Top 5 things you should know when choosing a wood floor product!

1.Always set a budget, remembering, if the price sounds to good to be true, it's most likely of lesser quality ?

2.Choose a wood floor according to the rooms use; ?

3.Choose a style/design to match and/or compliment the rooms decor; ?

4.Choose a wood floor product with proper finish that can handle the traffic for that specific area/room ?

5. Always use a profession wood floor contractor as there are many technical concerns that can adversely effect or compromise the product.

Is this a high traffic area?
The finish and color will be affected by this. Darker colors tend to show traffic quicker, where as natural wood colours of oak and maple do not. High traffic areas need special attention when it come to recoating. Screening (light sanding) should be a part of the preventative maintenance program for your wood floors in these areas. Application of 1 or 2 coats as needed (every 6-18 months) is a good sound way to protect your investment. Make sure the finish being applied is compatible with what is there and is of the shine that will work well in that area. Satin or low shine urethanes tend to show less traffic patterns than do the higher gloss finishes. Walk-off mats are strongly suggested for these areas, ie- working areas of a kitchens, entry ways, entries/doorways from the outside.

What type of wood do you like or will fit the area?
Some types are more traffic friendly than others; Is this species to "grainy" or busy looking ? Some species are harder than others. Maple is harder than oak; has less grain, yet maple can not be stained. Remember, the type of finish and number of coats can also determine how well your floor will fair in high traffic areas. See FAQ's when considering the purchase of a wood floor products.

What colour will work with the decor?
Some darker colours make rooms look smaller, show traffic patterns quicker. Lighter, or natural colour  (oak & maple being the most popular ) of wood floor species can give an open, airy feeling, making the room appear larger. With today's colour trends this is of the most popular selections now being made by the consumer, in home and office alike. Your floor should complement the fabrics, furnishings and accessories already present in the space, as well as enhancing the unique personality of the room as a whole. The most popular colour : red oak natural, maple natural running second, but with today's eclectic decoration styles, anything goes.
Darker colours - Formal or traditional interiors, Lighter colours - country, casual and contemporary settings. There are many choices when selecting  the right floor for the rooms in your home, as there are many species, colours and grain variations for you to consider. Also See Wood Floor Species, or Grades & Cuts See Room Setting Photo's

Who is helping you make these choices?
Builders tend to stay with they same product that has worked for them before; decorators tend to use colour as the number one reason for choosing a particular product, which may not be suited for the area. Whether a prefinished or job finished product, have a sample of the wood floor material to make comparisons with other products and materials, such as the fabrics, paint colours and furniture being used in the room.

Who will maintain these floors?
That person needs to know the product as does the purchaser, most of time that is the same person, but not always. Knowing The Do's & Don'ts and Maintenance Procedures is very important. Make sure that information is provided to you and is a part of your contract. After the floor is installed, and this material is provided to you, this is a good time to purchase a wood floor cleaning kit, right from the get go !
All these question, as well as many others, are very important parts of the process in choosing the right hardwood floor for you. Not knowing all the answers could cause you concerns down the road. Most importantly, as we go through the selection process getting an experienced, and knowledgeable contractor who knows wood floors is one of the best things you can do.!

DO NOT depend solely on your general contractor or design consultant. In the end, an improper installation will only cost you the home owner, over and above, whether its more money, more down time or having to involve an attorney, or ALL of the above. Make sure you are dealing with a reputable wood flooring retailer/contractor. Trying to determine what wood floor product is right for the conditions they will be installed; what conditions they will subjected to; and last but not least, is this the right floor for you?
Some floors are more pleasing than others, but may not work in your conditions, or may not work well with the traffic they will receive. The color you like may be OK with the decor, but bad for wear patterns. The type of wood, say pine for example, (not a hardwood), does not stain well and is softer than oak causing it to "dent" more. Many factors should play a part in your decision about the choices you make when it comes to wood floor products.

1. Always know the above specifics, have them in writing, and get a sample and/or brochure about the product.

2. Checkout your contractor, get references, do they have pictures of previous work? 
   Is a license required , if so who pays for  and obtains the license?

3. Get a written and properly executed contract !

4. How long will the job take? From delivery of an unfinished product, acclimation, through installation, finishing and molding installation, the time table can be 4-6 weeks for this part of the process.

5. What are the warranties and guarantee? , get it in writing as a part of the contract. Most contractors warrantee their work for 1 year, although they DO NOT warrantee the product. Look to the Manufacturer through their representatives (Distributors to Retailer) for ALL concerns about the product.

6. At what stage is the job ready for installation

7. Will the contractor be doing the work himself? If not who.

8. Request a walk through with the contractor (general and wood floor) and/or person who estimated the job. Make sure any concerns are dealt with in a timely manner.

Over the years there have been many opinions and warnings about cleaning – especially for hard surfaces. A couple good rules of thumb for hard surface flooring cleaners still apply;

“If you can buy it in a grocery store, don’t use it on your floor!”

“Water and wood don’t mix”

Whether it’s laminate, wood flooring, or LVT, simply sweep or vacuum using a soft brush (no beater bar). For a deeper clean use an alcohol based cleaner applied to a cloth mop (available from your professional floor covering dealer). For spills and “minor disasters”,, wipe up with a damp cloth and dry the area immediately after,  then follow up with the alcohol based cleaner.

Why do we want to stay away from these other “cleaners”?

Everyone’s water supply is different.  Hard or soft water contain different amounts of chemicals and salts,  which with regular use will eventually build up on the surface of your floor leaving a dull film.

Water reacts with wood in different ways depending on species and construction, so best just to avoid it whenever possible (think discoloration, edge swelling,  finish damage at edges etc…).  Hot steamy water under pressure… well, we won’t go there! …  No steam cleaners! … Ever!

 Oil soaps leave a film which is not only difficult to remove (once it builds up and starts looking horrible), but it prevents you from ever refinishing a floor if required.

Windex contains ammonia and silicone.  This dynamic duo dulls the finish and guarantees someone will fall down your stairs or worse – very slippery and dangerous in certain situations.

Happy Cleaning!