Hardwood Flooring – More Versatile Than Ever 

Hardwood floors are extremely popular in today’s homes, and for good reason! Besides being relatively easy to clean, they give your home a distinctive look that adds to its beauty and value. Whether the vibe you are going for is sleek, modern, rustic or classic, adding a new hardwood floor to your home will set the stage for expressing your style for years to come.

The Benefits of Hardwood Floors

Hardwood floors are:

  • Easy to clean – Maintain an attractive and healthy home environment. A broom and the occasional damp mop are all you need to keep dust and dirt at bay.
  • Timeless – Enjoy a neutral palette that never goes out of style. You can change your décor to achieve a fresh new look without re-doing your floors.
  • A wise investment – Increase the value of your home when it’s time to sell. Homebuyers love the clean feeling and upscale quality of hardwood floors.
  • Durable – These floors handle activity well, age gracefully and can be refinished. There’s no need to worry about permanent traffic patterns or annual professional cleanings.

These days, hardwood flooring is available in many colors, patterns and finishes as well as tree species. Imagine a wide-plank floor with a natural finish in a farmhouse kitchen compared to a narrow, stained and highly polished cherry floor reminiscent of a Victorian parlor. An entirely different atmosphere can be created by adding or changing hardwood flooring in your home.

The following are some of the specific aspects of a hardwood floor to consider.

Material

The traditional hardwood types used for flooring include oak, maple, hickory and cherry. Each has its own natural color and grain pattern, which can be enhanced with stains and/or finishes. Bamboo and cork are rapidly growing in popularity as flooring materials. These renewable resources make beautiful, comfortable floors that have relatively low environmental impact.

Size and Color 

Flooring planks come in a variety of lengths and widths and can be laid in different patterns to match the style of your home. Wood may be stained in any number of shades from warm ambers to dark browns as well as lightening treatments. Choose the stain color that complements the overall design of the room.

Finish

A polyurethane or similar sealant will protect the floor from water stains, scratches, gouges and other mishaps that occur in a busy home. Oil and wax finishes are also available, but they require a bit more maintenance and care with spills. The completed floor can be polished to a high gloss, a medium semi-gloss or a satiny look or have a matte finish – it’s up to you!

With so many possibilities, it can be a bit overwhelming to decide on the best flooring option for your project. So let our experts help you choose a floor that enhances the ambiance of your home and aligns with your design goals. The result will amaze you with its enduring beauty.

  • Sweep or vacuum the floor regularly to keep it free of dust, grit and other abrasive materials.
  • Blot up any food, drink or liquid spills immediately.
  • For more thorough cleaning, use a hardwood specific spray cleanser (available at your flooring dealer). Follow the product instructions.
  • Do not use any household cleaners, oils, soaps, waxes or any abrasive materials or scouring agents on the floor.Failure to follow these floor care instructions may void product warranty.

The following care and maintenance is specific to polyurethane finished floors. For information on Natural Oil or UV- Cured Oil finished floors, please contact your flooring dealer.

  • Hardwood floors are factory-finished with a durable finish that is designed to provide years of protection and easy care. Some simple care and maintenance procedures will help to keep your hardwood floor looking its best and help to protect it from unnecessary wear and damage.
  • Sweep or vacuum the floor regularly to keep it clean and free of dust, sand and other abrasive materials. Place area rugs or doormats at entryways to help prevent sand, grit, oils, dirt and other abrasive or staining materials from being tracked onto the floor surface from outdoors. (Avoid rubber-backed or similarly dense matting materials that may trap moisture between the mat and the floor; choose mats that enable airflow instead.)
  • Place protective mats at high-use work areas such as sinks, ranges, service counters and workstations.
  • Protect the floor from any exposure to liquids, water and other forms of moisture. Blot up any spilled food, drink or other liquid immediately. This is especially important for all styles of Elements by Kentwood EDGE, Cork and Bam-boo flooring. Under no circumstances allow liquid to remain on the surface of these floors longer than 30 minutes.
  • Never wet mop the floor when cleaning. Avoid walking on the floor with wet feet or footwear. Damage caused by
  • flooding, broken pipes, wet mopping or any other exposure to liquid or moisture is not covered by the product warranty.
  • Ensure that environmental conditions are maintained with a temperature of 60-80OF (15-26OC) and humidity at 30-50% RH at all times. Hardwood flooring reacts to changes in the environment. Excessive heat or dryness can result in gapping or splitting; excessive humidity can result in cupping. Gapping, splitting, cupping or other problems resulting from exposure to improper environmental conditions are not covered by the product warranty.
  • If the floor is installed over a radiant heating system, never allow the surface temperature of the floor to exceed 82OF (28OC). Avoid dramatic temperature changes; always adjust the system gradually in 5O increments. It is recommended that a dedicated quick recovery thermostat be installed to allow the temperature of the radiant heating system to be accurately controlled.
  • Put felt protector pads on the feet of all furniture, display stands, file cabinets and other accessories that will be placed directly onto the floor surface. Inspect regularly for wear and replace as necessary. Avoid letting sharp or pointed objects come into contact with the floor surface. Do not walk on the floor with high heeled shoes, sports cleats, or other types of footwear which may damage the finish or cause indentations to the surface.
  • Pets’ nails will scratch and mark the floor surface. Keep pets’ nails trimmed to minimize damage to the surface.
  • Do not drag, push or roll appliances, furniture or any heavy object across the floor. Use heavy duty moving mats, dollies, or other moving aids to protect the floor surface.
  • Hardwood flooring will naturally undergo a change in color as it adjusts to the ambient light conditions of the installation environment. The degree of color change varies by species. To ensure a uniform change, it is recommended that you do not place area rugs on the new floor for sixty days after installation. Thereafter, periodic re-arrangement of furniture and area rugs will help ensure that your flooring colors evenly.