HARDWOOD IS A NATURAL PRODUCT....THEREFORE, NEVER EXPECT PERFECTION...ONLY THE BEAUTY OF NATURE...
UNDER YOUR FEET....you must realize that before your purchase.
WE HOPE THESE TIPS HELP YOU TO PREPARE FOR YOUR HARDWOOD FLOORING PROJECT.......
TIMING YOUR PROJECT
The first thing when planning your hardwood flooring project is to allow the proper amount of
time to do the job correctly. We find that most customers do not do this and then we
are rushed to get the job done. Weather plays an important role during your project.
If the weather is bad, your project could be delayed. Therefore, you must allow extra time
just in case the weather is bad. Many customers book up to two months in advance.
This booking will guarantee your time in our busy schedule and give you peace
of mind. We will not run equipment in bad storms for the safety of our workers. Your
wood flooring mechanic should be the only contractor working in your home at the time.
Do not schedule appliance or any deliveries until you know your wood floor will be completed (usually at least one week later).
Also, we may not coat your floor if it's raining.
WORKING WITH OTHER SUB-CONTRACTORS
We are more than happy to work along with your painter and other contractors. It is, however,
the customer's responsibility to make sure that other contractors do not ruin the work we have done. Many times contractors do not correctly cover and protect our floors. Therefore, we
would have to charge the customer again to correct whatever was ruined. Many customers
don't feel comfortable with any other contractors working while their floors are being done.
The floors are the final touch to your remodel project, so take good care of them!
LEAKS & TRIM WORK
Make sure you have no leaks that will destroy your wood floor when being installed or
finished! It is the customer's responsibility to make sure that this is done beforehand
and ready for us to proceed. If you have a leak coming from a window/door, then you
MUST have that fixed first or it will ruin your floor. Our mechanics are not licensed
plumbers. We do not install or take care of doors/windows. Also, a licensed carpenter
can take care of your trim work. We are not carpenters and deal mainly with the wood
on your floor.
MAKE YOURSELF AVAILABLE TO US
Make yourself available during your project. You can leave us a key to do the
work, but be available to come back to your home at ANY GIVEN TIME. Our time
is valuable as well and we cannot be held up during a critical process. Sometimes
the mechanic will need to show you something on your floor that you were not aware
of. If you are planning to stain your wood floor, then you will need to be available when it's time to look at colors. Colors are chosen when we arrive to start your project and sand.
Also, if it is at a critical point and time for your payment due, please make
sure you are there on that day. We want to continue moving along on your project
and any delay in payment could possibly hold up your project. If we have to make
an extra trip to collect the installment, then we will have to charge an additional
$50.00 fee. The reason for that is because we must pack large equipment up every
time we meet a customer unexpectedly (and possibly drive a far distance).
GETTING YOUR ROOM READY
When you get your room ready, take away all glass, electronics and any breakables.
Please, remove dirty clothing from your bed and floor! We rather not touch your
personal items and want to go in and work as fast as possible! When rooms
are a mess, it prevents us from getting started. Clear out as much as possible
to have an empty room. Hire someone if needed to move your furniture and all
appliances before we arrive.
KEEP YOUR PET SAFE
If you have a pet, please put your pet out of harms way. Give your pet a nice
"doggy" vacation that week and keep them away from the excitement. Your pet knows
when something is going on. It is hard for the men to work and speak to you when
your pet is jumping on them, etc. You must keep your pet away from finishes and
machinery. We want to keep your pet safe, but your pet is your responsibility and the
same fact applies with children. It is very dangerous for them as well.
PLEASE DON'T WAX YOUR HARDWOOD FLOORS!
Please don't wax your hardwood floors! Once your floors are waxed we may not be able to coat them
for you. You want to be able to "lightly" sand and coat your wood floors before a holiday
or special occasion. It only takes a few hours to do and it will remove surface scratches.
You will have a beautiful new shine on your hardwood floors! If you wax your hardwood floors,
then we cannot coat them.
PROTECT YOUR HARDWOOD FLOORS
Also, try not to drag any furniture on your hardwood floors. You can buy some felt pads
and place them on the bottom of your chairs to protect your hardwood flooring.
Take a very light damp mop with water and clean them. Protect your investment!
AREA RUGS ON HARDWOOD & ROOM TEMPERATURE
During the refinishing process, don't walk on your floor when your flooring mechanic
is getting ready to coat it (unless you like footprints in your finished product).
Do not put area rugs back on your hardwood floor after they are refinished for at least a week.
Give the finish a chance to cure before placing objects on the floor. Keep your home
at a reasonable temperature for the hardwood flooring to dry and during the whole process.
It shouldn't be humid, damp and hot. This fact also applies to hardwood installation.
PURCHASE ENOUGH HARDWOOD FLOORING
When you purchase your laminate or engineered flooring, always purchase extra boxes (at least 2)!
Lay the boxes on the floor and do not stand them up. Sometimes products are discontinued and
impossible to find so it's great to keep extra on hand! You never know if you may need them in
case of damage to your wood floor in the future.
REPAIR GUARANTEE FACTS
We can never guarantee refinishing or repairing of engineered wood flooring. There is only
a thin layer of wood to sand and we can only do our best. You can only sand engineered floors
possibly twice and then it may be time for replacement. It's important that we help you to
understand this fact about engineered flooring. They usually come out beautiful, but there
is always a chance that they will not be perfect.
IS DIY WORTH IT?
In our experience, customers that try to install their own flooring don't leave room
for expansion. This will cause the floor to buckle and you will need to usually call us!
Try to avoid this by having a professional install your floor. It's worth a few extra dollars
and will save you a headache later on. We have seen customers have to replace the entire floor!
It may look nice when your finished, but come to haunt you later!
Are you thinking about having hardwood flooring installed? Here are some questions to ask yourself:
What color do I like, dark or light hardwood?
Do I want wood grains and knots in my hardwood?
Should I get solid hardwood or an engineered wood that I can only sand down twice?
Do I want to be able to refinish my wood (If I change my decor colors later) down the road?
Laminate is fake and not real wood flooring. Do I want that or the real thing?
Do I want to invest in the home I am in? (All "real" wood installations increase the value of your home).
You definitely would want a thick, solid piece of wood. It makes a lot of sense. If the wood is thick,
you can sand it over and over again for years to come. Most customers stick with the
usual red oak 2 1/4" x 3/4 inch. They can sand and stain it any color they want. We can
even bleach the wood natural. Yes, I said "bleach." That happens to be my favorite choice.
Ask about our earth friendly acrylic finishes for sensitive customers that have allergies.
Flooring Etiquette....Should I tip my flooring guy?
YES! They love tips and an ice cold drink. If you see your flooring guy go above and beyond, then tip him or buy him lunch.
If he offers to do something that a flooring person doesn't normally do(like move furniture, put shelves together or take your dog out), then show your appreciation by all means!
You may even get more than you asked for(I've seen them give FREE coats of finish and totally free borders!)just because they were nice. They are on their hands and knees all day in a very physical field. On top of that, it is quite a talent that many people don't possess (not me anyway). Everyone likes to be appreciated, no matter what field you
are in.
STANDING OVER THE WORKERS
Standing over their shoulder makes it difficult for them to work! If you are focused on getting something done, than the last thing you want is someone to stand over you so you can't concentrate. They need to watch the flooring and not you! Please let them do their job and the results will amaze you! Workers can get seriously injured when they are distracted. Nailing a floor can get a little dangerous when you are focused on someone watching you. You will get a better end result when there are no interruptions!
Bamboo's Role in the Environment:
Bamboo is the fastest growing plant.
It produces greater biomass and 30% more oxygen than a hardwood forest on the same area, while improving watersheds, preventing erosion, restoring soil, providing sweet edible shoots and removing toxins from contaminated soil. Bamboo produces structural beams, flooring, wall paneling, fencing and many more sustainable by-products of environmental restoration.
WE CAN REFINISH & STAIN BAMBOO FLOORING!
Bamboo generates 30% more oxygen than trees.
It helps reduce carbon dioxide gases blamed for global warming. Some bamboo sequesters up to 12 tons of carbon dioxide per hectare, which makes it an efficient replenisher of fresh air.
Bamboo is a natural water control barrier.
Because of its wide spread root system and large canopy, bamboo greatly reduces rain run off, prevents massive soil erosion and keeps twice as much water in the watershed. Bamboo helps mitigate water pollution due to its high nitrogen consumption, making it a solution for excess nutrient uptake of waste water from manufacturing, livestock farming and sewage treatment.
Bamboo is the biggest type of GRASS.
You can confirm this by looking at the leaves, which are long and spear-shaped, typical of grasses. Bamboo differs in forming a woody stem, and of course, growing much bigger than any usual kind of grass.
In Asia, bamboo is put to wide range of uses, maybe more than any other plant. Bamboo shoots are good to eat, for humans as well as pandas! But besides food, bamboo is used for paper, furniture, flooring and construction, for fuel, to make chopsticks, needles, and weapons.
HARDNESS CHART
Numbers in chart denote dent resistance in pounds.
Natural Bamboo...1340 and Carbonized Bamboo...1010
We refinished this Cypress floor after it was taken from the St. John's River
and milled into flooring. Save a tree and use "reclaimed" lumber!
Environmental Friendly Finishes
Solid hardwood floors finished with a waterborne finish are much better
for chemically-sensitive people than carpet or vinyl floor coverings.
We have finishes available that are made with environmental waterborne
technology for sensitive people.
