life, it is the harness of the floor that will give the best clue as to it’s durability. Refer to the Janka Hardness test for further information of harness for a selected species:
American (Black) Cherry 950
American Black Walnut 1010
Yellow Birch 1260
Red Oak 1290
White Ash 1320
White Oak 1360
Hard Maple 1450
Santos Mahogany 2200
Brazilian Cherry 2345
Brazilian Teak 3540
Brazilian Walnut 3680
Ebony 3692
Nevertheless, how good a floor is maintained and look out for often dictates how long it will last. To put it a different way, an Amercain Cherry that is well looked out for can outlast a poorly maintained Brazilian Cherry floor.
When purchasing hardwood flooring, how much extra should I order to allow for waste?
Around 5 to 10 percent more than you think it’s necessary to make sure you have enough. Look at the room layout and consider your knowledge and preparation in installing hardwood floor before making a final decision. Also, you will want some additional boards for future repairs.
What are different molding and how they are applied?
The Quarter Round molding is used to camouflage the enlargement gap left around walls during installation.
The T molding is used as a threshold in doorways or as a transition strip where the hardwood flooring meets floor of similar height. T molding can also be used to change the direction in which the floor is laid.
The Reducer molding is used as a gateway from the height of the sub-floor to the height of the hardwood floor.
The Star Nose molding is used to cover the front edge of a stair tread or step. If it is applied on a stair flooring, you will find it behind the Stair Nose so as to cover the horizontal part (the tread) of the stair.
The Stair Treat molding is a one-piece molding for covering an entire structural stair treat.
How do I take care of my hardwood flooring?
The most important thing about maintaining a hardwood floor is establishing a consistent cleaning routine to prevent dirt and debris from scratching the surface. Please use only cleaning products recommanded by your manufacturer and avoid getting water on the floor. If you live in a high traffic area, using a rug is a good idea. Avoid using any harsh detergents on the floor and don’t use abrasive materials to clean the floor (for e.g. steel wool).
Where can I install hardwood flooring?
Except the bathroom, you can install hardwood flooring in any room of your house. Essentially, any room that is prone to getting wet should avoid using hardwood. Basements should have engineered hardwood, to avoid developing exccessive moisture, which would make the hardwood flooring contract and expand.
How do I install hardwood flooring?
There are four different ways for installing a hardwood floor. The first one is nail/staple down, glue down, floating glue-seam and floating glueless-click. Depending on which method you chose, the instructions might vary. Nevertheless, it is important to ensure the subflooring is flat and clean. For the best results, follow your manufacturer’s instruction manual when using flooring over a radiant heating system. Do not forget to leave the floor acclimate inside the room for at least 72 hours before installing it. Estimate anywhere from 5 to 10 percent in average to account for mistakes during installation and in case of future repairs.
What are the benefits of hardwood flooring?
An increased home value, multiple installation methods, diversity of choices and styles as well as customizing the appearance, easy to clean and keep, hypo-allergic, heath and durability are only a few of the many benefits you get from hardwood flooring.
How can I make my hardwood floor look like it did when it was new?
You can find many products on the market that help you restore the condition of your hardwood floor. Once you find something, research it and only use it if the manufacturer has recommended it, to prevent any further damage.
Should I expect color variations to appear?
All grades of hardwood flooring will have color variations present, as it is a natural product and cannot be controlled.
Unfinished or Prefinished hardwood?
Well, if you are trying to match an already existing hardwood floor, you might want to choose an unfinished floor so it can be stained to match. However, this will mean you will have to do the finishing onsite, which will result in more noise, dust and delays when using the room. Prefinished floors are already finished with 10 coats of aluminium oxide finish, which save you of all the ‘troubles’ prefinished floors bring.
What is the difference between the Select and Better, Mill Run and Rustic grades?
The difference between the grades is simply the amount of allowable character. For example, in the Rustic grade you’ll find the most amount of character knots, mineral streaks, pin holes, etc.
Can I install a solid wood floor on top of a concrete slab?
Over concrete you can install thin profile solid wood (5/16″ thick). Standard 3/4″ solid hardwood should not be installed over, only if the concrete is covered with a plastic sheet and sealed at all seams. To further strengthen the moisture barrier, add a plywood subfloor to protect the flooring. To avoid mistakes, follow the manufacturers’ instructions with care.
What wood floor can I install on top of a concrete slab?
It is not adviced to use a solid hardwood over a concrete slab because of the swelling and contracting caused by excessive moisture. To ensure the best outcome, install an engineered hardwood over the concrete slab. This one will be much less likely to swell and contract. Thin profile solid hardwood (5/16″ thick) can also be installed over concrete.
Can I install a hardwood floor over a vinyl floor?
Depending on the individual’s situation, if the vinyl is securely attached to the subflooring or if it has a powerfull cushion beneath it. In this case it may be possible to float an engineered hardwood floor on top of it. Before installing, don’t forget to check everything with your manufacturer or seller.
Can an engineered wood floor be refinished?
Yes, but it may not be able to be finished more than a few times. This is because of the thickness of the veener. Engineered floors that are hand scraped cannot be sanded and refinished. Veneer thickness less than 2mm cannot be sanded and refinished.
If I have animals, is hardwood a good choice?
If you have pets, then scratching or dinging by pet claws is something that can’t be avoided. Of course, this depends on the type of pets you own. Obviously, two Great Danes will have a BIGGER impact on the hardwood floor than a Poodle.
If pets are to be inside, it si best to have the pet’s claws trimmed down or removed completely. And, it is very important to clean up any “spills” immediately as these can permanently stain the wood.
Thought should be given to the species of the wood, as some are harded and more durable than others. Use The Janka Hardness Scale to measure the hardness of different wood species.
Enginered flooring and laminate flooring?
Engineered flooring uses a neneer of real hardwood at the top which can be sanded down and refinished, depending on the thicknes of the veneer. Laminate flooring is nothing but a photographic image of the wood grain on engineered flooring, and it cannot be sanded and refinished.
Can you install nail down hardwood floors over a particle board subfloor?
Real particle-board won’t be able to hold the hardwood floor well, which will cause loosening over time.
When should I install hardwood floors?
If the house is under construction, save the hardwood installation undel the end to avoid potential issues with damage and moisture as other projects are being completed.
Is it safe to use throw rugs on a hardwood floor?
Yes, it is, in order to aid in protecting the finish, provided they are color safe. A color safe rug does not let color dye and seep into the wood or stain the floor. It is best to use throw rugs at entranceways to help protect the floor from dirt and grit brought from the outside and from moisture.
Can I stop gapping from developing?
Not completely, but by controling the humidity of your home, it can be reduced significantly.
What can I use to prevent the furniture from scratching the floors?
Use foam, plastic or felt discs under all furniture legs. These can be bought at many retail stores and are designed to reduce or prevent movement of the furniture, as well as reduce or prevent scratching from happening.
Should I avoid oil based cleaners?
Oil based cleaners will leave an oily residue on the surface after cleaning, making it less easy to clean in the long run. At the same time using oil based cleaner increases the signs of wear and tear presend in your hardwood floor.
How can I soundproof it?
If your floor has already been installed, not much can be done anymore as there are only two products which must be glued to the subflooring before the hardwood is installed.
What can be done to level out dips and dings in the flooring?
Replace individual boards of hardwood, or look for a patching compound.
What if the transitions are uneven?
Then you only have one option: sand and refinish the floors.
How can I remove air bubbles?
As each coat tens to dry a little bit faster than the previous one, do not blame air bubbles on the people who are applying your finish. Sand the floors a bit and reapply another coat. Try having this professionaly done if you want to ensure the best results.
What’s the best way to conceal scratches?
To remove a scratch, depending on it’s intensity, use a repair kit suggested by the manufacturer. Deeper scratches may require replacing the board altogether.
How can paint be safelt removed from the harwood?
If we’re talking about fresh paint, warm water and a damp cloth will do the job. If the paint is dry and has been there for a while, is it adviced to use something abrasive, which means that part of the floor will need to be refinished afterwards.