Yes. However, for prefinished floors, always use manufacturer-recommended cleaners. For unfinished floors, finished at the job site, refer to the recommendation of the floor finish manufacturer. Do not use wax based cleaners.
77
How do I handle stubborn stains?
2007-12-20 9:26:45
Answer
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.
78
Can I apply a wax finish to my prefinished floors?
2007-12-20 9:27:11
Answer
No. You should never apply wax finish to your surface type finishes.
79
The floor beneath my rug is lighter than the exposed floor, what can I do?
2007-12-20 9:27:52
Answer
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.
80
How can I better protect my floor from early finish wear?
2007-12-20 9:28:19
Answer
It is a good idea to implement a regular cleaning routine, as well at the use of throw rugs and felt or plastic floor protectors on furniture.
81
When ordering hardwood flooring how much extra should I order to allow for waste?
2007-12-20 9:29:37
Answer
As a rule of thumb, add 7% to 10% for waste and cuts depending on your skill level and the layout of the area.
82
What are the different moldings and how are they applied?
2007-12-20 9:30:07
Answer
The Quarter Round molding is used to hide the expansion gap left around walls during installation.
The T molding is used as a threshold in doorways or as a transition strip where the hardwood flooring meets floor or carpet of similar height. T moldings can also be used to change the direction in which the floor is laid.
The Reducer molding is used as a transition from the height of the sub-floor to the height of the hardwood floor.
The Stairnose molding is used to cover the front edge of a stair tread or step. If used on a stair, flooring is installed behind the Stairnose to cover the horizontal part (the tread) of the stair.
The Stairtread molding is a one-piece molding used to entirely cover the structural stair tread.
83
Can I install hardwood flooring in a bathroom?
2007-12-20 9:30:34
Answer
Hardwood floors are not covered by warranty if installed in a bathroom. Moisture can cause damage to hardwood flooring.
84
How do I maintain my hardwood flooring?
2007-12-20 9:31:03
Answer
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 bamboo floor clean from dust, dirt or grit. Hardwood flooring cleans easily with a Swiffer or similar type dry mop.
For sticky spots, use a soft damp cloth to gently scrub the floor. If necessary, use a generic hardwood floor cleaner. Do not use steel wool or other abrasive scouring pads.
Do not use harsh detergents, abrasive cleansers, or corrosive chemicals to clean your bamboo 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 hardwood flooring has effective UV inhibitors in its pre-finish, it is recommended that it not be exposed to direct sunlight for long periods.
85
where can I install hardwood flooring?
2007-12-20 9:31:37
Answer
Hardwood flooring is an extremely durable flooring product. It can be installed in virtually any room of your home that is above ground. There are several locations that are not recommended for hardwood flooring. Because hardwood flooring is a natural flooring product it is not recommended that it be installed in wet locations such as bathrooms, washrooms, saunas, enclosed porches or verandas, or anywhere that may require wet-mopping. Extended exposure to moisture of this type may cause your hardwood flooring to warp, swell or crack.
Please note that certain species of hardwood are softer than others. You should consider using these harder species for high traffic areas. Refer to the Janka Hardness rating for an indication of the species hardness.
86
How do I install hardwood flooring
2007-12-20 9:32:09
Answer
There are several things to consider before you begin to install hardwood flooring. Careful preparation before beginning will make installing your hardwood floor a quick and easy process.
Ensure that your sub-floor is flat and smooth.
Take extra care when installing hardwood flooring over radiant heating. Ensure that you read both the hardwood flooring and radiant heat system instructions carefully before beginning.
Read your hardwood flooring manufacturer''s installation instructions carefully.
Allow your hardwood flooring to acclimate in the room where it will be installed for a minimum of 72 hours.
Inspect each strip of hardwood flooring carefully for defects or damage before installing it.
Always use a tapping block and never hit hardwood flooring directly to avoid fracturing the flooring edge. A piece of flooring trim makes a good tapping block.
Add at least 5% to your square footage when ordering to allow for waste and cuts. As a rule of thumb for non-professionals, add 7% to 10% depending on your skill level and the layout of the area.
Jasper and Beauchêne hardwood flooring distributed by BuildDirect has complete installation instructions online.
87
What are the benefits of hardwood flooring?
2007-12-20 9:32:39
Answer
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. Although there is a 25-year structural warranty on our hardwood floors , many hardwood floors last for decades longer.
88
How do I get my hardwood floor to look like it did when it was new?
2007-12-20 9:33:09
Answer
There are products that can be applied to prefinished urethane floors that will renew the floor back to its original appearance. Use only manufacturer recommended products.
89
Can I expect my floor to have color variations?
2007-12-20 9:33:38
Answer
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.
90
Should I use unfinished or prefinished hardwood?
2007-12-20 9:34:07
Answer
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. However, this will mean finishing will be done onsite, resulting in more noise, dust and delays in using the room. Prefinished floors, on the other hand, are already finished with 10 coats of an aluminum oxide finish. This means you will get the convenience of not having to shut down the room while you finish the floor onsite.
91
What is the difference between select and Better, Mill Run and Rustic grades?
2007-12-20 9:34:36
Answer
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 Good collection. As you step up in grade, the warranties are expanded and grading is enhanced.
92
Will my prefinished floor have a beveled edge?
2007-12-20 9:35:01
Answer
Yes. All of our prefinished hardwood floors have a micro-bevel edge to eliminate uneven joints between strips of hardwood. This tight micro-beveled edge also prevents the finish from pooling up at the edges of the boards during the finishing process, resulting in a nicer, cleaner finish.
93
What is engineered hardwood flooring?
2007-12-20 9:36:47
Answer
Engineered hardwood flooring is a product made up of a core of hardwood, plywood or HDF and a top layer of hardwood veneer that is glued on the top surface of the core and is available in almost any hardwood species. The product thus has the natural characteristics of the selected wood species as opposed to a photographic layer. The engineered product has been designed to provide greater stability, particularly where moisture or heat pose problems for solid hardwood floors.
94
What is the difference between a laminate, solid hardwood and an engineered hardwood floor
2007-12-20 9:37:09
Answer
Laminate- core of product is typically made of High Density Fiber (HDF). The top layer is a photographic layer that should appear identical to the product it replicates, be it wood, vinyl, tile, etc. The product is generally 3/8 thick and is a floating install with tongue and groove glue less locking system which allows you to install and uninstall the floor several times if desired. This product is typically the least expensive. Solid Hardwood- the product is the solid natural wood species throughout the entire piece of flooring, typically with a tongue and groove installation. Good sanding and refinishing capabilities. The product is typically more expensive and has some limitations as to where it can be installed due to moisture issues.
95
What does greater stability mean?
2007-12-20 9:37:39
Answer
The instability of solid hardwood is usually moisture or heat related. Under adverse conditions, solid hardwood floors can warp, cup, swell or split apart. Engineered hardwood flooring overcomes these problems by constructing a multiple-ply plank which counteracts twisting and remains flat and intact. This makes engineered hardwood flooring a better choice for installation over radiant heat sources, over concrete whether it''s below grade or above, and in rainy climates.
96
How many layers does engineered flooring have?
2007-12-20 9:38:11
Answer
In addition to the top hardwood veneer, engineered wood flooring typically has three or more core layers. Of course, there is greater stability with more layers. The core layers may be plywood, high density fiberboard, or hardwood. For example, Vanier engineered flooring has five to seven hardwood core layers.
97
Does engineering destroy the natural beauty of hardwood floors?
2007-12-20 9:38:37
Answer
Not at all. The top hardwood layer is the same genuine hardwood you have in solid hardwood floors. This show veneer is available in most species of natural hardwood.
98
What is the thickness of the hardwood veneer?
2007-12-20 9:39:11
Answer
The hardwood veneer, or top layer of hardwood, can typically be 0.6mm to 4.5mm or more in thickness. A quality hardwood veneer will provide many years of wear. For example, Vanier engineered hardwood flooring has a select and Better 2mm hardwood veneer and comes with a 25-year finish warranty.
99
Can I refinish an engineered floor?
2007-12-20 9:39:44
Answer
It depends upon the thickness of your hardwood layer but the fact is that 95 % of hardwood surfaces are never refinished. With the high quality finishes that are offered and the extensive process that refinishing a floor entails, damaged areas are often removed professionally. If sanding is desired, typically, the professional sanding procedure removes 1/32 of an inch. Thus if your floor has a 2mm layer you can sand the floor 1-2 times.
100
Besides different species, what else accounts for the different appearances in hardwoods?
2007-12-20 9:40:17
Answer
Hardwood veneers have the same surface appearances as solid hardwood flooring because they''re both natural hardwoods. Different appearances result from the different ways the hardwood are sawn. The different sawing methods are: i) Flat Sawn or Plain Sawn, ii) Rotary Cut, iii) Off-Set Rotary Cut, and iv) Sliced Cut.
Flat Sawn (also referred to as plain sawn) - can be flat grain (which has a cathedral or gothic effect) or vertical grain (which has a radial or edge grain effect).
Rotary Cut – method of cutting wood in which the hardwood layer is peeled off the log using large wood lathes. This peeling method shows dramatic, wilder graining.
Off-Set Rotary Cut – method of cutting wood which gives a sliced appearance and grain pattern with the added cross grain stability of sliced, without the sliced cost. Hardwoods are more dimensionally stable across the grain, and off-set rotary cutting takes advantage of this property. The yield is lower than a regular rotary cut creating a slight price increase vs. standard rotary.
Sliced Cut – method of cutting wood in which the hardwood layer is sawn like regular lumber. This shows method finer graining.
