- I need a whole new floor in my home or condo, can Eastside Hardwood sell and provide the material along with installation?
- Yes we can! We provide high quality solid and engineered prefinished flooring as well as solid unfinished flooring of all types. We only sell products that would be trusted in our own home. We offer a much higher quality material than Lumber Liquidators and Home Depot while keeping a low overhead to keep our pricing competitive. Call today to schedule an appointment at our showroom and pick out your brand new hardwood floor!
- What type of hardwood flooring should I choose? Solid or engineered?
- Is a factory finished hardwood floor or site-finished hardwood floor best?
- There are different hardwood “finishes”, which is best?
- How can I keep my hardwood floor looking great?
- How long after we order hardwood floors can they be installed?
- If you have to sand my floors, will you be careful about dust getting everywhere?
- Installation is expensive, can I install my hardwoods myself?
- Can we install hardwood flooring if we have a dog or other indoor pets?
Many hardwood floors are installed in homes with pets, however, a pet’s claws may scratch the finish of the wood flooring. Also, pet damage to the flooring is not warranted by the manufacturers in most situations. Keep the pet’s claws trimmed and clean up any messes immediately. It is best not to put the pet’s food or water bowl directly on the wood flooring.What is the most durable hardwood floor available?
Most hardwood floors are treated with up to 10 coats of an aluminum oxide finish. While this certainly helps 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 on selected species.Is it safe to use hardwood flooring in a kitchen?
Use caution when installing hardwood flooring in a kitchen. A kitchen is prone to food and liquid spills which can raise the wood’s grain or permanently stain or damage a hardwood floor’s finish. Be sure to wipe up spills immediately with a dry, clean cloth.Is a solid wood flooring better than an engineered wood floor?
No. The thicker and better quality engineered woods will last for years and years and can be refinished once or twice. Also, the technology and factory applied, UV-cured urethane finishes with melamine that are used today by hardwood flooring manufacturers makes a really tough, durable finish and is available on both engineered and solid wood floors. Engineered wood floors are also much more dimensionally stable than solid hardwood flooring so they can be used in many situations where solid wood is not recommended.Can we install hard wood flooring over a concrete slab?
Engineered wood floors can be glued down or floated over a dry, clean, fully-cured concrete slab that is on or below grade. If moisture or humidity is very high at times of the year, perhaps a non-wood flooring option would be a better choice. There are installation methods used by some hardwood installers to install a 3/4″ solid wood floor over a concrete slab, which includes a vapor barrier and building up a wood subfloor on top of the concrete slab. This is not recommended by most hardwood manufacturers–and it also adds considerable cost to the project. Installing an engineered wood floor over a concrete slab would be preferable.Can we put hardwood flooring over an existing floor?
In some situations an engineered wood floor can be floated (or glued down) over the top of an existing floor. The existing flooring has to be fully adhered to the sub-floor and be compressed enough so there is no bounce. For example, it is possible to install over a low profile commercial type level loop carpet, or glued-down vinyl flooring or tile. Be sure to read the manufacturer’s warranty to see if installing over an existing floor covering is covered under the warranty. Also, be sure the installer follows the manufacturer’s recommended installation procedures.Can I use a paste wax on my hardwood flooring?
Today’s wood floors do not require a paste wax to the finish and paste waxes should not be used. Most hardwood floors today have some type of urethane finish and will cloud up and become sticky if a paste wax is applied to the finish.Can we install hardwood flooring of radiant heat?
Yes, depending on the type of radiant heat used in the home. It is generally recommended installing a “floating” engineered wood floor over the radiant heated sub-floor, but the installation has to be done according to the manufacturer’s exact specifications. Also, the surface temperature of the sub-floor must not exceed 85 degrees to avoid drying out or distorting the wood planks. Be sure to check the manufacturer’s written warranty to be sure they will warrant installing their flooring over a radiant heated sub-floor.
Preventive Maintenance
- Keep your wood floor dry. Using a wet-mop on a wood floor can dull the finish and damage the wood. Place area rugs in front of sinks, and wipe up spills immediately.
- Keep it clean. This one seems like a no brainer. Place rugs where necessary to prevent tracking dirt and debris onto your hardwood floor. When the floor does get messy, clean it in a timely fashion.
- Try not to scratch or scuff your floor. Place plastic or fabric glides on the feet of heavy furniture. Avoid walking on a hardwood floor in sports cleats or high heels, if possible.
- Be cautious with wood floor care products. Make sure the care products you choose are hardwood friendly, especially if using wax. Certain waxes may damage and dull the wood. If your wood floor is lackluster, Signature Hardwood Floors recommends buffing instead of waxing. If you choose to use wax, try to avoid a wax build up in light-traffic areas.