Hardwood flooring has been a sign of luxurious living for ages. A hardwood floor’s timeless appeal and gorgeous interior design appearance has made it a popular choice for every home style and needs. Hardwood flooring comes in an array of shades from darker cherry hues to lighter oak colors, which allows it to easily be personalized to any home. No two hardwood floors are ever identical due to the natural hues and designs of the wood variations- and because of this, you can ensure that the flooring in your home is unlike any other.

With the modern manufacturing and installation process for hardwood floors, they’re built to last for generations. Hardwood floors are an investment that lasts. With their durable make-up and ageless appearance, they add value to your property and are guaranteed to hold up well, even in high traffic areas. They can also have heavy items and furniture placed on top of them without showing wear, dents or grooves over time. The strength of hardwood floors is something that many people appreciate, because unlike other lesser-quality floorings they do not need replaced often. They are a one-time investment for your home, and they’re timeless appeal will ensure that they never go out of style.

One of the most appealing aspect of hardwood floors is the fact that they are very easy to clean. They do not harbour grime and dust like many other floorings do, and require a simple sweeping and mopping in order to make them shine. They do not have grooves, ruts, or fabric that easily stores away pollens and allergens- so they’re not only an easier-to-clean option, they’re overall more hygienic than other floorings and better for the health of the air in your home. Spilled drinks and food are never a problem either, because wood flooring does not easily stain and messes can be wiped up very easily.

Hardwood floors are a fantastic investment for someone who wants a beautiful, quality flooring in their home that will add resale value, maintain it’s gorgeous appearance for a long time, resist wear, and be very easy to clean.

Allow the boxes that contain the flooring material to lie open in the room where the flooring is to be laid for a period of 5 to 7 days. This will help the boards adjust to the ambient conditions in the room such as temperature, humidity, light, etc.

Whereas hardwood flooring is recommended for most rooms in a house, rooms with a shower or bathtub should be excluded. This is because of the damage that water can cause the wood. Hardwood flooring can be installed in rooms with high traffic like the kitchen, the entrance and near the refrigerator. However, it is recommended that mats be placed on the floor to prevent the floor from damage. Hardwood surfaces are generally not advised to be installed on vertical surfaces such as sink backsplashes or as wall coverings. For basement flooring, engineered hardwood is recommended.

Solid hardwood floors can be installed on or above grade wood subfloors. In the case of engineered hardwood floors, they can be installed on, above or below grade wood floors. In case you are planning to install the hardwood flooring above grade floors, there should be a moisture barrier between the subfloor and the hardwood flooring to prevent any moisture that may reach the hardwood floor and cause damage to it.

Any vinyl flooring that is amply cushioned beneath or is tightly secured to the subfloor can have an engineered hardwood floor laid on top of it.

Thin-profile hardwood floors (solid) of thickness 5/6 of an inch can be installed on concrete slabs. However, solid hardwood floors with 3/4” thickness is not recommended to be fixed on concrete slabs. This thickness requires a wood subfloor. Specific care should be taken when applying glue directly to the concrete floor surface. In the first place, the most appropriate glue must be selected. The manufacturer’s instructions as regards application, and spread rate of the glue must also be kept in mind for the best outcomes.

To keep your hardwood floor clean it is advised that you dust or vacuum your hardwood floor at least once or twice a week. It can be done more number of times, if required. Ensure that you use a brush for felt head for the vacuum. This is the best method for maintaining polyurethane finish floors.

• Clean up any liquid spills immediately
• Use floor mats and area rugs for high traffic areas. Use interior and exterior doormats at the entrance of the house.
• Use rubber bushes/floor protectors under all the furniture legs and other heavy items.
• Relative humidity in the house should ideally be between 35 and 50 percent.
• Ensure that your hardwood floors are kept away from direct sunlight.
• In case you have pets, ensure that you keep their nails trimmed and filed.
• Do not use ammonia based or acrylic cleaners, vinegar, acid-based cleaners, bleaches/detergents for your hardwood floor.
• Do not use rubber, plastic or foam-backed mats. They tend to retain moisture.

Sealing hardwood floor after installation may alter its finish warranty. Hence it is not recommended. Even if the floor is sealed, this sealing would last only for one complete cycle of summer and winter seasons. The floor will continue to expand and contract even after this.

Water can permanently damage the quality of your hardwood flooring. They cause damage and prematurely age the wood. Any water spill on a hardwood floor should be immediately wiped with a clean cloth.

Any item should be moved with great care across hardwood floors. When moving heavy items across your hardwood floor, ensure that you use 1/4-inch strips of hardboard to be placed as runners under the wheels or legs of the furniture.

It is a good idea to use a rug underlay (breathable) with grid or mesh pattern. Rubber, latex or vinyl underlays may discolor the hardwood floor.

Many reputed hardwood brands offer touch-up kits for repair of scratches on hardwood floors. They can be bought off at retail stores.

It is best to leave waxed hardwood floors as they are. If any other top-coating material is applied in future, chances are that wax may hinder the adhesion of the coating material. It is recommended that high-traffic areas be waxed two times in a year to maintain the shine and quality.

If there is dirt that has built up or discolored patches on the waxed floor, it is a good idea to use a solvent-based cleaner rather than a water-based cleaner on the floor. Use fine steel wool or cloth to gently spread the cleaner on the wax floor and remove any dirt or grime. The floor is then wiped clean, left to dry for about 20 to 30 minutes and then buffed up.

Vinyl or tile cleaning products when used on hardwood floors can cause them to become slippery and also dull. In such a case, they should be sanded and refinished to regain the shine.