Installing new flooring in your home isn’t as simple as measuring your space, ordering materials and putting down planks at random though. For a properly installed flooring, racking is an essential step you shouldn’t leave out. Use this guide to learn more about flooring racking and how to make use of this simple process before you begin your installation.

What is Floor Racking?

Floor racking can sound like a time-consuming task that should be left to professional installers only, right? The truth is that floor racking is quite simple and pretty much anybody can do it. If you can lift a plank of your chosen flooring material you can handle racking on your own.

That’s because floor racking is simply the process of laying out your flooring planks without fastening them with nails or glue. Doing this allows you to create varied patterns and mix and match different planks for a designer-inspired look you won’t get by randomly placing your planks at installation time. While you can do this with any flooring material, racking is a pretty standard procedure when you’re working with natural hardwood, engineered wood or laminate.

Not everybody takes the time to properly rack their floors. Skipping this step is one of the most common mistakes people make when installing flooring, and while avoiding it won’t necessarily result in damage, there’s a good chance your floors won’t look as good as they could have.

Why is Floor Racking Important?

A lot of people who are installing a floor in their homes wonder if floor racking is really necessary or if it’s just a step that will eat up valuable time. While it can easily add a few hours to your overall installation, floor racking is a vital first step when taking on a new flooring project.

Here are a few of the main reasons floor racking is so important.

Thorough Inspection

Floor racking allows you to inspect each plank as you take it out of the packaging. That means you get a look at each individual plank so you can check for defects. Once installed, defective wood won’t be covered under a standard warranty. Take the time to ensure you don’t have any defective planks before your installation. Racking early also allows you to get replacement planks before your installation is scheduled to begin.

Color Variation

Racking makes it easy to achieve proper color variation when installing flooring like engineered wood or natural hardwood. By racking your floors first, you can choose exactly what your flooring pattern will look like, giving your room and home more visual depth. With materials like wood, you can also blend light and dark planks or strategically place planks with more color variation.

Length Variation

You can mix and match plank lengths to create a smart design through racking. Varying plank lengths creates a designer-inspired look for your room. Racking also helps ensure that you don’t place all long planks together before switching to shorter planks, which will be very obvious once installed.

See the Full Picture

Racking allows you to view the floor from a standing position so you can see what your floors will look like once they’re permanently installed. This provides you with the opportunity to make changes for aesthetic reasons before nailing or gluing them down.

Understanding Acclimation and Moisture Content in Flooring Materials

Floor racking is a vital step that ensures you have high-quality wood, optimal color variation and appropriate plank lengths. Before you start laying out your floor though, allowing the wood to acclimate to the temperature and humidity of the installation location is critically important.

Why does acclimation matter so much? Consider the possibility that your flooring materials may have been shipped from a region with a climate much different than yours. Your new flooring materials may also have been in storage for some time before being shipped to you. That means they may shrink or expand slightly in your home.

In general, 48 to 72 hours is an ideal acclimation time for most materials, though a longer time generally won’t cause any harm at all in a climate controlled space. One great way to ensure your new flooring material is ready for installation is to unpack it on a Friday before beginning your installation on Monday or Tuesday. That leaves ample time for even sensitive materials like natural hardwood to acclimate to your space.

You don’t have to leave flooring acclimation to chance though. Another option is to use a moisture meter to make sure your flooring materials are ready for installation. Here’s how you can use a moisture meter to check your flooring materials before you begin the installation process.

Racking 101: A Quick Step-By-Step Guide

Racking doesn’t have to be complex. Here’s a quick step-by-step primer to help you get a handle on the basics.

1. Inspect all flooring materials for damage and defects. Put aside any planks that are unfit for installation.
2. Pull planks from different boxes to ensure varied tones and plank lengths. You can sort them into “like” groups to organize your materials.
3. Allow your flooring materials proper time to acclimate to your home. Use a moisture meter to ensure your materials are ready for installation.
4. Take time to plan your layout. Give yourself a day to ensure that you love your design before committing.
5. Make sure you stagger joints correctly. You want to avoid weak spots that could lead to damage or the need for repairs down the road.

Ready to update the flooring in your home? We can help you find a range of materials like natural hardwood, engineered hardwood, laminate, vinyl flooring, porcelain and ceramic tile and more. Our trained representatives can also give you more information about racking your floors before installation so you can proceed with the installation knowing you’ll love the outcome.

Reach out today to take the first step toward new floors. We can also help you plan your building project if you’re creating your dream home from the ground up.

The post Floor Racking: How to Lay Out Plank Flooring Before Installation appeared first on Learning Center.

Hardwood floors are one of the most traditional types of flooring because of the natural beauty of the wood and the durability of the material. With time even the most expertly installed hardwood floors will start to gap. Not only can gaps deter from the appearance of the hardwood floors, but they can also trap dirt and make a home drafty. Slight gaps are normal, but if the gap is wide enough to fit the end of a nickel into, repairs are necessary. Here’s our guide on how to fix gaps in hardwood flooring.

How Floorboard Gaps Develop

Over time, wood flooring has a tendency to shrink. The shrinkage causes gaps in the flooring, especially in older homes. This is also common in extremely hot or dry locations. As the moisture is drawn out of the floorboards, they become smaller and start to gap. Proper installation can help to minimize this occurrence, but it cannot be avoided completely.

Initial Sanding

Any time wood floors are being refinished, an initial sanding is required. If the floors are heavily scratched, opt for a drum-style sander. These machines are easy to rent and work by cutting through the top layer of finish, smoothing the floor and getting rid of any scratches. If there isn’t much damage to the floors, an orbital sander makes a great option. This device lightly sands the floor, smoothing the surface without removing too much wood or causing thinning.

No matter which method of sanding you choose, make sure to use a shop vacuum to remove all sanding dust from crevices, ensuring the floor is clean and dust-free for the repair steps.

3 Methods to Fix Gaps in Hardwood

When they do occur, the first decision is whether or not to fix gaps in hardwood. All natural wood will expand in warm weather and contract in cold weather. Slight gaps that occur in the winter should not be repaired unless they are severe. Wait until the warmer months and see if the gaps still exist. If so, and they are bigger than the end of a nickel, it is time to repair them. Fortunately, there are some reliable methods for getting rid of those unsightly and drafty gaps without replacing the entire floor.

Patching with Wood Putty

Supplies

• Wood Putty
• Putty Knife
• Sander
• Stain

For smaller cracks, wood putty makes a great option. The putty is easy to work into gaps using a traditional putty knife. Allow the putty to fully dry completely before moving on to sanding and finishing. Unlike the wood itself, putty does not contain a wood grain, so expect a slight variation of finish from the wood to the putty because of the difference.

Using a Rope Filler

Supplies

• Wood Glue
• Jute Rope
• Putty Knife
• Stain

Start by painting the inside of the crack with some wood glue. Work a length of jute rope into the gap using a putty knife. Continue until the entire gap is filled with the jute rope, packed as firmly as possible. Using jute rope instead of wood putty can result in a more natural look but the rope does have a tendency to work its way loose over time. When that happens, use the putty knife and a little more wood glue to press the rope back into place.

Fixing with Wood Strip Filler

Supplies

• Table Saw
• Spare Floorboard
• Sander
• Rubber Mallet
• Stain

Using a table saw, rip strips of wood out of a spare piece of flooring, taking careful measurements of the length and the width of the gap being filled to ensure a tight fit. Using a rubber mallet, work the wood strip into the gap, using wood glue to secure the strip in place. This method should only be completed by someone experienced with a table saw, as cutting small strips can be difficult and dangerous if not done properly.

Tip: When you are installing hardwood floors in a room, make sure to keep a few spare wood planks on hand for repairs down the road. Wood floors can be hard to match, especially many years later. Keeping extra at the initial installation will save headaches later on.

Sanding & Refinishing

No matter which repair method you choose, a few finishing steps are necessary to restore the hardwood floor to its original beauty. First, sand the area or areas patched to make sure they are smooth with the surrounding floor boards. Vacuum and wipe clean any dust and debris from the process, allowing the wood floors to dry completely before moving on to the next step. Once they are dry, stain the area or the entire floor, depending on how severe the repairs were. The areas that are filled with strips, rope, or wood putty. Sometimes, the wood floors and the filler material will accept stain at different rates. When this happens, re-apply the stain where needed until the entire floor is a consistent color.

Repairing gaps in hardwood floors is an easy process that can be done with the help of a couple standard tools and supplies from the local hardware store. Take a free weekend and fix gaps in hardwood floors, give the area a fresh finish, and fall back in love with this traditional flooring option. Does your hardwood floor have other damage? Check out guides on how to fix buckling floors and how to replace damaged areas of hardwood floors as well. With a little maintenance, hardwood floors can be a sophisticated and long-lasting choice for any home.

The post How to Fix Gaps in Your Hardwood Flooring appeared first on Learning Center.

Many homeowners focus on décor and furniture when styling their living spaces. However, flooring is one part of any room that you shouldn’t overlook. The condition and quality of your floors impact how the space appears, and you’ll want to take steps to keep your floors in great shape. Engineered hardwood floors are especially stylish in any home.

They add the beautiful look of authentic wood flooring with the added benefits of being stronger and more stable than solid hardwood. While engineered hardwood is more durable, it can still be susceptible to scratches, especially in high-traffic areas and in busy homes with pets and kids. Learn how to fix scratches on engineered hardwood floors to make sure that your flooring always makes a stellar first impression.

What You Will Need To Fix Scratches On Engineered Hardwood

To fix scratches on engineered hardwood, you’ll need floor repair wax. Almost all hardware stores and home improvement stores have this material in stock. Make sure you get a type of wax with the correct color for your floor. Some waxes come in a stick-shaped similar to a crayon or marker. Other waxes are sold as blocks.

Larger floor repair kits can be somewhat pricey at around $60 or more. However, you may find that these kits include many of the other supplies and tools you need to complete the job. In addition, you can continue to use the kit in the years to come since you’ll find plenty of wax for future uses in the kit. Many wax repair kits come with multiple shades of color so that you have the option to blend colors to get an exact match with your floors.

Besides your repair kit, you’ll need the following tools and supplies:

• Broom
• Washcloth
• Rubbing alcohol
• Cotton swabs
• Plastic putty knife
• White cotton cloth
• Painter’s tape (optional)

Gather these materials and make sure everything is clean before you begin. You’ll want all your supplies to be close at hand during the process to avoid moving around and bringing dust into the area while you work.

Prepare the Area

Do you have many scratches you’re planning to fix at one time? If so, move furniture and rugs out of the way and mark each one with painter’s tape so that you don’t lose track of where you’ve been working.

Next, sweep the floor thoroughly. You’ll want to lift any dust and debris out of and away from the scratches.

5 Steps to Fixing Scratches

Follow the five steps below to fix a scratch:

1. Clean the area. Apply some rubbing alcohol to a washcloth. Wipe the scratch and the surrounding area.
2. Really get in there. Dip a cotton swab into rubbing alcohol and run the swab along the length of the scratch. This action will remove any remaining dirt and debris.
3. Prep your floor wax according to the directions. Before you proceed, hold a sample of the wax next to the floor to compare the shade. You may need to blend different colors of wax to get an exact match for your flooring.
4. Fill the scratch. Using the plastic putty knife, take a small amount of wax and push it into the scratch. Press it down at a diagonal angle until the scratch is filled. Use the flat end of the knife to remove excess wax so that the wax in the scratch is level with the rest of the floor.
5. Lightly wipe the floor using a cotton cloth. Remove excess wax from the floor without removing any wax filling the scratch. If you need to even out the wax, you can buff the area very lightly with a fine-grit sandpaper.

If you’ve fixed a number of scratches and feel as though the results don’t blend in perfectly, you may want to consider staining your engineered hardwood floors. The stain will help to lock in the wax you’ve applied and create a more even and consistent color throughout the room so that the fixed scratches blend in.

Buff It Out

If you’re dealing with a very fine, shallow scratch that penetrates only the wood veneer surface and not the wood itself, you may be able to buff it away rather than using a wax repair kit. To accomplish this task, use very fine grit sandpaper and lightly buff the scratch as you move in the direction of the grain of the wood. Use a tack cloth to clear away dust and debris once you’re finished sanding.

The veneer on your engineered hardwood flooring is likely only 1/16- to 1/8-inch thick. Therefore, this technique will work only for very light scratches. Don’t use too much pressure while sanding since excess force could permanently damage the wood under the veneer layer.

Alternative Methods to Fix Scratches on Engineered Hardwood

While using a floor repair wax or light buffing works for many homeowners, you can consider alternative methods to remove the appearance of scratches on engineered hardwood flooring. Discover some of the other scratch repair strategies you may want to try:

• Steel wool: Light scratches may be fixed by steel wool rather than sandpaper. Rub fine steel wool lightly over the scratch to minimize its appearance. Be sure to go with the direction of the wood grain to avoid creating more scratches.
• Wood filler: Use a plastic putty knife to apply premixed wood filler to a scratch. Make sure you choose a wood filler that matches the color of your engineered hardwood flooring.
• Seal the area: After using any of the methods mentioned here, including wax, sandpaper, steel wool, and wood filler, you can refinish and seal the area using varnish or polyurethane. Apply the product with a lamb’s wool applicator or natural bristle brush to prevent air bubbles from developing.

Engineered hardwood floors are designed to last for decades. In fact, top-quality brands may last up to a century. With such a long lifespan and a house full of pets and children, some scratches are bound to develop. To make scratches disappear and keep your floors looking beautiful for decades to come, carefully apply one of the methods described above.

The post How to Fix Scratches on Engineered Hardwood Floors appeared first on Learning Center.

Unlike traditional hardwood floors, which are made using solid wood, engineered hardwood floors are created using different layers. The surface layer of engineered hardwood is real wood, and the underlying layers are typically high-density fiberboard or plywood. This difference in composition means engineered hardwood has different cleaning requirements. To make sure you don’t accidentally damage your floors, learn about the best ways to clean engineered hardwood.

4 Tips for Cleaning Engineered Hardwood

Manufacturer Recommended Liquid Cleaner

Different styles of engineered hardwood floors require different cleaners. When you’re looking for a liquid cleaner, it’s important you choose one that has been manufactured or recommended by the same company that created your floor. If you use the wrong type of liquid cleaner, you could seriously damage your engineered hardwood.

If you’re not sure what type of cleaner you should use, you can contact the manufacturer to request its recommendations. Once you find out the liquid cleaner you can use on your floor, you can typically find it at your local hardware store or one of the larger supply stores.

A liquid cleaner is particularly effective at removing dirt and stains. When you’re ready to start cleaning your floor, apply a small amount of the liquid cleaner right onto your engineered hardwood floor. Then use a sponge or mop to wipe up the cleaner. If the stain or dirt didn’t come up the first time, keep adding more cleaner until you can remove it.

It’s important to remember that you don’t want to leave the liquid cleaner on the floor for too long, and you want to make sure you wipe all of it up after you’ve cleaned the stain. Excess cleaner could cause more damage to your floor if it sits there too long. It’s not necessary to use any water to rinse the area when you’re done cleaning.

If you have small corners or spaces you can’t reach with a mop, you might find it easier to clean by hand. In this case, pour a small amount of liquid cleaner on a clean rag. Then use the rag to gently clean the dirty area of your floor.

Do Not Use Excessive Water

Excess water is the enemy of your engineered hardwood floors, and it could cause irreversible damage or stains if it stays on your floor too long. Of course, life happens, and you’ll occasionally spill something on your floor. When that occurs, make sure you wipe it up right away. As you’re cleaning up the spill, be sure to blot gently instead of scrubbing or using forceful pressure. Putting too much pressure on your floor could press the liquid into the layers and cause damage.

Not only can spills cause damage, but using excessive water or liquid when you clean can also cause harm to your engineered hardwood. Therefore, you never want to use a soaking wet mop to clean. Instead, make sure your mop is only slightly damp. If you have any excess cleaner left on your floor after mopping, use a towel to wipe it up.

Dry Mop and Vacuum Daily

No matter what type of floor you have at home, dirt and grime can cause problems. When you walk around on your floor, these particulates will act as abrasives that can scratch the finish and leave it susceptible to damage. Therefore, one of the best ways to keep your engineered hardwood floors clean and safe from damage is to dry mop or vacuum them every day.

To help clean up any dirt that ends up on your floor, use a dry microfiber mop. This will effectively pick up debris and dirt without the risk of damage. If you decide to vacuum your floors instead of mopping them, be sure to turn off the beater bar. If your vacuum has a setting for bare floors, use that. If not, make sure you select the highest setting so the beater bar is as far away from the floor as possible. This prevents your vacuum from leaving any scratches on your floor’s finish.

Preventative Maintenance

Good preventative maintenance between cleanings can help make sure your engineered hardwood floors stay beautiful for many years.

First, you want to make sure you keep the right environmental conditions inside your house. Aim to maintain the temperature between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit and humidity levels between 35 and 55 percent. Wood reacts to changes in temperature and humidity. If the air inside your house is too warm or dry, the wood in your floors can become brittle and possibly crack or split. On the other hand, if you have too much moisture in your air, the wood can swell and buckle.

Since it’s important to keep dirt off of your floor, consider putting a doormat outside all exterior doors to trap dirt before it enters your house. You can also put a throw rug just inside the entrance for added protection. Just make sure you regularly clean the rugs. If you want to protect your floors from accidental spills in the kitchen, cotton area rugs in front of the sink, stove, and refrigerator work best because you can easily wash cotton. Just make sure you don’t use mats with a rubber backing since they can trap water underneath.

If you want to help prevent scratches and marks on your floor, don’t use furniture with rolling casters because they can cause damage. Instead, put fabric glides on the bottom of furniture legs. These glides will let the furniture move easily across the floor without scuffing it. Just make sure you remember to occasionally clean the glides to remove dirt that gets embedded in them. You should also consider keeping your pets’ nails trimmed and keeping your shoes in good repair to prevent scratches.

Engineered hardwood floors are a popular choice for homes because of their beauty and durability. With these helpful cleaning tips, you can make sure your floors continue to stay lovely for years to come.

The post Best Ways to Clean Engineered Hardwood Floors appeared first on Learning Center.

Hardwood flooring is considered to be one of the most timeless flooring options for any home. Back in the day, solid hardwood was the only choice to achieve this look. Fortunately, the development of engineered wood flooring has provided another option with many of the same benefits of solid hardwood floors.

When you choose engineered wood flooring for your home, you get the look and feel of solid wood floors at a fraction of the price. Since potential savings are a major incentive for choosing engineered floors, it’s no surprise many homeowners hope they can save even more by installing it on their own. But depending on what type of engineered floors you choose, DIY installation might be more difficult than you’d expect. Here’s what you need to know when deciding whether you want to install your own engineered wood floors or hire professionals to do the job for you.

Consider the Space

Where do you plan to install your engineered wood floors? This is a critical component to consider when deciding whether DIY installation is the best choice. If the space has many odd angles or edges, it can be difficult to make all the right cuts to fit it perfectly into the space.

Will you need to fit the flooring around hearths, stairs, cabinets, or floor registers? This will add much time and detail work to the installation, so be sure you’re up to the task before deciding to go the DIY route.

If you are doing your own installation, you’ll also need to measure properly to order the correct amount of flooring. Calculate the square footage of the space, then add a little extra to account for cuts or mistakes. For a simple, straight-course flooring installation, you’ll only need to order about 5 to 7 percent extra. For a complex installation with many unique angles and edges, or when installing a herringbone pattern floor, add 15 percent extra to your order.

What Kind of Tools Do You Need?

If you plan to install your own engineered floors, be sure you have the right tools on hand. While you’ll certainly save money by making it a DIY project, it’s important to remember there may be costs involved in stocking up on materials and buying or renting the necessary equipment. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Staple gun
• Pneumatic stapler
• Finish nailer
• Air compressor
• Miter saw
• Table saw or circular saw
• Rubber mallet
• Awl
• Tar paper.

You may also need to purchase new baseboard moldings and wooden thresholds to complete your DIY engineered wood flooring installation.

What Type of Underlayment Do You Need?

Most types of engineered wood floors require an underlayment. This extra layer underneath will help keep the floors in good condition while also making it a bit easier to complete a DIY installation.

Tar paper is the most common type of underlayment used with this type of flooring. It helps to form a moisture barrier to prevent condensation from floors below from rotting away the bottom of your engineered wood planks. One exception to this common installation requirement is any type of engineered wood installed with glue. Generally, no underlayment is required with a glue-down application.

If you’re not sure which type of underlayment is right for your home, consult the manufacturer’s instructions for the engineered wood flooring you’ve selected.

Do You Have Stairs?

Jasper Engineered Hardwood – Myth Birch Collection / SKU: 15053799

Adding engineered wood flooring on your stairs can make them look stylish and sleek. However, it does make DIY installation a bit more complicated. You’ll want to set aside extra time for the project if you plan to add engineered wood to a staircase in your home, since the process is much more complex compared to installation on the floor.

Start by prepping the stairs for installation. You’ll want to remove any protruding staples or nail heads, screw down creaking boards, and remove any existing nosing. Ensure you have a dry, flat surface on each step. Measure and cut each individual stair carefully. If you have spindles that attach to the stairs, you may need to make intricate cuts and connect two pieces around the spindle on each stair for a snug fit.

Be sure to work from the top of the stairs to the bottom. Finish by filling the nail holes in with wood putty and allowing the new wood planks to sit in place overnight before walking on them.

What Are Your Installation Options?

Perhaps the most important factor in your potential DIY project is which of the three main engineered wood flooring installation methods you’ll be using. While some methods are easier than others to complete, the one you’ll need to use depends on a number of factors, including what type of subfloor you have and the design of your engineered wood planks. Here are the installation methods used for installation engineered wood floors:

• Glue-down installation: If you have a concrete subfloor, you’ll probably need to use the glue-down method to install your engineered wood floors. While this process is a bit more time-consuming, it generally does not require an underlayment.
• Nail/staple installation: Homeowners with a wooden subfloor can use a nail-down or staple-down installation for their new flooring. An underlayment is generally required with this method. Pneumatic staplers or nail guns will help make the project easier and faster.
• Floating installation: This the most popular option for a DIY installation, since it does not require attaching the new floors directly to the existing subfloor. You’ll still need an underlayment. However, once that’s installed, you simply glue or snap the planks together to finish the project.

Engineered wood flooring is quickly becoming a popular option for homeowners who want an affordable upgrade for their space. With its significant savings over solid hardwood and the option to choose DIY installation, this is a relatively budget-friendly home makeover. Handy homeowners should be able to complete this project. However, for those without as much experience in home improvement, the floating installation method provides a simpler alternative that most should be able to tackle on their own.

Resources:

https://www.builddirect.com/blog/how-to-choose-an-engineered-wood-floor/

https://www.builddirect.com/learning-center/flooring/installing-glueless-floating-hardwood-floors/

https://www.thisoldhouse.com/how-to/how-to-lay-engineered-wood-floors

https://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/rooms-and-spaces/floors/how-to-install-an-engineered-hardwood-floor

https://www.woodandbeyond.com/blog/underlay-for-engineered-wood-flooring/

https://www.hunker.com/12356307/how-to-install-engineered-wood-flooring-on-stairs

https://www.lowes.com/projects/build-and-remodel/how-to-install-an-engineered-hardwood-floor/project

The post Engineered Flooring Installation: PRO or DIY? appeared first on Learning Center.

Whether you’re planning to install new hardwood flooring or you love the vintage wood flooring in your home, protecting it from wear and tear is essential. After all, wood floors are incredibly strong and durable, but all flooring experiences scratches and shows signs of wear over time. That’s why taking appropriate precautions is important. Follow these four tips to prevent scratches, keep wear to a minimum, and enjoy your beautiful wood floors for years to come.

Protect Wood Floors From Heavy Furniture

Bold furniture can look striking against hardwood floors, but heavy tables, bookcases, sofas, and armchairs can easily scratch your floors if you aren’t careful. To keep furniture-related scratches and gouges minimal, make a point of lifting rather than pushing or sliding heavy furniture. After all, it’s easy to damage floors when moving or dragging furniture, so recruit a partner and move furniture safely.

Not all scratches result from moving furniture across a room. Minor shifts can add up, eventually creating deep gouges in your hardwood flooring. To prevent this type of damage over time, place pads or wheels underneath every table, chair, and sofa leg. Keep in mind that wheels allow for easier movement, but they could cause impact-related damage if you place them underneath particularly heavy pieces. Cork pads are best for heavy furniture you don’t plan to move, while felt furniture pads allow you to move chairs and coffee tables more smoothly.

For an extra layer of protection between the furniture and the hardwood flooring, consider placing area rugs throughout the room. Rugs can prevent heavy sofas and armchairs from scratching bamboo or hardwood floors, while adding color and visual appeal to the space. If you’re concerned about particularly heavy pieces leaving dents in the flooring below, add a carpet pad underneath your rug of choice.

Shield Wood Flooring From Shoes

In comparison to weighty items like sofas and sideboards, shoes may not seem like such significant threats to wood flooring. While footwear certainly doesn’t weigh as much as furniture does, it can still scratch the surface, especially if you install hardwood or bamboo flooring in high-traffic areas.

To shield wood flooring from shoes, consider asking family members and guests to refrain from wearing their shoes or at least certain types of footwear on your hardwood floors. Stilettos and cleats can be particularly damaging, since their sharp edges can easily scratch both the finish and the wood itself.

While protecting wood floors from hard-soled shoes can help prevent damage, even sneakers and soft-soled shoes can cause scratches. Every time you walk across hardwood floors, you press grit, sand, rocks, and other substances into the floor, which can scratch the finish over time. To keep this type of damage minimal, place rugs inside exterior doors and encourage family members to wipe their feet.

Make a point of sweeping or vacuuming hardwood floors regularly to prevent gritty substances from accumulating and scratching the surface. Mopping can also help keep your floors clean, but be sure the material can handle moisture before applying a wet mop. For example, most hardwood and engineered wood flooring can handle moisture, but water can damage bamboo flooring.

Prevent Pets From Scratching Hardwood Floors

Whether you have dogs or cats, you want your pets to enjoy your hardwood floors as much as you do. While the average pet won’t deliberately scratch your floors, simply walking across a wood floor can cause damage, especially if your pet has longer claws.

To prevent your dog from scratching the floor, make a point of trimming its claws regularly. Whether that means more frequent trips to the groomer or weekly sessions with a pet-friendly nail file, keeping claws short and smooth can go a long way toward preventing unsightly scratches. Taking your dog for daily walks can also help with claw control, as walking on the pavement can file claws down naturally.

Keeping your cat’s claws neatly trimmed might not be as easy, but that doesn’t mean you can’t protect your floors adequately from pets. Rather than leaving wood floors bare and prone to scratches, try placing area rugs or floor runners on hardwood or bamboo floors. Pay attention to areas where your pets tend to tread and be sure to cover their usual pathways. You’ll protect the floor while providing your pets with a surface that’s easier for them to navigate.

Choose the Most Protective Topcoats and Finishes

To give your wood flooring the best possible chance of resisting scratches and other damage, it’s important to choose the most effective topcoats and finishes. Keep in mind that you can order many types of hardwood and bamboo flooring with additional protective layers, but you can also apply a more effective finish later. Take a look at some options for protecting wood floors:

• Wax: One of the oldest options for protecting your floors, wax is also one of the least durable and requires frequent touch-ups and refinishes.
• Oil-Based Polyurethane: A tough finish that’s easy for DIYers to apply, oil-based polyurethane is an affordable option for protecting your floors. Note that it has a high volatile organic compound (VOC) content, so you should always use a mask when applying this finish.
• Water-Based Polyurethane: One of the most common wood flooring finishes, water-based polyurethane is straightforward to apply, dries quickly, and has a low VOC content. It can also protect your floors, but it’s less effective than oil-based polyurethane.
• Moisture-Cured Urethane: One of the hardest finishes available, moisture-cured urethane is a smart choice for making your hardwood floors more durable. Note that professionals should apply this finish, which is known for producing excessive fumes.
• Aluminum Oxide: A popular choice for bamboo flooring, aluminum oxide is one of the most durable finish options. Note that this finish is only available for new, prefinished flooring, and you can’t usually refinish it if it sustains damage or wear. Instead, you’ll typically need to replace it altogether.

When you choose the highest quality wood flooring and prevent the surface from experiencing wear and tear, your floors can look and feel like new for years to come. Keep these tips handy to protect your wood floors from furniture, shoes, pets, and other types of objects that cause scratches.

Resources

https://www.builddirect.com/r/Wood-Flooring

https://www.builddirect.com/Engineered-Hardwood-Floors

https://www.builddirect.com/r/Bamboo-Flooring

https://www.builddirect.com/learning-center/flooring/keep-your-hardwood-floor/

https://www.builddirect.com/learning-center/flooring/repair-scratch-dent-hardwood-floors/

https://www.builddirect.com/blog/scratches-on-bamboo-floors/

The post How to Prevent Scratches on Wood Floors appeared first on Learning Center.

Wood Flooring Installation Mistakes to Avoid

1. Not Preparing the Subfloor

The condition of your subfloor will have a direct impact on the quality of your hardwood floors. When the subfloor is not properly prepared before installation, it can lead to a number of problems, such as loose boards and loud creaking noises. Over time, you may need to replace select wood planks or deal with cracked or warped floors as a result of these issues.

Don’t rush the process when working on your subfloors before installing the new wood flooring. The better the condition of your subfloors, the longer your wood floors will remain in good condition over the years to come.

2. Forgetting to Check Moisture Levels

Humidity has a direct impact on wood flooring. When conditions are dry, the wood planks contract. When moisture is present, the wood flooring starts to expand. When the boards are installed at either of these two extremes, you’re more likely to see issues develop over time.

For example, wood floors installed during a dry winter will be at their most contracted state, and when the weather heats up and becomes more humid, the boards expand and can begin to crack due to the increased pressure. However, wood floors installed when the weather is quite humid and warm are already expanded. When the weather becomes cool and dry during the winter, the boards contract and homeowners notice gaps between the boards.

If you live in a climate that experiences cold, dry winters and hot, humid summers, take moisture levels into account before you install wood flooring. Those who live in milder climates may not experience these issues.

3. Creating a Lazy Layout

Even if it appears that your home has right angles at every corner, your rooms are not likely to be perfectly square. When you hastily start installing wood floors, you may find out that the planks look odd in certain places or need to be cut at strange angles to fit.

Since wood planks create long lines that run across your floors, a poor layout will be particularly noticeable. You want to produce highly accurate measurements of the floors you’ll be covering before you get started on installation. By planning out all your work ahead of time, you can spot any potential problems before it’s too late to undo your work.

4. Going the Bad Racking Route

With wood flooring, “racking” simply means planning the order in which the boards will be installed. Racking a hardwood floor makes the installation process go smoothly while also ensuring an attractive look once everything is in place. When you don’t rack your wood planks or you rush the process, you can end up with a floor that has too many joints clustered together in one spot or an odd placement of different lengths, grain patterns, or wood tones.

5. Not Nailing Enough

It may seem that your boards are securely in place as you go through the installation process. However, you’ll want to carefully install each plank with enough fasteners to prevent loose boards, creaking, and other issues in the future. Don’t rely on snugly installed planks to hold enough of the other pieces in place. In addition, avoid rushing through the project since haste may make you more likely to forget to nail down each plank properly.

How Can You Avoid These Common Wood Flooring Installation Mistakes?

The flooring mistakes above may be the most common, but fortunately, they are also easy to avoid. Use the following tips to make sure your wood flooring is installed properly.

• Let Wood Floors Acclimate to the Environment: Allow the wood floors to sit in your home for several days to acclimate before beginning the installation process. Avoid issues with moisture levels in the air by installing your wood floors in the spring or fall when moisture levels are in between the two extremes of dry and humid conditions.
• Prepare Subfloors Properly: Your subfloors should be clean, dry, and flat before installing wood flooring. You should also make sure you’re not installing your wood floors on an inappropriate subfloor, such as particleboard.
• Measure Carefully: Use accurate measurements to help lay the flooring in a way that looks best in your home. Avoid awkward positioning, such as boards that need to be cut very narrow to fit in front of a doorway or staircase.
• Lay Out Everything: Use the racking process as a chance to lay out your floors and make sure you like the look before you get started with the installation. Move planks around as needed to get a nicer look, especially in highly visible areas such as entryways, stair landings, or in front of a fireplace.
• Include Enough Fasteners: You should have at least two fasteners per plank. If the planks are wide, you may need to include more fasteners.
• Hire a Pro: If you’re feeling unsure about this type of DIY project, hire a professional to install your wood flooring instead. Although having pros, such as BuildDirect PROs, complete your wood flooring installation will cost more, you’ll avoid the costs of repairs that may be needed down the road if you fail to install them properly yourself. Hiring a pro is also a good idea for site-finished flooring, nail-down flooring, and unusual room configurations.

Now that you know which common wood flooring installation mistakes to watch out for, you should be able to more easily complete this DIY home improvement project successfully. Laying wood floors takes much work, so if you feel overwhelmed by the task, don’t hesitate to get professionals to help out with the job.

The post 5 Common Wood Flooring Installation Mistakes appeared first on Learning Center.

As beautiful as hardwood floors are, they require a significant amount of care both during and after installation. Wood reacts to changes in the environment, even if that environment is your home, and its sensitivity can lead to ugly grooves, hills, and valleys undulating across your living room floor. Homeowners with wood floors are frequently faced with buckling or peaking floorboards. Although the damage appears atrocious — and costly to fix — you can easily repair the issues yourself after becoming familiar with the common causes behind it.

The Root Causes of Buckling and Peaking On Hardwood Floors

Even if your flooring features the highest quality exotic hardwood flooring, it is going to buckle or peak if it’s poorly installed and not well-maintained. To fix peaked or buckled wood floors, it’s essential to understand what causes the wood to warp. Both problems are usually because of water damage. While that’s the most common cause, it’s not the only one. Still, it’s often the first place to look for the culprit, since both wood and laminate are sensitive to the relative humidity (RH) in your home. The idea RH level is zero, so when the moisture content causes it to rise above that, the wood lifts away from the subfloor. Leaks, general dampness, and prolonged exposure to water warp the hardwood as well.

Buckling

Some installers treat the terms as interchangeable, while others conflate the definitions. For the purposes of this guide, buckling occurs when the floorboards groove upward in a convex shape that’s the direct opposite of cupping, an issue that bows the wood in a concave shape. Other reasons for buckling include failure to acclimate the flooring before installing it. Giving the boards time to acclimate lets them get accustomed to the RH level in the room. Failure to install a moisture barrier is another cause.

Peaking

Peaking describes more dramatic grooves in the hardwood. The grooves rise higher, and the peaked areas involve more than one floorboard. Water damage is usually the reason for buckled floors, but mistakes during installation are frequently the cause behind peaks. Wood floors need to breathe. The humidity levels in your home naturally change with season, temperature, and weather. The correct way to install hardwood is to leave small gaps between the floorboards and around the room where the wood meets the wall. The gaps give the boards room to expand when it’s humid and to contract when it’s dry.

Without room to expand, the swelling floorboards heave upward, creating walking hazards and unsightly hills. The boards may splinter as well, particularly around the walls. Any restrictions that inhibit floating floors from actually floating pose the same problem. It’s impossible to overemphasize how important it is to leave wood floors the space they need to contract and to expand.

Uncover the Cause of Peaking and Buckling in Your Floor

Before attempting to fix your much admired maple hardwood floor, it’s necessary to discover what’s causing your problem. You know the main culprits, so sniffing out the cause won’t take long. Moisture or water damage is the most likely issue, especially regarding quick changes. It doesn’t take much water exposure to buckle unprotected boards. At that point, your biggest problem involves figuring out what’s behind your moisture problem.

Peaking due to tension is distinctly different. While humidity and moisture content lead to peaking, the damage done is messier and wider spread in that it tends to affect groups of boards. Since there’s nowhere for the boards to expand, they often splinter along the edges of the room. Those signs let you know the flooring doesn’t have any personal space, so to speak.

How to Fix Peaking and Buckling

1. Remove the Molding First

Several methods fix grooved floorboards, but it’s smart to try the easiest one first. Unless the water damage is visibly located in another spot, get down on the floor and carefully take off the molding from the wall. Be careful not to crack the wood or scratch the paint. You shouldn’t need anything other than a hammer and a screwdriver, though you might feel more comfortable using a thin chisel you can wedge between the molding and the wall.

2. Change Out the Spacers

During the installation process for wood flooring, spacers separate the floorboards closest to the walls from the walls themselves. If the spacers are too large, they could impede the wood’s ability to swell safely in damp or humid weather. When you purchase replacements, get them in numerous sizes, all smaller than what’s there now. Try the next smallest spacers; then push the peaks. If the pressure doesn’t cause them to flatten out, move on to the next smallest spacer and try again.

3. Replace Damaged Boards

Some buckles, grooves, and peaks are too warped or water damaged to flatten them. Replacing them doesn’t mean you have to tear up the entire floor, however. You can just remove the peaked boards and install a new section of flooring in their place. Match the hue by purchasing hardwood that’s already stained, or stain and seal it afterward.

Don’t make the same mistake twice. As you place the unblemished boards, leave tiny gaps between them. The correct spacing isn’t large; you shouldn’t see glimpses of the subfloor beneath. Each floorboard merely needs room to expand without repeating the same problem.

4. Return the Molding to Its Place

Whichever way you choose to remedy the warped floorboards, once the grooves are gone, and the floor is smooth again, carefully reinstall the pieces of molding. You’ll probably need to hammer it back into its proper place. Remove any nails that remain in the wood and reinstall it using new finishing nails. Take care not to splinter the molding as you return it to its proper place.

Hardwood adds value to the home and creates an elegant, warm atmosphere in any room you install it. It’s essential you maintain it properly, whether that involves humidity and temperature control, protecting the floorboards, or repairing them as soon as you see signs of peaking or buckling. If you acquire the help of a professional to install new flooring, then double-check that there are spaces between the boards and no obstructions beneath it that will interfere with the wood’s ability to expand and to contract.

Whether it is your kitchen or living room floors, buckled and peaked floorboards just aren’t the best way to enjoy your pricey hardwood floor. Besides the obvious effect on appearance, such a floor is a safely risk. Now that you know what causes these issues, you should be able to avoid them. It also helps that you now know how to replace the affected floorboards.

The post How to Fix Peaking or Buckling Hardwood Floors appeared first on Learning Center.

Hardwood flooring adds an elegant touch to any home, whether you lay the floor yourself or have original, antique flooring. However, damaged areas of hardwood flooring can not only wreck the aesthetic of the room, but they can also throw your OCD into high gear. Fortunately, replacing damaged areas of hardwood flooring isn’t as difficult as you might think. Novice DIYers get ready: It’s time to channel your inner Bob Vila and restore the luster and beauty to your hardwood floor.

Removing or Changing a Few Planks

Jasper Hardwood – European Brushed Oak Collection / SKU: 10096546

If you’ve noticed a few planks have some damage, but the rest of the floor is in relatively good shape, replacing everything is a waste of time and money. It’s quick and easy just to remove the disfigured plank without damaging the rest of the flooring, especially if they use the tongue-and-groove design found in most modern hardwood flooring. Tongue-and-groove flooring enables the wood to fit together snugly while also controlling vertical movement. The best part is that when a tongue-and-groove plank succumbs to water, scratches, or splits, it’s simple to remove.

Before getting down to business, decide which planks are ready for removal. Look for cracks, splits, and other imperfections in the wood. If a plank has a small chip or scratch, don’t automatically mark it for demolition. Oftentimes, you can use a stain pen, a wood flooring repair kit, or a combination of mineral spirits and sanding to repair or to hide the scratch. If the board or boards are beyond repair, it’s worth it to remove all of them at the same time.

Start the removal process by marking which boards are coming out. Once you’ve decided which ones are ready to go, you have two options. If you don’t have a circular saw, start by marking a perpendicular line midway down the board. Use either a half-inch or three-eighths-inch drill bit to drill into the board, but make sure you don’t get down into the subflooring. After you’ve made the hole, use a chisel to split the board in two for easy removal. If you have a circular saw, cut down each side of the board to remove the tongue(s).

Now that the board is separate from the rest of the flooring, you should be able to pry it out without a ton of effort. Use a nail puller or the backside of a claw hammer to remove any extraneous nails from the subfloor. From there, replace the new piece of wood. If it doesn’t fit, you may have to cut off the tongue or shave one side with a saw. Cut small areas if possible to ensure you don’t the board too thin.

Before putting the board or boards in place, put construction or wood glue on one side of the board to help it stay in place. Then, use a nail gun or a hammer to nail the board into place. Be careful not to dent the wood if using a hammer.

Fixing Water-Damaged Hardwood Flooring

Water damage is one of the leading causes of hardwood flooring replacement in newer floors because it affects the wood quickly. By the time you notice there’s a problem, it’s almost always too late. While the polyurethane coating on the flooring keeps out minor water spills from your kids or a dropped beer, a leaking refrigerator and a dishwasher can wreak havoc on the wood in a short time.

The most telltale sign your flooring has water damage is cupping. Cupping occurs when the wood absorbs an excessive amount of water, which causes the wood to swell. Once the wood swells, it expands and pushes the boards together, causing them to become damaged at the edges. It’s relatively easy to spot, and if it’s in the kitchen, the bathroom, or the laundry room, water damage is the typical culprit. If no water is present, cupping is usually the result of poor or improper installation, which could mean you have to replace the entire floor.

Rarely do you pray for water damage, but when it’s between that and an entire floor replacement, water damage is the lesser of two evils. The first step to repairing water-damaged flooring is to find the source of the leak. Without finding the source, you’ll end up repairing the same spot repeatedly.

After determining the water source, it’s time to repair. If the water damage is somewhat light, you can often get away with sanding the floor down about a quarter-inch and staining them to match the rest of your flooring. When the damage is more severe, the fix becomes much more labor intensive.

Start by removing the affected planks as mentioned previously. However, you’ll want to inspect the subfloor for moisture. If necessary, replace this portion as well, and if there’s concrete underneath that’s harboring moisture, allow it to air-dry before replacing the subfloor and hardwood. Once you’ve removed these portions of the floor, put a new piece of subfloor in place and place a moisture barrier on top. Put in new planks just like you did before.

Once you have the new planks in, a staining might make the floor look brand new. However, if you’re worried about uniformity or the water damage is widespread, refinishing the wood flooring across the entire room is your best bet.

Preserving Your Hardwood Flooring

Although a damaged floor is sometimes unavoidable, prevention reduces the occurrence drastically. Preserving your hardwood flooring is also easier than it might seem. Clean your floors regularly to remove grime and moisture, put down area rugs and mats in front of doors to reduce scuffs and scratches, and implement a no-shoes policy in the house to make sure your wood flooring maintains its look and structural integrity.

By following these tips, replacing your hardwood flooring becomes second nature, no matter what the cause of the problem. From water damage to cupping to buckling and everything in between, you’re now an expert on a job you thought was over your head. Now it’s just like new under your feet.

Resources:

https://www.builddirect.com/learning-center/flooring/repair-scratch-dent-hardwood-floors/

https://www.builddirect.com/blog/5-ways-to-preserve-your-hardwood-flooring/

The post How to Replace Damaged Areas of Hardwood Flooring appeared first on Learning Center.

As gorgeous as hardwood floors are, they’re also expensive, which is why many homeowners opt to install laminated wood flooring instead. Engineered flooring so closely resembles genuine solid wood that it’s practically impossible to tell them apart. Plus, it’s much less expensive. However, that doesn’t mean you can throw it down and simply forget about it. Engineered hardwood has its own set of unique maintenance requirements and potential damages, beginning with the threat of delamination.

What is Delamination?

Delamination is a flooring defect unique to floor boards made of composite material like laminate and engineered. You’ll know delamination when you see it because the flooring top layer begins to separate from the core. The floorboards might bubble or hump in the middle, or the top part might peel back from the edges. It’s also a problem you might notice in other laminate items, such as cabinets and dressers, but here we’re going to focus on flooring delamination.

What Causes Delamination?

Moisture damage is the primary culprit.  The layers that compose engineered wood are typically held together with glue. Intense pressure ensures its longevity and improves its ability to hold its shape, but once water penetrates the layers, the pressure releases and the layers begin to separate.

How to Avoid Repeat Delamination

The best way to prevent delamination in your floors, is to try to pinpoint the cause  before you repair it to ensure you don’t have to deal with a repeat of the issue later. As you might expect, that means you have to choose your cleaning products carefully. Homeowners who clean their solid hardwood with a natural mixture of water and vinegar assume they can do the same with laminate flooring, but that’s a mistake with potential for damage. Vinegar is acidic. The acid eats away at the veneers of the floorboards and loosens the glue. Although the floors appear to gleam, they’re gradually breaking down, especially if you use a damp mop that leaves behind moisture. Swiffer machines and floor steamers are too wet for engineered and laminate floors, too.

Traditional hardwood floor cleaners aren’t automatically appropriate for laminate. Always read the label to ensure a product is actually recommended for use on engineered wood. Otherwise, use a soft broom and a vacuum. Spot-clean spills or pet accidents and wipe up the cleaner thoroughly, so it doesn’t soak into the floorboards.

You might think that you’re improving the appearance of your floors with the application of a floor polish. However, those aren’t made with engineer hardwood in mind. Rather than resulting in a rich, gleaming finish, the application may cause the oils to damage the laminate. Ammonia is another substance to avoid at all costs. In addition to delamination, it results in unsightly discoloration.

How to Fix Delaminated Floors

1. Gather Your Tools

Delamination looks terrible, but fixing it is fairly easy, even if you’re not skilled at home improvement. Gather together the tools you need first, so you aren’t caught without an item you need. The project requires a putty knife, wood glue, a can of compressed air, and several clamps. Include an old rag to wipe away excess glue.

2. Clean Out the Top Layer

Using the tip of your putty knife, slide it beneath the delaminated layer. Slide it back and forth as far as it will go, but don’t force it. Spray the compressed air underneath the separated layer. You can blow yourself, but the can is less work. You just need to get rid of dirt particles and debris. Exercise caution during this part to avoid creating more damage or peeling back the wood any further.

3. Get Ready to Glue

Repairing delamination just requires a bit of glue, but you have to glue carefully. Avoid overspill, not only because it’s a sticky mess, but also because it mars the surface of your flooring. Hold the peeling layer open with the putty knife; then insert the very tip of your glue bottle and squeeze out a modest amount at first. Add more if necessary, but only after you spread around the glue with your knife. Cover as much of the exposed surface as possible. Repeat the process with every separation and every delaminated floorboard.

4. Secure the Repaired Boards

Wood glue needs time to dry. It also needs to remain undisturbed. The easiest way to guarantee that your fix sticks is to use clamps to hold the repaired layers together. You need as many clamps as you have separations. Peeling floorboards that curl may require spring-loaded clamps. Flat pieces of plywood fare well with bar clamps. Tighten each one until the glue begins to seep out from the cracks. That’s normal. It means the layers are securely held in place. Wipe away the glue. Let the floorboards rest that way for 24 hours.

At that point, you can remove the clamps. The flooring is ready for reinstallation, and it’s just as durable as ever. Follow the traditional installation method, taking care to leave space for the wood to swell in the heat and humidity. Traces of glue may remain on the surface of the floor. Don’t fret. Try cleaning it off with a safe soap on a barely damp cloth. If that doesn’t work, use a wood stain marker to color over the discolorations. Just make sure to match the color of your floor as closely as possible.

If only every flooring fix was so quickly and effortlessly accomplished. Bear in mind that you may need to change the way you clean your floors, and you might consider putting down area rugs in high-traffic areas, along with mats in front of every entrance into the house. Never let liquids stand on the floor, particularly sticky spills and animal accidents, as odors can seep into the floorboards as well.

Resources:

https://www.builddirect.com/blog/cleaning-laminate-floors/

https://www.builddirect.com/learning-center/flooring/wood-flooring-issues-faqs/

https://www.builddirect.com/learning-center/flooring/13-wood-flooring-issues-and-their-causes/

https://www.builddirect.com/blog/benefits-of-laminate-flooring/

The post Wood Flooring Issues: Delamination appeared first on Learning Center.