What to Expect?

Once you've decided to install or refinish your wood floor, you may wonder what will happen next. Knowing what to expect before, during, and after the work takes place will help ensure a high-quality job.

Before work begins, remove all furnishings, draperies, paintings, and other items from the room. There is a chance that anything on the wall may vibrate off and it can be difficult to protect window coverings from dust. There is a chance your smoke alarms will go off, if they are connected to a security system the company should be notified the floors are being sanded and we should be given a number to call so the fire department is not dispatched to the home.

Sanding and refinishing is not a repair job, it does not fix any existing gaps, floor damage or any subfloor problems. Wood filler usage is for smaller gaps, and will not be as good as original wood. We do fill all our floors unless instructed not to. Filling floors in our state is not perfect as humid and dry conditions causes the filler to fall out or be pushed out.

If your floors are being sanded, finished or refinished, be prepared for some noise and disruption. Dust containment systems can minimize debris, but no system is 100% effective, so cover any items that you want to keep dust-free. When the finish is applied, stay off your floor until it has dried. The time required will vary depending on the type of finish used, humidity level, room temperature and air circulation.

After the finish has dried, put felt pads on the bottoms of any furniture to minimize scratches and dents. Place scatter rugs at all entrances, avoiding those with rubber backs, which can discolor your floor. Do not walk on your floors with cleats or high heels in disrepair.

Since the process of on-site staining and finishing is not an exact science, minor imperfections and irregularities are absolutely normal. We will cause some damage to the base shoe or baseboards when we stain or finish the wood flooring. The painter or customer should anticipate some touch up after wood floor finishing. We also offer removal and reinstallation of base shoe for an added cost. We usually apply a fresh coat of finish to these items while they are off the walls.

Keep in mind that no two floor boards will be identical. Variations in appearance are completely normal. As your floor ages, some color change can occur. This also is normal, but can be minimized by limiting exposure to direct sunlight, and periodically moving furniture and rugs. Cracks are normal as well, and will appear and disappear between floor boards during seasons of high and low humidity. Generally, anything less than the width of a dime is considered normal, and will correct itself as seasons change. Flooring inspectors recommend inspecting the floor from a standing position in normal lighting to identify irregularities.

The perimeter and hard to reach areas (i.e. under radiators, around cabinets and cabinet cut-outs, closets, corners, etc.) are most likely to contain these irregularities. Again, when inspected from a standing position these irregularities may be present but should not be prominent. No matter how hard we try, or how well-experienced we are, there are some things the customer should NOT expect: Again, when inspected from a standing position these irregularities may be present but should not be prominent. No matter how hard we try, or how well-experienced we are, there are some things the customer should not expect.

1. A table top finish. Each piece of hardwood flooring sands differently depending on its grain type (plain or quartered) making it virtually impossible for a completely flat surface.

2. Dust-free finish. Since your floor is being finished in your home it is not possible to achieve a "clean room" environment. Some dust will fall onto the freshly applied top finish.

3. A monochromatic floor. Wood, as a natural product, varies from piece to piece. Remember it is not fabricated - it is milled from a tree and will have grain and color variations consistent with the grade and species of flooring selected.

4. A floor that will not indent. In spite of the term "hardwood", flooring will indent under high heel traffic, refrigerator wheel traffic, dog toenails, dropping heavy items, etc (especially heels in disrepair). The finish usually does not get damaged in these instances but the wood is indented and the finish stays intact.

5. A floor without cracks between the boards, or within the parquet pieces. Although your new floor may start tight together, as a natural product it will continue to absorb and release moisture. This natural process will cause the flooring to expand and contract from season to season - resulting in cracks between some of the pieces in your floor. A lighter color wood with the newer lighter sealers or stain color (white) will show this issue more than darker colored floors. Also wider boards will typically have wider gaps unless engineered flooring. If wider than 5" is desired consider engineered.

Maintain the beauty of you hardwood floors Sweeping or vacuuming should be done on a regular basis.

Sweeping the beauty of you hardwood floors Sweeping or vacuuming should be done on a regular basis.

Vacuum Use hose or wand attachment with a soft horse hair or similiar nozzle. Canister vacuums with bare floor attachments are the surest way to get rid of all the dirt and dust. (An upright vacuum with a beater bar will likely leave scratches in the finish.)

Damp Mopping For routine mopping use pH neutral cleaners made specifically for the type of finish on your wood floor. When damp mopping a polyurethane floor, wet the mop and wring so it is about half-dry, not dripping. Mop and then rinse the mop into clean water, wring it as dry as you can and mop again. Floor should dry almost immediately.

DO NOT USE- Sheet vinyl or tile floor care enhancing products on wood floors. Self-polishing acrylic waxes, silicone, or orange or other oils will cause wood to become slippery, product will build up and the finish to appear dull and smudged. Will also create problems when considering recoating your floor.