Why Subfloors Matter To Solid Hardwood Floors

One of the most important parts of solid hardwood floors isn’t the planks … it’s subfloors.

Think of a subfloor as the base of your flooring. A subfloor is what lies beneath the hardwood planks you’ll walk on and enjoy for years to come. It’s the foundation that gives your flooring a place to rest, a place for strength and durability as you go about your busy days. Without a strong subfloor, your hardwood floors would be compromised, and would not provide the results you’re looking for.

Maybe you’ve been shopping for hardwood flooring for a while now. Maybe you’ve pinned different samples trying to make up your mind on species, color, and width.

Before you settle on what planks to install, it’s worth a few minutes to learn all you can about subfloors, and to make the very best decision there too.

What is subflooring?

Why Subfloors Matter To Solid Hardwood FloorsWhen you do a search for subflooring online, you might find a mix of articles talking about subflooring and underlayment. What’s the difference?

When your house was first built, flooring was created with three parts:

Joists – this is the structural component of your floors. These heavy-duty beams run across every room in your house, giving it structure and stability over time. You can see the joists by looking up if you have an old, unfinished basement.

Subfloors – this is the material that covers the joists. In most cases, it’s nailed into place. The subflooring helps distribute the weight evenly across the joists as you move throughout your day.

Flooring – this is the finished material you can see. This is what gives your home personality and good looks.

Every house will have subflooring in place. This is what creates the structure and stability for flooring installation.

Yet some flooring materials need more than what a subfloor has to offer. That’s where underlayment comes in. Underlayment is a special surface between the subfloor and finished flooring to provide reinforcement. It may be needed for extra strength if you choose a particularly heavy flooring material. It can act as a sound barrier if you’re trying to create a quiet atmosphere. It might provide a waterproof barrier, especially important if the room is prone to moisture.

What are subfloors made of?

Subfloors can be made from a variety of materials. The purpose of the subfloor is strength and durability, and that can come in the form of many different types of materials. A level, smooth, and dry floor is necessary before you install your finished flooring. You can achieve that with one of these materials:

https://pro-flooring.com/do-you-know-how-many-layers-your-floor-has/

Plywood – the most common type of subfloor. Plywood is created from sheets of wood veneer held together with glue. It’s affordable, easy to work with, and provides durability for most flooring installations.

Concrete – you’ll often find basements with a concrete subfloor, and sometimes on the ground-level floor if there isn’t a crawlspace or basement. If you’re working with concrete as a subfloor, it’s important to test for moisture before you install your finished flooring material. A proper vapor barrier will protect your final flooring from moisture, if necessary.

Oriented strand board (OSB) – this material is created from chunks of wood held together with adhesive. It functions like plywood.

What’s the best subfloor for hardwood floors?

When you’re buying hardwood floors, you’ll choose from solid hardwood or engineered. They each have their own set of rules and requirements.

Solid hardwood floors require a sturdy, durable subfloor, especially if the planks will be nailed or glued into place. In both cases, installers will use either plywood or OSB, with the final subfloor being at least ¾ of an inch thick.

Of course, installers may also add underlayment material, depending on the situation.

Installers often lay an underlayment of felt building paper down between the wood subfloor and your hardwood planks. This provides a necessary bond that will lessen the chance of squeaky floors and help control moisture.

For engineered hardwood, they often are installed with click-together floating floors. This means they aren’t attached to the subfloors, with underlayment requirements rarely in place. Just follow the manufacturer’s guidelines and your flooring will be good to go.

Should you replace subfloors before installing new hardwood? 

Whether you currently have carpet, tile, or hardwood planks in place, adding new subfloor material may be part of the process of installing new flooring. If you install new hardwood over a compromised subfloor, no matter how well you maintain it, the hardwood will wear out quickly because it won’t have the necessary support from underneath.

The subfloor sets the foundation for a quality floor. Without a quality subfloor, your flooring material will never give you a full lifespan. That’s why a reputable flooring dealer will always tell you to take a step down in quality of your final flooring selection in order to increase the quality of your subfloor material.

It makes a difference.

When homeowners don’t invest in a proper subfloor, they very quickly start experiencing compromises in quality. They usually complain of:

With any of these problems, fast action is required to prevent the problem from further compromising your flooring.

Do subfloors matter? They are the integrity of your hardwood floors

If you’re reading this, we know you’re on a quest for finding and installing the perfect new floors. Solid hardwood floors are beautiful, and can last for years – decades even. Yet that won’t happen if you don’t install it using the best materials and installation processes possible. Without a proper subfloor in place, you’ll compromise the lifespan of the materials, making you replace your floors long before their time.

Have we answered your questions on subfloors and installing hardwood floors in your home? If you have any additional questions, we welcome them here. Or feel free to contact us, or stop by our retail location.

We’re here to ensure you fall in love with your new hardwood floors from the moment they’re installed. And to keep loving them for years to come. 

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Yes, Your Hardwood Floors Can Improve Indoor Air Quality

Looking for a healthy flooring option for your home? Want to improve your indoor air quality? All paths lead to hardwood floors.

Hardwood flooring is a good choice when you’re ready to bring timeless beauty, warmth, and elegance to any room in your home. It’s also a great choice if you want eco-friendly and allergy-friendly flooring.

Unlike other choices, hardwood floors don’t harbor dirt, pollutants, or contaminants. But there is an art in selecting the right hardwood flooring options.

What is an allergy?

Allergies are fairly common in the US. Around 50 million people in the US alone experience allergies each year.

An allergy is caused by an immune system reaction to a foreign substance called an allergen. Allergens take on all forms. You can have a response to something you eat, touch, inject, or inhale. The impact can include sneezing, a runny nose, scratchy throat, hives, or rashes. In severe cases, it can lower blood pressure, cause asthma attacks, or even death if not treated quickly.

How hardwood floors play a part in indoor air quality

When most people think about air quality, they think about things that directly impact the air supply. If you light a candle, the fumes penetrate the air you breathe. If you spray a chemical cleaner to wipe down a table, the spray enters the air supply.

Yes, Your Hardwood Floors Can Improve Indoor Air QualityYour air supply is controlled by your HVAC system. Every time the furnace or air conditioner turns on, conditioned air flows through the ventilation system, and out into each room in your home. It can pick up anything else nearby, such as the candle scent or chemical spray.

Yet indoor air quality goes deeper than what’s freely moving around your home. It’s also what’s introduced in other ways.

Like your flooring.

Indoor air quality can be impacted by everything about your flooring. What it’s made of. The adhesives used for installation. The finishes applied once it’s in place.

What are VOCs?

You can’t talk about healthy flooring without a discussion on VOCs.

VOC stands for volatile organic compounds. According to the EPA, VOCs are compounds that have a high vapor pressure and low water solubility. They are emitted as gasses from certain liquids or solids, and include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have adverse health effects.

In total, around 1200 VOCs have been identified. And many of them are used in the products and materials we use every day.

  • Acetone
  • Acetic acid
  • Butanal
  • Ethanol
  • Alcohol
  • Formaldehyde
  • Dichloromethane

VOCs are a part of life. They are in common substances such as paint, cleaning products, and cigarette smoke. They are in our building materials and the furniture we use in our homes.

Awareness is prevention. It’s what allows you to make better choices as a consumer.

The most common VOCs in a home

Inside homes across the Front Range, you’ll find three of the most toxic VOCs lurking in things you use every day:

Formaldehyde – there are two types of formaldehyde: phenol and urea. Phenol is non-toxic, and is often used in cabinetry, marine-grade plywood, and high-end furniture. Urea is one of the most toxic VOCs, and is used in all kinds of building materials, including paneling, flooring, and other household furnishings. You can reduce exposure by sealing all exposed surfaces.

Benzene – it’s a common chemical found in tobacco smoke, stored fuels, paint, solvents, and emissions from your cars. Refinishing a floor can produce high amounts of benzene.

Methylene chloride – this is present in things like paint strippers, adhesives, and aerosol spray paints and finishes. The human body converts methylene chloride to carbon monoxide, which can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning when heavy concentrations are present.

When you know these are present, you can take appropriate action to reduce their impact. For instance, you can use aerosol spray paints outside and with a face mask firmly in place to reduce their impact.

The trouble comes when you aren’t aware of their presence, as became apparent in a 2015 report where Lumber Liquidators were caught selling Chinese-made laminate flooring that contained high levels of formaldehyde.

Hardwood flooring can improve indoor air quality

If you want to find flooring safe for your family, low in VOCs, and a healthier option for installing in your home, hardwood is a great choice.

But to find the best product for your home, you’ll have to do a little investigation.

Natural wood flooring will be one of your safest options. But you do have to look at the entire production process.

Wood does contain natural terpenes. They are safe, but they do impact highly sensitive people. The scent you get from a pine tree would be an example.

Flooring also contains a variety of chemicals from processing. Pay attention to finishes, glues, baseboards, underlayments, and other production materials made from zero or low VOCs.

You can also find manufacturers that meet guidelines through different certification programs to ensure the production process is safe. Programs include:

The top hardwood flooring manufacturers will comply with these regulations and more. You can do your research before you shop, or work with one of our associates to determine the right hardwood product best to suit your needs.

Are you ready to shop for hardwood flooring?

If you want an eco-friendly, green flooring choice that will help your home be the safest place it can be, look no further than hardwood flooring. It’s the first choice for many homeowners because of its classic good looks. Improving indoor air quality is an added benefit.

You’ll love hardwood because it’s:

  • A durable option
  • It’s natural
  • It’s easy to clean and maintain
  • It’s highly effective at reducing contaminants
  • It doesn’t contain VOCs

How can we help you find hardwood flooring perfect for your home?

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How To Keep Hardwood Floors Looking Their Best

If you were building your dream home today, what kind of flooring would you install?

According to a National Wood Flooring Association survey, just more than half of homeowners – 52 percent – say they currently have hardwood somewhere in their homes. But when you ask them what kind of flooring they would install in their dream home, two-thirds say hardwood floors. That includes 81 percent of current hardwood flooring owners, with the most common reasons given being it’s durable, easy to clean, and attractive in every room in the home.

While those numbers are based on averages from homeowners across the country, we would bet the statistics actually rise here in Colorado. Coloradans love hardwood. Maybe it’s because we’re right at the base of the Rocky Mountains. The idea of a mountain retreat is appealing to us because it’s our normal. The scent of pinewood, the look and feel of pine throughout a home, even adding another log to the fireplace are high up on our wishlist.

If you’re changing out the flooring in your home, and wondering if hardwood is the way to go, even a little bit of research online might leave you confused and overwhelmed. Do a quick search and you’ll find articles touting all kinds of issues with installing a hardwood floor. You find articles on:

  • How difficult it is keeping hardwood floors clean
  • Why hardwood flooring is a bad choice in busy households
  • Why hardwood flooring is fragile, dents easily, and is a wrong choice in homes with pets and kids

How To Keep Hardwood Floors Looking Their BestOf course, it’s easy to start questioning everything when you read these words of advice.

But before you form your own opinion, especially if you’ve never lived with hardwood floors before, we suggest you stop by and speak with an expert to learn more before you make your final choice.

What can you do to make hardwood floors look their best?

Clean up spills quickly

In many cases, what turns people off of hardwood flooring is the look and feel of hardwood after spills penetrate the wood.

Because wood swells and shrinks depending on moisture levels, both on the wood itself and in the air, it’s important to keep moisture at steady levels all throughout the year. If moisture seeps in between cracks in the planks, and slips down into the subfloor, it can quickly start to damage the wood. Swelling, expanding, contracting, warping and more can occur rapidly once moisture impacts the wood.

That’s also a reason to ban wet shoes at the door. Set up a mat as soon as you enter and require all shoes to be left at the door. That creates less of a mess throughout your home, and prevents water from accumulating in small puddles without you noticing.

Water and hardwood can also cause another potential problem – slip hazards. Water puddling combined with a hard lacquer finish can make the flooring slippery. This is especially dangerous on staircases or areas where the potential of falling increases.

Sweep and dust daily

Cleaning daily may seem a bit excessive, but it’s a great way to ensure the look and feel of hardwood floors stays in top condition.

Even if you’re a “no shoes” household, dust, tiny rocks, and other particles can easily make their way into your home and onto your floors. Baking cookies? What happens when a little bit of sugar spills underneath your feet? It’s easy for fine particles to be ground into the finish, dulling the look. You might not notice one or two tiny scratches, but over time, they can have a heavy impact on the finish or your flooring.

It doesn’t take much to run a broom or swiffer across the hardwood once a day to pick up these small amounts of dust and remove them from the finish.

Then once a week, go for the deeper clean. Run a vacuum over it and pick up things you missed. Be careful about using a wet mop as too much moisture on hardwood can quickly cause damage.

Use furniture pads

Scratches are one of the biggest problems for hardwood flooring. Those tiny scratches quickly add up, and can mar the look of your floors.

While some scratches are inevitable, others are preventable. Be aware of what items in your home have the potential for causing the greatest damage.

If you have island chairs, a breakfast nook, or dining room chairs, they will be pulled out and used every day. Adding furniture pads to the legs will help buffer the potential of damage caused by daily use.

Don’t ignore sofas, tables, and other furniture with tiny wooden or metal legs. These furniture pieces may be stationary, but it’s possible to bump them and have them move even a fraction at a time. Because of their weight, they can produce severe damage to the flooring underneath, especially if you bump and move the item regularly. You’ll notice it when you move the piece and add something new, or redecorate and change things up.

Use approved floor cleaners only 

You want clean floors. You find a product at your favorite market that promises clean wood floors. What could be wrong with picking up this product for weekly use?

A lot.

Many of the products on the market contain chemicals and other by-products not meant for use on wood floors – even if they state they’re safe for wood floor use. If you use the wrong product, you can damage your floors, and possibly null and void the warranty that came with your flooring.

Before you select a cleaning product, check with your flooring’s manufacturer first.

Schedule refinishing every three to five years

A single homeowner who travels a lot is different from a busy family with lots of kids and pets. Only you know how much activity your floors see on a daily basis.

With that in mind, schedule refinishing every few years to keep your floors looking good, and ensure they have a protective layer that helps prevent spills from penetrating. This will ensure the wood underneath lasts for years, and continues to look good no matter how often you change your decor.

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3 Reasons Why Hardwood Floors Will Always Be A Great Choice

When people decide to remodel their floors, they often approach it with longevity in mind. One customer said it best:

I want these floors to last forever. That’s why only hardwood floors will do.

But let’s talk about that for a moment. Is there such a thing as forever floors anymore?

If you head back in time to when Baby Boomers were creating their first homes, the concept of forever had more meaning. They anticipated getting a job and working there 30 or 40 years, before retiring and settling in for the rest of their lives. They bought a house that gave them great access to an easy commute, and decorated it with the hopes it would last them “forever.”

How did that work out?

Baby boomers were the first generation to come to terms with multiple jobs, multiple careers. It is no longer a lifetime commitment. And because of that, we’re losing our concept of “forever homes” too.

We change homes on average every seven years to:

  • Move to another job in another part of the city
  • Move to another state for a job promotion
  • Upgrade houses as our family grows
  • Downsize as we face empty nest
  • Change our goals
  • Change our desires

3 Reasons Why Hardwood Floors Will Always Be A Great ChoiceWe’re now a nation filled with change. And we like it that way.

So while people often come in looking for a “forever floor”, what they really want is one that is durable and holds up well to their family’s lifestyle for the foreseeable future.

Until they change their minds.

Why hardwood floors are at the top of “forever”

Have you ever walked into a historic home on a tour? Colonial America is filled with models that can whisk you back in time. And in most cases, you’ll find gleaming wood floors accentuated with an ornamental woven rug to add color and detail to the room.

Hardwood has always been popular because of its natural beauty. It’s also been one of the easiest resources to utilize as towns and cities grew up.

Of course, our definition of hardwood floors has changed quite a bit over the years. Today we have many options, even if we want to stick with the classic good looks of hardwood floors.

If you want to step it up a bit, and stretch beyond the classic oak or maple floors, think exotic. How about Brazilian Cherry? Or Australian Cypress with its rustic good looks. Or how about Ipe (also known as Brzilian Walnut); it’s one of the hardest woods available for your floors? All have the potential of giving you a unique approach to hardwood floors.

Sometimes traditional hardwood floors aren’t the perfect match for your home or lifestyle. That’s why engineered hardwood was created. It gives you the classic good looks combined with more durability. That makes it the perfect choice in places where hardwood traditionally doesn’t work – like a basement.

Thanks to today’s technology, hardwood floors have another twist; luxury vinyl planks give you access to waterproof flooring that looks very much like the real thing. The planks are so realistic, it’s sometimes difficult to tell it isn’t real unless you get down on the floor. This makes it the perfect choice when you need something more durable than traditional hardwood can offer.

People value hardwood floors in our homes

Why are so many other products being made to resemble hardwood floors? Because we value them. They are at the top of our wishlists, throughout our homes and even our office space.

Prior to 2020, home buyers placed high value on hardwood floors. Real estate agents across American would tell you that hardwood floors top every buyer’s lists of things they would like to have.

As we move out of staying in place, we’ll find people want a cleaner, more organized way of life in everything they do. They’ll want the durability that comes with hardwood floors like never before.

That makes hardwood floors one of the best investments you can make, right now.

It’s all about maintenance and durability

Have we talked enough about how durable and easy to maintain hardwood flooring is? That’s probably why you’re considering them for your own home. No matter which hardwood floor you choose to install, all it takes is an occasional swipe of a microfiber brush, a damp mop, or a swish of a vacuum to keep it looking its best.

Depending on which material you choose, that’s all you’ll have to do to keep it looking its best.

What’s more, with traditional hardwood, you also have the ability to sand it down and restore it when it starts to wear down. You can change the color with a new stain. You can restore luster and make it shine. That gives a traditional hardwood floor years – decades – of life.

Of course, traditional hardwood isn’t always the best choice for every room in your home. If you’re worried about water problems, hardwood may be more of a problem than a desire. That’s where today’s technology takes over once again.

You can continue the look of hardwood, while adding durability and resilience at the same time. Engineered wood gives you the same look and feel with a touch coating that stands up well under pressure.

And if you want maximum water resistance, look at today’s luxury vinyl planks. They can give you any look you desire, even offer more options than you’ll find with traditional wood.

What’s the best way to select the perfect flooring for your needs?

We have a great way to get started. The first thing you should do is to start designing your look through pictures.

If you love technology, start a pinboard on Pinterest. Fill it with pictures that represent your ideal home. Pay attention to the colors you select. Do you love it light – white even? Or do you prefer the classic looks of dark wood? You’ll see trends and patterns forming right away.

If you’re a more traditionalist, you can do the same with home improvement magazines. Mark your favorite looks, and find the trends that appeal to you most.

Then bring your ideas into our showroom, and let us show you many different options to suit your family’s needs and desires.

The perfect flooring choice is waiting for you. Let us help you find it today.

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Why Are Hardwood Floors Always Popular?

One of my favorite things to do is to visit the homes taking part in the Parade of Homes each year. There you can see the latest-and-greatest of everything for your home. Ideas are in abundance, and you can take a lot of them home with you and implement them into your own remodeling plans.

Of course, what you see in these million dollar houses might not be practical in your own home. Do you really want cement countertops? Can you really remodel your home with all of the eco-friendly solutions presented in something new?

Should you invest in something new – trendy – or stick with the tried but true? We get questions all the time from people wondering if hardwood flooring is the right choice. Let us put your mind at ease and answer some of the ones we receive all the time.

Are hardwood floors still popular?

Hardwood flooring will never go out of style. How do we know that? All you have to do is look at the current trends to know this is true.

Why Are Hardwood Floors Always Popular?Manufacturers know people want hardwood. So they’ve created the look using a variety of other products, ones that mimic the look of hardwood but give you different results.

Want affordability? Check out vinyl that looks like hardwood but gives you a water-resistant flooring.

Can’t install hardwood in your basement? That’s why laminate has grown in popularity.

Want something even more durable? Even stone tiles can now be engineered to give you the look of hardwood.

With all of that in mind, if hardwood is on your radar, don’t worry that your choice in flooring is no longer a popular one.

Are hardwood floors worth it?

You only have to do a quick search online to discover that hardwood flooring can cost more than other choices. And if you’re remodeling on a budget, it may have you looking at other options.

A recent article on Realtor.com stated it best: Wood floors are one of the best investments you can make. According to real estate experts – the ones who get into homes every day – the average ROI for hardwood is between 70 and 80 percent, and having hardwood in your home can boost the sales price of a home by as much as 2.5 percent.

Hardwood can last for years, decades if cared for in the proper manner. And in most cases, it’s easy to do. With today’s product lines, you can select hardwood perfect for your lifestyle, making daily maintenance a snap.

What is the best hardwood floor?

This is a tough question to answer because we can go in so many directions. It’s tough to pick “what’s best” until we understand what you’re looking for.

Let’s start with the installation process. You can install hardwood either unfinished or finished, depending on your needs. An unfinished floor is good if you’re looking at customizing the look, or want to match the color of other existing floors already in place. Prefinished flooring makes the process easier – just lay it in place and it’s ready to go. You won’t have odors from staining, or the wait time to ensure it’s dried and properly cured.

We can also discuss if it’s better to install solid hardwood, or if engineered hardwood would make a better choice. Solid hardwood comes ⅝ to ¾ inches thick, and can be sanded and refinished many times. But manufacturers don’t recommend solid hardwood in certain places in your home, like below-grade basements. For those rooms, engineered hardwood can be a better choice. It’s a hardwood veneer glued to several layers of wood underneath. This product is a good choice to continue the hardwood look into areas not suited for hardwood. But keep in mind, it can’t be sanded and refinished more than a couple of times, meaning you will have to replace it sooner than more traditional styles.

And we’d be remiss in talking about “what’s best” without touching on species. One of the very best – you guessed it – is the species most readily available, and also the hardest. Oak, maple, and cherry are ever-popular because they are the most durable. And for most families, they provide a great look and stand up to whatever they can dish out. Of course, they aren’t the only choice, because homeowners come in all shapes and sizes.

Bamboo is growing in popularity. Cork is an eco-friendly option. You can go with something more exotic, like teak or mesquite. Whatever you choose, just before you get to know the source, and be sure they are using sustainable methods for production.

Why install hardwood flooring?

If you’re already considering hardwood flooring, we don’t have to tell you why they are one of the best choices you can make for your home. But we’re still willing to throw in our two-cents on why they continue to be at the top of the wish list for remodeling projects.

They’re timeless – hardwood flooring has been used for centuries, and they will be used well into the future. It’s because they are one of the most beautiful options you can add to your home.

They’re versatile – no matter how often you choose to redecorate, hardwood looks good with everything. They are perfect additions to almost any room in your home.

They’re durable – you don’t have to worry about staining it like other flooring choices. You can keep it clean with just a quick vacuum or sweep. They can live up to the punishment your family dishes out, and still look good in the end.

They’re hygienic – because clean-up is a breeze, you don’t have to worry about dirt hiding in the fibers, or pollutants wedging into the corners.

They may be the last flooring you have to install – depending on your lifestyle, hardwood flooring can last for decades. And unlike other forms of flooring, you can fix hardwood when damaged.

Plus, with all of the styles, designs, and options available, the possibilities are endless. If you’re thinking about installing hardwood flooring in your home, the best place to start is by coming in and seeing our entire line. We can help you narrow down your options, and find the right flooring choice for your needs.

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Refinish Your Old Hardwood Floors or Replace

It’s a tale as old as time. You’ve had hardwood floors since you first purchased your home. You love them. But lately, they’re looking a bit worn.

Like the scratches in the hallway from where the dogs love to play.

And the rough patch in the corner where you didn’t notice the standing water for days. You tried to buff it out, but now it just looks worn. It looks like raw wood, even a little warped.

So now you’ve reached a point when you’re wondering what to do. Should you refinish your old hardwood floors? Or is it time to replace them instead?

Most people buy hardwood with the intent to keep them forever. They say hardwood can last for decades, so you assumed it would be a one time purchase.

However, this might not be the best thing to do in your situation. How do you know?

Start with knowing your floors

Refinish Your Old Hardwood Floors or ReplaceBefore you determine which way to go, it’s important to get to know your flooring a little better. If you laid your hardwood into place years ago, then you know the type of hardwood you have. But if you’ve recently moved in, or are upgrading a fixer upper, you have to figure it out before you decide what’s next.

The easiest way is to find a floor vent where you can pop it out and take a look at the construction of the floorboard. If it looks layered, it’s engineered. That means there’s only a small surface that can be refinished, and you’ll have to check with professionals to see if it’s possible.

Solid wood is typically ¾ to 1 inch thick. Different types of hardwood hold up better to continual sanding and refinishing. Pulling up a plank will help you get close and personal with the hardwood, separating it from the subfloor beneath. It will also allow you to bring it in so we can help you determine the quality of the wood itself.

Assess the hardwood floor damage

While certain types of damage can easily be removed, others completely ruin your floor. The last thing you want to do is to take the time and expense of refinishing the floor, only to have problems almost immediately after. The things that can ruin your hardwood include:

Rough wear and tear –Kids playing on the floor is normal wear and tear. Kids beating your floor with a toy is not. Spilling food on your floor and wiping it up quickly is normal wear and tear. Leaving red wine sitting for days is not. A lot of damage is simply caused by not using common sense.

Cleaning methods – You can’t use the same products you use to clean your bathtub or kitchen counters on your hardwood floors. Water, chemicals, and hardwood don’t mix. If your hardwood floors are allowed to sit damp for extended periods of time, it will quickly start to decay. At the most, use a very dry damp mop on occasion to pick up messes and spills. Use a swiffer or soft-bristled broom on a regular basis, or choose a vacuum designed for hardwood. If you need further cleaning, ensure you use a cleaner approved for your hardwood – check with manufacturer’s guidelines before using anything, as you could void the warranty.

Pets – Dogs and cats can be hard on hardwood floors. Their nails can create deep gauges that become irreparable over time. If you choose to have hardwood with pets, be sure to install hardwood that ranks high on the Janka scale. Brazilian walnut or maple, for example, are harder than other types of wood, and do a better job at withstanding scrapes and scratches. To reduce impact, be sure to keep nails short and trimmed. Consider laying rugs down where pets spend the most amount of time.

Lifestyle patterns – You should also assess the way your family lives. It’s a good idea to take off shoes as you enter. It can keep your house cleaner, and help you avoid tracking in dirt and debris. Does that leave your mudroom or entryways always taking the brunt of the mess? Then by all means, consider using a different flooring product in these areas that are more prone to messes. If you have a home with smaller kids, you may also have areas that are more likely to sustain messes. Are these areas that can be fixed by installing different types of flooring? Can you lay down rugs? Kids grow. Families change. If you can change your patterns in the short term, knowing you’ll enjoy what’s in place for the long term, sometimes your final decisions make sense.

Is refinishing your hardwood floors the right thing to do? 

A lot of people invest in hardwood flooring for the very reason it will last a lifetime. With refinishing, you can make the old flooring look new, especially when you’re ready for a change.

But ultimately, it comes down to making the right decision. As we’ve already discussed, a variety of things you’ve been living with have impacted your floors to the point where refinishing doesn’t make sense. If furniture or pets nails have dug so deep, you might not be able to sand or buff the damage out.

It also comes down to looks. With all of the new choices on the market today, do you want to stick with the wood planks currently in place? Today’s options include a wider variety of hardwoods, different stain possibilities, and even different plank size. Maybe you’ve wanted to explore exotic hardwood now that the kids have finally moved to college.

Sanding can’t remove water damage, especially if it’s seeped through the cracks and has impacted the subfloor. And if mildew or mold has filtered underneath, it’s time to start over with a clean slate.

You can only sand down wood so far before the structure is compromised. If it’s engineered wood, it’s only the top layer that can be changed. And if your flooring is still under warranty, in most cases, it becomes void as soon as you start the refinishing process.

Is replacing your old hardwood floors the right thing to do? 

Replacement is obviously your best choice is your current floor has been compromised. If there are issues you can’t fix, replacement is the only way to go.

It also makes sense if you are doing extensive remodeling. Are you restructuring the kitchen? Adding on a new room? To keep the flow of your home, replacing is the perfect way to create seamless transitions throughout your living space.

Another benefit is the benefit of having new flooring installed quicker than refinishing. Depending on how extensive the refinishing project is, you might have to move out of your home while sanding, buffing, staining, and adding the topcoat takes place. If you replace your old flooring, it takes far less time, meaning you can return to your lifestyle sooner. This can be especially beneficial if you’re upgrading for an event that will take place in your home.

Conclusion

So what’s the best route for you?

Will you be refinishing the hardwood floors in your home? Or is it time to look at alternative options?

No matter where you are in the decision process, one of the best steps you can take is by stopping by to consider your options carefully. We can make suggestions and show you ways to upgrade your old spaces and create a look you’ve been dreaming of.

How can we help you today?

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Is It Okay To Put Hardwood Floors In a Kitchen?

Nothing says “Colorado” quite like hardwood flooring. But can you put hardwood floors in a kitchen?

Will they handle well no matter how much you use your kitchen? Will they stand up to spills and messes? Will they show their wear sooner then if you installed more resilient flooring like ceramic or porcelain tile?

Is It Okay To Put Hardwood Floors In a Kitchen?

Is It Okay To Put Hardwood Floors In a Kitchen?

Hardwood floors provide a rigid flooring material that stands up well to high traffic situations. Yet hardwood isn’t as hard as you think. Hardwood is a porous material that accepts stain to bring out the characteristics of the wood. That also means hardwood is susceptible to moisture and liquid penetrating into the grain, and changing the quality of the wood over time. Places where moisture is a problem – bathrooms, laundry rooms, basements – aren’t the best places to install hardwood flooring.

But what about kitchens? They don’t deal with water spills on a daily basis as you jump out of the shower. They don’t have nonstop humidity from the length of your showers.

Should you install hardwood floors in the kitchen to create a space you’re proud to call home?

Are Kitchens Considered High Risk For Hardwood Flooring?

A lot goes on in most kitchens. They are usually the central hub of the home.

You gather to complete homework there. You sit back and share a glass of wine with your spouse. How many holiday parties have been planned out sitting at the kitchen island? What about the dinner party you’re planning for later this year?

There’s no doubt your kitchen is the busiest room in your home.

That means your floor will have to take a lot of punishment. Walking. Jumping. Scuff marks. Dog nails. Dropped toys. Water spills.

Have you ever dropped a glass of water onto the floor? Not only do you have 8, 10, even 12 ounces of water or more spread across the floor, but you also deal with broken glass splintering everywhere. It takes minutes to wipe up the mess and ensure the fractured pieces are cleaned away.

Now let’s talk about the pickle jar that fell and broke. Or the pot of boiling water that slipped out of your hands.

Hardwood can stand up to some abuse if you react quickly. A spill here and there that is mopped rapidly up won’t impact the looks of your floor.

But kitchens have a lot more potential for disaster than a dropped glass of water.

What happens if the line to your ice maker in your refrigerator has a slow leak? Water puddles just a little bit underneath, and you don’t notice it for weeks? What if the line to the dishwasher breaks while you’re away at work?

When hardwood floors are installed in your kitchen, they are sealed to provide a certain level of protection. The trouble is that protection often can’t stand long term abuse. Hardwood is most often installed as hardwood planks. If the seams aren’t tightly placed together, if the sealant doesn’t fully cover every inch of the hardwood material, water has the chance to seep in. And disaster is waiting.

Hardwood Comes In Two Formats 

When you select hardwood as your flooring choice, you can install it into your home in one of two ways: site finished or prefinished.

Prefinished hardwood is created at the manufacturers. It’s cut into planks, stained, and sealed, before being boxed and packaged up, and delivered to your home. It’s convenient in that once it’s installed, it’s ready to go. No waiting for the staining and sealing process. It also means it’s more susceptible to damage because there isn’t a top layer that covers the seams between the boards.

With site finished hardwood, unfinished hardwood planks are installed in your home. The surface is raw wood, without stain or sealant in place as it is nailed or stapled into place. Once the flooring is completed, only then does the installer stain the wood if desired, and after the staining process is completed and dry, a sealer is placed over the top, protecting hardwood and the seams.

This means with site finished hardwood, it has a more cohesive layer that gives you complete protection over the entire floor area, including a filler for the seams.

But Is Hardwood Durable For Kitchens?

Are you still contemplating using hardwood floors in your kitchen? Depending on your lifestyle, hardwood can be a beautiful addition to your home.

In general, we see homeowners deal with three durability issues with their kitchen hardwood. If you’re aware of them and work to decrease the odds of these happening in your home, the chances you’ll love hardwood in the kitchen even more.

Scratches and dings – If you drop a can, the lip of the can may dent the floor. If you wear your high heel shoes in the kitchen, the heel may press down and dent the floor. Knowing this beforehand means you change your lifestyle just a little bit. Declare your home a “no shoe zone.” Add colorful throw rugs where you’re most likely to drop heavy objects – by the pantry, or near the kitchen sink.

Traffic – Even within the kitchen, some areas are going to have more traffic than others. Over time, you may start to see these paths worn into the wood. The good thing with hardwood, however, is you can sand it down, stain and seal it all over again for a new look.

Sun – If you have large windows or big patio doors that let the sun stream in, the sun may bleach the color out of your hardwood floors. The darker the stain, the more sun bleaching can occur. You can prevent this by protecting these areas – close blinds during the sunniest parts of the day, or use throw rugs to deter the process.

Should you install hardwood floors in your kitchen?

They make a beautiful addition to any home.

If you have a lifestyle that reduces the risks associated with hardwood flooring damage, hardwood floors might be the perfect choice for you.

Increase the durability by selecting site finished flooring, knowing you can create any look and feel.

And if you have any other questions about installing hardwood floors in your kitchen, stop by today. We’ll help you make the perfect choice for your home.

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