Question 1

I’m concerned about pets scratching my floors. Is there anything I can do to prevent this?

Answer

To minimize scratches from your pets on your wood floors, there are several things you can do. Around all doors place rugs to minimize dirt and grit from being tracked in, especially if your pet likes to dig. Your best defense, however, is to trim your pet’s nails regularly. If scratches do occur, as they may whether pets live in the home or not, keep in mind that the scratches most likely will be in the floor surface only, and not in the wood. If this situation occurs, consult with a professional wood flooring contractor for specific recommendations about how to repair the scratches, and minimize them in the future.

Question 2

How do I keep my floors looking new?

Answer

All hardwood floors should be cleaned regularly. To accomplish that, simply sweep, dust mop or vacuum the floors with the beater bar turned off to remove dirt and grit from between the floorboards. Avoid using a wet mop on hardwood floors as can dull the finish, or even damagethe wood over long periods of time. Place scatter rugs at all entrances, avoiding those with rubber backs, which can discolor wood floors. Special rug mats can be purchased from a wood flooring retailer that will protect the floors from discoloration. Scatter rugs will help keep outside dirt and other debris from scratching the floors. Scratches also can be prevented by placing floor protector pads on the bottoms of the legs of any furniture that comes into direct contact with the floors. When spills occur, be sure to clean them immediately with a dry or slightly damp cloth. Allowing spills to remain on the wood floors could damage the finish, and possibly the wood. Avoid walking on the floors with sports cleats or high heel shoes that are in disrepair. These can scratch the finish, or even dent the floor. Finally, when the floor begins to look a little dull, use a wood flooring cleaner recommended by your installer to renew the luster. Be sure to use the product as directed, and use only products that are compatible with your wood floor as using the wrong type of cleaning product could damage the finish, and possibly damage the wood as well.

Question 3

How long after I order my floors will it take before they are installed?

Answer

That depends. Site-finished floors will take longer to install than factory-finished floors since the finish needs to be applied, and dry, on site. whether job-site finished or factory-finished, will need to be delivered to the job site and allowed to acclimate for a period of time before the installation can begin. This can take several days depending on the material being used. This is a very important part of the installation process because the wood must reach equilibrium moisture content (EMC) with the job site conditions to ensure a long-lasting, high-quality installation.

Question 4

What’s the most important factor in deciding what carpet I buy?

Answer

Usually the most important decision to make in choosing a carpet is the color. Carpet is the flooring type that offers the widest range of color, and so picking a color you really like is very important.

Question 5

What materials is carpet made of?

Answer

There are 4 major materials carpets can be made from; nylon, polyester, polypropylene, and wool. Nylon and wool are two higher end materials, while polypropylene is much more inexpensive. Polyester represents an in-between in terms of price. Each of these materials have their own pro’s and con’s that can be seen on this page.

Question 6

How important is the type of padding I buy for my carpet?

Answer

Very important! Lets say you have two rooms with the exact same type of carpet, but one has a nice carpet pad and the other has a normal or lower end carpet pad. The difference in comfort between the two rooms will be staggering. A good pad not only makes the carpet much nicer to walk on, but it also makes the room quieter, it insulates the room better, it prevents the carpet from matting down, and keeps the carpet cleaner by providing more room to “breathe”.

Question 7

How do I decide what type of tile to choose?

Answer

It depends on the look you are going for. There are three types of tile that are commonly used in residences; porcelain, ceramic, and natural stone. All three have their pro’s and con’s which can be seen on our “tile” page in the Learning Center.

Question 8

How worried should I be about grout?

Answer

Not very. Just make sure the tiles are installed to their installation specs (as in, don’t try for thinner-than-recommended grout lines) and then seal them a day or two after installation. Sealing your grout will ensure it won’t become discolored.

Frequently asked questions

HARDWOOD FAQ