The Craft Guru

I have 2 small dogs who I love very much. But the other day I noticed that their play room is full of pet stains. Silly me for having carpet in an area that the dogs regularly play. I enjoy carpet because I don’t like walking on cold floors but having wood floors would be nice.

If you do have wood floors or are thinking about getting them, here’s an article on Keeping Hard Wood Flooring Looking Its Best.

By Rob Carlton

Hard wood flooring remains a popular choice in home decorating.
The warmth and beauty of hardwood adds to the value of your
home. You have a variety of choices in colors and styles of
wood. There is an option for every home from traditional to
contemporary.

Choosing Hard Wood Flooring

You have several choices in styles for the overall look of your
hardwood floor.

o Plank style flooring material is wide and resembles several
strips of wood together in one plank. The planks are between
three and six inches wide. The benefit of planks is the
installation is a bit faster, since the planks cover a wider
area than individual strips.

o Strips are smaller, up to three inches wide at most. These
are beneficial for making the room appear larger.

o Solid flooring is one large piece of wood. These vary in
thickness and are a custom made floor. They can be refinished
many times over the life of the floor.

o Parquet floors are squares of hardwood that resemble ceramic
tiles in size. Some are glued and others are nailed down. The
squares can be arranged in a geometric design for a unique
look.

Your other major choice in hardwood flooring is to get one that
is unfinished or come pre finished. Pre finished floors come
with a factory finish. These are very popular and easier to
install. However, they are more expensive. Many find the
additional price worth the money, as it saves time in staining
and sanding.

Unfinished flooring must be finished after the floor is
installed. You stain and coat the wood with urethane to protect
the finish. The sanding and finishing process takes several
days. You need to allow sufficient time for the surface to cure
at each stage in the process before sanding. The floor must be
sanded after each stage of the finishing process. Floor sanders
can be used for this process.

Installing Hard Wood Flooring

Proper measurement is essential when ordering materials for
your room. You will need a saw to cut the planks of wood to fit
around corners and through doorways. For a more professional
look, remove all the baseboards and trim before you start.
Replace these after the installation is complete. The seams
should be staggered as the planks are laid.

Before the installation process is started, be sure the
subfloor is level. This should be done for any floor including
hardwood, bamboo flooring, cork flooring or pergo flooring. If
the floor isn’t level, use asphalt tiles to level it prior to
beginning the installation.

Special paper can be used under the hardwood to avoid squeaking
sounds when you walk on the floor. The planks should be nailed
through the subfloor and into the joists for a stable floor
that won’t move. Start the installation in the center of the
room and move outward for the best, most even look.

Once the floor is laid, it needs to be sanded. Floor sanders
can be rented through home improvement centers or any store
that rents tools. Sand the floor evenly and don’t stay too long
in any one area of the room. This can cause uneven spots.

Keeping Hard Wood Flooring Looking its Best

The care needed depends on the finish on your particular floor.
Refer to the manufacturer’s directions regarding the care of pre
finished floors. If your floor is finished with urethane, sweep
a few times each week to remove dirt and dust. Wipe spills with
a damp towel, but don’t use a very wet mop. This can damage the
floor.

If the floors are waxed, you will need to buff occasionally and
wax the floor. Using area rugs and door mats can help keep the
floor from becoming very dirty. Protect the wood with pads on
the legs of all your furniture. This will help prevent
scratches and damage to the wood.

About The Author: Rob Carlton is a freelance writer for
http://www.inside-woodworking.com a website with resources. The
author is publishing about hard wood flooring (
http://www.inside-woodworking.com/flooring/hard-wood-flooring.html
) and other areas in this field.