The Cheap Alternative: Buying Hardwood Floors Wholesale

A lot of people decide not to go with hardwood floors because they are rather expensive. In fact, when you compare their price to cement, hardwood floors are priced higher by around 20% to 30%. 

Why is this so? Hardwood floors come from organic and exhaustible materials. In addition, it takes years for an oak tree (the common source of hardwood) to fully mature, so technically, its preparation is more tedious. Concrete takes only a few hours to make and it doesn't usually require heavy human labor. On the other hand, there are a lot of people involved in producing the final hardwood floor plank.

However, this doesn't discount the fact that hardwood floors are still the best way to go. Not only do they make the room cooler, but they actually give it a more natural look. Concrete makes a room look very contrived, which is a no-go for claustrophobes and a pain to deal with during extreme heat.

Hardwood floors are expensive, yes, but they are not impossible to obtain. You can purchase hardwood floor materials on discount from hardware stores, or you may buy them wholesale. If you're building an entire house, wholesale is your best option. It might be expensive at first, but it is a one time shell-out that, when calculated, is a lot cheaper in the long run. If you buy hardwood floor planks by the piece, then you're setting yourself up for a huge expense. 

Wholesale hardwood floors are available in any wood and hardware store, so they're not difficult to find. Literally defined, wholesale hardwood floors are planks bought in bulk. And aside from being a cheaper option, getting them wholesale will spare you from the hassle of having to go to the store again to keep buying more boards. 

Most stores offer free delivery of hardwood floors, especially if they are bought wholesale. Transporting these wood planks is no joke, that's why stores are more than willing to do the delivery for wholesale orders at no extra cost. 

Should You Buy Unfinished Hardwood Flooring?

Many home building do it yourself prefer to buy their materials in their most basic and purest form to preserve the idea of really starting from scratch. Thus, when it comes to flooring, these people opt to get unfinished hardwood, so eventually they can proudly say that they the finished product is something they had labored over.

But, pride aside, there is no convenience to buying unfinished hardwood floors. For one, purchasing it bare is just the first step of many. You will still have to sand it, apply finishing, stain it, wax it, and, for some, apply preservatives. And that's not to include the installation process itself, which involves a lot of heavy sawing, nailing, and others. 

This is not to say that using unfinished hardwood materials is a zero-sum option. However, it would be a LOT convenient to just buy prefinished material and forget about all the hassles prior to installation. You do away with many time-delaying steps and get closer faster to the hardwood flooring look you desire.

Some argue that a limited budget is what pushes them to buy hardwood unfinished. But when you tally the total short-term and long-term costs, you will see that you gain more savings with a prefinished board because no longer will you have to worry about labor costs. Everything is already there in one easy to use package. The installation process is another story, however.

So, should you buy unfinished hardwood flooring? If you're a purist and have the money to spare, yes. Otherwise, prefinished hardwood floors are the way to go. Spare yourself from the headaches and opt for prefinished materials, instead. 

Sanding Your Hardwood Floor

For do-it-yourself, probably the most annoying part of hardwood flooring installations is the part where the floor is to be sanded. See, because there is never any precision or accuracy when you're dealing with an organic material like wood, having uneven plank heights and gaps is inevitable. And when this happens, your only option is to sand that area down to even levels. 

There are different kinds of sanding machines. There's the drum sander and there's the orbital sander. The orbital sander is said to be easier to use and more reliable, but the drum sander is more commonly available. If buying your own sander is not an option, you can rent it from floor installation specialists, who will also be willing to teach you how to operate it.

The best sandpaper for new floors is 20 grit, but you can change to higher grits once you've got the initial sanding job done. Sanding experts say the best way to sand your hardwood floor is by using just one direction and going from right to left. This is because sanders are unevenly constructed, with the left acting as the 'digger' and the right part as the 'sweeper'. Surely you wouldn't want to sweep first before cutting through the excess wood. 

Expect to have quite a workout while you sand your floor because the machine is not a cinch to handle. It can be very heavy and will require force on your part to control its direction. If you just leave it to its element, it could run around toward unpredictable directions and cause damage instead of result in smoothness for your floor.

It is for this reason that sanding is not something that you should experiment with. If you value your hardwood floor, get information on the right sanding techniques first before you take the plunge. If this proves too tedious for you, then just hire professionals sanders to do the job. It's better to spend on professional services than end up shelling out a greater amount because you've sanded your floor the wrong way.

Overall, all woodwork's require sanding if you are to expect zero splinters and total smoothness. If you don't want to go through all this work, just go with prefinished hardwood flooring. It's a little more expensive but it's a small price to pay for the convenience. 

How To Repair Damages On Your Hardwood Floor

Your hardwood floor, no matter how sturdy, is not spared from wear and tear. Over time, it will be at the mercy of water or ink spills, heel scratches, hardened gum, accumulated dust and grime, and other floor nuisances. But before you pick up the phone to call for professional assistance, know that there are certain minor damages that you can remedy yourself. 

Here are some tips on how to repair damaged hardwood flooring.

1) Damage caused by stains

Water is the worst enemy of hardwood floors. A single stain can ruin the look of the entire surface and, often, the only way to effect the necessarily repairs to get rid of this eyesore is to refinish the whole floor. 

However, you can still try to salvage the situation by focusing on the affected spot first. If it's not something you can remedy through sanding, then that's the time you search for replacement planks. But, hey, if you think the stain is what gives your floor character, then you really have nothing to fuss about.

2) Damage caused by scratches

Some people use putty sticks to fill in the scratches. Simply rub the stick over the affected spot and then wipe it clean with a soft dry cloth. More likely than not, any semblance of a scratch will disappear. This is a quick fix to a big problem and will save you from having to bring in the experts for such a minor job.

3) Damage beyond the power of minor repairs

Of course, there will be times where the damage becomes too much for simple repair techniques to handle. In this case, you will need to replace the hardwood board that has been destroyed. Again, there is no need to phone the specialists for this job because it is something you can manage yourself. 

What you should do is take out the damaged board, get a new plank that's of the same size and lay it on. Now this seems very easy but it actually involves several processes to complete. But while there are several procedures, you will find that each step is easy to follow, even for someone who is a beginner at floor board replacements. 

Your hardwood floor gives you more value than you think. Aside from its physical beauty, the fact that it withstands the test of time is enough reason for you to award it with the regular maintenance checks and care it deserves. And if the job can be done using only both your hands and your patience, then spending for professional help is impractical.

Have It Easy With Prefinished Hardwood Flooring

Let's admit it. Installing hardwood flooring is quite a task and not many do it yourselves succeed perfectly during their first try. True, installing hardwood flooring is a skill, but it can be less of a chore and a headache if you go with prefinished hardwood flooring in the first place.

Prefinished means it has already been coated and sealed with translucent film which serves as its protection from daily wear. What finishings can do is shield your hardwood floor from spills and scratches, and make it easier for you to wipe or mop clean. 

If you're thinking of installing hardwood flooring yourself, you can enjoy the greatest ease and convenience with prefinished planks. With prefinished hardwood floors, the task of nailing the flooring to your sub floor ends after the drilling is done. 

If you purchased pure hardwood oak or maple (or whatever is available), you will have to apply finishing s  sand it down and put on wax and polishers after. The amount of time to perform the task of installing a hardwood floor is halved if prefinished wood is used.

Prefinished floors also have a better finish than most independently finished floors. Because the application is uniform and the volumes of coating controlled and predetermined, you are sure that every prefinished hardwood floor plank is of the best quality. Normally, prefinished floors are thrice sanded and coated with aluminum oxide finish eight times. They are also likely to have been tested for various normal wear situations and made more resilient.

Prefinished flooring is a little more expensive than pure hardwood planks. However, when you do the math on everything that has to be done to make the basic form shine to your liking, you'll actually eventually spend a lot more with the latter, not to mention the heavy labor that you need to put into it. 

Sure, you can argue that you can always hire professionals to do the job for you, but if cost is an issue, then you'll be thanking the high heavens that somebody had enough foresight to come up with prefinished hardwood flooring. Be a wise and practical consumer. Sanding and finishing entire floorings is a thing of the past. Now that prefinished floors are available, you should spare yourself from the hassle. 

Oak Hardwood Floors

What is a hardwood? Contrary to its name, 'hardwood' does not mean that the wood is harder than any other, however, hardwood is considered denser compared to other species. The most common uses for hardwood is for building materials, particularly for flooring. The popular hardwood species include cherry, maple, and alder, but the most widely used among them is oak. 

There are basically two ideal types of oak for flooring use: Red oak and white oak. The characteristics of each will be discussed in brief here. 

Red Oak Hardwood Flooring

Red oak is probably one of the most popular picks for hardwood floors. First, because it is abundant and, second, because it has a rather reddish hue that appeals to most interior designers and home owners. Red oak is also a comparatively dense type of hardwood so it is more resistant to regular wear. Its texture is a little coarse but it's nothing a little sanding won't be able to fix. 

White Oak Hardwood Flooring

White oak is more resistant to moisture than red oak but the latter is more widely available. Because of its general strength and durability, builders even use it to make barrels and ship timber. In addition, various kinds of stains and finish tones reflect beautifully on white oak. It has a medium to coarse texture, so deciding if you'd still want to sand it is up to you. 

Oak is one of the best materials to make floors with, but surveys say that its popularity is only next to that of cherry and maple, which are a lot less expensive. But if you're looking to impress your visitors with your red or white oak hardwood floor, then, by all means, make that investment. Oak takes a century to mature, and it can last by about the same number of years if properly maintained. 

How To Lay A Replacement Hardwood Floor Board

If a particular plank on your hardwood floor is beyond repair, your best option would be to replace the board with a new one. You might initially think that floor board replacement is a job that is reserved only for the professionals. In fact, laying a floor board is actually something you can do yourself, given the right tools and the proper instructions. 

There are hardware stores that sell bundled packages for do it yourself hardwood floor replacement projects. They even come with step by step instructions to help even the most inexperienced of floor layers easily understand and follow. So, when your plank needs relaying, have no fear. Instructions on how to lay replacement boards are here.

1) Clear the damaged area of all the nails embedded into it. You can do by positioning a nail set over the nail and driving it down as far as possible using a hammer. The purpose of this is to avoiding having the hammer pound against the wood and causing further damage.

2) Once the nails are removed, remove the damaged board by using a wood chisel to pry the affected area out. The absence of the nails should make this process easy, but you still have to be careful not to ruin the adjacent boards.

3) Prepare your replacement plank and try to see if its a perfect fit to the blank spot. If it's too big you will have to make the necessary adjustments.

4) Turn the replacement board over and put construction adhesive. This will enable the plank to stick to the sub floor.

5) Tap the board into place and make sure that it's in the right position. When you have finally decided on its placement, that's when you drive 2-inch nails to secure it. Use a nail set to drive the nails' heads a little below the surface so they don't jot out.

6) Sand the area to even the surface out and apply a finish that matches the rest of the hardwood floor. 

Now you know how to lay a replacement hardwood floor board without paying for professional help. 

How To Clean Your Hardwood Floor

It is easy to build a house using concrete and steel, but it is quite a challenge to do so using wood. You might wonder why this is so, when wood is, perhaps, one of the most common building materials there is around. 

This is because, unlike concrete, wood is an exhaustible resource. Meaning, if nobody plants trees, then it's not likely that we will get any hardwood. And since most of our forest are starting to get depleted, then it is likely that the availability and cost of hardwood would continue to rise over time. Thus, our hardwood floors deserve the best treatment, if we are to expect longevity and stability from them.

So how do we clean our hardwood floors to ensure that they last long enough for the next generations to enjoy and benefit from? Here are some tips you might want to consider. 

First, when cleaning your hardwood floor, make sure that you use a broom that explodes at the ends. A broom with too fine bristles won't trap the dirt and will only have it accumulate within the little cracks and creases. 
Over time, this will damage your flooring and eventually cause wear. You won't be able to notice the changes until the damage becomes apparent. Surely this is something you want to avoid. 

Second, do not use oil based soaps to clean your flooring. There are cleaning liquids made especially for hardwood floors that won't cause damage to their finish. Remember that a finish is what shields your hardwood floor from wear and spills, so must always check if the coat is still thick enough to serve its purpose. 

Third, do not leave standing water or wet rags on your hardwood floor. If this is too late, you can choose to either sand the affected area or replace the plank where the damage has been done. But if the water has just been these for a short while and your finish is newly done, then you have nothing worry about. Just wipe the wet area with a soft dry rag and you're good to go.

Cleaning your hardwood floor requires diligence on your part, because, well, hardwood floors deserve to be maintained properly. They bring stability and sturdiness to your living space. The least you can do is to make sure it is cared for properly. 

Saving Your Hardwood Floor From Water Damage

It is painfully inevitable. No matter how much you try to protect your hardwood flooring from stains and damage, at some point or another, someone will spill something on floor. When this happens, there's no reason to go ballistic. 

If you have been diligently checking your floor's finishing, then  spilling water or any form of liquid into it should not be too much of a problem, so long as you wipe the spill up immediately. But if you're floor coating has thinned and liquid has been there for quite a while, that's when you should start to think of restoration strategies.

Hardwood floor's number one enemy is water. Your floor's luster is at its mercy. You can easily remedy this by mopping the affected area. In worse cases, water can seep into the woodwork and result in decay and warping. 

When wiping, use only soft, dry cloth rags. Coarse cleaning materials will scratch the flooring's surface and thin out the finishing. If you're dealing with a puddle, start with the edges of the puddle first and work your way to the middle. 

Some people use steam cleaners to deal with water spills. However, you should realize that not all steam cleaners are compatible with hardwood floors. Neglecting to check compatibility might cause more harm than good to your floor. Also, no matter the nature of a stain, never use wet cloths for clean-up. Even slightly wet mops are a no-no, especially for hardwood floors that are sealed and coated with wax. 

Finally, your best defense against the hassle of dealing with water stains is to be careful. But you really can't put all your eggs into just protecting your floor from water. As mentioned earlier, liquid stains are inevitable. Thus, foresight is your friend. Ensure that your floor is waxed regularly and the finishing reapplied from time to time. 

Getting Rid Of Stains On Your Hardwood Floor

The most common and, perhaps, annoying damage to your precious hardwood floor are stains. Be they ink stains, water stains, or whatever, the fact that that particular stain was caused by someone's negligence and not because of normal, time-driven wear makes us feel a little cross. This is because stains are very evident and, for serious cases, may force us to replace the entire wood board altogether. 

But when you see a stain on your hardwood flooring, you shouldn't panic just yet. It could be a damage that can be addressed by minor repair methods and without having to call in and pay for professional help. There are certain hardwood floor stains that you can repair yourself. 

For instance, if there is a huge water mark on your floor, you might be tempted to replace the entire plank to get rid of it. This is not always the remedy. You should first try if it's a problem that can be remedied by sanding and refinishing the affected spot. 

Taking care of a small spot yourself will not be a nuisance, compared to changing the entire surface. However, if the stain is really not manageable, you may still attempt at doing the replacement job yourself. 

The first thing you should do to get rid of stain is to come up with an oxalic acid crystal solution, which will be dabbed onto the stained area. Oxalic acid acts as a bleaching agent and can get rid of minor stains. If the stain is not bleached out the first time, you can repeat the procedure for several times more until the stain is gone. Make sure you wear protective gloves, though, as the oxalic acid might be too harsh for your skin.

After you apply oxalic acid, you should return your floor to its usual acidity rinsing it with vinegar. The one you find in your kitchen will do. Of course, you will need to wipe the area dry of excess moisture and allow it completely dry first before you leave it alone. The result should be bleached but stain-less finish. 

Finally, choose an oil-based stain you can apply to the bleached surface to get the original look of your hardwood floor. You may do a number of applications before you get your desired shade. However, before you decide on which stain shade to buy, make sure first that it is compatible with the rest of the floor's color and the kind of wood your floor is made of. 

Protecting Your Hardwood Floor

Hardwood floors are rather expensive so owners must exercise every effort to protect them. Since they come from exhaustible resources, trees, and take years to produce, they are more tedious to care for and maintain compared to concrete and other types of building materials. Thus, if you're looking to use hardwood for your flooring, you should be prepared with the right protection methods and tools.

How can you protect your hardwood floor? 

First, don't expose it to too much sun. The ultraviolet rays from sunlight is one of key reasons why some hardwood floors become discolored over time, regardless of its finish or stain. We are referring to the same ultraviolet rays that cause damage to your skin. UV rays do the same to any other type of organic material.

To shield it from the sun, install a screen on your windows or use curtains.  You can use sheer drapes so it's not so dark in the room. There are hardwoods that lighten from sun exposure, while materials like oak and cherry will tend to become darker. To slow down the discoloration process, apply water-based urethane finishes to your floor. Oil-based finishes are okay but they have a tendency to turn yellow or amber when exposed to sunlight. 

Second, make sure it's always dry. Water is a hardwood floor's worst enemy. It can seep into the material and cause nasty stains and decay. You can protect your floor by applying thick coats of finishing, but keep in mind that finishes also thin over time so you have to reapply regularly. 

Wipe up spills immediately and don't leave wet rags on the floor for a long period. Also, use only dry cloth to wipe your hardwood floor. Never use a damp mop. 

Another way to protect your hardwood floor is to put felt glides under the legs of heavy furniture so they don't scratch the surface when moved. Felt glides also cushion the weight of your furniture so they don't make shallow holes on your floor. 

The point of protecting your hardwood floor is this: if you want it to last longer than your lifetime, you have to give it the care it needs. And since hardwood floors, when maintained well, can stay on even after a century, they definitely deserve protection.

Hardwood Floor Installation Tips

Most of us think that because hardwood floors are a rather sensitive and expensive material, we should always seek the help of professionals to get them installed. 

Thus, it is comforting to know that with the right tools and the right kind hardwood, it is pretty much a do it yourself endeavor. And because pre- finished hardwood floor planks are already available in hardware stores and instructional manuals everywhere, then you really have nothing to worry about.

How do you install hardwood flooring? First, decide whether you want to use oak, maple or cherry, or rustic ash. Oak is the most expensive kind of hardwood material, but it is reputably the best and the sturdiest. If you're working under a particular budget, maple or rustic ash are also okay and will last as long as oak with proper care and maintenance.

Next, prepare the following materials: the hardwood planks, a vapor barrier paper, a pry bar, a hammer, a speed drill and drill bits, a pneumatic flooring pack (which consists of a nail gun, staples, a mallet, a hose, and an air compressor), a staple gun, a tape measure, a chalk line, and, of course, your how-to manual. 

It would be wise to study the manual before you go about hammering away so you don't waste time. Some hardware stores already have prepackaged hardwood installation necessities so you can avoid the hassle of looking for each piece. Of course, you shouldn't forget your safety goggles and gloves, as all the drilling and hammering could produce wood dust and can be harmful when inhaled. 

Before buying hardwood floor planks, measure the surface where you are going to install them. Order planks that are around 10 to 15 inches bigger to allow room for errors. Expect that your initial attempt will be very challenging, but once you get that first plank in place, the rest should be a breeze. 

Get rid of squeaks by tightly nailing the hardwood plank into the sub floor  When cutting, always provide extra space. When you're dealing with hardwood floors, it's best to go over and make the necessary adjustments than be left with a space that would look awkward to fill.

If you got a pre-finished hardwood floor, then the job is done after you've installed the planks in place. But if you bought wood in its purest form, you should also pre-equip yourself with sanding and finishing tools and prepare for another challenging task ahead.  

Does Your Hardwood Floor Finish Need Reapplying?

It's only been a few years and you see that your hardwood floor looks seemingly old. What happened? How can you make it look like new again? Before you take any step further, you should first see the condition your hardwood flooring is in. Check if any special cleaning is necessary or if serious repairs need to be done.

When evaluating the condition of your hardwood floor, observe the finish. Is it just soiled or has it already thinned out? Study your floor to see if the finishing has been scraped, dulled, or chipped. 

You can find out if your finish is worn by spilling a small amount of water at a high-traffic area. If the water beads at the top, then you have nothing to worry about -- the finish is still intact and sealed. But if the water seeps in and darkens the spot where it landed then you might need to redo the finishing for that particular area. If the test bears the same result for other parts of the house, then those probably need replacing, too. 

Next, see if the wood is still in good condition. If the finish has shown signs of wear, it is likely that the wood has been damaged, too. If you find that the wood has started to decay, then you definitely need to replace the boards. 

If it's a situation that still can be salvaged, it would be best to just call in professionals, as a do-it-yourself endeavor, especially if you're not that experienced, to avoid causing further damage. 

You can try to temporarily resolve the damage by putting wax on the affected area. Take note of the word 'temporary' because wax is by no means a solution to woodwork problems. It simply acts as a coverup or maintenance coat until you can come up with the funds to put in replacements. 

It does not take rocket science to know if your floor's finish needs to be redone. But, while this is easy to determine, the fact that refinishing jobs are costly might put you off. But if you want to restore your hardwood floor's beauty, then you should set a budget for repairs aside. Otherwise, your initial investment on your flooring will go to waste.

The Convenient Way To Finish Your Hardwood Floor

Anybody who has experienced finishing their hardwood floors by themselves will tell you that it is a very tedious task. You will not just apply the finishing once, but will have to put on several numbers of coats before it looks satisfactory. Prior to that, you will have to wrestle with the sander -- a machine that is quite difficult to control. So what is the best and easiest way to come up with a nicely finished hardwood floor? 

Simple. Purchase one that is already pre-finished. If you're thinking of installing hardwood flooring yourself, you can enjoy the greatest ease and convenience with pre-finished planks. With pre-finished hardwood floors, the task of nailing the flooring to your sub floor ends after the drilling is done. 

Pre-finished floors also have a better finish than most independently finished floors. Because the application is uniform and the volumes of coating controlled and predetermined, you are sure that every pre-finished hardwood floor plank is of the best quality. 

Normally, pre-finished floors are thrice sanded and coated with aluminum oxide finish eight times. They are also likely to have been tested for various normal wear situations and made more resilient. Having a hardwood floor in your home is an investment, but it is a one-time expenditure. This means you shell out a large amount only once because all you have to do is make sure the floor is clean and its finish its intact to for the next generations to benefit from it. Diligent waxing will do; so will constant cleaning. 

Finally, if convenience is what you're after, without having to sacrifice the quality of your hardwood floor and its appearance, then go for a pre-finished hardwood floor. But, hey, if you want to savor the feeling that you labored over your hardwood floor yourself, then buy it pure and just buy the appropriate finish. As a last tip, water-based urethane finishes are more resilient to sun exposure, compared to those that are oil-based. Happy finishing!

Unique Designs For Your Hardwood Floor

The fact that hardwood comes from organic material means that no two planks of wood are ever going to be exactly alike. If you go for factory manufactured and pre-finished wood, you might be able to see uniformity in the designs, especially with deliberately distressed hardwoods, but, the bottom line is, when you use hardwood material for your floor, you are sure that what you are stepping and walking on is one of a kind. 

This leads us to the question: what is it about hardwood floors that never go out of style no matter how the times and interior design principles change? 

Hardwood floors offer a kind of natural sturdiness and reliability that cannot be found in most home building materials. Sure, concrete is great, but nothing beats a well finished hardwood floor to get that truly natural touch.

Having a hardwood floor in your home is an investment, but it is a one-time expenditure. This means you shell out a large amount only once because all you have to do is make sure the floor is clean and its finish its intact to for the next generations to benefit from it. Diligent waxing will do; so will constant deep cleaning. 

If you want to see interesting designs on your hardwood floor, a good idea would be to have it distressed. Now you should be careful with this project as a poor distressing job could result in a disaster instead of a work of art. You should hire a professional to do this. 

There are pre-distressed hardwood boards available in home building stores, but they are factory manufactured so they are likely to have repeating designs. With a hand distressed hardwood floor, you are sure that every inch is unique, and your floor will not look too fabricated. Experts on flooring can spot a fake dead-on. 

How Much Do Hardwood Floors Cost?

Hardwood floors are sold everywhere, but little do we know that it takes a lot of effort and time to prepare each plank until it is fit for building use. Trees are an exhaustible resource. This means they are not simply manufactured out of factories and have to be grown for a considerable period before they can be used. Oak hardwood, for instance, can take as long as a hundred years to mature. 

Is, therefore, because of this that hardwood is comparatively expensive. Standard hardwood floors cost around $4 per square foot and that's still the unfinished version. Pre-finished hardwood floors cost a little bit more, usually at around $5 per square foot. 

When buying unfinished hardwood flooring, however, don't think that you're saving a huge deal. Unfinished hardwood still has to be finished and stained before it can truly serve its purpose, so it's an extra expense. 

If your budget is limited, then you should opt for pre-finished boards, instead. They are less costly in the long run and more convenient to install. You will no longer have to worry about stains, polish and finishing once you have them in place. 

If you're looking to install flooring on an entire house or a very huge space, you can save on costs if you buy hardwood wholesale. Another way to reduce your expenditure is to purchase them on discount, which may through hardware store sales or through used wood showrooms. Of course, whenever you buy on discount, make sure that you check the entire woodwork for signs of wear and decay. 

Overall, while buying and installing hardwood floors is expensive, the benefits definitely outweigh the costs. Hardwood can last generations so you'll no longer have to worry about; just make sure it's properly and regularly maintained and protected well. While concrete also has a similar life, or longer, nothing beats the natural feel that real hardwood affords your home. 

Hardwood Floor Care

In order to enjoy the full benefits of a hardwood floor, you have to apply the right maintenance techniques. Since hard wood, no matter how sturdy, is organic, it can be susceptible to wear and decay if you do not take care of it. Thus, if you want it to last for a long time, you must be diligent enough to maintain it with proper cleaning and waxing. 

Hardwood floors are somewhat expensive. And because they are an investment, it is but prudent to make sure that you get the maximum value for your money as the years progress. Thus, we face the question. How do we take care of our hardwood floors? Consider the tips below.

- Avoid too much sun exposure

If the room where your hardwood floor is has a large window, protect it from the sun using sheer curtains or blinds. Ultra violet rays are said to have ill effects on hardwood floors.

- Don't drag your furniture around

This pertains particularly to the large furniture. If you want to move your oak sofa to another location, use a dolly or have people lift it. Never drag it across the floor as it may scar the finish or dig deep into the wood itself. Also, use felt contacts under the furniture's  legs to prevent their weight from creating scratches and dents on the flooring.

- Clean up spills and stain immediately.

If your hardwood floor has a good and intact finish, then you have nothing to worry about. But if it has already been there for a while, the finishing might already be stripped off and allow the water to seep into the wood. When this happens, sanding and refinishing the part of the floor that got wet is a good idea. If this technique fails, you might have to replace that particular plank with a new one. 

- Sweep your hardwood floor regularly

Use a broom with fine exploded bristles as they are most effective in trapping grit and dust from the creases and corners of your flooring. Broom bristles that are too soft might only drag the dust further into your flooring and fill the cracks. 

In conclusion, the way you care for your hardwood floor should mirror how you care for things you value. Your hardwood floor not only provides physical beauty to your home but also ushers in a sense of homey comfort that will forever be absent with a concrete floor. 

Using Hardwood Flooring For Your Apartment

You're about to get your own apartment. You're starting to imagine a life of independence, of mini parties til the late night, and of, well, basically, parent-less living. But getting your own apartment doesn't instantly mean that you're off the hook. 

If you've moved into an unfurnished unit, you are most likely compelled to make the necessary structural repairs. What kind of furniture would you want to put in? Should you set up a home office? Should you install a chandelier? Do you want to cover up that drab looking concrete floor with hardwood flooring? Should you retire the bathroom? There are so many questions you need to answer. 

If you've decide to use hardwood flooring for your new apartment, then you have to prepare yourself for a considerable expense. Before you back off at the concept of spending a significant amount for just your floor, realize that nothing beats the natural feel of having a hardwood floor. Also, if you're considering staying in your apartment for quite a while, then you would greatly benefit from having a hardwood floor.

There are special hardwood floors in the market that are deliberately distressed to give off that unique look. A distressed hardwood flooring for your apartment could be a great conversational piece.

Of course, if you're after convenience, it would do you well to buy pre finished hardwood floors to spare you from the hassle of having to sand it, wax it, apply finishing and stains. Installing unfinished hardwood floors can also be more expensive when the final bill comes. 

Surely you want your apartment to look fab when your friends and parents come over to visit, and hardwood floors will definitely afford you all positive praises. Just be sure to properly care for and maintain it so it doesn't become a waste of your investment. Hardwood comes from trees, and trees are organic. If you don't take care of your flooring, then all your expenses will be for naught. 

The Beauty Of Hardwood Floors

There are homes that adopt a modern look and, therefore, use modern materials and designs. They may look a little futuristic and metallic, using only the finest concrete, steel, or fiber glass available. However, there are also those homes that stick to the conventional way of building; that is, by using wood. And for purists like these, hardwood floors are almost always a staple.

What is it about hardwood floors that never go out of style no matter how the times and interior design principles change? Hardwood floors offer a kind of natural sturdiness and reliability that cannot be found in most home building materials. Sure, concrete is great, but nothing beats a well finished hardwood floor to get that truly natural touch.

Hardwood floors are pretty expensive compared to most types of wood. However, they last a whole lot longer with proper care. The types of wood for such are oak and maple, but if you're under a budget, you might want to work with the latter, as oak woods are relatively expensive. 

Having a hardwood floor in your home is an investment, but it is a one-time expenditure. This means you shell out a large amount only once because all you have to do is make sure the floor is clean and its finish its intact to for the next generations to benefit from it. Diligent waxing will do; so will constant cleaning. 

But, perhaps, the best benefit you can obtain from hardwood floors is the natural look. You see, concrete gives off this cramped and stuffy atmosphere. But if you see wood in your home, you won't feel as trapped. Another is that no two hardwood floors are exactly alike. Because they come from a living thing, you are assured that each plank is unique.

You can't help but admire the history of each hardwood floor plank, and that's, perhaps, why it is comparatively pricey. If you want your home to have this rich old-house feel, use hard wood for your flooring. Surely, as human beings, we want some semblance of nature in our surroundings to keep us sane. Too much artificial building materials might seem ho-hum in the long run. 

Finally, in order to enjoy the full benefits of hardwood floors, proper care must be employed. They should be cleaned out constantly and maintained with waxing and refinishings to protect their quality. Hardwood floors, because they are organic, can decay if left unattended. But if treated well, hard wood can last a lifetime, or five. 

Refinishing Your Hardwood Floor

One of the most practical flooring and building materials is hardwood. It is sturdy enough to last decades and even centuries, with proper care, and it can give an otherwise dull living space an earthy and natural feel. 

As time progresses, however, the protective coating of your hardwood floor will inevitably thin out, particularly in areas where there's a lot of foot traffic. When this happens, your best option is to reapply a new finish so that it lasts longer and it becomes a lot easier to clean and maintain. 

Why should you refinish your hardwood floor? If your floor has been subjected to constant wear or has been hidden under the carpet for so long, you will need to apply proper maintenance techniques to preserve it. 

You may attempt to do the refinishing yourself, but those who have had experience doing this will tell you that it's quite a challenging task. Refinishing your hardwood floor does not simply entail reapplying the translucent coat. You will first have to remove the previous finishing in order to properly and evenly recoat the floor. 

Handling sanding equipment can also be a tedious job. Thus, if you're considering refinishing your hardwood floor, it's wise to just leave the dirty work to the professionals and experts on the field. This project requires time and effort, so if you attempt to do this yourself, you could be setting yourself up to headaches.

How do you determine if your hardwood floor needs refinishing? Test on an inconspicuous part of the flooring. Do so by pouring a little water on the surface. 

If the water seeps in and creates a dark stain, then it's a sign that your coating has faded and you need to refinish soon. But if it forms small beads, then you have no reason to panic. Your floor coating is still intact. Do the same procedure at different parts of the house, especially areas that experience heavy traffic. 

There are also a number of stains you can use to refinish your hardwood floor. But before you decide on which to get, test it first on a hidden part of your house. Remember that refinishing stains look darker when its fresh, but they lighten when they dry up. Also consider the kind of hardwood you have in your house because they react differently to stains. 

How To Choose Distressed Hardwood Flooring

This might sound silly but there are actually people willing to pay to have a semblance of damage and wear on their hardwood floors. Just when we have been trying to figure out how to get rid of stains and scratches, there are some modern design enthusiasts who find pleasure and uniqueness in a distressed or scraped look. 

Observing how the specially distressed hardwood floors turn out, perhaps they have reason to become fans of the method. Distressed hardwood floors, when done expertly, actually give a natural and earthy feel to the room -- a certain air that is absent with perfectly finished and polished hardwood floors. 

Since you're still reading this article at this point, perhaps you are looking for tips on how to choose the right distressed material to become your hardwood floor. And you won't be disappointed. Here are some tips you should consider before deciding if such kind of flooring is for you.

Handmade versus machine made distressed wood

Obviously, anything that requires manual labor is more expensive than having it factory made. The higher price of handmade distressed hardwood flooring is anchored on the fact that apart from the labor, no two hand distressed floor planks are the same. 

If you purchase a factory manufactured distressed wood, you are likely to see the same scrapings at another part of the floor. The variety of scrapings on factory made distressed floors is limited, whereas if done by hand, the designs are limitless.

When choosing a distressed hardwood floor, realize that distress connoisseurs can easily spot a fake. Thus, only venture into this kind of design if you have the budget to spare. For a single square foot of machine made distressed flooring, you should expect to spend $10 or more. Handmade ones fetch $15 and above for the same size. 

Finally, just because it's distressed doesn't mean you can just scrape away. There is a technique to this project to achieve a tastefully done "damage". The most skilled hands will have your flooring turn itself into a great conversation piece at social gatherings and make your friends green with envy. But a poorly distressed floor will only invite mockery, and might even give the impression that you don't know how to take care of your home.

Buying Discount Hardwood Floors

Hardwood floors do not come cheap. In fact, compared to concrete and synthetic materials, pure hardwood floors are more expensive, primarily because it comes from an exhaustible resource. It takes years for a tree to be fully grown and ready to become building material, but it only takes a few hours to mix concrete. 

Thus, the concept of buying discount hardwood floors is a little far off. However, it would comfort you to know that it is not impossible. You can actually purchase pure hardwood flooring materials for a lower price, granted that you know where to find them. 

The Internet is a haven for discount hardwood flooring resources. There are online hardware and woodwork stores that also offer lower-priced hardwood flooring. Placed against the regular hardwood floors that are available in the market today, these materials are around 30% to 40% cheaper. Thus, if you're working under a tight budget, you can scour the Internet for them. 

You may also want to check out local hardware stores to see if they are puting some of their older hardwood flooring stocks on sale. Since the production of hardwood flooring is a continuous process, new stocks regularly come in. And when these new stocks arrive, the existing stocks will naturally be pushed back and, eventually, sold on discount.

Are you amenable to buying used hardwood flooring materials? See, there are establishments that renovate and shift to concrete, rendering their hardwood floors, although still very much sturdy, useless. But instead of throwing them out, some owners choose to sell them at a discount. These may be a little difficult to find but, hey, who knows, someone in your neighborhood could be doing this. 

Buying hardwood floors on discount does not mean that you are settling for lower quality. The quality of these materials remains the same, only that their seller probably has something newer or would like to shift to some other kind of building material. So, if you chance upon discount hardwood flooring, jump at the opportunity at once. Of course, before you make any purchases, check the material's history first and scrutinize for any signs of decay and wear. 

The Cost Of Refinishing Your Hardwood Floor

Refinishing your hardwood floors yourself can be pretty daunting and those who are bent on making their floors look like new the do it yourself way may find it more convenient to just have the entire floor replaced, instead.

If you are planning to refinish your hardwood floors without calling in the professionals, it is advised that you buy tongue and groove materials so that you can easily snap them together. Buying prefinished hardwood flooring will also save you a lot of time and effort.

What is the cost of refinishing hardwood floors?

The normal cost of refinishing hardwood floors around $1.25 to $4.00 for every square foot. If you bring in a professional, you stand to spend between $3 and $3.50 for every square foot on labor alone. So if this is an expense you wish to avoid, then refinishing your hardwood floor yourself is your best option. You do have to be ready for the task ahead, though.

The total cost of refinishing your hardwood floor varies depending on several factors.

What is your hardwood floor's present condition? There are instances when, prior to the refinishing job itself, structural repairs have to be made. Such repairs will add to your expense. Your expenditure is also likely to rise further if the floor is covered by another type of flooring, like linoleum or carpet, as having these removed will add to the bill. You can choose to do this job yourself, but you won't enjoy it.

The cost can also be affected by the kind of hardwood you have. Maple, for instance, will need professional tampering because it is relatively difficult to refinish. If you're working with engineered hardwood floors, this will be easier, but you have to be careful not to accidentally sand through the material.

However, while it is costly to refinish a hardwood floor, it is well worth the investment. If maintained well, a floor's finish can go for 40 years before you need to replace it again. If you're planning to sell your property anytime soon, having nice and sturdy hardwood floors will help increase its appraised value, so you get your investment back in the long run.

Properly Cleaning Your Hardwood Floor

Repairing and refinishing your hardwood floor can be quite a challenge, but with the right preventive measures and maintenance techniques, your hardwoord floor can stay as good as the first time you installed it even after several years.

Some of the best hardwood flooring, for instance, have withstood the test of time and stayed around for decades, even a century. If you take a look at old homes that still stand nowadays, you will see how their hardwood floors have stayed intact and stable through the years.

Thus, if we want to enjoy the full aesthetic and functional benefits of our hardwood floors, we should know how to properly take care of them so they don't easily succumb to wear. Because hardwood floors are organic and can potentially decay, cleaning them regularly is necessary.

There is a technique to the proper cleaning of hardwood floors. For one, you shouldn't use a damp rag to wipe it because the moisture might cause damage to your finishing. If your floor has just been waxed and coated with finish,  you have no reason to worry about the water seeping into the woodwork. But if it has been a while since you've refinished your floor, then you should be careful to use only soft dry rags to polish it.

When sweeping, use only brooms with exploding bristles because they are the most effective in taking out grime and dust. The wrong broom might only have the dirt accummulate in the wrong places and lead to bigger headaches in the future. There are also cleaning fluids that are exclusive for use on hardwood floors. Don't experiment with other cleaning materials or you might be sorry.

If your hardwood floor has lots of burns and scratches, sanding the area lightly and then reapplying a coat of finish will make your floor as good as new again. If sticky chewing gum is your problem, then you should ice the deposit first until it becomes brittle enough to crumble off. For hardheaded gums, try pouring floor cleaner around it so it loosens up.

Hardwood floors last a lifetime and more if properly maintained and regularly cleaned. Thus, it is our responsibility to apply the right methods to ensure that they outlive us.