1. Do plenty of research online and at your local hardwood floor dealers before you make any decisions or purchases. You want to fully understand prefinished and unfinished hardwoods. Talk to the salespeople and take a close look at the hardwoods. If you can't do this in person then go to some websites online and read all you can. Hardwood floors can be an expensive investment in your home and you want to know what the best flooring is based on your budget. Understand the various types of woods and the variation in prices. You can choose a less expensive hardwood and still have a beautiful floor.



2. If you don't plan to do-it-yourself and plan to hire a hardwood floor contractor get quotes from at least four of them. Make sure to ask for references and if possible check their work out at the installation locations. Hardwood costs have a broad range in price from cheaper hardwoods to the more expensive woods. There are many types to choose from including exotic, oak, Brazilian oak, cherry, maple, etc. And many manufacturers including Bruce, Shaw, Mohawk, Mannington and Armstrong, Quotes can vary widely. You can save a lot of money if you take a little time to compare.

3. Try not to use any water on the finished flooring. If you have to use any cleaners make sure they are neutral PH hardwood floor cleaners. Spray or buff them on for the safest approach.

4. If you need to find out how old an old floor is, take a look at the edge wherever you can find it or look at the top of the flooring to see if there are any nails showing through or any groves that are broken thus with gaps in the hardwood flooring. A hardwood floor can last for many, many years and it may not take much work or expense to refinish it.

5. Kitchens are not a good place to install a hardwood floor. The kitchen is subject to too much spilled water, cooking fluids and food messes. If your kitchen has them now, clean up any spills just as soon as they happen to prevent any damage to them. Also before you install them consider this -when the day comes that you want to sell your house, prospective buyers might be turned off by hardwood floors in the kitchen. Save lots of money now by not installing them in the kitchen. Use more appropriate kitchen flooring instead.

6. The cheapest quotes you get from a hardwood floor contractor may not save you any money. If the contractor is considerably cheaper they may not be including some of the important steps in the installation, sanding and finishing. You could end up with a rougher finish or stain color that's not even. Eventually the finish may peel or the boards may gap and squeak. Have the contractor outline specifically what they are going to do for you.

7. To finish hardwood flooring use three coats of polyurethane or three coats of lacquer finish, but in any event make sure to use four coats or more of a water-based finish. Any high use area such as kitchens and entries will need an extra coat of finish.

8. If you have urine-stained hardwood, repairing or cutting out the stained wood usually is easier than trying to bleach and refinish the area while trying to protect the unstained part of the flooring.

9. Try to keep the room humidity levels to a relative humidity of 45% to 55%. This may be difficult to do if you live in an extreme weather environment. But at least avoid extreme humidity changes that amount to 25% or more to protect your floors.

10. Make sure to have everyone leave their shoes at the door when entering your house. This is one of the best ways to preserve your floors, reduce wear and tear on your home and keep out harmful bacteria, viruses and other organisms as well.

These are just a few of the best tips to save your hardwood floors and save you money.