The sanding process varies which each floor. We determine the appropriate grit of sandpaper to use based on the condition of the wood floor. The average floor starts with sanding with a belt sander with a 50 grit belt followed by an 80 grit, and a 100 grit belt. In between sanding with the belt sander we use a Clark edger to sand with 60 grit followed by 80 grit and finally 100 grit sand paper along the walls. After that, we sand all the edges to remove sanding marks. The final step is to buff the floors using a 120-180 grit screen. A 500 square foot hardwood floor on average takes 2 days to sand.
The sanding and installation process is much like any other remodeling project and at times can be noisy. It is the homeowner’s preference on whether to stay in the house or not during sanding and installation. During staining, it is recommended to be off the floors for a minimum of 8 hours. During finishing, if using a water-based finish the floors can be dry within 2 hours after the application. Oil-based requires 24 hours between coats.
Finding the right stain can be a difficult choice to make. Something to keep in mind is the color scheme of you house. How will the stain look against the trim and cabinets? Light stains make rooms look bigger while dark stains tend to shrink rooms. Dark stains also show more imperfections in the wood and will show more discoloration. Light stains will look more uniform and not fade as much over time. This is not a decision you should worry about since Adam’s will apply a sample of the stain directly on your floor. This way you will be able to see the color in the actual room against the other colors in the home.
During staining, it is recommended to be off the floors for a minimum of 8 hours. During finishing, if using a water-based finish the floors will be ready to walk on after 2 hours. Oil-based requires 24 hours.
The prefinished hardwood floor is end matched with a tight micro-beveled edge. The unfinished floors come end matched with a square edge and must be finished on site. Field finished floors are more durable and have an overall better look because the joints are more hidden. Food and debris tends to get stuck in the micro-beveled edges of prefinished flooring as well.
Cupping and crowning are caused when water is trapped between the wood floor and the subfloor. When this imbalance in moisture occurs, it is essential that the boards dry evenly; if not, cupping or crowning can appear.
The best way to maintain your floor is to sweep, dust mop and/or vacuum the floors regularly. Hardwood floors also clean easily with a Swiffer or similar type dry mop. You should avoid excessive moisture. A slightly damp mop may be used to mop up a spill. We recommend using Bona® Swedish Formula® Hardwood Floor Cleaning products. They will not dull your floor finish or leave an oily residue.
For stubborn stains, apply the manufacturer’s recommended cleaner to a soft cloth and scrub the desired area. Repeat if necessary. Do not use wax based cleaners. If the stain does not go away contact an Adam’s Hardwood representative to discuss board replacement.
It is normal for hardwood floors that are exposed to sunlight to darken over a period of time. To eliminate the obvious tone differences, it is best to rotate rugs and furniture so that the flooring gets an equal amount of sun exposure. Any differences in light exposure will eventually fade away.
It is a good idea to implement a regular cleaning routine, as well at the use of throw rugs and felt floor protectors on furniture.
Using a durable water-based finish makes hardwood the morst durable but while this will certainly help the durability of the floor, it is the hardness of the floor that will give the best indication of durability. Refer to the Janka Hardness rating for a true indication of hardness for a selected species:
American Black Cherry 950
American Black Walnut 1010
Yellow Birch 1260
Red Oak 1290
White Ash 1320
White Oak 1360
Hard Maple 1450
Santos Mahogany 2200
Brazilian Cherry 2345
Brazilian Teak 3540
Brazilian Walnut 3680
Ebony 3692
In order to maximize the durability and beauty of your hardwood flooring, we recommend the following practices as part of your floor’s normal care and maintenance:
- Place doormats or rugs at entrances to collect moisture, sand, grit and other potentially damaging substances from being tracked onto your hardwood floor.
- Dust mop or vacuum with a soft accessory to keep your floor clean from dust, dirt or grit.
- For sticky spots, use a soft damp cloth to gently scrub the floor. Do not use steel wool or other abrasive scouring pads.
- Do not use harsh detergents, abrasive cleansers, or corrosive chemicals to clean your floor.
- Avoid excessive water. Use mats in the kitchen, bathroom and laundry room to protect against spills. If a spill occurs, blot it up immediately with a dry cloth or slightly damp mop.
- Use only colorfast and non-scratch carpeting or pads on your hardwood floor.
- Protect the floor from furniture legs and do not walk on the floor with high-heeled shoes.
- Although most polyurethanes have an effective UV inhibitor, it is recommended that they not be exposed to direct sunlight for long periods.
Hardwood flooring is one of the most popular types of residential flooring. Here are a few reasons why you should choose a hardwood floor:
- Solid hardwood offers a variety of grain patterns, natural color variations, and the beauty of a natural material.
- Hardwood floors are easy to clean.
- Hardwood floors are ideal for allergy sufferers as they do not promote dust or harbor dust mites.
- Hardwood flooring is longest-lasting. Many hardwood floors last for decades.
Yes. Hardwood flooring is a natural product. Therefore, you should expect there will be natural color variations in the wood. Although lower grades of flooring will have a larger number of character blemishes, you can expect color variations in all grades.
Both choices have their advantages. If you are trying to match to an existing hardwood floor, you may want to go with an unfinished floor so it can be stained to match. Prefinished floors are already finished which means you will get the convenience of not having to shut down the room while you finish the floor onsite.
The difference between the various product lines is simply the amount of allowable character. For example, you’ll find the most amount of character knots, mineral streaks, pin holes, etc. in the #2 common collection. As you step up in grade to #1 and Select and Better, grading is enhanced.
The main reason would be because of the humidity control: In winter, when homes are heated and the air is dry, wood floors give up moisture and shrink. When this happens thin cracks will appear between the boards. This is a natural phenomenon and is quite normal. During the spring and summer months the boards will swell and the cracks will close up. To control this problem you need to install and maintain a good humidifier on the warm air duct to feed moisture into your indoor air and maintain a relative humidity of approx. 40%-50% in winter. In summer run your air conditioner at a reasonable cool temperature to take moisture out of your indoor air. Buy a Hygrometer and keep tabs of your indoor humidity.
All hardwood floor installations come with a Craftsmanship Warranty. Installations will meet or exceed NWFA guidelines. All polyurethane finishes come with a one year warranty not to peel or bubble. Hardwood flooring is a natural product with color variations along with different grain patterns. Pet damage and or movement in the wood from moisture after installation are not covered under this warranty. It is the owner’s responsibility to ensure proper moisture levels within the home throughout the life of the flooring. Proper care and maintenance of your hardwood flooring will ensure the owner of beautiful hardwood flooring for many years to come.
