Frequently Asked Questions

Many think that carpet or tile is easier to clean. That simply isn’t so. Hardwoods don’t grow mold between grout, hold bacteria in its fibers, or trap dust particles in hidden places. All your floors need is a simple mop and an occasional non-aerosol spray. Be sure to avoid oil-based cleaners; they can leave behind film, affecting how a re-coat finish sticks to the old coat later on. With a simple mop and water, the task is done in less than half the time required to vacuum, scrub, or shampoo other floor surfaces. [FIND OUT MORE]

Unfortunately, as time goes by, normal traffic will wear your floors and scratch marks are inevitable. With all wood floors it’s important to try to avoid placing rugs and runners in high traffic areas that “trap” in dirt, causing scratches and scuffs on your floors. Place chair leg protectors and stick on cushions to decorative vases to help prevent scratching. Do not drag or push furniture across the floor when moving or redecorating. Before choosing your flooring, talk with your Portland Hardwood Flooring specialist about which wood floors are the hardest. They can help you determine which flooring hardness will help you minimize scuffs and scratches. 

Real wood floors are the simplest and best way to boost your home’s resale value, and as a perk they last the life of the home. Carpet is replaced three to six times before most solid wood floors need any refinishing or repair. Wood floors not only cost less in the long term but they also add value to your home.

We spend 90 percent of our time indoors. Other surfaces harbor allergens, while wood does not trap dust, fumes, dust mites, or mold. Some researchers believe the dust mite could be responsible for increasing asthma occurrence. According to the American Lung Association, wood floors can improve air quality.

There are many types of hardwood floors available.  Many homeowners look to install hard, durable flooring in the home.  Fir, pine and bamboo flooring are typically categorized as a softer hardwood flooring. Cumaru, Brazilian walnut and Brazilian cherry are categorized as a harder hardwood flooring. Laminate flooring is the softest, engineered flooring medium, and solid hardwood flooring the hardest. If hardness is an important factor for you, be sure to ask your local Portland Hardwood Flooring installer for more information.  [FIND OUT MORE]

Engineered floors are good for those do-it-yourself customers. Engineered flooring works well on basement/concrete flooring or those who wish to install radiant floor heating underneath their floors. Engineered floors cannot be refinished, although there are some who argue that they can be refinished a maximum of one time. Solid wood floors can be refinished multiple times over and the color can be changed as time goes on as well. There are multiple color choices, plank widths, and textures available as well. Feel free to visit our ‘prefinished vs. unfinished’ tab for more detailed information on solid flooring.

Prefinished floors are already finished with several layers of finishing, making the floor very hard and durable. The biggest advantage of unfinished flooring is that throughout the years they can be refinished time and time again; and for a fraction of the cost it would be to refinish prefinished flooring. There are advantages and disadvantages to both prefinished hardwood floors and unfinished hardwood floors. You should go over the options with your hardwood flooring installer to help you decide what is important for you and which would work best in your home. Call or contact us and we will be more than happy to drop by with samples of each type so that you can decide which one fits your home and lifestyle. If you have concerns about the dust or fumes that come with unfinished wood, we use a Dustless Sanding System to ensure that all dust particles and allergens aren’t introduced into your home. We can also provide you with the option of using an Eco-Friendly, low odor/low VOC, water based finish which is less toxic and doesn’t smell as strong as an oil-based finish.

Screen and recoat is often called “buff and recoat”. This process can be used to freshen up your floors and take out some of the dullness and minor scratches in the floors. Don’t expect a buff and recoat to take out any deep scratches, gauges, or discoloration. If you are looking to Seal or Recoat your floors and are concerned about the fumes and odors, we give you the option of using an Eco-Friendly, low odor/low VOC, water-based finish instead of an oil-based finish. Screening is a fairly quick process and a homeowner will typically be able to return in the evening. Your hardwood floor refinisher will use a buffing machine and abrade the old finish on your floors. He will then vacuum the area and apply a fresh coat of finish giving your floors their old shine back.

Before deciding to refinish your floors entirely, see if there is a lower cost and faster way of giving your floors that new shine. You may be able to buff and recoat your floors in as little as one day and pay a fraction of the cost of sanding and refinishing it entirely. If repair work is required necessary stained boards can be replaced, certain scratches can be touched up, and dark painted floors can be refinished. Keep in mind that if your floors have stain applied to them to change its color, touch ups and repair work can be difficult to impossible to do. If you are having some of your boards replaced, be aware that if you are only going to apply finish to those particular boards, there will be a noticeable difference between them and the existing. Time will blend the two together, but the best option would be to have the entire room refinished so that the seams and finishes are flawless.