Frequently Asked hardwood Floor Questions
Greatwoods Flooring knows that all customers will have questions before, during or even after the job is finished. For your convenience, we provided a list of some of the most frequently asked questions with answers to follow.
If you have additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact us us immediately at 651-429-9088 and one of our customer service representatives will be more than happy to assist you.
Q. How does moisture affect my hardwood flooring?
A. Excessive moisture can lead to numerous changes to your floor, such as cupping, buckling or cracking. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you do not use water to clean your floors.
Q. Can we install hardwood flooring in the basement?
A. Yes, certain types. It is highly recommended that you do not install solid hardwood flooring below grade. However, it is possible to install laminate flooring, cork, and engineered hardwood floors in basements. These products maintain their warranty even when installed below grade. Additionally, these products have installation applications that are conducive to being installed over concrete.
Q. What is the best way to clean my floors?
A. The best way to maintain your floor is to sweep dust mop and/or vacuum the floors regularly. Hardwood floors also clean easily with a microfiber type dry mop. You should avoid excessive moisture. A slightly damp mop may be used to mop up a spill. For maintenance instructions see our “hardwood floor care section”.
Q. Can I apply a wax finish to my prefinished floors?
A. No. You should never apply wax finish to your surface type finishes.
Q. The floor beneath my rug is lighter than the exposed floor, what can I do?
A. It is normal for hardwood floors that are exposed to sunlight to darken over a period of time. In order to eliminate the obvious tone differences, it is best to rotate rugs and furniture so that the flooring gets an equal amount of sun exposure. Any differences in light exposure will eventually fade away
Q. Can I install hardwood flooring in a bathroom?
A. Yes. Hardwood floors are installed in ½ bathrooms, were no tub or shower is present. Moisture can cause damage to hardwood flooring, there it is not recommend to install wood floors in ¾ or full size bathrooms.
Q. Can I install hardwood flooring in a kitchen?
A. Kitchens are one of the most popular rooms in the house for hardwood floors. Hardwood flooring is an extremely durable flooring product, built to withstand heavy traffic and give long lasting beauty with minimal maintenance. Wood floors can be installed in virtually any room of your home. However it is not recommended that it be installed in wet locations.
Q. What are the benefits of hardwood flooring?
A. Hardwood flooring is one of the most popular types of residential flooring. Here are a few reasons why you should choose a hardwood floor: Solid hardwood offers a variety of grain patterns, natural color variations, and the beauty of a natural material.
~ Hardwood floors are easy to clean.
~ Hardwood floors are ideal for allergy sufferers as they do not promote dust or harbor dust mites.
~ Hardwood flooring is longest-lasting. Many hardwood floors last for decades longer.
Q. There are so many species of wood. How do I select one?
A. Choosing a species of wood involves more than selecting a color to match your décor. Other appearance-related attributes are important too, such as texture, grain, and cut. We will assist you in determining which species fit your needs.
Q. My children suffer from allergies, is wood flooring hypoallergenic?
A. Millions of people suffer from sensitivity to chemicals and toxins. Tests by leading allergists have proven that wood flooring provides a healthier environment for these allergy sufferers. Wood doesn’t harbor irritating dust and microorganisms.
Q. Once installed, how often must wood flooring be replaced?
A. Every hundred years or so. Simple care and maintenance keeps wood floors looking beautiful for a lifetime. Instead of laying an entirely new floor when the original is worn, wood floors can be rejuvenated with sanding and refinishing. When done by a wood flooring professional, wood floors need only to be refinished every 10 – 15 years or 10 – 12 times during a floor’s life. When a wood floor’s useful life is over, it’s completely biodegradable.
Q. Will Wood floors increase the value of my home?
A. A quality hardwood floor will offer a lifetime of beauty and service and is an investment that will add considerable value to your home whether for your own enjoyment or for resale value.
Q. Wood floors require a lot of time and effort to maintain them.
A. Unlike other types of floor coverings, hardwood floors can be kept looking like new with a minimum amount of effort. Never damp or wet mop your floor. Use only products designed for wood floors. Just spray and dry mop the floor.
Q. If my wood floor shows gaps between boards in the winter months, it is defective.
A. Nearly every wood floor endures some separation in between boards. In winter, when homes are heated and the air is dry, wood flooring gives up some of its moisture and shrinks. When that happens, cracks appear between the boards. In the spring, when the heat is off and the indoor environment regains moisture, most gaps normally close. Wood boards become dormant, neither shrinking nor expanding with indoor humidity levels of 30-55% and temperatures of 60-85F.
