Significance
Hardwood floors are a beautiful addition to any home or building and greatly increase the value of a structure. Keeping hardwood floors in pristine condition is valuable, especially for homes getting ready to go onto the real estate market. Before repairing hardwood floors, you first needs to identify the repair as well as what type of wood and finish is being used on the surrounding floor to make sure that the finished solution blends in properly. Most repairs are minor–such as deep scratchrs, dents or stains–and can easily be fixed for under $100.00. Other repairs such as water damage or infestation by powder post beetles and termites may require an exterminator and contractor to finish the job properly. The repair—no matter how minor or major–should be completed swiftly to prevent further structural damage.

Types
There are many different types of hardwood floors on the market today. The easiest way to determine a perfect match would be to take a small piece of finished damaged wood to a contractor or hardwood floor supplier to assure the right color match-up. Some of the most popular hardwood floors both new and old consist of various tones and shades of oak, cherry, mahogany, ash, hickory, maple, pine, walnut and cedar. Some hardwood floors in older homes are composed of more rare woods such as basswood and juniper, and if a close match cannot be found, a substitution or having the entire floor re-stained or replaced may be the only solution.

Prevention/Solution
Repairing hardwood floors will eliminate the eye sore and prevent further damage. A repair involving insect infestation should be dealt with immediately, and the first step would be to call a pest control specialist to spray and remove the insects from the floors and structure. Using tools such as a circular saw, chisel and pry bar, the damaged floor plank should be removed and discarded immediately. Repairing hardwood floors as soon as the damage is noticed will help keep the unaffected surrounding planks tightly in place and prevent them from warping or shifting.

Considerations
Hardwood floors in many homes can be anywhere from 5 to 200 years old in some cases, making match-up an intricate process. Many times an exact match cannot be found and provisions have to be made such as tearing out the floor, replacing the floor or combining an area of tile with the surrounding wood. Hardwood flooring repair can be costly and it is recommended that large projects be completed by a professional installer or contractor to prevent further damage to the floors and assure both safety and longevity of the hardwood.

Effects
Once the floor area or plank has been replaced, depending on the age and stain of the surrounding floor, the entire floor may need to be resurfaced and re-stained. All furniture and wall items should be removed from the room and placed in storage during the refinishing and staining process. A buffer and sander will be run across the floors, and the floor will be dusted before the stain or finish can be applied. The area must be worked on from the corners inward to the exit area. No physical contact should be made with the finished floor for 24 hours or longer depending on the moisture content in the air and the how much stain was applied. The result will be a newly finished floor free of scratches, dents and blemishes.

Hardwood floor refinishing can be done by anyone with a moderate skill level of sanding and applying urethane floor finish on hardwood floors. Refinishing hardwood floors mostly consist of hard work and determination. But with a few effective tips for properly refinishing hardwood floors, the job can provide you with results that could only be obtained by hiring professional hardwood floor refinishing specialists.

First, you should consider having someone to help you carry the sander to the rooms where you need to refinish the hardwood floors. These sanders weigh as much as 250 lbs., and you wouldn’t want to break your back while only on the initial phases of the job.

Next, you should consider purchasing oil-based urethane floor finish. But the rooms need to be properly ventilated as these oil-based urethane floor-finishing products omit strong odors. One advice: apply oil-based urethane floor finish on your hardwood floors during summer, fall, and spring.

Finally, you should be prepared to refinish your hardwood floors longer than what you had expected. Properly sanding and subsequently applying oil-based urethane floor finish on your hardwood floors can’t be done overnight or even over a single weekend. Try to sand your hardwood floors during weekend afternoons. You can then move on to apply the oil-based urethane finish on your properly sanded hardwood floors during the following weekend mornings.

Bird Hardwood Floors can offer you more useful tips and detailed instructions on properly refinishing your hardwood floors with our free in-home estimate. Call or send us an email today to schedule a visit!nquiries.

You’ll find simple how-tos about caring for hardwood floors. Learn what supplies to use, how often to clean, and a list of a wood floors worst enemies. This is an easy how-to with good basic information for every homeowner.

1.Sweep wood floors often with a soft, fine bristle broom.

2.Vacuum once or twice a week to remove dirt and sand. Use a soft brush attachment to minimize scratching.

3.Since water is one of a wood floors worst enemies, get rid of water right away! Remove wet spills ASAP with soft towels or a wet/dry vacuum, then dry thoroughly.

4.Use a very dry damp mop when mopping polyurethaned wood floors, since excess water can seep into seams and ruin a wood floor.

5.Consider using carpet runners (with non-skid pads) over wood floors in high traffic areas.

6.Vacuum area rugs and runners often so dirt doesn’t filter down through the weave and scratch the wood underneath.

7.If possible, do not wear heavy shoes or high heels on hardwood floors, as some heels can cause dents.

8.Never drag furniture or other objects across a wood floor. Instead, clean the floor thoroughly to remove dust and grit, then use “gliding” furniture pads underneath the piece to aid sliding it across the floor.

9.Install floor mats at each entrance so you don’t track in dirt from the bottoms of shoes.

10.Be sure to follow manufacturer recommendations to treat flooring scratches and dents. If an area of the finish is damaged by water, it may be difficult to fix it.

11.Use furniture pads to place under table and chair legs and on the feet of dressers and armoires. They can be purchased at a local hardware store or home center.

12.Some floors may require periodic waxing and buffing. Get recommendations from the manufacturer for the specific procedures for your floor.

Wood Floors are:

Affordable: Wood floors add value to your residence at resale time, not to mention it is a lifetime product. They increase in value as your home does. Hardwood floor products are one of the most sought after hard surface flooring in remolding and new home construction.

Easy to Maintain: Routine maintenance is a little more than simple sweeping and vacuuming, always making sure your hardwood floors are protected from moisture and heavy wear which creates scratches. Preventive maintenance like area rugs, floor protectors (on ALL furniture on your hardwood floors), and routine maintenance with proper hardwood floor cleaner should always be exercised (improper products can contribute to additional wear, may VOID your warranty, and cause failure when recoating.

Ecological Sound: Unlike most floor coverings, wood floors come from a natural resource that is sustainable. Long gone are the days when timber was cut down with little thought for the long term consequences on the nation’s forests. Today most timber is cut from forests that are carefully managed to ensure continued resources in the future. In fact, according to U.S. Forest Service statistics, almost twice as much hardwood timber Is added every year through new growth as is harvested. Additionally, there is more standing hardwood timber today than there was 50 years ago.

Healthy: The Environmental Protection Agency has said that indoor air quality is one of our top health threats. Installed in the home or elsewhere, wood floors help contribute to a healthy living environment. Hard surface flooring such as hardwood floors does not rap or harbor dust mites or molds. That creates better air quality for all inhabitants, but especially for the estimated 35 million Americans who suffer from allergies. The hard surface of wood floors also helps avoid artificial substances such as pesticides that can accumulate on some floor coverings. A recent EPA study found that pesticides used in gardens and homes accumulate on floors and other surfaces in the home, but that wood floors greatly reduce the accumulation of such toxins. Another concern for the home environment is the off-gassing of toxins that results from some synthetic materials. Any of these chemicals can make people in the home chronically ill.