DIY TIPS, ARTICLES & FAQs

Yes! Residential real estate agents say homes with wood floors hold their value better, sell faster and fetch higher prices, according to a recent nationwide survey commissioned by the National Wood Flooring Association. By a three to one margin, real estate agents said a house with hardwood floors would bring a higher price. People perceive that the entire house was built with superior building materials.

With good care and maintenance, wood floors will look beautiful for a lifetime–even 100 years! Every 10-15, years the wood floors may need to be refinished.

With good care, your hardwood floors will last a lifetime and require only periodic refinishing. The best part of hardwood floors is that scuffs, scratches and imperfections could be sanded out every few years, so that your floors will continue to look like they were just installed.

Yes. Specifiers and clients are discovering what basketball players have always known: hardwood flooring can take a pounding and still look beautiful. The urethane finishes on most new wood floors stand up to water and traffic, bringing wood flooring into bathrooms, kitchens, and other higher-stress areas. These finishes resist wear and stains better than other finishes and require no stripping, no buffing and no waxing.Wood flooring has made a major comeback in kitchens. One reason for wood’s return is the increasing prevalence of more open floor plans where kitchens need to seamlessly blend together with family rooms. Wood is perfect for this situation.

Yes. In a recent survey commissioned by the NWFA, more than three-quarters of interior designers find that wood flooring works well with many decorating styles. “It’s the most versatile floor covering there is,” says one designer. “Wood goes with contemporary and traditional and everything in between.” Designers rated natural materials as superior to man-made materials in beauty, prestige, style, maintenance, and durability. A variety of woods and finishes are available to complement the decor and style of any room. Our custom wood trim is another design feature that complements wood flooring and make a big statement in a room.

With today’s advances in wood flooring stains and finishes, cleaning your hardwood floors has never been easier. Regular maintenance requires little more than sweeping with a soft bristle broom, and vacuuming with a soft floor attachment if your wood floor includes a beveled edge that could collect debris. You also should clean your floors periodically with a professional wood floor cleaning product recommended by a wood flooring professional. We can help you find one in your area.There are other steps you can take to minimize maintenance and maintain the beauty of your wood floors as well.

Do not use sheet vinyl or tile floor care products on wood floors. Self-polishing acrylic waxes cause wood to become slippery and appear dull quickly.

Do not wet-mop a wood floor. Standing water can dull the finish, damage the wood and leave a discoloring residue. Wipe up spills immediately with a slightly dampened towel. Do not over-wax a wood floor. If the floor dulls, try buffing instead. Avoid wax buildup under furniture and other light traffic areas by applying wax in these spots every other waxing session.

Put soft plastic or fabric-faced glides under the legs of furniture to prevent scuffing and scratching. Avoid walking on your wood floors with cleats, sports shoes and high heels. A 125-pound woman walking in high heels has an impact of 2,000 pounds per square inch. An exposed heel nail can exert up to 8,000 pounds per square inch. This kind of impact can dent any floor surface.

When moving heavy furniture, do not slide it on wood flooring. It is best to pick up the furniture completely to protect the wood flooring.

For wood flooring in the kitchen, place an area rug in front of the kitchen sink.Use a humidifier throughout the winter months to keep wood movement and shrinkage to a minimum.

Place mats and throw rugs at doorways to help protect wood floors from grit, dirt and sand. Place felt pads under furniture legs and vacuum/dust your wood floor regularly

Hardwood floors are installed over radiant heat with success everyday. With the right experience, moisture testing, understanding of the radiant heat system and knowledge of the flooring used, experience flooring installers can make wood flooring over radiant heat work very well. Some helpful tips on flooring choices can help. They include using narrower widths, reclaimed wood, distressed floors and beveled edged flooring. Proper installation of a subfloor will also depend on the radiant heating system you have in your home. To learn more go to www.radiantpanelassociation.org or to www.hardwoodcouncil.org and click on “Technical Tips”, then “How-To’s”, then “Installing Hardwood Floors Over Radiant Heat”.

Yes! Bacteria, dust and dirt do not embed themselves in wood flooring, as they do in other flooring options. Simple regular maintenance—such as dust mopping, sweeping, or vacuuming—keeps wood floors sanitary.

Yes. Far from a depleting resource, hardwood is sustainable and commercially more available now than ever before. On the 486 million acres of forestland in the United States classified as commercial, substantially more wood is added in new growth each year than is harvested. For hardwood species, 86 percent more wood is added annually in net growth than is removed through harvest.

You may also be interested in the eco-friendly option having your flooring or paneling made from reclaimed wood. Reclaimed (salvaged) wood is obtained from old structures that are no longer useful as a building. Antique reclaimed flooring and paneling have an ageless look like no other.

With proper care, solid wood floors can last forever and will retain their value better than engineered woods. Unlike engineered or laminate wood flooring, solid wood floors can be re-sanded and refinished, offering lasting beauty.

No problem. Give our experienced staff a call and we will step you through the best process and materials suited to your project. 715-369-5700. You may also contact us via email. If you’re in the Rhinelander, WI area, please stop in our showroom so we can show you our quality wood products.