FAQ

Is it okay to put wood flooring in a kitchen, bathroom or front hallway?
The short answer is yes. The finishes on the vast majority of today's hardwood flooring products can resist water and traffic, and, as a result, wood flooring is appearing in kitchens and bathrooms quite regularly. As well, with such a variety of different hardwood flooring products you're sure to find the right look and colour too.

I have heard that having wood floors provides a healthier living environment in ones home, is this true?
In almost all cases this is true. As you might imagine, dust and dirt do not get trapped on wood floors like you might discover with broadloom. Simply by vacuuming and sweeping regularly hardwood floors can be kept clean and sanitary. This is especially true for people with allergies, as many studies have concluded that wood floors offer a better home environment.

I have noticed recently that my floor appears cloudy and streaky, what is causing this to happen?
In almost all instances this is a direct result of improper cleaning products. It is imperative that after purchasing and installing a new hardwood floor, or if you are trying to better maintain an on-site finished floor, that a proper hardwood flooring cleaner is purchased. These products are typically not found in a big box store or even your local hardware store. Only specialty hardwood flooring stores would carry such products and you are best to purchase it from them. The best way to maintain your floor is to vacuum and sweep regularly and use a proper cleaner. Avoid water and vinegar, oils, wax and chemical pads. Using a damp cloth with water is acceptable to address immediate spills or sticky residue as a temporary solution.

I have squeaks in my floor - won't putting new hardwood eliminate them?
While you are adding a great deal more solidity and stability to your floor by adding hardwood, it alone is not enough to address the squeakiness that has occurred over time. The reason is that the sound most people are referring to is usually not a result of the old hardwood floor, but, rather, is a result of a weakened sub-floor. Therefore it is always recommended to secure your sub-floor prior to installing your new hardwood as an effective way of minimizing future squeaking.

What is the most effective way of preventing scratches on my hardwood floor?
It really starts with good overall cleanliness. The more often you clean your floor, the less opportunity for heavier dirt to collect and get trapped in nooks and corners. Eventually these granules could get dragged around and scratch up ones floor. Equally as effective is to place the appropriate felts and nylon sliders underneath chairs, tables and sofas - really, under anything that will be making contact with the floor.

My floors are looking tired and scuffed up, what can I do?
Sometimes hardwood floors will reach a stage when even a proper hardwood flooring cleaner can not restore the luster and shine that your floors once had. There are, however, cost effective options that are available and produce very good results. Depending on how badly your floors look you may opt to refinish them. This involves hiring a refinishing expert to sand down your floors, re-stain if so desired, and re-apply coats of urethane, giving your floor a brand new look. If your floors are merely appearing a bit run down, then a procedure called "buff and coat" might be adequate. This involves lightly sanding the urethane surface on your floor and re-applying a fresh coat. Finally, there are a handful of good products designed for the do-it-your-self person that, once applied, erode the existing surface and then allow you to re-coat with a new urethane surface. Remember, not every floor is able to be addressed in this manner - sometimes the floor must be replaced. A flooring expert can determine that for you.

My floor is showing signs of gapping and cupping, why is this happening?
In almost all instances this is a result of improper humidity and moisture levels in the home. Like humans, wood functions best at humidity levels of between 40%-55%. Gapping and cupping is usually a result of the home environment being too dry. The best solution is to attach a humidifier to your furnace, or strategically place portable humidifiers throughout your home or condo. Conversely, hardwood flooring reacts poorly when there is too much humidity in the air, usually during the summer months, and especially in homes situated close to water. An air conditioner is an effective tool to bring down the humidity levels as is a de-humidifier.

What is a floating floor?
Floating floors are most common, but not exclusive, in condos, apartments and basements where the sub-floor is concrete. As the name suggests, floating floors literally float on top of the surface they are installed over. The idea is that they are pieced together, either by gluing or clicking and the weight of the attached floor prevents the floor from moving. This is quite common with most laminate flooring products, but not exclusive to. Floating floors are also effective over old linoleum, tile, ceramic even old hardwood flooring. There are many possibilities for floating floors.

What is an engineered floor?
Engineered floors are comprised of a solid hardwood veneer usually laminated over multiple layers of plywood (depending on the company the core might be softwood, hardwood or HDF). The advantage of engineered is that it can be glued down (or glued together in a floating format) directly on or over concrete, thus giving the condo community and people interested in putting hardwood in their basements the ability to go with hardwood. Furthermore, engineered, thanks to its design, is structurally more stable, therefore it moves less than solid hardwood. Seeing as engineered can be nailed down as well, some people are using it instead of solid hardwood, especially because it is usually warranted over radiant heating. Engineered comes in almost all the same colours and species as solid hardwood does, and is environmentally advantageous because it uses less wood than solids.

What about Bamboo and Cork - what are they like as flooring materials?
More designers, architects and savvy consumers are embracing bamboo and cork for their unique look, durability, versatility, and environmental and ergonomic appeal. Bamboo is harder than oak and maple, but is actually a grass. Cork is actually from the bark of an oak tree - usually from Portugal or Spain. Both products are ideal in most places in the home - especially cork in kitchens and basements.