Hardwood Flooring Posted Answers and Information Updates
What to expect
June 3, 2009
Once you’ve decided to install or refinish a 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. Flooring professionals typically are not insured against damages to these items, so removal will be your responsibility. For new installations, the wood will need to acclimate, which will vary from two days to two weeks.
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 floors until it has dried. The time required will vary depending on the type of finish used.
After the top coat finish has dried, generally wait 24 hours to walk on the floors and 72 hours to replace furniture. 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. Wait 2 weeks before placing any rugs directly on a finished floor. Avoid walking on your floors with cleats or high heels in disrepair.
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.
Finally, keep your wood floors looking their best by properly maintaining them. Use a cleaning product recommended for your floors and use it regularly to keep them looking beautiful for years to come.
Hardwood Photosensitivity
April 24, 2009
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.
Please Review our service…
April 23, 2009
As you know, our business is built upon referral and recommendation; and one of the ways that prospective clients learn of our efforts is by hearing about us from their friends or neighbors, just as you probably did. So we ask you to write a brief testimonial of your experience with Pinnacle Floors.
Environmentally Friendly Provider
April 21, 2009
Pinnacle Floors, LLC purchases wood flooring only from manufacturers who work within and follow the Environmental and Forestry laws of their government as well as The Lacey Act of the United States.
We purchase from suppliers who legally obtain wood and have all necessary legal documentation to prove it. We do not practice a policy of purchasing from the least expensive manufacturers as this can lead to potential compromises in legal and ethical raw material procurement. Illegally harvested wood can be less expensive due to avoidance of legal procedures. Unlawful and unethical practices are not acceptable to Pinnacle Floors, LLC. Please check out why wood flooring is the green flooring choice.
We also offer FSC certified woods.  The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an international non-profit, multi-stakeholder organization established in 1993 to promote responsible management of the world’s forests. Its main tools for achieving this are standard setting, independent certification and labeling of forest products. This offers customers around the world the ability to choose products from socially and environmentally responsible forestry. You may learn more by visiting their website http://www.fscus.org
Flooring and Pets
April 17, 2009
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!
Care and Maintenance
April 17, 2009
How are polyurethane or other surface finishes maintained?
Surface finishes like polyurethane require only simple care. Just dustmop, sweep, or vacuum regularly. Always follow the manufacturer’s cleaning recommendations if known. When cleaning no longer restores shine, recoat the floor with a surface finish. The frequency of recoating depends on the amount of traffic. Never wax a surface-finished floor. And never use vinyl or tile floor care products on any wood floor.
How are wax or penetrating-stain finishes maintained?
Dustmop or vacuum regularly, and use a buffer to maintain the shine. Always follow the manufacturer’s cleaning recommendations if known. If buffing no longer restores shine, you may need to rewax. If so, apply a cleaner and liquid wax specifically for wood floors. Apply the wax evenly, allow the floor to dry, and buff to the desired luster. Depending on traffic, a properly maintained wood floor should need waxing once or twice a year. Be careful not to over-wax a wood floor. If the floor dulls, try buffing instead. Avoid wax buildup under furniture and other low-traffic areas by applying wax half as often as in higher-traffic areas.
Can cleaning products for vinyl or tile floors be used on wood floors as well?
No. Never use sheet vinyl or tile floor care products on wood floors. And never use self-polishing acrylic waxes on wood floors. These waxes cause wood to become slippery and dull. In this case, the floor must be sanded and refinished.
Can a wood floor be damp-mopped?
Never damp mop a waxed floor. When cleaning a surface-finished floor, follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. You may generally use a dampened (near dry) mop to maintain a wood floor, however excessive moisture will cause damage. Standing water can dull the finish, damage the wood, and leave a discoloring residue. If water spills on a wood floor, immediately wipe it up with a clean cloth.
How can I prevent scratches on wood flooring?
Place mats and throw rugs at doorways to help protect wood floors from grit, dirt and sand. Place felt pads under furniture legs and vacuum/dust your wood floor regularly.
Wood Flooring Quick Repairs
April 16, 2009
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. |
Enviornmental Benefits
April 16, 2009
Does wood flooring promote a healthy indoor environment?
Yes! Bacteria, dust and dirt do not embed themselves in wood flooring, as they do in other flooring options. Simple regular maintenance—such as dustmopping, sweeping, or vacuuming—keeps wood floors sanitary.
Is wood flooring hypoallergenic?
Millions of people suffer from sensitivity to chemicals and toxins. Tests by leading allergists have proven that wood flooring provides a healthier environment for these allergy sufferers. Wood doesn’t harbor irritating dust and microorganisms.
Is the natural environment protected during the harvesting and manufacturing of wood flooring?
Yes. Far from a depleting resource, hardwood is sustainable and commercially more available now than ever before. On the 486 million acres of forestland in the United States classified as commercial, substantially more wood is added in new growth each year than is harvested. For hardwood species, 86 percent more wood is added annually in net growth than is removed through harvest. Manufacturers of glue-down wood flooring meet Clean Air Act standards for construction adhesives. A national environmental standard for Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) is anticipated in the next few years, but manufacturers are already offering VOC-compliant wood flooring products.
Once installed, how often must wood flooring be replaced?
Every hundred years or so. In fact, the heart pine floors in historic Bacon’s Castle in Virginia are more than three centuries old and counting. Simple care and maintenance keeps wood floors looking beautiful for a lifetime. Instead of laying an entirely new floor when the original is worn, wood floors can be rejuvenated with sanding and refinishing. When done by a wood flooring professional, wood floors need only to be refinished every 10 - 15 years. When a wood floor’s useful life is over, it’s completely biodegradable.
Is recycled wood flooring available?
Yes. Wood salvaged from a variety of sources, including old barns and factories, is a popular high-end design trend. Wood recovered from riverbeds is another growing segment of the wood flooring industry. Logs that sank during logging operations years ago are being recovered by a number of companies and used to create truly unique flooring. Today’s only significant source for heartwood from long-leaf pine is through reclaimed timbers from warehouses and factories constructed during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Chestnut, hemlock, poplar, walnut, and cypress are other options.
Where can I learn more about the environmental benefits of wood flooring?
To order a free video on wood flooring and the environment, call the NWFA at (800) 422-4556.
Wood Flooring Applications
April 16, 2009
Is it cost-effective for home builders and renovators to select wood flooring?
Yes! Residential real estate agents say homes with wood floors hold their value better, sell faster, and fetch higher prices, according to a recent nationwide survey commissioned by the National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA). By a three-to-one margin, real estate agents said that a house with wood floors would sell faster than a carpeted house. Some 58 percent said a house with wood floors would bring a higher price. “There is a perception today that they don’t build homes like they used to,” according to one Pennsylvania agent. “So when people see hardwood floors instead of carpet-covered plywood, they feel the entire house was built with superior building materials.”
Does wood flooring go well with most design styles?
Yes. In a recent survey commissioned by the NWFA, more than three-quarters of interior designers find that wood flooring works well with many decorating styles. “It’s the most versatile floor covering there is,” says one designer. “Wood goes with contemporary and traditional and everything in between.” Designers rated natural materials as superior to man-made materials in beauty, prestige, style, maintenance, and durability. A variety of woods and finishes are available to complement the decor and style of any room. Oak and maple are the most popular woods, but some homeowners are investing in exotics such as Brazilian cherry and Purpleheart.
There are so many species of wood. How should a specifier select one?
Choosing a species of wood involves more than selecting a color to match dĂ©cor. Both decorators and installers should be aware of the basic facts about wood species. Other appearance-related attributes are important for designers too, such as texture, grain, and color. Installers will want to consider mechanical properties like dimensional stability, machinability, and ease in finishing. And any specifier will need to consider availability and cost. NWFA’s wood experts offer detailed information about the properties of many wood species.
Why do most gymnasiums use wood flooring?
For the same reason many homes and businesses do: durability and comfort. Indeed, wood flooring commands more than 70 percent of the highly demanding sports floor market. Wood floors are softer and more supple than other surfaces. Wood flooring provides greater resilience, improved shock absorption, and increased energy return, all of which help to reduce injury and body fatigue for athletes.
I’ve always used wood flooring in low-traffic areas like formal living rooms or conference rooms. Is it durable enough for a kitchen, bathroom, or work space?
Yes. Specifiers and clients are discovering what basketball players have always known: wood flooring can take a pounding and still look beautiful. The urethane finishes on most new wood floors stand up to water and traffic, bringing wood flooring into bathrooms, kitchens, and other higher-stress areas. These finishes resist wear and stains better than other finishes and require no stripping, no buffing and no waxing.
Does wood flooring provide good acoustics?
Churches, synagogues, and other clients with auditorium projects increasingly request wood floors for its warmth and acoustic contributions. Ask your wood flooring professional about special installation techniques that can increase acoustic abilities.
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