Everyone identifies that wood floors are the tried and true flooring product. It is an investment in your home. No matter if you are and investor or an owner nested in for the long run. The resurgent of this life long product has created a demand for knowledgeable trade's persons. These company members have performed for an untold number of satisfied customers over many years of service.
Truths
Kids, Cats, Dogs, Big Wheels, Bike Cleats, High Heels and Rocks in your boots will damage your floor. Rolling refrigerators, dragging sofas, sliding chairs will scratch or dent the woods fibers. Only a sanding to bare wood and remove the fibers that are damaged will resolve these problems. Wood floors will gain a patina or character as your fond memories collect. So live on it and love it.Then call us in some years to extend the beauty, life and luster of your wood floor.
Installations
Installation of a wood floor includes, but not limited to, removal / reinstallation of base board, dealing with casing work, creating functional durable transitions to other floor covering, physical removal of old or damaged coverings, subfloor repair and preparation and the installation of the new wood floor. THIS IS MAJOR CONSTRUCTION and a certain level of impact should be expected. To manipulate workers and thousands of pounds of material in small area is a challenge. Touch up paint work is needed, minor repairs to trims, paint delaminating from installation of dust barrier systems, and any other collateral issues are to the owner’s resolution. Any neglect or negligent or significant accidental damage on the part our company will be resolved as immediately as possible.
Finishes
Sanding and finishing is the art of wood flooring. Selecting the correct floor finish for you is done during the interview and estimation process. Different finishes will create different color tone on the same wood species. The basis of finish is the way it is moved as a liquid on to the wood floor and forms a solid film coating to protect the wood fibers from you. These basic are oil, water, and solvent finishes. Some finishes use drying agents and some do not. Oil finishes are standard poly urethanes and they are typically softer finishes with amber tones, slow dry times. Water based finishes are lighter/ softer wood tones, highly durable and less odor issues. Solvent based products are the traditional Swedish finishes, is a common phrase for this product. These products have great resiliency, rich wood color tones, and heavy odor issues. Most odors is tolerable in a couple days after final coats.
We work with certain manufactures in each of the types of wood floor finishes described to meet your needs and desires. In all finished different gloss levels are available. The lower the sheen the less the ware will show. Please see our product page for the different manufactures we work with.
Staining is pigmenting the wood fibers
Some woods stain better than others, oaks are best in their acceptances of pigments. Maples and soft wood are not a good choice. Great renewed looks can be achieved by using stains and many preparation options will create different wood floor looks. Many woods are best stains in a factory prefinished application. Custom stain sample interviews are available for and extra charge. We will custom make some pre stained and pre coated 18” x 24” boards are produced and delivered to the job for acceptance. On site in real time, this is we will apply stain on your floor in the middle of the sanding process for your approval can be done as well.
Repairs
Repairs are the reality of being and owner of a wood floor. Repairs are usually due to water damage or remodeling. Repairs are less money than other coverings replacement. Some variation in new to old wood is to be expected. There are many factors when trying to blend new woods with older floors. Time has an effect with the oxidation of wood fiber and UV light penetration. Domestic wood like oak can be traced back to its geographic origins. This will give a closer color tone, but still no guarantee to the blend. In addition there are minor differences in width of boards can create some gapping and combinations of wood slivers and wood filler will make an industry standard resolution to the situation. In a refinish situation there maybe some existing gapping in the floor. Filler use in touching up these may or may not be a long term resolution to the situation. There can be finish from pervious coats, other fillers, dirt and dust that won't take filler. If the gap or gouge has too little space to bond to the wood it won't be long term repair. Other reasons that filler fails or won't stay in place are loose fasteners/ nails that holds them to the sub floor. Uneven sub floors or settling in the homes foundation will create uneven pressures in the board's tension. Wood floor s that has had water across them, under steam cleaned carpets; poor acclamation practices during the original installation are reasons why inordinate gapping occurs. Please keep in mind that all wood floors expand and contract during different season. They will shrink in the heating and cooling seasons. These mechanical actions will remove moisture from the home. As the season changes and the HVAC system is not used, you will see the seasonal gapping close back up. The National Wood Flooring Association advises not to fill this gap and that they are to be expected. The NWFA has document science on the condition as well as other well understood reaction to the excess or lack of moisture.