Hardwood Photosensitivity

Wood is a photosensitive product of nature. Over time, depending on the species, the color may change by either darkening or lightening. Proper species selection and finish is critical for long term aesthetics.

During the first year, move or rotate area rugs to help darken floors evenly throughout your home. Over time, lighter unexposed areas will blend in with darker areas and a consistent color will be achieved within the entire room.

Flooring and Pets

Is One Flooring Healthier than the other for you and your pets?

Pets are primary source of indoor allergies. Cats and dogs, especially those with long hair, harbor all kinds of potential allergens (like dander and saliva). Carpets and rugs trap these particles, which can be difficult to vacuum. Hardwood floors are the best option for pet owners because the hair does not bind to them.

If you take care of your flooring and replace it when necessary, there’s nothing to strongly suggest that either hardwood or carpet is a significantly healthier option.   However, homeowners who like the comfortable feel of carpet should be aware that proper cleaning and maintenance are essential to keep it as healthy and attractive as possible.

It should be noted that some have made a case for hardwood being healthier on a global scale. When sustainably grown and harvested, wood flooring is a very environmentally friendly product whose long life expectancy suggests that it won’t be taking up landfill space any time soon!

Wood Flooring Quick Repairs

How can scratches or stains on wood flooring be repaired?

First aid for wood floors depends on the type of surface. In the following chart, solutions in the middle column are for floors finished with wax or penetrating stains. Solutions in the right-hand column are for floors finished with polyurethane or other surface finishes.

Note: When removing stains from any wood floor, always begin at the outer edge of the stain and work toward the middle. Always use the wood flooring manufacturer’s cleaning, repair and finish products when known.

Problem	Solution: Wax or Penetrating Stain	Solution: Surface Finish
Scratches	Wax the affected area.	Repair with a touch-up kit for urethane finishes, available from any wood flooring retailer.
Dried milk or food stains	Gently rub with a damp cloth, then rub dry and wax.	Use a cleaner developed specifically for urethane finishes. For stubborn spots, scrub using the urethane cleaner and a scrub pad made for urethane floors.
Water stains or white spots	Rub the spot with #000 steel wool and wax. If this fails, lightly sand with fine sandpaper and clean the area using #00 steel wool and mineral spirits or a wood floor cleaner. Allow the floor to dry, then stain, wax, and hand buff.	Follow instructions for dried milk or food stains.
Heel scuffs	Rub in a small amount of wax with fine steel wool and hand buff to a shine.	Follow instructions for dried milk or food stains.
Mold or mildew	Rub with a wood cleaner.	Use a cleaner developed for urethane finishes. If the mold or mildew lies underneath the surface finish, sand and refinish the area.
Chewing gum, crayon, or candle wax	Apply a plastic bag filled with ice until the deposit is brittle enough to crumble off. (Solvent-based wax can also be applied to loosen the deposit.) Remove crayon or candle wax by placing an ink blotter on the wax and applying a hot pressing iron to the top of the blotter.	Apply a plastic bag filled with ice on top of the deposit until it is brittle enough to crumble off. Clean the area with a product made for urethane finishes.
Oil and grease stains	First rub area with kitchen soap having a high lye content or saturate cotton with hydrogen peroxide and place over the stain. Then saturate a second layer of cotton with ammonia and place over the first. Repeat until stain is removed. Let the area dry and then hand buff.	Follow instructions for dried milk or food stains.
Dark spots and ink stains	Try the water spots treatment. If the spot remains, apply a household bleach or vinegar and allow it to soak for an hour. Rinse with a damp cloth, wipe dry and smooth with fine sandpaper. Stain, wax and hand buff.	Follow direction for dried milk or food stains.
Wax buildup	Strip the old wax away with odorless mineral spirits or a wood floor product made for stripping wax. Use cloth and fine steel wool to remove all residue. After the floor is dry, wax and buff.	Not applicable.
High Heel Shoe Dents	1/4 inch spike heels will cause dents that require professional repair.	1/4 inch spike heels will cause dents that require professional repair.

• Our Craftsmanship