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[H88]Hardwood Flooring Installation Cost

by Ninacook12, Nin

1. Do not use a traditional mop and bucket for cleaning hardwood flooring. In addition, do not install hardwood in places vulnerable to dampness such as basements, bathrooms and kitchens. Too much moisture and the hardwood flooring will eventually warp and crack. If you happen to spill any liquids on the hardwood flooring, wipe it up with a damp cloth quickly to avoid damage.

2. When cleaning your hardwood flooring, choose only cleaners specifically formulated and designated for hardwoods. Some cleaners have harsh, drying chemicals that can damage the floor's protective finish while others may contain oils that can be harmful as well. For daily maintenance, use a dust mop or broom vacuum with a soft brush to get rid of debris and dirt. When you leave dirt on the floor, foot traffic can grind the grit into the floor's surface, eventually causing damage.

3. Use area rugs and floor mats, particularly in high traffic areas such as front or back entrances. The dirt and debris shoes bring into the home can damage the protective finish of hardwood flooring over time. Placing rugs and even long runners in high traffic areas will protect the hardwood flooring.

4. Close your blinds and draperies to protect your flooring from long term sun damage. The UV rays from the sun can discolor your hardwood flooring when exposed for long periods of time. If you wish to have natural light in your home, switch to sheer curtains or place rugs in the most vulnerably sunlit areas of the home.

5. Use felt pads on the bottom of furniture legs to protect your floors. Heavy objects can damage the hardwood flooring, particularly when you drag them into place in a room. The felt pads will prevent indentations in the wood and protect the floor from scratches.

6. If you have pets, keep their nails trimmed regularly. Long, rough nails can scar the wood flooring over time. Also, conduct crate training or some other type of potty training to ensure your pets only go to the bathroom in properly designated areas.

By following just a few hardwood flooring care and maintenance tips, you can ensure your flooring will last for years.

Did you have pre-finished flooring installed? This type of hardwood flooring typically uses a process called acrylic impregnation. Prefinished flooring companies recommend that no additional finish be applied. Compatibility and durability of the finish can be a problem. Waxes and oils should be avoided- they may contaminate the wood and cause problems with adhesiveness when refinishing.

If you absolutely must coat the prefinished wood make certain to prepare it well, with either sanding or a deglosser. The finish will not stick otherwise. Additionally, when you refinish prefinished flooring, you can throw any finish warranty provided by the manufacturer out the window, since you just voided it.

For laminate floors, there is also no need to put any sealant on. Actually, do not put anything on top. It's perfect as is. That's the great thing about laminate flooring; it is already protected from scuffs and spills. Read the warranty and installation guide, and maintain them according to the manufacturers instructions.

Unfinished hardwood flooring is a whole different story. Preparation of the floor prior to finishing is critical here. The wood is sanded first, to smooth the surface and to open the wood pores up for better absorption of the finish. If at all possible, it is recommended you have a trained and experienced professional do the sanding; hardwood floors are easily ruined beyond repair by gouges and warpage due to uneven sanding. Thorough vacuuming follows sanding and sweeping to rid the floor of wood chips, saw dust and debris. Finer dust and oily residues are then removed with cloth soaked in special spirit-based cleaners.

Two types of sealers are available: water-based and solvent-based.

Water Based Wood Flooring Sealants- becoming more widely used because of the interest in healthier and more environmentally friendly construction. Some of the solvents used in the polyurethane and epoxy finishes face disposal issues, as well as health concerns over exposure to volatile organic compounds. Another benefit to the water based sealants is they are less flammable and some are even completely non-flammable. The downside is their greater cost, as they are not as widely available yet as the solvent-based types.

Solvent Based Wood Flooring Sealants- include polyurethane, moisture-curing urethane, and solvent-based epoxy finishes. The moisture-curing urethane type finishes are currently no as widely used, due to their high flammability and strong odor, which necessitates the use of respiration equipment during application. In their favour, these flooring sealants are very durable and tough, although on the other hand, this makes removing them for refinishing difficult. The solvent-based epoxies have much the same properties, although they do have a more preferable appearance to some.

The polyurethane finishes are probably the most commonly used hardwood flooring sealant. The balance between durability, cost and appearance finds a sweet spot here. Relative to other finishes, they are simple to apply and dry within 6 hours. However, they do have a moderately “solventy” smell and must be disposed of according to environmental protection laws in a safe manner.

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Both Ninacook12 & Carlo Morelli are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Ninacook12 has sinced written about articles on various topics from First Date, Install Flooring and Pets. This article was written by the experts from ">Midlands Floors who specialise in Hardwood and Solid Wood Floorin. Ninacook12's top article generates over 6600 views. to your Favourites.

Carlo Morelli has sinced written about articles on various topics from Health Care, Skin Care and Ideas for Remodeling. . Carlo Morelli's top article generates over 40500 views. to your Favourites.