If you have hardwood flooring, you’ve probably noticed that cracks seem to appear in the winter, and then disappear or fade away in the summer. This is not a sign of a problem with your flooring though, as this shrinkage and expansion is quite normal. In fact, wooden flooring that has been properly prepared and installed will indeed show seasonal cracks between the floorboards. The size and the severity of the gap, however, will depend on several factors. Homeowners should not
You’ve spent time, energy and money into picking out the perfect floor for your space and now you want to make sure you can protect it. You want that new floor feeling to last as long as possible. You want to know (not guess, KNOW) beyond any shadow of a doubt that you are doing the right thing to maintain and preserve your investment. So now you ask the question that has kept you awake at night, tossing and turning in
“If all mankind were to disappear, the world would regenerate back to the rich state of equilibrium that existed ten thousand years ago. If insects were to vanish, the environment would collapse into chaos.” Source: E. O. Wilson If you’ve never heard of powderpost beetles, you are not alone. Moreover, you probably have no idea the amount of chaos these little buggers can cause. Second only to termites in terms of ability to damage wood, these tiny, destructive pests can do a
You’ve spent time, energy and money picking out the perfect floor for your space, and now you want to make sure you can protect it. You want that new floor feeling to last as long as possible. You want to know (not guess, KNOW) beyond any shadow of a doubt that you are doing the right thing to maintain and preserve your investment. So now you ask the question that has kept you awake at night, tossing and turning in the
Pictured: Esteem Mocha Can you see it? That picturesque vision of you with your family and maybe even your extended family all gathered around your living room celebrating the Holidays in just a couple of weeks! Music softly playing in the background. Children quietly getting along. All your family members getting along? Ok ok… let’s see here. Family is in town! You’re trying to keep the peace while making sure everyone is happy…a child is crying…you’re mopping up
The holidays are right around the corner and we want to give you some helpful Do’s and Don’t’s to do while you are hosting and enjoying the festivities of the season! It’s always best to start with the Don’t’s: Don’t use oil soaps, waxes or furniture polishes. This will create a build-up on your floors that will actually hold dirt rather than giving the look and feel of a clean floor. Don’t use vinegar and water or ammonia-based products. These products break down
With summer quickly approaching, it’s time to start preparing for the warm, sunny days. We take steps to protect our skin during the summer months, but many people don’t realize that it’s also important to protect your hardwood floors from the sunlight, heat, and humidity. With these simple tips, you can keep your floors looking beautiful all summer long. Protecting Your Floors From Sunlight There are multiple ways in which you can protect your flooring from fading due to sunlight exposure. If
A common issue with hardwood flooring is gaps and separations between planks. Hardwood flooring is a natural product that is affected by variations in temperature and humidity. During warm, humid summers hardwood absorbs moisture and expands. Conversely, dry winter weather causes hardwood to lose moisture and contract. Gaps and separations often concern homeowners, but this seasonal movement is completely normal. However, there are some things you can do to prevent gaps and separations. The simplest approach is to address any existing
It’s that time of the year! The days are longer, the sun is making more of an appearance, and it’s the perfect time to take care of a few chores that might have gotten neglected in the past year. Here are a few spring cleaning ideas you can do to make sure your hardwood floors are staying in top shape! Clean baseboards (use a soft broom or old toothbrush to gently remove dust and debris from crevices) Replace your front and back door
Pictured: Hampton Saddle It is the most wonderful time of the year! …but not always for your hardwood floors. Between weather, hosting parties, and decorating, holiday festivities can take a toll on your floors. A great article by Daniel J. Praz of Mr. Sandless, points out 4 things to watch out for during the holidays, to protect your wood floors. 1. Christmas Trees “Water is the enemy of wood, and if left sitting
