Communication Matters

The relationship that you're going to establish with your contractor when you finally decide to being that home improvement project is going to be important. Letting someone into your home to drastically change the look and feel of the space is a lot of responsibility. We try to ease this process and make things go smoothly by establishing a line of communication in which we feel the customer can ask us pretty much anything in regards to their home improvement project without feeling like they're bothering us. We feel that we are in a unique position in the Chicago area to deliver a service that no one else can match. 

"We're only happy if our customers are happy." 

Communication is something we love to go on and on about, but it really is important. Imagine you're having second thoughts about a stain color you chose earlier in the week. It's important to have a floor man you can talk things through with. We can show you different stains laid on the floor in person so you can make a better decision. We know it's a tough call, so we try to be accommodating. If your floor man has great communication channels and skills, this process becomes infinitely easier and leads to a better transaction for everyone involved. We're only happy if our customers are happy. 

We try to answer our emails in batches a few times a day. A lot of our competitors have never used email in any meaningful way. We are no stranger to technology. In fact, we find that offering as many communication channels as possible leads to some of our most memorable customer interactions. It's not uncommon for us to see emojis and smiley faces being sent to us when the job is complete. We're flexible and our customers like that.

"We have an online presence that is incredibly rare in our line of work."

We have an online presence that is incredibly rare in our line of work. We urge you to visit some of our competitor's websites and judge for yourself. If you don't take your online presence seriously in 2015, how can you be expected tot take your actual floor work seriously? We try to create an enjoyable experience from start to finish, and we've had a lot of success with it.

Give us a call, send us an email, or maybe send us a text. We are flexible and more than happy to answer your questions in whatever form of communication you fell most comfortable in.

Installation Factors To Consider

A great hardwood floor can leave create a classic and timeless look for any home. There is just something about a solid hardwood floor that gets us excited. It's great to know that so much care and thought went into something like a hardwood floor because it is going to last for years if treated properly. It is a reflection of the care the owner put into their home. That same level of care should be applied to every part of the job. We can cover the labor aspect to ensure that your floors are installed properly. There are a couple aspects of the installation that you should look into and consider before moving forward. They have to do with "on-grade", "below-grade", and "above-grade" installation. If these words mean nothing to you, read on to understand why it is important to understand these terms. 

Above-grade installation is going to involve a scenario in which you're going to be installing hardwood floor above ground level. A second story of a house would fall into this category. You need to make sure that the rigidity of the substrate is substantial enough to support the entire floor on the level that the installation is going to take place.

"A lackluster subfloor is going to hurt hardwood floors in the long run..."

On-grade installation refers to the situation in which the install is going to be taking place on the same plane os the ground outside the house. It is very important to measure moisture levels in the basement or any crawl spaces as the moisture in these areas can travel upwards. A lackluster subfloor is going to hurt hardwood floors in the long run by allowing moisture to travel from spaces in a home such as a basement or crawl space.

Below-grade installation is, you guessed it, an installation of hardwood floors that takes place below the outside ground level. These areas in a home are basements, and they are almost always very moist. Moisture can wreak havoc on a hardwood floor with enough time. You can begin to start seeing swaying and coupling in the floors with enough time, and that's not something a simple refinish is going to fix. These types of situations call for alternate methods such as engineered wood. We'd be happy to answer any questions you have on that topic specifically. 

Horrific Water Damage. Moisture is Bad.

These three different scenarios require different methods of approaching the same problems. A lot of our job is problem solving, and we'd be more than happy to help you solve your problems. Until next time. 

Hardwood Floors and Kids

We've run into a couple of situations in which a customer mentioned that they had hesitation  before choosing hardwood floors for their home. We asked what the reason for the holdup was, and they mentioned children. Apparently there are a lot of people out there who are afraid that a hardwood floor might be too "harsh" for small children. We couldn't disagree more. While a hardwood floor might be harder than something like carpet, a hardwood floor becomes more practical in day to day life. Read on to see why we think so.

"Children are bound to spill stuff, and something soft like a carpet is going to be a nightmare when it comes to cleaning it up." 

Kids can be a handful and tend to be accident prone. While hardwood floors are, by definition, hard, they can be life savers when it comes to maintenance. Children are bound to spill stuff, and something soft like a carpet is going to be a nightmare when it comes to cleaning it up. Liquids get trapped inside of a carpet and soak all the way down to the carpet padding. One spill can leave a stain and smell that will always be a reminder of that one accident. 

A hardwood floor is going to allow you to clean spills quickly and efficiently. As long as you get to a spill quickly, your hardwood floors are going to be a great barrier against a child's accidents. Wood floors are always a great way to ensure that cleaning things like dust are going to be easier than a carpeted floor. We have hardwood floors in our homes and have been happy with the choice from a maintenance perspective.

Allergies can be a headache. Literally.

Dust doesn't collect the same way it would in a carpet which can help with allergies.  One of our recent customers had a child with allergies and they made sure to avoid dust collecting materials in their new home. They had tile and hardwood floors throughout the entire home. Their kids and pets loved the floors and didn't run into any issues with floors being too "harsh" for their children.

"The family dog can have an accident and then it's all over." 

If you have any hesitations when it comes to making a decision for your home, hardwood floors can work with. We've seen soft surfaces like carpet turn into nightmares after a simple spill or orange juice or milk. The family dog can have an accident and then it's all over. The smell of something like that will never truly leave unfortunately. If you have a child that suffers from allergies, a carpet can be a nightmare to deal with. Constant maintenance and vacuuming are sometimes not worth it., Hardwood floors allow you to avoid situations like these.   

Some Eco-Friendly Tips For Your Hardwood Floors

We're not just a simple hardwood flooring business. We have core principles that we want to reflect in our day to day work. We care about the environment and work to ensure that we're environmentally friendly in as many aspects of our business as possible. We've complied a list of simple things that any one of our environmentally conscious customers can look to when they decide to do their floors in the future.

Get Local Wood: Sourcing wood from a nearby lumber mill can greatly reduce the impact your next hardwood flooring job will have on the environment. Transportation of raw materials can take its toll on the environment. While local may not always be the cheapest, you get the added benefit of being able to support your local economy. 

Consider Bamboo: Bamboo is a very interesting wood that is becoming increasingly popular in recent years. It has a natural resistance to moisture due to its natural habitat, so the occasional spill will be worry-free. Our customers have told us stories about bamboo being harder than any wood they've ever seen before. If you, or anyone in your household is they type to wear heels, then bamboo might be the solution for you. As we've said before, high heels can wreak havoc on any hardwood floor in due time. 

Reclaimed Wood Can Give Any Home Character 

Consider Reclaimed Wood: We've had a few customers who insisted on reclaimed wood. Many have heard the phrase, but are unsure of what it means exactly. Reclaimed wood is simply wood that is saved from destruction. Since reclaimed wood tends to be a lot older than fresh wood, it has a very "aged" look that some people really enjoy. Proper reclaimed wood that has undergone inspection can be expensive, so this option is not for everyone. 

Check out our oil vs water based finish article to see the benefits of going with the environmentally friendly water based finish.

Being environmentally conscious when it comes to your hardwood floor isn't exactly the cheapest solution, but many customers feel better knowing that their floors didn't have a massive impact on the environment. Don't hesitate to ask us questions next time you do your hardwood floors if you want to reduce your environmental impact.

Are Pets and Hardwood Floors Compatible?

Everyone loves their pets. Our lives would be a little less happy if we had to live without our dogs. We also have hardwood floors in our homes. So it should be no surprise that we think pets and hardwood floors can live together in perfect harmony. The trick is knowing how to negate the damage all pets can do to a floor. 

"Animal urine and vomit are both acidic, and can eat away at floor finishes rather quickly."

There are countless homes across the country that have pets and hardwood floors, so what we're suggesting isn't exactly a new idea. We want to simply inform you of how to best maintain your floors so you can enjoy them for longer. There is no doubt that pets can damage floors very quickly if they are not cared for. Animal urine and vomit are both acidic, and can eat away at floor finishes rather quickly. It's important to realize the advantages to having a hardwood floor and play to its advantages. 

Pet stains that weren't cared for immediately.

A hardwood floor tends to be a large flat surface that is going to be a lot easier to clean than a carpet. Accidents are also incredibly visible on a hardwood floor as opposed to other floor surfaces. Make sure to get to these accidents as quickly as possible was every minute counts. Ultimately, proper training of your dog is going to be the best long term solution in order to avoid as many of these accidents in the future.

We've run into a few instances in which a hardwood floor is specifically damaged in an area where the water bowls are typically placed. This common problem can be resolved by simply getting a heavier and more stable drinking bowl. Your local pet supply shop should have plenty of options in that department. Spilled water from a water bowl can pool overtime leading to water damage. It may also make sense to have a waterproof mat underneath the water bowl in order to minimize spillage. 

Someone didn't have their nails trimmed.

Bigger dogs can be a a problem because of their size and weight. If they have longer nails, they can dig into floors over time and start to cause damage. Ensuring that you dog's nails are trimmed is going to be the best solution to this possible problem. A dog can also track dirt into a home. First can have rocks in it, which can scratch your precious hardwood floors. A simple mat near the door will help get as much debris off you pet's paws as possible.

We hope that some of these tips are going to help some of you. Pets can comfortably live in a home with hardwood floors, it's just going to take a little bit of effort to keep your floors looking good for years to come. We just thought it would be a good idea to let everyone that it is possible!

How the Seasons Can Affect Your Floors

Summer is right around the corner and we thought it might be worthwhile to write about how seasonal weather changes can affect your hardwood floors. Wood is an organic material that has characteristics that make it unique. A responsible owner knows the ins and outs of their floors so as to make sure they can identify a problem at the first warning signs. Read ahead if you'd like to know what the inevitably hot midwest summer is going to do to your hardwood floors.

It was a long and brutal winter here in Chicago, but summer is coming. If you've lived in Chicago through a single summer, you know just how humid it can get. Humidity can have drastic affects on your hardwood floors. Indoor humidity can get as high as 90%. Your hardwood floors will absorb moisture and expand as a result. Prolonged humidity will lead to an effect call "cupping". Cupping refers to a situation in which the edges of the floor boards are higher than the center. While this can occur with humidity, a spill of any liquid that is not attended to quickly can have the same effects.

"Indoor humidity can get as high as 90%."

In extreme cases, the edges of the floor boards can actually start pressing against each other and lead to pressure. This pressure, if not dealt with in time, can lead to cracks in your wood. While this is an extreme situation, we think every homeowner should be wary of how dangerous moisture can be if not dealt with in a timely manner. The best way to avoid "cupping" is to make sure humidity levels inside your home never exceed 60% for prolonged periods of time. You can do this by having the air conditioner running as well as a dehumidifier.

Do Hardwood Floors Make Sense in a Kitchen?

The kitchen tends to be where a lot of families do most of their "living". It is a high traffic area that takes a lot of abuse. We occasionally get asked, "Does it make sense to have hardwood floors in the kitchen?". Our short answer is yes, but we'd like to give a few reasons why we think it's a good idea, as well as dispel some common misconceptions.

Hardwood flooring is, in our humble opinion, the most elegant flooring option anyone can choose for their home. When an entire floor is hardwood, it creates a seamless look that opens up the space. The most common option for kitchens is tiles, but we think in some cases, a hardwood floor can add an elegance and warmth that even some of the nicest tiles can't.

"A proper finish on any hardwood floor will protect your floors from the nastiest of spills."

The largest fear people have about hardwood floors in the kitchen has to do with spills. Many believe that liquids are the achilles heel of hardwood floors. This could not be further from the case. A proper finish on any hardwood floor will protect your floors from the nastiest of spills. It is important to clean those spills up as soon as possible, but the liquids themselves should not be a reason someone decides against hardwood floors in their kitchen. A properly maintained and treated hardwood floor will last a lifetime. You also get the added benefit of being able to refinish your floor if your tastes change over time.

We've been asked if we think having hardwood floors in the kitchen might make it difficult to stand for prolonged periods of time. Tiles can be just as hard as hardwood floors, so we don't quite understand this line of thinking. To anyone out there that is a huge fan of cooking, a simple nice rug near the places you're going to be standing for prolonged periods of time is a great solution. It also adds the benefit of keeping your feet warm if you're not a slipper person. 

Ultimately, no one can deny that an open layout accented with beautiful floors throughout a house adds a certain level of character that tiles simply cannot. We love working with wood because of how durable, yet malleable it is. Staining a floor can unlock hidden beauty that did not exist before. A relatively quick refinishing job can add a new glow to your kitchen for years to come. We may be biased, but the next time you're thinking about hardwood floors in your kitchen, and you're wondering whether or not it's a good idea - it's a good idea.

A Sign Of The Times: Estimates Over Email

It wasn't so long ago that a lot of our customers preferred to have a hardwood flooring specialist come to their home and do an estimate on site. Just like most things in life, change is inevitable. We are finding that a lot of our potential clients want their estimates done over the internet. We live in a hyper connected world where time is more valuable than ever. It's our job to adapt to these ever-changing environments and give the customer what they want.

We've been noticing a trend lately, and it's that people are very comfortable contacting us via email. A few short years ago, we had most our our customers calling us directly in order to organize a time to meet and have the estimate done in person. Recently however, customers like to use email to have a conversation with us. We've done our research and found that a lot of flooring professionals in the industry don't have an easy way to contact them other than phone. 

"One floor man's loss is our gain."

The conversations that begin over email often end up in the customer asking us if it's possible to do an estimate over email as well. We know that this is usually because customers want to shop around, but we've found that many floor professionals do not want to communicate via email let alone give an estimate over it. One floor man's loss is our gain. We try to accommodate our customers in as many ways as possible within reason, so we've welcomed technology to the best of our abilities.

We've mentioned this before, but we'd like to make it clear again - estimates in person are always more accurate than an estimate that we can do over email or the phone. When customers ask for estimates via email, we generally like to see pictures of what we're working with as well as accurate measurements. We've run into a few situations in which the customer essentially left off an entire rooms worth of floor. We never like running into a situation in which we have to give a price than we originally quoted. We try to adhere to the philosophy of "under promise and over deliver".

Nevertheless, we are always looking at new ways to delight our customers and give them experiences that our competitors cannot for one reason or another. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions, or if you'd like to schedule an estimate - via email or in person. 

Floor Maintenance Tips

Our customers are always ecstatic when they get to see their newly refinished floors. We like to try and remind them that their new floors are merely the beginning of years of great memories framed by having great floors to walk on. It is important to know how to maintain your floors once you have them refinished in order to get the maximum value out of them and to ensure that they are going to shine for years to come.

One of the greatest favors you can do for your new a beautiful floors is buy a broom. Most people are surprised at how harmful dirt and dust can be to a hardwood floor. Wood has nooks and crannies that are invisible to the naked eye. They exist at the molecular level, and can be a safe haven for dirt to collect. Over time, the dirt and dust can degrade the quality of your floors and become noticeable. Regular sweeping will prolong the life of your floors considerably. Better yet, a vacuum cleaner is an even more efficient tool that you can use to keep your floors looking good for years to come.

Deeper stains can be a problem that many floors owners don't know how to effectively deal with. We recommend using professional floor cleaners to deal with deep stains. We realize that a plethora of floor cleaners exists, so we'd like to point you in the right direct. The World Floor Covering Association (WFCA) is a reputable source that you can trust. They've compiled a basic list of floor cleaner that anyone can use in the event of a major spill. 

Scratching can be another phenomenon that new floor owners are not aware of. Heavy furniture can leave marks that won't go away until you get your floors refinished once again. We recommend using soft tip covers on the legs of all furniture that comes in contact with any hardwood floors. A simple scuff can become incredibly noticeable over time so please be wary.

Pets are another significant problem when it comes to hardwood floors. Although we love our pups and kitties, they can damage a floor quicker that you can say Kibble and Bits. Please be advised that long nails on your animal companion can leave a lasting mark on even the toughest hardwood floor. Cut your pet's nails to help minimize this effect. One additional side note - pet urine should be cleaned as quickly as possible. It can leave horrible stains that the best hardwood flooring specialist won't be able to refinish. Pet urine needs to be cleaned up as soon as possible.

A dog did this. Seriously.

We hope some of these basic tips help you maintain your floors for years to come. If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to contact us.

One Ingredient to Our Secret Sauce: Communication

Communication

The word quality is thrown around a lot on our industry. Everyone claims to offer superior quality for half the price. When everyone starts shouting the same thing, the worlds begin to lose all meaning fairly quickly. We'd like to be specific and mention some of the areas that we take special care in. We really do try to create a superior experience compared to the competition out there.

If you decide you need a professional floor company to come do your work, you're going to want to ask for estimates. We realize that we offer one basic service that many of our competitors do not - we respond to emails quickly. Go ahead and look around to see who actually responds to your emails. We consider our selves to be technologically savvy enough to answer an email in 2015. We find that a lot of our best customers are happy to be able to deal with a company that is able to keep up with professional individual's busy lives. 

The world changes quickly, and we do our best to adapt. We believe polite and prompt communication lays a foundation for honesty that we can use to build incredible relationships with our customers. The little things add up over time, and that's what sets us apart. We realize that looking for a hardwood floor specialist is not something everyone looks forward to. The reasons can vary, but people tend to dread large home projects because they've heard horror stories about a contractor simply walking off the job. Keeping customers in the dark is not something we do at Plus Hardwood Flooring, and we do our best to make the experience of working with us as pleasant as possible - from estimate to final coat.

We recently had a project that involved a bidding war with other hardwood flooring companies. We were able to deduce that we didn't actually offer the best price. The customer chose us simply because we responded to an email. There are floor specialists out there that don't actually know who to communicate via modern methods. That alone was enough to sway this particular customer's decision when it came to the final selection. Clearly, customers value a company that values their time and the way way they want to do business.

We've gone over some of the precautions we take that some in the industry simply choose to ignore. For us, these are simple steps that need to be taken in order to ensure that we can perform as professional as a job as possible. We take it to the next level by taking the time to explain what is going on to our customers. We're available through email, text, and phone call because we want to make the communication as easy as possible. Sure, these things benefit our customers greatly, but we do it because we find that it keeps customers happy. Happy customers are a pleasure to work with and hopefully mean a good Yelp review or two.

If you value a company that goes the extra mile to make sure you're properly informed, don't hesitate to contact us.

What Do These Disclaimers Mean?

Refinishing and installing new hardwood floors is a task that requires the use of materials that are inherently dangerous when not used with proper precautions. We do our best to inform our customers of all the hazards that a hardwood flooring project can entail so that we don’t run into any unfortunate consequences down the road. Read on to see how you can prepare your home, and the people living in it, for your next hardwood flooring job.

When we begin a project with a customer, we present a contract with a few disclaimers marked in bold because we find these to be incredibly important things every customer should know about. We’d like to go into some detail with some of these in the hopes of answering any questions you might have. 

- Dust

Whenever anyone works with wood, they need to be mindful of any dust that can get in the air when sanding a floor. Too much dust can leave very visible residue all over your  home, but it can also be harmful to your body. These tiny particles can wreak havoc on your lungs. Make sure your hardwood flooring specialist uses “dustless” systems that we talked about a few weeks ago. If you’re sanding the floors yourself, a dust mask is        always a nice precaution to take.

- Stain Splash

Laying down stain has the unfortunate side effect of lightly splashing near walls sometimes. We try to be delicate and use a fine brush to make sure we don’t knick any baseboards, stain gets everywhere. Taping the baseboards is usually a given, but even that can’t prevent some splashing from occurring and leaving a mark above the taped section.

 - Finish Fumes

Finishing a floor requires the use of chemicals and oils that can have incredibly strong smells. The process of finishing a floor requires lots of ventilation. For this reason, we ask our customers to not be present in the home while we are applying finish. While some people think they can tolerate the fumes, pets and children cannot. It’s imperative to not have pets or children in a home while hardwood floor finish is airing out.

"While some people think they can tolerate the fumes, pets and children cannot."

While finish fumes tend to dissipate fairly quickly, we’ve experienced a few instances in which it took longer than expected to properly ventilate the home after the finish was applied. In these situations, we ask that our customers act responsibly and take the extra time to avoid populating the house with individuals or animals that might fight the fumes too strong.

Staining Your Floor Is Not Always The Answer

A lot of our customers can’t wait to pick the stain color for their floors. Lots of people consider the staining process to be vital and necessary when they decide to undertake a flooring project. In fact, we've seen lots of confusion when people begin to talk about staining a floor. The process of “finishing” the wood and “staining” it are very often lumped together. Staining can lead to problems for even the most seasoned hardwood floor specialist. It’s almost a given that a first time do-it-yourself individual is going to run into complications when staining their floor. Read on to see why floor stains can lead to headaches.

We’ve had several instances where customers confuse “finishing" a floor and “staining" a floor. Finishing involves placing a protecting seal on a floor that ensures that your floors are going to look fantastic for years to come. Staining is the process by which you actually artificially change the color of a wood using pigment. Pigment inherently darkens the wood which brings all flaws in the wood to the surface. Any type of flaw that isn’t completely taken care of by the sanding is going to be a place for pigment to pool and darken. This takes a lot of people by surprise when their floor isn’t picturesque, but flaws in wood are inevitable.

Hardwood Floor With Swirls

"While most people will never notice these tiny imperfections when the wood is a nice natural light color, any stain will make each and every crevice noticeable…"

Do-it-yourself individuals tend to be people that leave the most flaws in the wood when they sand. While most people will never notice these tiny imperfections when the wood is a nice natural light color, any stain will make each and every crevice noticeable; so much so that it may even be necessary to sand the floors again and start from scratch.

One particularly ugly possibility when staining floors is something called “bleed back”. Some floor professionals spread a floor stain with a rag in order to be sure that they get an even spread. Sometimes, the stain can seep into the space between the actual plansk of wood and pool. When the stain begins to evaporate, it can actually “bleed” and leave droplets near the wood plank gaps. Too much stain, or too many coats of a stain are the usualy suspects when bleed back occurs, so be vigilant if you want to avoid ugly bleed back.

Hardwood Floor With Bleed Back

"It usually leads to having to resand the floors which adds an immense amount of cost."

Stains can take an exceptional amount of time to dry. Flooring professionals like to be conserative when it comes to drying times. Placing a finish on a stain that is not fully dry can be a complete disaster. It usually leads to having to sand the floors again which adds an immense amount of cost. If you get a flooring professional to do your floors, adding a stain can add days to a typical job which tanslates into a more expensive project. We’d even go so far as to argue that leaving a floor natural can add a truly warm feel to any room. Naturally finished floors are lighter than stained floors, which tends to make rooms feel larger as well.

Next time you’re considering refinishing your floors, second guess anyone that says you “need” to stain your floors. It can lead to headaches and extra cost, which can turn a fairly simple flooring project into a nightmare.

"Ballpark" Estimates Can Be Dangerous

It’s fairly standard practice in our industry to offer free estimates. We find that most of our customers actually expect these estimates free of charge. We’re more than happy to come look at a floor and bid for the job. We like to put a strong emphasis on seeing the floor in person before we actually give an estimate so we can set the expectations of the customer accordingly. Read on to see the benefits, to both us and the customer, of seeing a floor in person before giving a “ballpark” price estimate.

We’ve run into a lot of people that want an estimate over the phone. While you may sometimes find a contractor that is willing to give a “ballpark” figure over the phone or text, we shy away from it. We do so for a number of reasons, but perhaps the biggest one is disappointment. There are two possible scenarios that can occur frequently if we give someone an estimate over the phone without actually seeing the future project in person.

1) We can overestimate how expensive the project is going to be to the dismay of the customer. We feel better overestimating the actual cost of the project because we believe that if the customer ends up choosing us, we’re in a better position to surprise them with a price that actually comes in under budget. It’s that old saying, “Under promise, over deliver”.

2) The second scenario has us underestimating the cost of the project. This may secure us the actual job, but it can lead to headaches down the road. Customers can get downright hostile if a project ends up costing more than a preliminary estimate we give over a phone or text message. 

"...if we’re over, we end up with a less than happy customer."

We find that once we give a number, the customer tends to “anchor” that price point. If the cost ends up being even slightly under the original “ballpark” price, we have a happy customer. We’ve had customers try to send us pictures or give very detailed descriptions of the condition of their floors, but nothing beats us actually going out there and surveying the situation ourselves. What may seem like a very simple sanding job to the untrained eye, could end up being something a lot more complicated once we get there all because the photo the customer sent ahead of time didn’t show a corner of the room that had a bit of rotted wood.

"Ultimately, we want to make our customer happy, and we don’t think that giving any price before seeing the floor in person is conducive to a good experience."

Ultimately, we want to make our customer happy, and we don’t think that giving any price before seeing the floor in person is conducive to a good experience. We also prefer doing an estimate with the customer present so we can walk them through our course of action. We find that educating the customer leads to a better understanding of what the job is going to entail. We like nothing more than to have everything go according to plan, but there are occasions when they don’t. That’s when a customer with an open mind and a strong understanding of what the job entials is invaluable. 

Tips For Sanding Previously Finished Floors

Many people know that floors can be sanded multiple times. However, there is a limit to how many times you can sand a floor before you need new wood. Sanding a floor one too many times can lead to splintering and cracking. The limit for 3/4-in. solid flooring is when the wood above the groove is near 3/32-in. after sanding. There are other things you should consider before sanding your floor. Sever stains, or even scratching may require board replacement, and that tends to be more work than most of our customers are willing to do themselves. Read on to see what preparations anyone should take before they consider sanding their floors.

A seriously scratched floor

With some stains, too much sanding might be required to gain any real benefit. In these situations, board replacement is recommended. Anything from pet stains, water stains, severe scratches, and dents can require board replacement. Loose boards can also be a problem and can lead to the sanding machines to cause waves in the floor. If you have access from below, you can add screws from the bottom, or use top nails if the first option isn’t feasible. This may also be a good time to fix any squeaking you've been noticing. 

"Wax can be extremely difficult to sand as it quickly clogs up sandpapers."

We’ve run into a few situations where customers called us after they had an exceptionally hard time sanding their floors, so they asked us to come take a look. Wax can be extremely difficult to sand as it quickly clogs up sandpapers. You can determine if a floor has been waxed by scraping it with a fingernail. If your floors are waxed, you may require a little bit of professional help because the process for sanding waxed floors can be tricky. The process involves not generating too much heat in one specific loaction when sanding so as not to creat too much heat. The heat is what leads to wax melting and gunking up your sandpaper. Contact us if you’d like tips on sanding a floor that’s been waxed. We’d be more than happy to help.

Water-Based Finish vs Oil-Based Finish: A Comparison

Left to Right: Water-Based Finish, No Finish, Oil Based Finish. Wood Type: Oak

Floor finishes come in two major varieties: water-based and oil-based. Most of our customers choose to go with an oil-based floor finish, but it’s something everyone should consider before they begin their next hardwood flooring project. Read on to learn about some of the differences between the two finish types so you can make an informed choice when the time comes to refinish your floors.

Oil-based floor finishes are by far the most popular choice with our customers, and the reason for this is fairly self-explanatory. Oil-based finishes are much cheaper than their water-based alternatives. It’s simply easier to produce oil-based finishes in large quantities, and oil-based finishes have been the more popular choice traditionally. 

The oil-based finish gives a floor a warm amber hue which a lot of people love. When a customer tells us that they want their floors to “glow”, we immediately recommend the oil-based finish. It ultimately comes down to personal preference: oil-based finishes leave a warm glow while water-based ones tend to be produce a light and even look. Keep in mind that the water-based finish can add up to be considerably more expensive than the oil-based finish.

"The colors are very reserved, but nonetheless beautiful."

Whenever a customer chooses a water-based finish, we ask them to provide a reason for their choice.  People choose water-based finishes primarily for aesthetic reasons. A water-based finish gives wood a "light" feeling that some people adore, so they’re willing to pay a little bit extra to have a floor that’s unique. The colors are very reserved, but nonetheless beautiful. For some, the aesthetics of a water-based floor finish are worth the price. Occasionally, the “green” qualities of a water-based finish are enough to sway a customer that values the environmental impact their hardwood floor project will have.

"A water Based Finish is going to hold up to wear and tear much better than an oil based finish will"

A water based finish is going to hold up to wear and tear much better than an oil based finish will. Each finish requires a slightly different application technique. An oil-based finish can have a very strong smell that will eventually completely fade, while a water-based finish will have less of a smell to it during the initial application. 

Water-based finishes dry quicker but require more coats while oil-based finishes require less coats but take considerably longer to dry. Different brands of finish vary in terms of drying time so it’s not responsible to give precise times here, but the general rule applies. As always, don’t hesitate to consult us if you have any questions about anything you've learned.

What Does Dustless Mean, Anyway?

A good hardwood flooring company will focus on the details that others choose to ignore. An attention to detail is something that every customer gets with Plus Hardwood Flooring. Our refinishing and installation processes are designed to reduce the amount of sawdust that makes its way into the air that our clients breathe. We’d like to go into why it’s important to choose a hardwood flooring company that uses a “dustless” system.

"...dust is inevitable, which makes the term “dustless” a bit of a misnomer."

Sanding wood creates sawdust; lots of sawdust. It can create enough to seriously affect the breathing of anyone within the vicinity of the sanding site. A good hardwood flooring company will ensure that a vacuum is hooked up to all of the sanding machines while the work is being done. It’s important to note that no matter how many precautions are taken, dust is inevitable, which makes the term “dustless” a bit of a misnomer. However, it’s still very easy to tell when no vacuum was used as the air will be very difficult to breathe without coughing.

A Buffer Hooked Up To A Vacuum

There are various reasons that a company will decide to cut this corner, but it seems that the biggest is that it can save time. It can be quicker to just begin sanding without setting up sometimes cumbersome vacuum cleaners with hoses running every which way. The downsides far outweigh the benefits for us. Not having the vacuum is a health and safety issse for anyone stuck in a dust-filled room for too long.

When you’re deciding between different hardwood flooring companies, we highly recommend you choose to go with someone that is dustless. Make sure to hold them to it as well! Many companies advertise as dustless and then decide to cut that corner when they get to the job site. Plus Hardwood Flooring provides dustless refinishing services and they’re just a phone call or email away.

What Grit Should My Sandpaper Be?

Our customers tend to have similar reactions to certain things we show them. It has to do with a lot of common misconceptions floating across the internet when people are looking for tips pertaining to hardwood floor refinishing. It is essential to know what sandpaper grit to start with when you begin to sand your floors. Read further to see what grit is best for your next project.

"Every situation is different, and understanding what grit of a sandpaper to use comes with time."

We often get a wide-eyed reaction when we tell people what type of sandpaper we use when sanding floors. Every situation is different, and understanding what grit of a sandpaper to use comes with time. A lot of "do-it-yourself" people have some experience with sandpaper choices when it comes to smaller projects, such as furniture. In these instances,  it is best to use increibly fine sandpapers grits in order to do minimal damage to the wood. Hardwood floors are a different beast, however.

"You want to avoid choosing a grit too low, as that will leave scratches in the floor…"

The lower the grit number of the sandpaper, the rougher it is. Sandpaper grits can range anywhere from #16 to #220, with a lot of degrees of roughness in between. It can be confusing and daunting when it comes time to choosing the first grit you will be using for your first pass with your sanding machine. You want to avoid choosing a grit too low, as that will leave scratches in the floor, but you also want to avoid a grit that is too fine as that will make it nearly impossible to get the old finish out of the wood.

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#12 Grit Next to #36 Grit

It’s not uncommon for us to go as low as a #12 grit sandpaper to deal with very old and damaged floors. This comes as a surprise to those that have sanded furniture before; furniture sandpapers can go as high as #220 grit. Hardwood floor finish can be very difficult to remove even with the roughest of sandpapers, so it’s important to have the proper grit sandpaper as well as the right sanding machine for the job. Click here to learn about the differences between orbital and drum sanders.

Drum Sanders vs Orbital Sanders

A Typical Drum Sander.

 What’s the difference between a drum sander and an orbital sander?

Our customers always have great questions for us. A common question is, “What’s the difference between a drum sander and an orbital sander?”. The two are very different machines good for accomplishing different tasks, but are often used inappropriately by amateurs. We’ve come across countless instances on DIY forums where people are simply using the wrong tool for the job.

An orbital sander is a light duty sanding machine that many DIY proponents use instead of a much more industrial looking and performing drum sander. While the orbital can be used for smaller projects, it requires a great deal more effort to use the orbital to get a result that would rival a sanding job done with a drum machine.

A Typical Orbital Sander

There are various reasons that people choose to use an orbital sander over a drum sander, but the most prevalent and obvious is price. Orbital sanders are cheaper to rent from your local home improvement center, so that’s the option people end up going with.

We’ve received countless phone calls from people asking to come sand their floors for them when it ended up taking them an entire day to finish a single room with an orbital sanding machine. When we bring our drum sander into the house, people are always taken aback by how much more powerful it looks and sounds compared to an orbital.

"...it’s going to be incredibly difficult to get deep stains and scratches out with a simple orbital sander."

The sound isn’t just for show. The time it takes to sand old hardwood floors drastically shrinks when you use a drum sander. The results speak for themselves as well. Older floors tend to have very deep stains, and it’s going to be incredibly difficult to get deep stains and scratches out with a simple orbital sander. 

A drum sander is better suited for when you begin your refinishing job, especially if your floors are old. There are caveats, however.

A drum sander requires a bit of practice before actually sanding in order to not make common mistakes. Due to the sheer power of the machine, it's important to avoid keeping the drum sander in one place for too long so as to not leave deep marks and inconsistencies on the floor. A proper technique is easy enough to get the hang of and will help ensure that your sanding really makes your floors look like new again. 

Poor Sanding Technique

We encourage you to contact us if you have questions or concerns before sanding your floors.