How To Install Hardwood Floor Panels With The Nail Down Method

There are a variety of methods for installing hardwood flooring. The nail down technique of laying hardwood floors has become very popular. For those learning how to install hardwood floor, there's no simpler or straightforward technique than the nail down technique.

Unlike other methods which basically require you to be an amateur carpenter or even a professional carpenter, the nail down method on how to install hardwood flooring can be accomplished by anyone who can swing a hammer. Well, that's not all it takes.

You also have to be persistent, patient, and willing to try new things if you want to learn how to install hardwood floor. Also, you need to be willing to read the safety instructions that come with the tools you'll be using.

-Tools You'll Need as Your Learn How to Install Hardwood Floor Panels

Broom and Dust Pan - You need to clean up constantly as you learn how to install hardwood floor to make sure no dirt, sawdust, or other debris get caught in between the grooves or under the boards.

Carpenter's Crayon - Use this to create guidelines on your sub floor. You'll also need it to draw lines where you'll cut your hardwood panels.

Claw Hammer - Any areas near obstacles or walls where you can't get enough space to swing a rubber mallet will have to be reached with your claw hammer.

Cutter Knife - Use this often for unforeseen activities involved as you learn how to install hardwood floor. But the main purpose of this device will be to cut out any excess wood when adjustments of only a millimeter or two need to be made.

Electric Drill and 3/32" Drill Bit - Use this to drill your pilot holes, which should be slightly smaller in length and circumference than your nails. This will prevent your flooring panels from cracking when you put the nails in them.

Hardwood Flooring Nails (2") - These nails are important because they will be what hold your floor in place.

Nailer - This can either be a hammer or pneumatic nail gun. The pneumatic nail gun is obviously faster and easier, but you have to get it calibrated just right so that the nails don't go too far down into the wood and destroy your hardwood panels.

Rubber Mallet - This is your chance to pound your frustrations out as you learn how to install hardwood floor. Actually, you should pound them out gently to bring the surfaces of the two panels together perfectly. You don't want to get them too far apart or your floor will have crevices. But if you pound them too hard together, you can damage them or push them so far together as to bow them.

Circular Saw - At the end of each row of boards as you go into the corner, you will need to cut your floor panels to fit. Any fixtures in the room will also have to be cut around.

-Preparing to Install Hardwood Floor Panels

Although the nail down method of installing hardwood floor panels is pretty simple, it should still be done carefully as the hardwood floor has to endure for many years in whatever form you complete it.

All of the furniture and obstacles that can be removed from the room should be removed while you install your hardwood floor panels. This is true even if it requires manual dismantling and reassembly. For those fixtures build into the floor of the room, you'll just have to panel around them.

It's not the easiest way to go, but you have to do what you have to do to get your hardwood floor installed. If you have door sills, an old hardwood floor, baseboards, or carpet, remove them before you begin as well.

If the surface beneath where you will be flooring is cement or any other lumpy material, use a felt floor liner to cover this surface. Then install a plywood sub-floor over it. Once laid, you should be ready to begin installing the hardwood floor.

-Steps on How to Install Hardwood Floor Panels

1. Put your first floor panel in the corner of the room in which you have decided to start your flooring. The grooves should be toward the wall and the tongues should be toward the room.

2. Start adding panels to make a row. The last panel shouldn't quite fit right, so you'll have to use that carpenter's crayon to mark where to cut it. Use your circular saw to cut it. Be very careful not to cut it too small. The fitting needs to be just about perfect.

3. Use your drill to make your little pilot holes. Put the nails in to fasten your floor down. Though it will take longer, you'll be thankful when you're done if you used pilot holes when you're learning how to install hardwood floor.

4. Grab the other half of the panel you cut off the row you just completed and use it as the starting point for the next row. This will seem strange at first, but when the floor is completed, the offset of the boards will look really nice. Additionally, if all of your boards matched up, the floor won't have interlocked strength.

5. Continue on doing this as you go through the remaining rows. Use the rubber mallet as necessary to make the boards and rows nice and snug. When the rubber mallet won't fit, use the claw hammer to pull the boards tight. The last things you need are some giant crevices between your boards when you've finished your new hardwood floor.

6. The last panel is the hardest one to get put in place, but your floor will look really awful if you hurry at this step. You need to patiently measure, cut, and make your last panel fit.

7. Clean the floor you just laid.

-Cleaning Up After You Install Hardwood Floor Panels

In the process of how to install hardwood floors, cleaning up is important and overlooked enough to warrant its own follow-up section. But unlike other nail down method guides on how to install hardwood floor panels, we want to make sure you understand this step.

Cleaning up is important because there are little wood chips and saw dust everywhere after the typical hardwood floor installation. Use your broom and dust pan to pick up any debris on the floor. These particles, if walked on and rubbed on by furniture, can make your brand new floor look like a scratched up old floor pretty quickly.

Unless you went beyond the instructions on how to install hardwood floors and used glue on your hardwood panels, there's no need to get your floor wet before it has had a chance to settle. This is because you don't want it to swell before you've moved the furniture back in and given it a couple days to get itself in its final arrangement.

-Special Tips Add-On on How to Install Hardwood Floor Panels

Don't get too aggressive when putting your hardwood flooring in place. It's very easy to ruin the surface of floor panels when they're floating freely and you're placing them and pounding on them. Be especially careful when fixing a row that looks a little bit off.

If your rubber mallet is sturdy enough, it'll be the best thing to put nails in because it won't do as much damage to the surface of your floor panels.

Your nailed down floor probably isn't going to be quite as nice as the one installed by a professional. On the other hand, it's going to look pretty nice on its own. It will probably be about the nicest looking job an inexperienced hardwood floor installer can do. And if you change your mind about the floor, it's one of the easiest hardwood floor installation methods to undo.

But besides being easy to install and uninstall, nailed down hardwood floor has some usage advantages over other types. The main advantage to keep in mind is that a glued down floor is rigid; once a floor panel is dried in place, it's there for good whether it's snug to the next panel over or not. The loose floor isn't attached to anything and can be creaky, bubbly, and move around. So enjoy your new well-fixed hardwood floor.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/how-to-install-hardwood-floor-panels-with-the-nail-down-method-326212.html

Instructions On How To Install Floating Hardwood Floor Panels

Have you ever wondered how to install hardwood floor panels to make your home beautiful inside? There are many methods of installing hardwood flooring currently in use. One of the best do it yourself hardwood floors is the floating hardwood floor. The term floating doesn't refer to a floor that is sitting in liquid. Floating means that, while the floor is fastened to itself, it is not fastened down to the subsurface.

A floating hardwood floor has some disadvantages you should be aware of before proceeding with your installation. These floors will sometimes feel like you're walking on a bubble. And, each bubble you step on will have a creaky sound.

On the other hand, those bubbles give the floor a much softer feel than a well-fastened hardwood floor. And, the floating floor is much easier to maintain. Best of all, it is one of the cheapest types of hardwood floors to install.

Before continuing with the installation of a floating hardwood floor, we highly recommend that you consider using oak as your hardwood floor material. Oak looks beautiful and provides lasting durability.

-Tools Needed to Install a Floating Hardwood Floor

Broom and Dust Pan - It is important to keep everything clean as you go. It is particularly important to keep the saw dust out from under and between your panels where it can really throw things off kilter. If it gets in there, there is no way to get it out without the very difficult process of hardware floor disassembly.

Carpenter's Crayon - You'll have to cut up your panels to make them fit in the corners and make them go around objects that cannot be removed from the room having the hardwood floor installed. You may also want to use your carpenter's crayon to mark a layout pattern of where to place your flooring panels.

Circular Saw - Your saw is what you will use as you cut along the lines you drew with your carpenters crayon.

Claw hammer - In most places, you will use a rubber mallet to help push the boards together, but in those places near the wall where you don't have enough room to swing the mallet, you can use the claw hammer to fit them together.

Cushioning Surface - You can make your floating hardwood floor feel even softer to the feet with the use of a cushioning surface under the floor. You would be shocked by the difference between a floor with the surface and a floor without the surface if you could try the two side by side.

Cutter Knife - The cutter knife comes in handy in more places than you would expect as you work on your floor. But the main reason we recommend this tool is so that you can make minor cuts on the panel ends when you just can't quite make them fit together.

Glue - Floating hardwood floors aren't supposed to be glued together. However, you might find you get better results if you just put a bit of glue at the end of each panel as you connect them. Of course, this will mean you'll need to be very careful not to get any glue on your floor surface.

Nails - You will need to nail the floating floor to the wall strips. It may help to use a drill to do pilot holes to prevent the wood from splitting, but if you're a gambler, you can just hammer these nails in without pilot holes. Most people do that anyways.

Rubber Mallet - The rubber mallet is what you use to fit the panels together at the joints. However, you need to be very careful not to hit the panels too hard and damage the panel surfaces.

-Preparing to Install Floating Hardwood Floor Panels

Before you install your floating hardwood floor panels, you need to get your cushioning sheet installed. You can use your cutter knife to make it fit. Some people find that making it into many small pieces is much more manageable than trying to fit a large piece in the room. These pieces should be laid in the same direction as your panel rows.

One of the nice parts of using a cushioning sheet is that debris on the sheet or lumps in the surface below it have a less dramatic effect on the floor. However, you should still try to get all of these straightened out to the extent you can see them.

For debris, just use your broom and dust pan to remove them. It's not such a big of a one-time task when you consider the implications are pretty close to permanent if you fail to remove them.

-Installing a Floating Hardwood Floor

1.Place your first panel in the corner with the ends with a cavity in them towards the walls.

2.Put a little bit of glue in the cavity of the next panel.

3.Attach the next panel to the first panel quickly after step two.

4.You may need to work with the rubber mallet gently to ensure that the two panels come together snuggly. If the wall gets in the way of the rubber mallet, you can use your claw hammer to nudge it in place.

5.Continue this until you get to the end of the row where you will need to mark off the excess length of your last panel with the carpenter's crayon. Then cut the panel to fit using the circular saw.

6.Use the remaining piece of the panel to start the next row of hardwood.

7.If you are using the glue, as in step two, you'll need to be careful to get the entire adhesive off of each row as you complete it or it may do permanent damage to the hardwood surface.

8.Make sure you fit your entire pieces well, especially the last corner piece. If you have fit everything together just right, your floor will be much more stable. And, it will look better after the next step.

9.Now you go around all of the room walls and place the wall strips. You should nail these strips to the wall and to the floor. This will stabilize your floor. This will also make the edges of your new floor look better.

-How to Install Floating Hardwood Floor - Clean Up

As with any big woodworking project, you can expect to have a mess as you go. There are such debris as saw dust, cut splinters, glue spots, and more. While you were trying to clean as you went, you should really do a final inspection and cleaning at the completion of the project. You don't want any saw dust or wood chips scraping across your new floor before you even get to admire its smooth shine.

After your floor has had a day to settle you can clean it with a mildly wet mop to get everything else up that you might have missed. You need to dry the floor up right away after mopping, of course. Otherwise, your wood will swell and lumps will form.

-Hindsight Tips for Installing Your Floating Hardwood Floor

You do not need to be terribly careful with the cushioning sheets. Don't spend all day trying to get exact measurements. As long as there are no major overlaps or separations between them, your floor should be just fine.

When you are working with your hardwood panels, it is important not to rush. You should not be moving on and placing another panel until the current panel is completely and firmly connected to the other panels. But be very careful when using the rubber mallet and other tools on the panels not to cause surface damage.

The surfaces are quite fragile when they are not yet anchored in place. It is very hard to go back and fix later if you missed a panel early in the installation process.

Be careful when measuring your panels for cutting at the end of the row that you are marking off the right part of your panel for cutting. One of the most common mistakes is to have the panel backwards while measuring it and then end up with the wrong pieces being the lengths you need. Save yourself some time and be careful.

-Feeling Good after You Install Your Floating Hardwood Floor

You have saved a lot of money by installing a floating hardwood floor yourself. And, if you don't like it, you've chosen one of the easiest hardwood floors to replace. But, of course you like it.

Hardwood floors look great. And, your new floating hardwood floor feels great too with its cushioning surface. Your neighbor's glued down floor may not creak much, but your neighbor's feet don't feel like they're floating when he walks on his floor.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/instructions-on-how-to-install-floating-hardwood-floor-panels-326211.html

Instructions On How To Install Floating Hardwood Floor Panels

Have you ever wondered how to install hardwood floor panels to make your home beautiful inside? There are many methods of installing hardwood flooring currently in use. One of the best do it yourself hardwood floors is the floating hardwood floor. The term floating doesn't refer to a floor that is sitting in liquid. Floating means that, while the floor is fastened to itself, it is not fastened down to the subsurface.

A floating hardwood floor has some disadvantages you should be aware of before proceeding with your installation. These floors will sometimes feel like you're walking on a bubble. And, each bubble you step on will have a creaky sound.

On the other hand, those bubbles give the floor a much softer feel than a well-fastened hardwood floor. And, the floating floor is much easier to maintain. Best of all, it is one of the cheapest types of hardwood floors to install.

Before continuing with the installation of a floating hardwood floor, we highly recommend that you consider using oak as your hardwood floor material. Oak looks beautiful and provides lasting durability.

-Tools Needed to Install a Floating Hardwood Floor

Broom and Dust Pan - It is important to keep everything clean as you go. It is particularly important to keep the saw dust out from under and between your panels where it can really throw things off kilter. If it gets in there, there is no way to get it out without the very difficult process of hardware floor disassembly.

Carpenter's Crayon - You'll have to cut up your panels to make them fit in the corners and make them go around objects that cannot be removed from the room having the hardwood floor installed. You may also want to use your carpenter's crayon to mark a layout pattern of where to place your flooring panels.

Circular Saw - Your saw is what you will use as you cut along the lines you drew with your carpenters crayon.

Claw hammer - In most places, you will use a rubber mallet to help push the boards together, but in those places near the wall where you don't have enough room to swing the mallet, you can use the claw hammer to fit them together.

Cushioning Surface - You can make your floating hardwood floor feel even softer to the feet with the use of a cushioning surface under the floor. You would be shocked by the difference between a floor with the surface and a floor without the surface if you could try the two side by side.

Cutter Knife - The cutter knife comes in handy in more places than you would expect as you work on your floor. But the main reason we recommend this tool is so that you can make minor cuts on the panel ends when you just can't quite make them fit together.

Glue - Floating hardwood floors aren't supposed to be glued together. However, you might find you get better results if you just put a bit of glue at the end of each panel as you connect them. Of course, this will mean you'll need to be very careful not to get any glue on your floor surface.

Nails - You will need to nail the floating floor to the wall strips. It may help to use a drill to do pilot holes to prevent the wood from splitting, but if you're a gambler, you can just hammer these nails in without pilot holes. Most people do that anyways.

Rubber Mallet - The rubber mallet is what you use to fit the panels together at the joints. However, you need to be very careful not to hit the panels too hard and damage the panel surfaces.

-Preparing to Install Floating Hardwood Floor Panels

Before you install your floating hardwood floor panels, you need to get your cushioning sheet installed. You can use your cutter knife to make it fit. Some people find that making it into many small pieces is much more manageable than trying to fit a large piece in the room. These pieces should be laid in the same direction as your panel rows.

One of the nice parts of using a cushioning sheet is that debris on the sheet or lumps in the surface below it have a less dramatic effect on the floor. However, you should still try to get all of these straightened out to the extent you can see them.

For debris, just use your broom and dust pan to remove them. It's not such a big of a one-time task when you consider the implications are pretty close to permanent if you fail to remove them.

-Installing a Floating Hardwood Floor

1.Place your first panel in the corner with the ends with a cavity in them towards the walls.

2.Put a little bit of glue in the cavity of the next panel.

3.Attach the next panel to the first panel quickly after step two.

4.You may need to work with the rubber mallet gently to ensure that the two panels come together snuggly. If the wall gets in the way of the rubber mallet, you can use your claw hammer to nudge it in place.

5.Continue this until you get to the end of the row where you will need to mark off the excess length of your last panel with the carpenter's crayon. Then cut the panel to fit using the circular saw.

6.Use the remaining piece of the panel to start the next row of hardwood.

7.If you are using the glue, as in step two, you'll need to be careful to get the entire adhesive off of each row as you complete it or it may do permanent damage to the hardwood surface.

8.Make sure you fit your entire pieces well, especially the last corner piece. If you have fit everything together just right, your floor will be much more stable. And, it will look better after the next step.

9.Now you go around all of the room walls and place the wall strips. You should nail these strips to the wall and to the floor. This will stabilize your floor. This will also make the edges of your new floor look better.

-How to Install Floating Hardwood Floor - Clean Up

As with any big woodworking project, you can expect to have a mess as you go. There are such debris as saw dust, cut splinters, glue spots, and more. While you were trying to clean as you went, you should really do a final inspection and cleaning at the completion of the project. You don't want any saw dust or wood chips scraping across your new floor before you even get to admire its smooth shine.

After your floor has had a day to settle you can clean it with a mildly wet mop to get everything else up that you might have missed. You need to dry the floor up right away after mopping, of course. Otherwise, your wood will swell and lumps will form.

-Hindsight Tips for Installing Your Floating Hardwood Floor

You do not need to be terribly careful with the cushioning sheets. Don't spend all day trying to get exact measurements. As long as there are no major overlaps or separations between them, your floor should be just fine.

When you are working with your hardwood panels, it is important not to rush. You should not be moving on and placing another panel until the current panel is completely and firmly connected to the other panels. But be very careful when using the rubber mallet and other tools on the panels not to cause surface damage.

The surfaces are quite fragile when they are not yet anchored in place. It is very hard to go back and fix later if you missed a panel early in the installation process.

Be careful when measuring your panels for cutting at the end of the row that you are marking off the right part of your panel for cutting. One of the most common mistakes is to have the panel backwards while measuring it and then end up with the wrong pieces being the lengths you need. Save yourself some time and be careful.

-Feeling Good after You Install Your Floating Hardwood Floor

You have saved a lot of money by installing a floating hardwood floor yourself. And, if you don't like it, you've chosen one of the easiest hardwood floors to replace. But, of course you like it.

Hardwood floors look great. And, your new floating hardwood floor feels great too with its cushioning surface. Your neighbor's glued down floor may not creak much, but your neighbor's feet don't feel like they're floating when he walks on his floor.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/instructions-on-how-to-install-floating-hardwood-floor-panels-326211.html

Things to Consider on Hardwood Floor Wax

If you're lucky enough to own a hardwood floor, you probably want to do everything possible to help it stay beautiful. Using hardwood floor wax is a common way to do this. However, there are a few simple rules to follow and some instances where wax is a bad idea. In this article we'll look at those rules, as well as run though some waxing basics.

Is Wax Right for Your Floor?

Your floor's original finish, and the condition of that finish, determines whether or not waxing is right for you. Your floor was either finished with a coating, which sits atop the wood and acts as a barrier for dirt, or with a sealant, which penetrates and makes the wood itself more resistant to dirt. If your floor is very shiny (or used to be) then chances are a coating was used. If it appears more matte, it's likely to have been finished using a sealant.

Floors with shiny coatings are generally not suitable for hardwood floor wax. Instead, you should thoroughly clean and then buff the floor to renew the shine. If your floor is so old or damaged that clean and buffing don't work, then hardwood floor wax can provide a temporary renewal of the floor's shine and luster. Just keep in mind that eventually, you'll need to invest in a good refinishing.

Waxing Basics

Vacuum your floor thoroughly, sweep and mop before beginning to apply hardwood floor wax. After all, you're trying to improve the look of the floor, not make it worse by sealing in dirt and grime! Ensure that the floor has dried completely before moving on.

It's important to follow the direction on the wax precisely. If you're unsure about something, look it up on the internet or ask somebody at a home improvement store. These are general guidelines for hardwood floor wax, but each brand is different, and the manufacturer's directions will alert you to any special steps their particular brand requires.

You'll begin with a very thin coating of wax. If you can see thick gobs or streaks, you've applied too much. Let this first layer sink in, which can take from half an hour to an hour. You'll repeat this step until the floor can't absorb any more wax. Hardwood floor wax is designed to sink in and penetrate the wood, and so you're only done when the last layer won't sink in. When that happens, simply wipe it off, and leave the floor alone for at least a few hours (overnight is best) to dry completely.

Buffing comes next. A heavy-duty rented buffer is best for this, because the weight of the machine will actually make the job easier, no matter how bulky and cumbersome it might look. Buffing is going to bring out the shine. Follow the directions very carefully, since you're dealing with a large machine. When you're done, your floor should have a brilliant shine.

If the shine dulls over time, don't re-apply...simply buff the floor again. Hardwood floor wax can easily and economically extend the beauty of your floor for years to come, if applied and maintained properly.

How To Look After & Maintain You Oak Or Hardwood Flooring Once Down

Lacquered floors

Prevention:

Place doormats inside and outside the front door to stop dirt and grit being walked in, which can cause
considerable wear.
Put protective pads on furniture (not metal feet, which mark wood floors) to avoid unnecessary marks and scratches on the floor.
If you have a pre-lacquered floor in rooms where you know water is frequently spilled, we recommend that you lacquer the floor again after laying. This helps to seal the joints between the boards and gives better protection against water.

Cleaning:

For daily cleaning, use dry methods such as vacuuming. When necessary, damp-clean the floor with a well wrung-out mop/floor cloth, the floor must only become slightly damp. The film of water formed in this way must dry within one minute.

For the best cleaning results ensure that your floor cleaner is pH-neutral (maximum pH 8). Do not allow spilt water to be left on the floor, particularly on Beech and Hard Maple floors, which are particularly susceptible to moisture. The frequency of damp-cleaning depends on how much the floor is used and how soiled it gets.

Eventually over time (possibly as long as 30+ years) your floor will show signs of wear and will start to look lifeless. It is at this stage that a lacquered floor will need to be sanded and re-finished, please consult an expert regarding this.

Wax Oiled Floors:

Prevention:

Place doormats inside and outside the front door to stop dirt and grit being walked in, which can cause considerable wear.

Put protective pads on furniture (not metal feet, which mark wood floors) to avoid unnecessary marks and scratches on the floor.

If you have a pre-oiled floor in rooms where you know water is frequently spilled we recommend that the floor be treated with an extra coat of Osmo Polyx Oil after laying. This helps to seal the joints between the boards and gives better protection against water.

Cleaning:

For daily cleaning, use dry methods such as vacuuming. To remove stains the floor can also be mopped with a well wrung-out mop/floor cloth, the floor must only become slightly damp. If done regularly adding Osmo Wash and Care to the water will help to clean and maintain your floor.

Stubborn stains can be removed using Osmo Liquid Wax Cleaner, just apply to the floor using a cloth.
If the floor starts to look a bit lifeless after a while revitalise it using Osmo Liquid Wax Cleaner. This can also be applied to specific areas (i.e. near doorways and in the main thoroughfares) without the need to do the whole floor. Apply the Osmo Liquid Wax Cleaner neat but very thinly to the clean floor
with a lint-free cloth and then polish.

For particularly defined wear marks the floor should be given a new treatment of Osmo Polyx Oil, again this can be applied to only specific areas if
necessary.

By: Truman

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Hardwood Flooring Options to Fit Your Lifestyle

Changing the flooring can change the entire feel of a room. As the foundation for the overall visual aesthetic of your room's makeup, you have to be sure that you get a style of floor that fits in with the image you are trying to create. There simply is no making up for the wrong kind of floor. If sophistication and traditional beauty is what you are after, hardwood flooring is a popular choice and always a safe bet.

Once you have decided on hardwood flooring, though, your choices have just begun. There are many ways to personalize your hardwood floor, from the type of wood to the finish applied, if any. Each room has a personality, and your floor should be a reflection of that personality. Every little aspect of the floor feeds into that and must be considered.

The first thing you have to consider is which kind of wood to use in your floor. Different types of wood have different grain patterns and different designs to them. Maple, for example, has a smaller grain and lighter patterns, perfect for an elegant formal dining room or study. Oak, on the other hand, has larger, broader grain patterns that give off more of a rustic, homey feel. Make sure to carefully consider grain patterns before selecting a type of wood, as they have a dramatic impact on your finished floor.

Once you have selected a wood, you will need to determine the shade. Darker shades are generally found in a more formal setting, while lighter shades tend to be more open and inviting.Also, do not forget that there is going to be furniture sharing the room with your new hardwood flooring. Selecting a shade that goes well with your existing furniture is absolutely essential, unless you plan on changing all of the furnishings to match your new floor.

After you have selected a wood and shade, you will need to decide how you would like the boards cut. Plank width and thickness have an effect on the finished look of your floor. Narrow boards, also called strip boards, are used to give a room a more contemporary feel. With the larger number of small boards fit into the floor, it also can create the illusion of a larger space.Wide boards, on the other hand, give the room an earthier, country feel. Accompanied by a light shade, wide boards can create a comforting atmosphere.

In addition to board size, you will need to choose an edge style for the floor as well. The edge of each board can either be flat or beveled depending on how you want the floor to look. Flat, square edges make for one continuous, solid floor space. This is the most common form of hardwood floor and provides a smooth, finished feel. Beveled edges will introduce a texture to your floor that will give it a sense of depth and have a three-dimensional effect. Bevels can also be specified to certain sizes.

The installation pattern will be your next decision, as the way your boards are laid out will have quite an effect on your floor's look. Straight patterns are the most commonly seen, and involve laying each board out in straight lines that are parallel and perpendicular to the walls. This can be modified slightly to a diagonal pattern, where the boards are laid out exactly the same way, only at a diagonal angle to the walls. Parquet and herringbone patterns are also available to those that want to shake up the look a bit.

Parquet patterns can be further customized, but essentially are repeating shapes laid out in the wood boards. Herringbone is a style in which the boards are placed in a zigzag shape, with each end forming a V with the next board.

The finish is the final touch that will complete your hardwood floor. Several options are available to coat your new floor and give it the look that you desire. A traditional oil finish is the same type of finish that has been used for centuries on hardwood surfaces. It will give your floor a deep, timeless look that will echo old European ballrooms and banquet halls. Brushing can also be done before oiling to remove splinters and give the floor a more even, finished look. Polyurethane finishes like lacquer and varnish can give your floor a mirror-like high polish.

Hardwood flooring is a great way to start any room, provided you take the time to select all the options that will make your floor reflect the atmosphere and style that you want out of your living space.

Tag : hardwood flooring,cheap hardwood flooring,hardwood floor,bruce hardwood

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Scratching the Surface of Scratches in Hardwood Floor

There is nothing more strikingly beautiful than to walk into a room with hardwood floors. The floor can set the tone for the entire room. Scratches in hardwood floor can detract from this beauty. The solution to these scratches may be easier than you think and it does not have to require a throw rug to cover up the scratches.

Causes of Those Unsightly Scratches

Obviously the easiest way to treat scratches in hardwood floor is to avoid getting them in the first place. Dust and dirt can dull a hardwood floor's finish and cause small scratches. Sweep your floor regularly and use a dust mop to collect the particles instead of simply spreading them around. A canister vacuum is a good investment as well, but do not use an upright vacuum with beater bars on your hardwood floor because it can cause damage to the floor.

Know You're Finish before You Start

The first thing to consider when you repair scratches in hardwood floor is the type of finish on the floor. If the floor has a wax finish the scratch will penetrate all the way into the wood. A floor with a surface finish is recognizable because the scratch will not have penetrated into the wood. Always work from the outside in when repairing scratches in hardwood floor.

Scratches in hardwood floor with a wax finish require waxing the area thoroughly. For instance, heel marks can be repaired by rubbing a small amount of wax in with fine steel wool and hand buffing to beautiful shine. If the scratch is in a hardwood floor with a surface finish the repair requires a touch-up kit made for urethane finishes that can be purchased at your local wood flooring retailer.

The Area Rug Solution

Sometimes the only solution to scratches in hardwood floor may seem to be an appropriately placed area rug to cover the scratches. If this is the solution you choose, be sure to use a rug with a backing that is safe for your hardwood floor. Sometimes the rubber backing on area rugs can react with the floor finish and cause discoloring to the floor. Wet rugs can also be detrimental to hardwood floors. Remove a rug if it is wet or dirty and be sure the rug is clean and dry before you replace it.

Hardwood floors can be very beautiful and require just a minimal amount of care to keep them looking beautiful. If a hardwood floor is not cared for properly, the damage can be very expensive and laborious to repair. These simple solutions can keep help prevent or repair scratches in hardwood floor and keep your floor looking beautiful for many years.

In many cases, refinishing your hardwood floors will increase the value of your home, not to mention, adding a style and flair to your home decor while you're there

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Staining Hardwood Floors

Between hardwood floors and furniture pieces, the latter tend to be changed much more often. If you've had hardwood floors for a while, you know firsthand the design or aesthetic problems that come up whenever you change your furniture pieces. At one time, your furniture and hardwood floor matched visually. However, when you put in new furniture without really thinking about the color of your hardwood floor, that's when compatibility issues arise.

There is really no need to take out the entire hardwood floor just so it would match new furniture. Doing so is time-consuming and can get rather expensive, particularly if you tend to change or add new furniture pieces often. Staining is the better option. It's less costly to staining hardwood floors than to install completely new hardwood flooring.

Staining is actually one aspect of the hardwood refinishing process. To effectively stain hardwood floors, it should be done between buffing the floor and applying the finish. Staining is usually done not with the intention of changing the color of floors, but with the intention of enforcing their color. In this regard, staining hardwood floors is useful for bringing back a floor's color, which tends to gradually faded over time.

How stains penetrate depends on the type of woods. For instance, staining is much more effective on floors made from open-grained woods like ash, oak, pecan or walnut because stain colors for hardwood flooring of these types tend to penetrate deeper. Hardwood floors made from closed-grain woods like birch or maple tend to not stain as well. Thus, before you start a hardwood floor staining project, make sure you know the wood type of your floor so you can choose the right stain to use.

The right stain is based on the type of wood your floor is made of as well as what you want the floor to look like after the hardwood floor staining process. Do you just want to improve your floor's current color? If so, choose from among the many pigmented penetration sealer stains. These stains won't obscure your floor's natural wood grain. Are you looking to change the color of your hardwood floor? Then go with any of the oil-based pigmented stains available. These stains are known to accentuate the floor's grain patter. However, be aware that oil-based pigmented stains, if applied in excess, tend to shorten the life of wood.

Make sure that the floor is clean and clear before applying stain. It's a good idea to spend more time thoroughly cleaning the floor if you have just sanded and buffed it. Otherwise, you'll end up with different stain colors for hardwood flooring boards in one floor area. Instead of the boards absorbing the stain, the debris in and on the floor will absorb the stain.

When you're ready to stain your hardwood floors, you'll need the following materials: wood stain, clean rags and knee pads. Once you have all the materials you need, follow this 5-step process of staining hardwood floors:

1. Thoroughly clean the hardwood floor.

2. Ensure that the room you'll be working in is well-ventilated. Open up windows or turn on your vents. Stains emit harmful fumes.

3. Wear your knee pads when you stain your hardwood floor. It would be better to wear work clothes during staining. Wear long sleeve, pants and gloves to prevent the stain from coming in contact with your skin.

4. Apply stain on your hardwood floor section by section. After staining each section, wipe off excess stain with a clean rag. This speeds up the drying process.

5. When you have stained the entire floor area, let the stain dry overnight. The drying process may take longer if you applied too much stain, if the room has poor ventilation or if the temperature is too low.

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Hardwood Flooring Advice With Free Samples Delivered to UK

Nothing comes close to the warm, stunning finish that can be achieved with a hardwood floor. Each section of hardwood floor has a different grain which combines to form a unique look whenever it is used. A lifetime investment, hardwood floors are incredibly durable, stain resistant and do not trap dust so are especially good for allergy sufferers. By installing hardwood floors you can increase the value of your home and give it the edge over similar property on the market. There is a huge variety of hardwood floors available with many types of wood species, colours and widths available from hardwood flooring UK suppliers.

Hardwood flooring can be purchased in pre-finished or unfinished styles. For cheap hardwood flooring consider using unfinished hardwood flooring. Using a flooring supplier like UKCarpetsDirect is ideal as the offer free hardwood flooring samples delivered to the UK to help customers make the right choice. By lacquering and protecting the floor yourself you will save money. When laying unfinished hardwood flooring the product can be recoated several times to increase its life making it last considerably longer than carpets and laminate flooring. As the floor ages you can re-finish the floor and bring it back to life.

The biggest selling hardwood floor in Europe and the USA is Oak flooring with a vast majority being produced on the East coast of America. Oak is available in various species including White, Red and European oak, each with their own grain and colour characteristics. Cherry hardwood flooring is also popular due to its outstanding grain markings and solid composition. Over time cherry wood flooring darkens from a pale pink colour to warm dark red tone and like all hardwood floors it is highly resistant to damage. Exotic hardwood floors give a room a unique look are now readily available at major hardwood flooring UK suppliers alongside more traditional timbers.

Hardwood floor installation should begin with a flat, dry and solid sub floor. Deviations in level can be rectified with suitable floor filler. When using a wooden floor sub base the hardwood floor installation should be made at right angles to aid strength and stability. Carpet is not suitable and must be removed. Harwood flooring should be allowed time to acclimatise before it is set down by leaving the floorboards in the room for several days. A plastic membrane to stop moisture is recommended for hardwood floor installations in damp areas. A hardwood floor store will recommend to leave an expansion area around the perimeter of the room to allow for contractions and expansions of the hardwood floor. Expansion gaps can be covered with skirting boards or a cover strip.

Hardwood floors are extremely tough and with simple care and attention they can be kept in prime condition. Standing water can warp a floor so any spillages should be soaked up immediately. Any cleaning agents used should be pH neutral and specifically designed for hardwood floors as other cleaning agents can strip the finish from the floor. Where possible use the manufacturers recommended product which will compliment the flooring to the highest standards. Damp mopping is not recommended on hardwood floors which have a poor surface finish. Use doormats to keep gravel and dirt at bay which act as sandpaper and cause marks and scratches on your floor. Weekly sweeping and vacuuming will take care of any dirt that does settle on the floor and will reduce general wear. Dust mops are ideal for trapping dust. Only vacuum with a brush adapter and never use the beater bar which can cause dents in the floor. Better still use a vacuum specifically designed for hardwood floors. Avoid wearing stiletto heels on hardwood floors and if possible only wear indoor shoes or slippers on its surface. When moving furniture it should always be lifted and protective pads can be applied to furniture legs to prevent dents occurring.

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Nuances of Using Hardwood for Flooring

Hardwood are one of the most preferred flooring options for home owners today. Given the various options available in wooden flooring these days you can now easily use wooden flooring across all places in the house. However, as a home owner you should be aware of certain facts if you are considering hardwood flooring for your house.

If you are implementing a hard wood floor do not forget to use a sub floor. A sub floor is of great importance as it has multiple purposes. A sub floor helps to secure the wooden floor over preexisting floor or concrete. It also works as insulation against moisture which is often very important depending on the climate in your area.

You need to be particularly careful about using wooden flooring for areas that have a lot of moisture. In such areas do not use solid hardwood floor and rather go for engineered flooring. Excessive moisture tends to damage solid hardwood floors and it is better not to use them on areas that would have a lot of moisture.

The other concern with wooden flooring is when it comes to kitchen or bathroom, places that are prone to a lot of spills. Even engineered floors might not be able to stand such spills for a long term. In such case the best option would be to use laminated wood flooring. While some might not consider this as a hardwood floor in the strict sense of the word you will still be getting the same look and feel of your hardwood floor and also have durability against all the spills.

It is important to use an experienced technician for installing as it might not be very easy for you and me to do the whole thing. Also there are certain technical nuances that are known only be the men of the trade. However, if you still want to give it a go by yourself there are few specific points that you need to be absolutely careful about.

Installing a doesn't finish with just laying down the floor. There is a lot of detailed work involved and one of the most crucial one is to sand down the floor to lose the rough spots and smoothen the floor. A lot of nails are used in the floor and these are then covered with wooden fillers. These fillers tend to leave some rough spots too and those need extra attention during the sanding process. Also staining and finishing the floor is another critical aspect of a wooden floor installation. While this is not that difficult you need to ensure that children and pets are not around during this time - the floor is typically unusable during this period and having children and pets over can often lead to messing up the work.

If you are working with technician for installing the hardwood floor make sure that you see various samples before choosing the right one for yourself. Make sure to have detailed information on hardwood floor installation experience of your contractor. This is a specialist job and if you want to get a good work done make sure you chose the right contractor.

Six Things To Remember About Your Hardwood Floors

"Installing hardwood floor instantly raises a house’s aesthetic value. It gives it a touch of elegance, glamour and sophistication --which is precisely why hardwood floor care is a matter not to be taken lightly. Wrong hardwood floor cleaning practices could damage and dramatically decrease your floor’s appeal.

To help you properly take care of your precious flooring, here is a short guide on the six things you should remember about your hardwood floors:

§ Water is not a friend of your floor.

Water and hardwood floors don’t mix. So when juice, wine or any other similar liquids gets spilled on your floor, be sure to wipe it off immediately with a dry and soft cloth. Water can harm your floor in two ways. First, it could considerably lessen the luster of your floor (which is probably the most attractive thing about it in the first place). Second, it could cause your floor to warp and change its shape.

§ Regular, careful cleaning is absolutely necessary

Dirt, dust and the other particles can serve as tiny abrasives. As such, while they could do nothing more than make your carpeted or ceramic-tiled floors, they can seriously damage hardwood.

It is therefore advised that you regularly clean your floor of dust and dirt using soft brooms, cloth and vacuum cleaners (remember to use the attachments made specifically for hardwood floors, though). It is also best if you put welcome mats near your home’s entrances so people could wipe their shoes before they enter your home.

§ It is best to leave major hardwood floor refinishing jobs to the professionals.

While you might fancy yourself to be the ultimate do-it-yourself man, it is best to leave major hardwood floor refinishing jobs to professionals with the right experience, training and tools. If you are having second thoughts about paying for professionals, then remember this: it’s cheaper to pay for professional refinishing services than to replace hardwood floors irreparably damaged by a botched do-it-yourself job.

§ Be careful with the cleaners you use.

Sometimes, even the best intentions could have adverse effects. If you think you’re doing your hardwood floor a favor by cleaning it vigorously using strong cleaners, well, you’re not. Cleaners like oil soaps can leave residues on your floor that will make it harder for you to apply maintenance coats later on.

When you clean your floors, it is best if you use cleaners that are made specifically for hardwood.

§ Unlike carpets and ceramics, hardwood scratches.

Unlike other types of flooring materials, is quite prone to scratches. So NEVER drag furniture and other heavy objects on your floor lest you want large, ugly markings to mar the smooth, shiny and flawless beauty of your floor.

§ Rugs are good.

The hard pounding of high-heeled and boot-clad feet can cause serious damage to your floor. To minimize shoes-induced damages, you can either prevent people from walking on your hardwood or, more realistically, you can put decorative rugs on the high-traffic areas (e.g. living room) in your home.

Your beautiful hardwood floor is the focal point of your home. Follow these steps to ensure that they remain so."

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Older Hardwood Floors Add Character To A Home

The installation of your new hardwood floor is probably the most rewarding remodeling you can do. With any type of flooring the first step is to create your reference line, if this line is off the entire floor will be off. Wood floors will contract and expand so when laying it down it is a good idea not to glue the floor down. There will be occasions when your hardwood floor will need fixing. Before securing hardwood floors, read the installation instructions provided by manufacturer for the right tools and methods. When installing hardwood try to steer clear of glue down floors, one of the main reasons is that wood contracts and expands.

Older floors have been worn down by foot traffic and they have not been kept up with the correct floor products, so more work might be needed to get them in shape. When cleaning hardwood floors only use the proper products that are used for wood finishes, using household cleaners can strip the finish. Wood is actually very good for allergy suffers, it does not harbor particles and it dust does not get into the nook and crannies.

You can use Hardwood floor throughout the house to get magnificent looks. There are so many designs and textures and these will add to your house. Many people think if they get hardwood floors that they will not dent, wood dents, when you drop something heavy or put something heavy on the floor it will dent wood. Wood is a living thing, so when it is processed and made into something else there is still a cell structure and the wood will dent.

Floor finish come in many different types, it can be gloss, flat, or satin and may be easily accented with decorative chips. Oak woods contain a lot of growth ring patterns and knots, and are best suited to traditional and rustic decors. When finishing a floor many people opt for the high gloss finish because it adds a touch of elegance. Never use water on a wood floor, this could damage it, the water penetrates the wood and makes it warp and rot. If you are looking to get an antique looking floor that try an old timber finish look. However, while it is costly to refinish a hardwood floor, it is well worth the investment. A great test to see if your floors are protected is to use the water test, drop a couple of drops of water on the floor and if it beads up the finish is good and you have a seal.

If you have a damaged floor you can temporarily fix it with wax. Wax will not stay for ever so you will need to fix the floor before it worsens. People use to keep their floors in good shape by waxing them. Today many people still use wax on their floors, it is very easy to apply, it dries fast and if you do it twice a year it keeps the floors looking great.

When a more in-depth cleaning is required, use a cleaning method appropriate to the finish on your floor. Before starting take a look at your floor and see if it needs that type of cleaning. To take care of your hardwood floors all you need to do is clean them everyday and this will keep them looking like new.

About the Author

David Marc Fishman is the owner of crafts. Tipsquad is a new advice website. It gives tips by showing by video. Another video site is the new www.priceriot.com

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Hardwood Floors: Maintaining Their Beauty And Shine

Hardwood floors may be the crowning glory of every home they grace. With a little care and effort, you can ensure that your wood floors will last a lifetime and provide you with elegance, style, and sophistication. Knowing what type of finish you have is important to ensure that you are protecting and maintaining your investment. It may be a Polyurethane covering or a wax finish. You need to know the type of finish your floor has so you can choose the proper cleaners and polishers for your floor.

No matter what type of finish your floor has one rule remains the same. Water is most damaging to hardwood floors. There is just no getting around it, if water penetrates the surface finish of your floor and works its way into the boards, your floor will be damaged. Therefore, it is recommended that you use a slightly damp mop when cleaning your hardwood floors. A slightly damp mop will effectively clean the surface of your floor without allowing the water to penetrate through the finish. A very high glossy sheen on your wood floor means that it has a Polyurethane finish. If the floor looks matte, then it is a wax or oil based finish. There are specific hardwood floor cleaners designed for both finishes so make sure that you use an appropriately based cleaner.

Dusting and vacuuming are vitally important to maintaining the beauty and shine of your floor. Dirt can work its way into the crevices of your floor and cause damage. By dust mopping and vacuuming you can keep the high gloss appearance of your finish with out investing too much effort, time, or money. Using a soft brush attachment or a dust mop will pick up loose debris and dirt and protect your floor from damage. On average, expect to dust your floors weekly and when there are unexpected messes.

You should also protect your floors from surface damage. High heels, animal claws, and the legs of heavy furniture may all pose a threat to the shine of your floor. Unfortunately, they are also sources for gouges and permanent scuff marks as well. Protect your floor by placing area or throw rugs in high traffic areas, making sure that people don't wear high heels on the floor, and by adding furniture pads to the bottom of your furniture, chairs, and table legs. If you have pets that will be spending time walking on your floors, make sure that their claws are properly trimmed to prevent them from scratching the wood surface. By taking these precautions and using a commercially prepared floor cleaner and polisher designed for your floor's finish, you can ensure that your floors will provide you with a lifetime of excellence, beauty, and shine.

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Hardwood Floor Maintenance Tips

Even though flooring material developments have become success and provide variety of choice of the materials available for home owners to choose from. But seem that most of home owners still appealed and attracted by the materials from natural. Moreover many of homeowners tend to choose the materials that are renewable for their decoration. Hardwood or solid wood is the material that we are going to described in this article. Hardwood is the material that popular among home owners because it is durable and easy to maintain. Apart form those; there are varieties of choice ranging from affordable to the most expensive. There are many types of hardwood that can be made to flooring material such as pines, maples teak, and mahogany etc. Today hardwood floor supplies have to compete with other type of synthetic materials such as vinyl, glass or metal in terms of easy to keep and maintain but if you give the proper method of maintenance so you will find that hardwood is something that can be your first choice without worry.

The way of daily maintenance your hardwood floor is really simple and it is not different from caring other flooring materials. By only using vacuum cleaner and slight damp mop daily to remove dirt and spills. In case for some area such as where there are only slight travelled area, that need special care and use of additional cleaning and protection agents such as wax and formulated wood cleaner. However, the method you will use to maintain your hardwood floor really depends on which kind of seal you have; penetrating seal or a surface seal. Both type of sealing need extra care and you have to follow the instructions from manufacturer so you can see which way will suitable for each type of wood to avoid make unexpected damage to your floor.

According the most distinct advantages of hardwood floor, which keep you room looks shine, welcomed, generate warm atmosphere as well as it looks luxurious and expensive. But in exchange, they need intensive care, so homeowners who decide to use hardwood floor need to invest amount of money on many of cleaning accessories to make your floor in good condition for years. There are two things that you have to pay extra attention, which is about substances that dangerous for wooden floor. Water and gritty dirt are the worst thing for wooden floor and you have to be very careful not allow them existing in your room. However, sometimes it is almost impossible not to have water in the room but incase water drops on the floor, you have to dry it immediately (by mop or dry clothe). Water can damage the wood texture, in some case of laminated wood floor, water will reduce the quality of glue inside the laminated wooed and damage. Using extremely wet mop or wet clothe to clean wood floor must also be avoided. So you may have to consider to use other flooring material in the area that will be risky of water drop such as kitchen and toilet, otherwise you probably have to be very careful if you have wooden floor in these area.

Is there really any information about hardwood floor that is nonessential? We all see things from different angles, so something relatively insignificant to one may be crucial to another. Those of you not familiar with the latest on hardwood floor now have at least a basic understanding. But there's more to come.

Cherdkiat Taesookavat is an architect, providing information and directories about home decor, please visit Hardwood Floors

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The Shades and Colors of Hardwood Floor

You have a wide range of stain shades and colors for hardwood floors. You can depend on color charts for different colors but the colors on the surface still looks different from the colors printed on paper. In addition, a particular stain has different effect on different types of hardwood floors so it is best to consider hardwood species.

Moreover, stain also looks a bit different on newly installed wooden floor from on refinished flooring though the right sanding is helpful to have a better stain effect. It is recommended to try different kinds of stain colors on a certain sample of wood in order to get an idea of the result.

Hardwood floor has different kinds of shades and colors and some of the most popular stain choices are the following:

1.The natural stain of hardwood floor looks like bare wood.

2.Light shade is a popular hardwood floor shade since it adds a fine tone to the wood as well as it darkens the grain.

3.Another popular choice is the medium shade, which is darker than the light shade.

4.The dark shade is often very dark in color and has a rich feel.

5.Hardwood floor custom color is any color aside from brown, sand of tan.

Most people choose deep green or bright red that can give striking results. Usually, it is best to select a vibrant color when it comes to smaller rooms or areas.

When you find the shade that you want, make sure to try it in not noticeable places such as inside your closet. Make sure to let the stain dry before making a decision. Remember that the color of the paint tends to become lighter when it dries.

One of the most practical materials used for flooring is hardwood. Its protective finish can wear off especially in areas that are often used so it is necessary to refinish the hardwood floor. Dulled areas of hard wood that are hidden for a long time must be refinished in order to freshen up the hardwood floor.

Hardwood finishing job may be quite difficult and messy because you first need to remove the previous finish of the floor. If you do not have any experience in this field, it is best to hire a hardwood flooring professional who has the knowledge in refinishing floors. These hardwood floor professionals have the appropriate tools to do the job such as power sanders to eliminate the existing finish of the floor and to accept the new stain.

Make sure to do a refinish test to know if the hardwood flooring is dirty or shot. Here are the ways to do a flooring refinish test:

Focus on the high-traffic areas where the finish is more abused. Pour one tablespoon of water to the floor and if the water forms beads it means that, the floor is sealed properly. Usually, you need to cleaning and stain removal. On the other hand, if the water takes several minutes to be absorbed and leaves a slight dark mark on the floor it means that the finish is partly worn. You must not wait long to refinish your floor. In addition, if the water soaks right in and then leaves dark spot it means that you need to refinish the floor immediately.

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Steps For Hardwood Floor Refinishing

Hardwood floor is subjected to impacts, reactions from edibles, moistures on daily basis. So hardwood floors needs refinishing with certain intervals. Refinishing make you go to the days of the first home entry. It returns the memories. It refinishes the floor with previous shine. It maintains your floor for long durability to the woods. An unfinished floor hampers your prestige in society. Refinishing is required with certain interval to have a change in the home décor. It avoids the boredom after seeing same floor again & again.

Hardwood floor refinishing is a tedious task. It is time consuming. It is costly affair. You need to vacate the room you choose for refinishing. All the furniture need to be removed from its place to the nearby room & to outside incase all the room are refinished at a time.

Before hardwood floor refinishing you need to take certain decisions.

1. Do you have Time for it?
2. Do you have space to relocate the furniture?
3. Do you have money to spend?
4. Do you have manpower to supervise?
5. Is your family prepared for this?
6. Last but not the least is you really going for it?
Whether you say no or yes keep in mind that today or tomorrow you have to take the decision.

Hardwood floor refinishing involves few steps, they are as follows.

Sanding the floor
• Remove all furniture from the room to a side by room.
• Check the floor carefully for any nails. If present then hammer it below the level.
Run sander rented or purchased from market with rough sand paper fixed on it. Lower the machine if the machine is in running state. Run the sander only in push or pull mode along the grain orientation.
• Vacuuming the surface is done using machine.
• Again run sander rented or purchased from market with medium sand paper fixed on it.
• Re vacuuming the surface is done using machine.
• Again run sander rented or purchased from market with smooth sand paper fixed on it.
• Re vacuuming the surface is done using machine. Clean the surface properly.
• Edging machine shall be used for edges of floor.
Staining the floor
• Decide if you want to stain the floor for different from its natural or if you would prefer to leave the floor natural in tone.
• Clean the floor using one broom stick.
• You can also use vacuum cleaner for better result.
• Open the windows to ventilate the area.

Keeping your Hardwood Floors Clean in Three Easy Steps

Hardwood floors are one of the easier types of floors to clean, even if you have pets and children running in and out of the house. In fact, cleaning does not have to be a hard job. If you regularly clean your floors every few weeks, then you can ensure that your hardwood floors stay sparkly and new-looking, even if they are not.

However, many people let their hardwood floors stay dirty for a little longer than usual. If you need more than just a quick rub down to return your floors to shiny and new, then you've come to the right place. Below we've listed a few pointers to help ensure your hardwood floors get, and stay, clean from now on.

First of all, you will need to remove all the dirt and debris from the floors. This may include dog hair, gravel from outside, cookie crumbs and anything else that accidently made its way to the floor. Either use a broom or a vacuum cleaner and give your hardwood floors a quick brush over. This will take only a few minutes and will ensure that the next steps run smoothly. If you leave the dirt and debris on the hardwood floor, then dirt and grit can scratch and ruin your floors during the next few steps.

The next step when it comes to cleaning your floors is to use a floor cleaner on them. A floor cleaner will ensure that your hardwood floors stay shiny and new looking. Many people choose to spray the floor directly with the floor cleaner; however, you can also spray the cleaner onto a soft cloth and clean the floors as this is easier.

One very important tip to remember is to never spray water on the hardwood floor- although it makes sense to mop with water this is not the case with hardwood floors. Water can cause the wooden tiling to warp and bend if it seeps into the cracks. This is most certainly not the look you are going for.

With your floor cleaner and soft mop, mop the floor in sections. Make sure you mop the sprayed section first and then move onto another section, spraying as you go. You can continue to spray directly onto the floor or onto the mop. Move the mop lengthwise until there is no moisture left on the hardwood floors.

That's it! You're done.

Now onto the hard part- keeping the hardwood floors clean. The best way to ensure that your floors stay clean for the longest amount of time is by setting up some ground rules- no shoes on the floor, clean up after spills, and no letting the muddy dog into the house!

Hardwood floors can add a touch of elegance to any room, as long as they are kept clean. So, next time you notice your hardwood floors looking a little worse for wear, follow the above tips. In no time your hardwood floors will be looking professional and shiny once again.


Copyright (c) 2009 Wes Fernley

About the Author

K Custom Flooring provides professional brantford hardwood floor installation and brantford hardwood floor refinishing. We are dedicated to fulfilling our customers hopes and dreams for their floors. Whether that is through refinishing and restoring the beauty of a floor that has seen decades of use or installing a new floor that will add the change needed to make someone's house become a home.

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