Hardwood Flooring Frequently Asked Questions
What should I use under furniture legs?
Most flooring stores carry the recommended felt pads for use under chair legs and other furniture. The felt pads come in various sizes. Some pads just stick on the bottom of the legs and others need to be nailed on. Never hit the pads directly with a hammer. Follow the directions provided with the pads. Check and clean the pads often to prevent debris, dirt and small particles from being trapped in the pad, which may cause scratches in the wood floor’s finish.
What do I do to remove scratches in my wood floor?
This really depends on the type of wood floor , the finish and how deep the scratches are in the top layer. For small minor scratches in a urethane finish you should be able to order a touch-up kit from any store. Be sure to use the manufacturer’s recommended finish products and test first by applying a small amount in an out of the way area. For deep scratches you will probably have to have a professional do a screen and recoat. This is where they use special sanding screens to lightly abrade the floor’s finish to help the new urethane bond better to the existing finish. With some wood floors you may be able to just replace the damaged boards. It is best to leave the sand and recoat, or board replacement to a professional flooring installer, or refinisher.
How do we stop a wood floor from gapping?
Gapping in solid wood floors cannot be stopped completely. Wood expands and contracts with changes in humidity. Using a humidifier during the heating months may help reduce the amount of gapping in solid wood floors. Also, some wood species may gap expand and contract less than others. Engineered wood floors are much more dimensionally stable than solid wood floors and will show little or no gaps between planks.
Can I install my own hardwood flooring?
Yes, you can install your own hardwood floor. However, unless you have some experience of fitting floors we strongly urge you to have your floor fitted professionally.
What is the difference between engineered wood flooring and solid wood flooring?
Each has their specific uses and the answer depends on your lifestyle and specific needs. Solid wood should be in a moisture-controlled environment. Solid wood strip or plank is usually nailed down. Engineered wood flooring consists of a multi-plied, cross-stacked backing with a top layer of your selected species. Engineered wood flooring can be installed in areas where solid wood is not compatible due to moisture.
Can solid wood floors be glued down?
Solid wood flooring can expand and contract more than engineered boards; however recent successes have shown that narrow solid boards can be glued successfully.
What guarantee do I get when I purchase a floor?
All floors we sell come with 10 to 25 year manufacturer warranty.
Will the colour of the floor change over time?
Most floors will change in colour over a period of time, but to what extent depends largely on the species of wood and where it is situated. Some woods lighten slightly when exposed to light and others darken. If your floor is in a room where there is a lot of sunlight i.e. a conservatory, then the colour change may be more noticeable.
Is wood suitable to install in my kitchens and bathrooms?
Most engineered wood species are suitable to be put in areas that may be subject to excess moisture as the lacquer finish will protect the boards but it is not recommended to use solid wood flooring in areas where there is high humidity or excessive moisture. It is not advisable to leave wet objects sit on the floor for any period of time, spillages should be mopped up immediately.
Are hardwood floors a good choice for asthma sufferers?
Yes. Allergists often recommend bare floors, which reduce the chance for animal hair, dust, pollen or molds to collect. As much as one-fifth of the population suffers breathing difficulties caused by allergies and asthma, often triggered by microscopic dust mites that colonizing bedding, curtains and carpets. Bedding and curtains can be laundered, but because frequent vacuuming is ineffective against dust mites in floor coverings, many immunologists and allergists suggest hardwood floors as a way of helping to keep these ailments under control.
My floor has a crack in it – is that normal?
Because wood is a natural product it will react to changes in its environment. The most common causes of separations are Mother Nature and dryness. The loss of moisture is the most frequent reason for shrinkage of individual pieces and cracks. Most cracks are seasonal – they appear in dry months, or the cold season when heating is required, and close during humid periods. This type of separation and close is considered normal
