Handyman Matters
Wood Flooring
There is no match to the kind of beauty and warmth that your hard wood flooring can give to your
While hard wood floors earlier were restricted in the number of color choices they offered, today you can choose from a varied palette of shades. It's entirely possible to have a wood floor that is customized with stains and finishes to give you a unique floor. An olden wooden floor can be given a make over by staining and finishing it. The species of wood to choose from includes classic choices like oak hard wood floors, cherry wood flooring, maple, birch, walnut etc. If a traditional hard wood floor doesn't fall within your budget, consider a bamboo wood floor instead. These are now available in easy to use strips and planks that make them simple to install and easy to take care of. Engineered hard wood floors are comprised of several layers of wood that are bonded together. These floors have the grains running in different directions, and are ideal for rooms like basements, where a solid wood floor may not be practical. Also, consider the room itself. The kind of flooring that you need in a high traffic heavy use area like the kitchen, will be different from the kind of floor that you need in a formal living room.
Hard wood floors are not as expensive as they used to be, and now come in competitively priced styles. Even so you may find them more expensive than other flooring options. Consider however, that your hard wood floor, with a little maintenance can last for the life time of the house, and the fact that a home with a wood floor sells quicker and at higher prices, and you begin to see the value of investing in a hard wood floor. Some basic steps ensure that your hardwood floor can last for years. Keep these golden rules in mind. Keep your wood floor away from water, and don't damp mop. Wipe spills as soon as they occur. If you have hard wood floor in the kitchen or just outside the bath room, place mats to absorb any spilt water. Always follow your manufacturers' recommendations for the cleaning of your floor. Never wax a wood floor, and place rugs and mats strategically near entrance ways and door ways to prevent dirt and grit from entering the house. Wear practical foot wear on your hard wood floor, and avoid pointy heels. These can actually exert immense pressure on your floor, causing denting and scratching. Vacuum regularly, but use a brush attachment and not a beater.
Recent Requests
We would like laminate flooring installed in our living room. The size is 13 x 21, there is carpet in there now but we could have that removed prior to install
Ken D
450 sg.ft of finish oak hardwood floor. 3 1/4 thick and 1 1/2 width
Kenneth F