| If you're looking for hardwood floor tips whether | | | | 5. Kitchens are not a good place to install a hardwood |
| you've already installed hardwood floors or are | | | | floor. The kitchen is subject to too much spilled |
| planning to do so yourself or hire a hardwood floor | | | | water, cooking fluids and food messes. If your |
| contractor, then here are some quick tips and some | | | | kitchen has them now, clean up any spills just as |
| money-saving tips to keep in mind. | | | | soon as they happen to prevent any damage to |
| 1. Do plenty of research online and at your local | | | | them. Also before you install them consider this |
| hardwood floor dealers before you make any | | | | -when the day comes that you want to sell your |
| decisions or purchases. You want to fully understand | | | | house, prospective buyers might be turned off by |
| prefinished and unfinished hardwoods. Talk to the | | | | hardwood floors in the kitchen. Save lots of money |
| salespeople and take a close look at the hardwoods. | | | | now by not installing them in the kitchen. Use more |
| If you can't do this in person then go to some | | | | appropriate kitchen flooring instead. |
| websites online and read all you can. Hardwood floors | | | | 6. The cheapest quotes you get from a hardwood |
| can be an expensive investment in your home and | | | | floor contractor may not save you any money. If |
| you want to know what the best flooring is based | | | | the contractor is considerably cheaper they may not |
| on your budget. Understand the various types of | | | | be including some of the important steps in the |
| woods and the variation in prices. You can choose a | | | | installation, sanding and finishing. You could end up |
| less expensive hardwood and still have a beautiful | | | | with a rougher finish or stain color that's not even. |
| floor. | | | | Eventually the finish may peel or the boards may gap |
| 2. If you don't plan to do-it-yourself and plan to hire a | | | | and squeak. Have the contractor outline specifically |
| hardwood floor contractor get quotes from at least | | | | what they are going to do for you. |
| four of them. Make sure to ask for references and if | | | | 7. To finish hardwood flooring use three coats of |
| possible check their work out at the installation | | | | polyurethane or three coats of lacquer finish, but in |
| locations. Hardwood costs have a broad range in | | | | any event make sure to use four coats or more of a |
| price from cheaper hardwoods to the more | | | | water-based finish. Any high use area such as |
| expensive woods. There are many types to choose | | | | kitchens and entries will need an extra coat of finish. |
| from including exotic, oak, Brazilian oak, cherry, maple, | | | | 8. If you have urine-stained hardwood, repairing or |
| etc. And many manufacturers including Bruce, Shaw, | | | | cutting out the stained wood usually is easier than |
| Mohawk, Mannington and Armstrong, Quotes can | | | | trying to bleach and refinish the area while trying to |
| vary widely. You can save a lot of money if you | | | | protect the unstained part of the flooring. |
| take a little time to compare. | | | | 9. Try to keep the room humidity levels to a relative |
| 3. Try not to use any water on the finished flooring. | | | | humidity of 45% to 55%. This may be difficult to do |
| If you have to use any cleaners make sure they are | | | | if you live in an extreme weather environment. But |
| neutral PH hardwood floor cleaners. Spray or buff | | | | at least avoid extreme humidity changes that amount |
| them on for the safest approach. | | | | to 25% or more to protect your floors. |
| 4. If you need to find out how old an old floor is, | | | | 10. Make sure to have everyone leave their shoes at |
| take a look at the edge wherever you can find it or | | | | the door when entering your house. This is one of |
| look at the top of the flooring to see if there are | | | | the best ways to preserve your floors, reduce wear |
| any nails showing through or any groves that are | | | | and tear on your home and keep out harmful |
| broken thus with gaps in the hardwood flooring. A | | | | bacteria, viruses and other organisms as well. |
| hardwood floor can last for many, many years and it | | | | These are just a few of the best tips to save your |
| may not take much work or expense to refinish it. | | | | hardwood floors and save you money. |