GENERAL QUESTIONS
Should I expect colour variations in my floor?
Yes. Wood is a natural product and colour variations appear from board to board in all grades of hardwood especially in the lower grades such as Traditional, Country, and Rustic.
Why is my floor changing colour?
A continued exposure to UV light such as sunlight and indoor light will eventually darken your hardwood floor. This is a natural process that occurs even if surfaces are coated with UV protection. UV protected floors just take longer to reach the darkening stage.
Why is my floor lighter under my area rug?
Areas of floor that are not exposed directly to UV light, such as areas under rugs, furniture, remain lighter in shade. Manufacturers suggest leaving area rugs off your new floor for the first one to two years to ensure an even exposure of UV light. Manufactures, also recommend that you move your furniture every 3 months to minimize wood discolouration.
When I walk across my hardwood floor, I hear creaking sounds. Why?
Creaking sounds usually occur from many conditions, most often it is because of a uneven/unsecured subfloor or a subfloor made from chipboard. Manufacturers recommend strengthening chipboard subfloors with a plywood underlayment.
Should I use unfinished or prefinished hardwood?
Under certain conditions home owners may choose to go with an unfinished hardwood floor particularly when they are opting to go with a custom colour stain that conforms to their unique décor. Unfinished hardwood is easier to customize with border inlays and complex layout patterns. However, prefinished floors come with the advantage of comprehensive warranties on their finishes which out-perform finishes applied on site to unfinished floors. Moreover, prefinished hardwood floors are more convenient to install for home owners and do-it-yourselfers, doing away with the messy staining and finishing process.
Can I install hardwood floors in my bathroom?
In fully functional bathrooms you can not install solid hardwood floors due to the high moisture content that is usually in these areas.
INSTALLATION QUESTIONS
Can a 3/4" thick hardwood floor be glued down?
No. ¾” thick hardwood floors are strictly a nail down product.
What areas of the house can I install a solid hardwood, engineered hardwood, and laminate product?
Solid hardwood can only be installed on or above ground levels; where as engineered hardwood and laminat can be installed on any level of the house including the basement.
How do I install a solid wood floor?
How do I install a engineered floor?
How do I install a laminate floor?
MAINTENANCE QUESTIONS
Are hardwood floors difficult to maintain?
No. Hardwood floors are very easy to maintain. For details instructions on how to care for your floor please click here.
Should I put anything under my area rug?
Yes, you should put an underpad designed with air spaces specifically used on top of hardwood floor surfaces. These underpads are also designed to prevent the area rug from slipping out of position which could cause surface scratches to your floor.
Can I roll or drag furniture across my hardwood floors?
No. Furniture should always be lifted into position or else it can mar the finish of your floor.
Can I mop my floors using water?
No. Applying water directly to your hardwood floor can eventually cause your floor to swell and warp. Use a hardwood floor friendly cleaner and applicator. For details instructions on how to care for your floor please click here.
Should I put anything under my furniture to protect my hardwood floor from scratches?
Felt pad protectors should be placed underneath all legs of your furniture to prevent dents and scratches. For additional information on how to protect your hardwood floor from scratches/dents please click here.
How do I remove scratches from my hardwood floor?
Although scratches can not be removed from your floor, you can help hide them with touch up kits that are available from your flooring retailer.
My hardwood floors have lost their shine? What can I do to restore the shine?
There are Floor Refreshner products available on the market that will temporarily restore the shine to your hardwood floor. These Refreshner products can only be applied to a polyurethane-finished floor and need to be re-applied every one to two years to maintain the floors original appearance. For a more permanent solution you can also have your hardwood floors buffed and re-coated with a durable polyurethane finish.
