Elliott Floor Covering, Inc. Hardwood Floor Specialist

Sanding and Finishing - Clear Up Confusion About Maintenance

2011-03-01T17:16:00.000-08:00

This is an excellent article regarding maintenance of hardwood floors. Click on the link below to see the whole story.
Sanding and Finishing - Clear Up Confusion About Maintenance

Q: Can I use one of those steam cleaners advertised on TV on my wood floor? Everyone has seen the commercials showing a steam cleaner magically sanitizing, disinfecting, deodorizing, and cleaning a wood floor. But that doesn’t mean that wood flooring manufacturers or finish manufacturers think steam cleaners are appropriate for a wood floor; in fact, some have begun to specifically mention steam cleaners in their list of don’ts. Inspectors are also starting to come across floors that appear to have been destroyed by repeated steam cleaner use. Peeling finish, whitening finish and cloudy finish are just some of the side effects being reported by people looking at floors after steam cleaning. In general, the oft-repeated industry saying “Water and wood don’t mix” holds true. Unless the wood flooring or finish manufacturer says it’s OK, it’s safest to assume steam cleaning is a no-no on a wood floor.

Q: I read that a good wood floor cleaner is vinegar with water; is that OK? Vinegar and water used to be a typical recommendation for cleaning wood floors with a urethane type of finish. These days, however, most manufacturers recommend cleaners that are specifically formulated for wood floor finishes; in fact, vinegar is acidic, and using too much could damage the finish. People who insist on still using vinegar should use plain vinegar—not apple cider vinegar, red wine vinegar or any other type, which could leave a sticky residue on the floor.
Q: I keep hearing that I should find out which maintenance products are recommended by the finish manufacturer. But I have no idea whose finish is on our wood floors. What should I use? The vast majority of wood floors around today, whether they were finished on-site or are factory-finished, have some sort of urethane-type finish. For those finishes, a cleaner recommended by any major wood floor finish or wood floor manufacturer should be just fine. A safe bet is to stop by a local wood flooring retailer and find out what they recommend and sell for use on wood floors. Not all maintenance products that are labeled for use on wood floors are recommended by major finish and wood flooring manufacturers. (In fact, some may even void your floor’s warranty.) For one reason, see below.

Q: I’ve been using a product on my wood floor that says it is a wood polish/conditioner. Now it seems like my floor has a sticky film all over it, and I can see footprints in it. How do I get this residue off? Unfortunately, many consumers are bewildered to discover that, although the product they used said on the label it was for wood floors, it wasn’t really recommended for wood floor finishes … and now they have a big mess on their hands. Some of these products seem to leave a film on the floor that is very difficult to remove. Others may not leave a sticky film but may cause contamination problems down the road when the floor needs to be refinished. If you know the manufacturer of the wood floor or the finish on the floor, call and ask for their recommendation as to what to do. If you don’t know, you’ll need to call a local wood flooring professional. He or she may be able to use a product specifically designed for stripping such residue off a floor. If not, the floor will probably require resanding.

Q: Can I vacuum my wood floors? Vacuuming wood floors is a great idea. Dirt and particles that are left on the floor act like an abrasive when people walk on them, so vacuuming them as often as possible will prolong the life of the finish. One caveat: Don’t use a vacuum with a beater bar, which can damage the finish.

Q: We bought a different area rug to go under our dining room table, and it’s a different shape from the old one. Now you can see the lines of where the old ones were. How do I get rid of them? Wood is a natural product, and as it oxidizes and is exposed to light, it changes color. Some species—American cherry, Brazilian cherry and others, especially exotics—are known to change color drastically. There is no way to prevent this, although waiting as long as possible (ideally, at least six months) after the floor is installed to place rugs can help. So can moving area rugs from time to time. If you already have distinct lines on the floor, though, there isn’t usually a quick fix to remove them (even resanding won’t always remove the color difference). The unexposed part of the floor will eventually “catch up” to the rest of the floor, if you can live with looking at the floor as-is until then.

Q: I moved the throw rugs I had in my kitchen, and now I can see the pattern of the back of the rug on the floor. How do I get that off? Many area rugs have backings that grip the floor but are unkind to wood floor finishes. The plasticizers in the backings actually damage the finish; it’s this chemical change that is creating the pattern you see on the floor. So, unfortunately, no amount of cleaning is going to remove what you see. Having the floor abraded and recoated by a professional may be enough to remove the marks; but it’s likely that the floor must be resanded. In the future, remember that only rugs with a natural backing are safe to use on a wood floor.

Q: I thought my contractor could just put new finish on my floors, but he’s telling me they should be resanded. What does that mean? How do you know? When your contractor talks about “recoating,” that means he’s going to lightly abrade the finish on the floor and put a new coat of finish on, or he’s going to use a chemical recoating system that can put a new coat of finish on the floor without any abrasion. When he says “resand,” that means resanding the floor down to the bare wood and starting over—a much longer and involved process. One big indicator that tells you if you need a recoat or a resand is how much finish is left on the floor. If there are bare spots on the floor, where there isn’t any finish left, you can’t just recoat. A floor with bare spots has to be resanded. Beyond that, recoating versus resanding is largely a matter of your expectations. If you want your floor to look like new, you will need a resand. If you can live with still seeing some scratches, dents and other damage to the floor, recoating is probably the way to go. Be aware, though, that recoating can seem to highlight the imperfections that are left in the floor.

Q: I saw a product at a big box store that says it will restore the shine to my floor; I just have to clean the floor and mop it on. Can I do that instead of getting my floors recoated? There are various products on the market that promise to make your floor look like new without having to actually sand or recoat the floor. These products are usually an extremely thin finish that you can apply yourself. The first thing with such products is to make sure they will be compatible with the finish on the floor and won’t contaminate your floor for future recoating. If you know the manufacturer of your finish or your floor (in the case of a factory-finished floor), ask them before using the product. Second, be aware of typical pitfalls when using a product such as this. You must clean your floor extremely well before applying the product; if you don’t, you’ll be adhering dirt and debris right into the floor. Also, be aware that, because the product is so thin, it wears off quickly and often unevenly. So, no, products like these aren’t anything like the results you would get from having your floor professionally recoated.

Q: I have a squeak in the old wood floors in one of my bedrooms. I read that I can put baby powder in the floor to fix the squeak. Does that work? Getting talcum powder or graphite into the small gaps around squeaking boards may be a short-term fix, although any time you put something that isn’t recommended on the floor you run a risk of contaminating the floor for future recoats. The best option for squeaks is to solve the problem, which, for squeaking floors, is a loose board. There are many ways and products to address that, from screwing down the board from below to using epoxy repair kits.

Maintenance Mantras These guidelines apply to any wood floor. Following them will help your floor go longer between recoating and resanding: • Sweep and/or vacuum the floor as often as possible.

• Never, ever wet-mop a floor.

• Only use cleaners that are recommended by major wood floor finish or wood floor manufacturers.

• Use walkoff mats and area rugs at all doorways.

• Put floor protectors on the bottom of all furniture and anything else (baby exersaucers, toys, etc.) that might rub on the wood floor.

• Wipe up all spills immediately. Products such as Kool-Aid will stain most finishes if left on the floor.

• Keep pet nails trimmed. Know that dogs running through the house will scratch any finish.

• Consider using runners/area rugs in high-traffic areas.

• Keep your home at normal living conditions for your area—no extremes of humidity or temperature.

www.hardwoodfloorsmag.com

Common Maintenance Questions from Hardwood Floors Magazine http://www.hardwoodfloorsmag.com/

A Little LOVE from the WFCA!

2011-02-23T12:11:00.000-08:00

Last year we did a small pro-bono job for the WFCA (World Floor Covering Association) headquarters in Anaheim, CA. Here is their very nice thank you letter.

We love to hear comments about our work! Do you have any you'd like to share, we'd love to hear about your experience with our company.

Mullican Wood Flooring Specials

2011-02-19T13:04:00.000-08:00

New Mullican Specials Announced

The following special price's are valid if product is purchased prior to March 31, 2011. Price is for wood product only and does not include installation or other charges.

Mullican MeadowView - Offers enduring value, this flooring will add exquisite beauty throughout your home. 3/8" Engineered, Rotary Faced - Longboard Special from 12" to 72" long.

3" Wide $3.07/SF

5" Wide $3.21/SF

Colors available at this special price include the following:

Red Oak Natural Oak Saddle

Oak Caramel

5" Wide $3.77/SF

Colors available at this special price include the following:

Maple Natural Maple Cappuccino

Maple Golden

Mullican MeadowBrook - With its extended 7-foot, random board lengths, MeadowBrooke adds a whole new dimension to your hardwood flooring options. Available in 3" and 5" widths, these hardwood floors provide the style, durability, and performance that is certain to add long lasting beauty and value to your living and work space. 1/2" Engineered, Sliced Face - Longboard Special from 12" to 84" long.

3" & 5" Brazilian Cherry Natural $5.31/SF

3" & 5" Amendoim Natural $5.59/SF

3" & 5" Tigerwood Natural $5.59/SF

3" & 5" Santos Mahogany Natural $6.29/SF

3" Ipe Natural $6.71/SF

5" Ipe Natural $6.99/SF

Mullican Chalmette - Hand sculpted from Mullican's finest oak, hickory, maple and walnut to offer you a traditional old world motif in a 1/2" thick engineered hardwood floor. Precision color-matched to Mullican's "Chatelaine" 3/4" Solid hand sculpted floors, Chalmette comes in 5" widths for a custom look certain to bring a special warmth and charm to any room. Longboard Special 12" to 72".

5" Wide $4.61/SF

Oak Saddle Ebony Oak

5" Wide $4.89/SF

Provincial Hickory Autumn Maple

Hickory Sundance Hickory Sunset Sand

Maple Brownstone

5" Wide $5.59

Colonial Walnut Cherry Cimmaron

5" Wide $5.87

Brazilian Cherry African Mahogany

Give Elliott Floor Covering a call at (949) 279-8858 for a custom quote for your home or business.

Elliott Floor Covering, Inc. Hardwood Floor Specialist: Proud Sponsor of my daughter's first softball team!

2011-02-12T21:01:00.000-08:00

Elliott Floor Covering, Inc. Hardwood Floor Specialist: Proud Sponsor of my daughter's first softball team!

Proud Sponsor of my daughter's first softball team!

2011-02-12T20:58:00.000-08:00

We are the proud sponsors of the Laguna Niguel Girls Softball u6 team - The Rocker's. And yes, they rock even for 4-1/2 to 6 year olds! It's going to be a great season.

GO ROCKERS!

2010-01-24T20:42:00.000-08:00

These days, wood flooring can literally bring the world to your feet, thanks to the speed of transportation, industrialization and global commerce. And with all that comes an endless rainbow of wood colors, grains and textures, all of them unique characteristics that make each of the species in the wood flooring portfolio unique themselves. Further enhancing the character of the species you select are steps we humans take, such as the manner and size in which each board is cut, processsed and finished.

When we talk about "species" we are simply defining the kind of wood your floor is made from. In the case of the multi-ply engineered variety, that's the top layer you see. It is the species that determines everything from color to grain to hardness. Regardless of the species, it's best to begin with what kind of look you want. Hardwoods are typically deciduous trees, meaning they have broad leaves that fall, leaving the tree bare during the winter. There are hundreds of hardwood varieties just in North America, and more than 1,600 worldwide.

Soft woods typically are "evergreens" from needle and cone-bearing trees. Not all wood is recommended for flooring because of performance characteristics, usually softwoods, but some hardwoods as well. Today there are approximately 50 leading species of wood used in quality flooring.

Your search for the right species for your home might focus on traditional or domestic wood species which include beech, birch, white ash, hickory, pecan, maple, mesquite, red and white oak, antique heart pine, southern yellow pine and American black walnut. Designers often will opt for indigenous species for a traditional look, especially in period homes.

Or you may opt for the enexpected exotic or tropical wood, a broad term typically applied to imported hardwods. The list includes Brazilian cherry, bubinga, cork, bamboo, cumaru, Australian cypress, spotted and Sydney blue gum, iroko, jarrah, santos mahogany, Brazilian maple, merbau, Tasmanian oak, padauk, purpleheart and wenge. These feature colors, grains and textures not native to North America and therefore delightfully unexpected. (What's in a name:  If you are researching your imported floor, note that the exotic name, jatoba, for example is also called Brazilian cherry, and that santos mahogany also goes by the name balsamo, also don't be thrown by the names. Tasmanian oak is actually eucalyptus and Australian cypress is a pine. Bamboo is categorized as a hardwood but actually is a fast growing, hard grass, and cork - not a hardwood at all but a very stylish and durable flooring nonetheless - is the inner bark of the cork oak tree.)

You may run across the term "American exotic." this refers to unexpected yet wonderful species of North America not usually associated with flooring that are highly desirable from a decorative standpoint. Examples include mesquite, hickory and pecan.

Below are some wood species and where they originate from.
     Ash - United States
     Australian Cypress - Australia
     Bamboo - Australia, East Asia and India
     Beech - Asia, Europe and North America
     Birch - Asia, Europe and North America
     Black Walnut - Eastern North America
     Brazilian Cherry - Brazil
     Brazilian Walnut - Brazil
     Bubinga - Africa and South America
     Cork - Portugal, Spain and Northwest Africa
     Cumaru - Brazil
     Douglas Fir - North America
     Ebony - Africa, India and Sri Lanka
     Heart Pine - North America
     Hickory / Pecan - North America
     Iroko - Africa
     Jarrah - Western Australia
     Kempas - Indonesia and Malasia
     Maple (Hard) - North America
     Maple (Soft) - North America
     Merbau - Pacific Islands and Southeast Asia
     Mesquite - Mexico, Western United States
     Padauk - Africa and Asia
     Purpleheart - Central and South America
     Red Oak - North America
     Santos Mahogany - Brazil
     Sapele - Africa
     Southern Yellow Pine - United States
     Spotted Gum - Australia
     Sydney Blue Gum - Australia
     Tasmanian Oak - Australia
     Thai or Burmese Teak - Southeast Asia
     Wenge - Central Africa
     White Oak - North America

With all of the choices that are available in wood flooring, your home can be a reflection of you and how you live. Contact our company, Elliott Floor Covering in Southern California, or a company near you to get samples so you can get a glimpse of what the flooring would look like in your home and environment.  Visit http://www.elliottfloorcovering.com/ or http://www.nwfa.org/ or http://www.wfca.org/ to find a retailer in your area.

Taken from International Design Guide, Fabulous Wood Floors - A publication of the National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA). C. 2009

Pinewood Derby Days

2010-01-23T11:10:00.000-08:00

Today we race our Pinewood Derby cars. Alot of work went into the construction and prep of this event. Father, son and grandpa all took turns tweaking the design and I think we have another winner on our hands. This time last year our tribe, the Hopi's, were the big winner's at the annual Pinewood Derby race. Our tribe brought home 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in our division. Can we do it again? Maybe! My son, Gavin, and I brought home the 1st place trophy and he is excited to race again. The winning car is the black one on the right hand side of the picture, this years competitor is blue #2. Championship is not guaranteed, and the day will be a blast win or lose.

We are all winners today! Go Hopi!

Wood Celebrates Life

2009-12-28T12:58:00.000-08:00

This post is a continuation of the blog I started before the Christmas madness set in.

This article is aptly called Wood Celebrates Life. As we look forward to the new year and new possibilities and beginnings, I say we should all celebrate life. Life has it's ups and downs - 2009 was definitely a year of downs for our family as we lost two very important people. These people touched my life like no one has or maybe will in the future. Our business also was not immune to the downs of the year either, as I'm sure other construction companies can attest to. But we have made it through and will continue to thrive and prosper through the new year! New year, new beginnings, LIFE!

Whether wood is in its natural state or in your home, wood records history, right down to those "marks of experience" wood picks up along the way. Life is in every piece of wood. When you think about it, life, including yours, is reflected in every piece of wood in your home. From the moment it starts growing and for all the time it's in use, wood has history in and on it... naturally spaced grains, growth rings and the color are all affected by the seasons and the minerals in the soil... character brought on by aging, weather and the environment.

A wood floor continues to celebrate life and living as it passes through the generations and each succeeding owner. There is a quiet grace about a wood floor that projects the universal sense of permanence that can never be diminished. Can another flooring do that after 30, 50, 100, 200 years or more?

Moreover, from the moment you, a family member or a guest steps through the door, a wood floor projects a truly warm welcome along with your personal sense of creativity, as reflected by the color, grain and size of the flooring pieces and the manner in which they are installed and finished. That uniqueness carries throughout the home and makes your design and your lifestyle an integrated whole, with every decor element working together.

Yes, life changes. People grow, enter and leave the family. Our tastes change, too, often with the times. A wood floor helps you celebrate those changes because it is versatile, so capable of immediately adapting its incredible, innate style to shifting home furnishings and evolving color and fabric palettes. It's so easy to maintain as you celebrate life, and it's so easy to decorate around. It may be only a change of the seasons, but consider this simple example. Winter into spring - away go the rugs, pillows, throws, heavy draperies - your floor is sparkling, dynamic and reflective of the new life in the spring. Your wood floor celebrates with you; it happens every season if you wish.

Designers look at a wood floor as a large, neutral palette, even with all its color, grain and texture. That's one reason wood is timeless. As one designer said, as you begin your plan, look at the floor like life, in broad strokes, for it is the floor that should be what you focus on first; from there, everything else in your scheme springs to life!

WOOD IS A CELEBRATION OF YOUR HOME!

International Design Guide, Fabulous Wood Floors, a publication of the National Wood Flooring Association, 2009.

Now This is Exciting!

2009-12-21T16:06:00.001-08:00

Hey, look at this - We're a favorite place on Google!!! How about that!!!

Green Flooring

2009-12-19T10:40:00.000-08:00

For stylish flooring, you can't get much more environmentally friendly than wood. That's a bold statement, but true. The environmental responsibility applies not only to solid wood flooring, but also to engineered formats.

HARVESTING
Let's start with the fact that the wood in your floor is completely renewable. Better yet, at least as much wood can be grown as is harvested. In fact, for every 100 trees harvested for wood flooring, 166 are planted. Because of responsible forestry practices, the number of trees standing in North America today exceeds that of the 1950's, and standing hardwood alone has increased by about 90 percent to nearly 328 billion cubic feet. Want more? Research by the Consortium for Research on Renewable Industrial Materials declares that solid wood flooring has less environmental impact than other flooring options it studied. Not only are most professionally managed forests in North America responsibly harvested, a growing number worldwide are, as well. Because only a specified percentage of trees are removed, the ecosystem remains intact.

MANUFACTURING
From a manufacturing perspective as well, wood flooring is quite "green." Hardwood flooring uses less water and energy in manufacturing than other flooring alternatives. Solid wood flooring has no emissions of methane, nitrogen oxide or other offensive particulate gases, has minimal carbon dioxide emissions and, because wood produces oxygen during its lifetime, it is de facto carbon neutral. Engineered wood floors consisting of multiple plies of wood with the fashion species on top actually get more productivity from the tree and help precious wood species go farther. Dimensionally stable core plies form the foundation of an engineered wood floor. Various thicknesses of the top fashion layer are used; this provides the look and performance of an exotic species, for example yet each board foot of wood goes a lot further than plank of the solid variety. As a bonus, the stability and strength of engineered wood flooring mean the wood look you crave can be installed in more places in the home, such as more moisture-prone rooms below grade.

YOUR HOME'S ECOSYSTEM
From the standpoint of living with wood floors, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency states that indoor air quality is better in buildings with wood floors. Furthermore, wood floors won't provide hiding places for allergens like pollen, animal dander, mold, mildew, bacteria or other airborne allergens.

COMPLETE ECO-CYCLE
Finally, with regard to replacement value, wood is hard to beat. Hardwood flooring can last hundreds of years, versus other categories which can last up to two decades or more, but which tend to lose their fashion-ability in about seven years. And at the seeming end of its useful life, usually when a building becomes obsolete, wood flooring often can be reclaimed and re-used over and over. When the final day comes, maybe in 200 years or more, surviving wood floors can be used for combustible bio-fuel, or, to complete the cycle, returned to soil nutrients via composting.

With wood flooring there's no reason you can't have it all - timeless, tasteful and tempting floor fashion plus the satisfaction of knowing you're doing the right thing for your environment.

For more information on wood as a green flooring choice, visit http://www.woodfloors.org/. Download your copy of the National Wood Flooring Association Industry Research Foundation's Life Cycle Analysis for Solid Hardwood Flooring at http://www.nwfa.org/ and click on "What's New."

International Design Guide: Fabulous Wood Floors, publication of NWFA, 2009. The Environmental Story, Your 'greenest' flooring choice.

The Wood Story

2009-12-17T21:48:00.000-08:00

Today's wood story starts with the fact that, contrary to popular belief, wood is quite affordable. Modern, efficient manufacturing techniques mean wood floor decor can become part of a home at any time, no longer optimally at the time the home is built. Wood flooring says "This home is built of quality." No other flooring type actually INCREASES in value over time and for a variety of reasons: The popularity of designing with wood continues to grow as people discover its timeless allure. Wood lasts and lasts, and it also develops its own character in the home. Like your best pearls or silverware, quality wood flooring takes on a patina that is unique to its environment - your home.

Wood is the most versatile floor covering there is. Professional designers will tell you that wood is a material superior to other manufactured substances in terms of its innate, natural beauty and prestige. And for practical considerations, such as ease of maintenance and long-term durability, and the ability of a wood floor to "give" a bit, making it easy on your feet when you walk on it.

If you think you know wood flooring, unless you are "in the business," chances are you aren't familiar with how far wood flooring has come in recent years. They're definitely not your grandmother's wood floors. Today there are more styles, colors, species, formats and finishes available to everyone, many of them carrying exotic names you've never heard of arriving all the time from far-flung corners of the world.

With the world marketplace constantly supplying new species in more styles and colors than ever, yours can be a floor that begins its journey in any part of the world and brings to your home four priceless qualities: Warmth, Beauty, Responsibility and Value.

International Design Guide: Fabulous Wood Floors, Publication of the NWFA, 2009, The Wood Story

Fabulous Wood Floors = Fabulous Information!

2009-12-16T21:06:00.000-08:00

I recently received a copy of a new magazine called Fabulous Wood Floors. It's a publication from the National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA). This magazine is FABULOUS! It's geared toward educating the customer about wood floors and all of their boundless possibilities. In the next few days, maybe even weeks, I will be taking excerpts out of the magazine and posting them on this blog. The information presented will enable wood flooring customers to make an educated decision regarding the type, style, species and function of wood floors.

The NWFA is an important resource for both the flooring professional and consumer. Their website is at www.woodfloors.org or www.nwfa.org. At these websites you can find all sorts of information including a search of all professional contractors and retailers in your area. If you're serious about installation of wood floors in your own home or business, check out the site and find a service provider that will answer all of your questions and do the job right the first time. Wood floors are an investment in your future and you want that investment placed in the right hands!

The Importance of Hardwoods

2009-12-15T21:38:00.000-08:00

The US House of Representatives recently recognized the importance of hardwoods, in H. Res. 81 the legislation recognizes the importance and sustainability of the United States hardwoods industry and urges that the United States hardwoods and the products derived from United States hardwoods be given full consideration in any program directed at constructing environmentally preferable commercial, public, or private buildings.

Representative Brad Ellsworth (D-IN) sponsored the legislation, which was supported by the Hardwood Federation, a coalition of more than 30 associations, including the National Wood Flooring Association, representing the interests of the United States hardwood industry.

The US hardwood industry employs millions of families throughout the country, representing thousands of jobs in nearly every state and hundreds of Congressional districts. This legislation recognizes the sustainability of United States hardwoods in a global marketplace that is giving increased emphasis on the procurement of hardwood from sustainable, legally harvested forests as a result of the US Lacey Act and an increased interest in green building.

Information from NWFA December 2009 The Log.

Rain!

2009-10-13T20:02:00.000-07:00

It is so nice to hear the rain drops fall on the window sill. It's been much too long since the last rain, it feels very refreshing! I'm sure I wouldn't be feeling that way if I lived in Seattle or somewhere else that barely see's the sun light. Bring on the RAIN!

New Brochure's Coming Soon...

2009-09-29T19:54:00.000-07:00

I've been working hard trying to get some new business pamphlets out. I would like to show my new brochure, but am having difficulty trying to attach it. Does anyone know how I can attach a Microsoft Office Publisher file?

The Best Preparation, Results in a Superior Installation!

2009-09-15T15:38:00.000-07:00

We at Elliott Floor Covering, Inc. believe that if you skimp or cut corners on sub-floor preparation the finished product will be compromised. We will prepare the sub-floor to meet or exceed manufacturer's specifications, in order to give our clients the best possible finished product.

The Character and Hardness of Wood.

2009-09-02T08:36:00.000-07:00

Wood is a dynamic medium. Like all organic materials, it has character and quirks, responds to its environment, and changes over time. Because of its "personality", wood should be treated with understanding and a certain amount of care.

As a flooring material, wood is superior to vinyl or carpet, both practically and aesthetically. A solid wood floor is more that a covering; it adds strength and stability to the floor system. A one-inch thickness of wood has the same insulating value as 15 inches of concrete. Wood is durable and long-lasting - occasional sanding and refinishing essentially results in a brand-new floor. Wood floors don't retain mildew or absorb dust, simplifying cleaning. Perhaps the most appealing characteristics of wood flooring, though, are its attractive appearance and natural warmth. A beautiful wood floor can enliven a drab room, enhance any architectural style, complement furniture and design schemes, and add value to any home or building.

A combination of qualities should be considered when selecting a species for flooring: appearance related attributes such as texture, grain and color; as well as mechanical properties such as dimensional stability, durability, machinability and ease in finishing; and finally, availability and cost.

The following is a scale of relative hardness of selected wood flooring species based on the Janka Hardness Rating. The Janka (or side) hardness test measures the force required to embed a .444-inch steel ball to half its diameter into the wood. It is one of the best measures of the ability of a wood species to withstand denting and wear. A rating is not included for bamboo, as bamboo flooring varies greatly between different manufacturers' products and between vertical and horizontal construction. Likewise, a rating is not included for cork flooring. A higher number on the Janka scale indicates a harder wood species, while a lower number indicates a softer wood species. For example, Northern red oak, has a Janka hardness rating of 1290. Spotted gum, with a rating of 2473, is nearly twice as hard.

Walnut, Brazilian - 3680
Teak, Brazilian - 3540
Purpleheart - 2890
Cherry, Brazilian (jatoba) - 2820
Bubinga - 2690
Gum, spotted - 2473
Mesquite - 2345
Mahogany, santos - 2200
Gum, Sydney blue - 2023
Merbau - 1925
Jarrah - 1910
Hickory / Pecan - 1820
Padauk - 1725
Wenge - 1630
Maple, Brazilian - 1500
Sapele - 1500
Maple, hard - 1450
Cypress, Australian - 1375
Oak, white - 1360
Oak, Tasmanian - 1350
Ash, white - 1320
Beech - 1300
Oak, Northern red - 1290
Birch - 1260
Iroko - 1260
Pine, heart (antique) - 1225
Teak, Thai/Burmese - 1078
Walnut, American black - 1010
Cherry, black - 950
Pine, Southern yellow (longleaf) - 870
Pine, Southern yellow (loblolly/shortleaf) - 690
Douglas fir - 660

If you are in the market for wood flooring this scale can help you decide which flooring will suit your lifestyle. Contact one of our professional flooring designers and we can help you pick out the perfect wood flooring product for your home or business. Check out our website at www.elliottfloorcovering.com for more information, or call (949) 279-8858 or (760)427-3933.

The preceding information come from the NWFA (National Wood Flooring Association) Technical Publication No. A200 - Wood Species Used in Wood Flooring, Revised Edition, 2004

Maintenance of Wood Floors.

2009-08-30T22:30:00.000-07:00

The enjoyment of wood flooring depends on some routine but minimal maintenance details. These include:

Sweep your floors or use a dust mop daily, but do not use a household dust treatment, as this may cause your floors to become slick or dull the finish.
Vacuum the floor regularly, as often as you would vacuum carpets.
Clean your floor's coated surface with a lightly dampened cloth using a recommended cleaning product, and according to the manufacturer's directions for use.
Never damp mop a wood floor. In all cases, use minimum water, because water causes deterioration of the wood itself, as well as the finish.
Buy a "floor care kit" that your installer or flooring retailer recommends instead of counting on a home-made remedy of vinegar and water to clean your floors. Different finishes have different maintenance requirements, and it's best to follow professional advice in this area.
Clean light stains by rubbing with a damp cloth.
Avoid using mops or cloths that leave excessive water on the floor. Never let a spill of water dry on the wood floor.
Control humidity levels by use of a dehumidifier or humidifier. You may need to add portable units in some rooms.
Have your floors recoated periodically as the finish shows wear.

For more detailed information relating to the maintenance of wood floors you may visit our website at www.elliottfloorcovering.com and click on the MAINTENANCE tab.

Is Hardwood Flooring Right For Me?

2009-08-25T16:50:00.000-07:00

Many consumers would prefer to put a wood floor in their home, but some issues might steer them to a different floor covering. Maybe the homeowner thinks that he/she is saving substantial amounts of money by choosing carpet. Or perhaps they think that wood floors won't stand up to the test of time with young children or pets. Read on to see the many benefits of adding hardwood floors to your home.

LONGEVITY
Many consumers take a glance at the price per square foot for a typical wood floor and immediately decide that whatever their floor will be, it won't be wood. Before you settle on carpet, vinyl or laminate because of cost, compare the longevity of the various products. While other products will most likely need to be replaced in 10 years or sooner, most wood floors will last the lifetime of the home. So the installation of wood flooring would turn into a long-term savings over other "disposable" flooring products.

INVESTMENT
Even if you are planning a move in the near future, wood flooring is a good investment. Real estate brochures often list the fact that the home has hardwood floors as one of the first benefits of the home. A survey of real estate professionals reveals that a home with wood flooring could sell faster and for a larger amount of money than a comparable home with any other type of flooring.

MAINTENANCE
Some consumers believe that the maintenance of wood floors is difficult. Cleaning of wood floors is no more difficult than vacuuming or mopping. A maintenance schedule typically consists of sweeping up loose dirt and dust, and occasional cleaning with a recommended product by the manufacturer of the floor. Bona cleaners are a good choice for maintenance, they are easy to use, non-toxic and environmentally friendly.

HEALTHY
The ease of cleaning a hardwood floor is not only a maintenance benefit, but a health benefit as well. Many consumers are not aware of the impact wood floors have on improving the home environment and quality of life; likewise, they are unaware of some of the health risks associated with carpeting and other synthetic materials. Allergists recommend that people with allergies live in an environment with wood floors, which do not hold dirt, dust mites and molds. Additionally, a study by the Environmental Protection Agency showed that pesticides from outdoors can be tracked into homes. These pesticides can be easily cleaned off of wood floors.

ENVIRONMENTAL
Wood floors are a healthy choice from a global perspective, as well. Wood is a natural resource that is replenishable, and most of today's timber comes from carefully managed forests that ensure a timber supply for the future. Being able to say that your floors are certified or reclaimed gives your home an additional environmental boost.

VERSATILITY
There are wood floors to go into any application in the home and to fit any decorating style and budget. Because of wood flooring's versatility, they can be installed to complement a room and make it appear bigger or wider. Unlike other floor covering choices, wood floors can be resanded and refinished to give a totally new look should the consumer's decor change. Best of all, wood floors never go out of style.

We hope that these points clear up any misconceptions regarding your floor covering choices. If you should have additional questions or concerns, you may contact one of our floor covering professionals at (949) 279-8858 or (760) 427-3933.

The History of Wood Flooring

2009-08-23T20:26:00.000-07:00

For centuries, wood floors were the domain of only the wealthiest people in the world. Expert craftsmen labored for years on the same floor, meticulously cutting each intricate inlay or pattern by hand. The only other wood floors in existence were the rough, hand-hewn planks that formed the surface of some commoners' residences. Either way, each wood floor was the result of a painstaking hand-cutting process.

The wood flooring industry more closely resembling the one we know today began just before the turn of the 20th century. In 1885, the side-matcher was developed, creating flooring with a groove on one long side and a tongue on the other. This new milling allowed wood floors to be blind-nailed. The flooring was 7/8 inch thick, 2 1/2 or 3 1/4 inch wide, and most pieces were at least eight feet long. Thirteen years later, in 1898, the end matcher appeared. Until that point, all flooring ends of each piece had to be on joists, as subfloors were not commonly used.

As the 20th century began, several important changes occurred in the industry. The side-matcher could allow hollow-backing on the boards, making them lighter and allowing them to conform better to subfloors, which were beginning to be commonplace. Flooring dimensions slimmed down: 5/16 inch, square-edge flooring and 3/8 inch and 1/2 inch flooring were introduced, helping to decrease hefty freight charges. Central heating was coming on the scene and wreaking havoc with wood floors, but the advent of the dry kiln gave flooring a better chance to succeed in normal living conditions.

While flooring mills were burning their own waste to generate their own electricity and heat, installers in the field had nothing but their own physical strength and a few tools to get the job done - typically a hatchet, hand saw, hammer, pry bar, block plane and string. Perhaps the most labor-intensive aspect of the job was the scraping process. Instead of sanding the floor, men would go down on their knees and pull scraper blades across the floor. It didn't take long for floor men to find an easier way to smooth the floor, and in the 1920's, a machine scraper was invented.

With the advent of World War II, wood flooring production went into overdrive, with government flooring projects measured by the acre instead of the square foot. The 1940's also saw the introduction of the sanding machine, with power nailers and power saws introduced during the 1950's. Finishes changed and improved during this time as well, with lacquer coming on the scene.

Today, wood floors are not just for the wealthiest people in the world. The introduction of engineered and laminate flooring made wood floors accessible to most consumers. During the last couple of years the flooring industry has embraced green technology, not only in the wood floors being produced like bamboo and cork, but glues, stains and finishes applied to flooring.

(abridged version of "100 Years of Wood Flooring", Hardwood Floors magazine, February/March 2000)

Proper Preparation Results in a Superior Finished Product!

2009-08-22T15:58:00.000-07:00

In theory, there is not much difference between a box of wood, a box of tile, a roll of carpet or a bucket of paint. In the wrong hands each one can be a mess, it the right hands the end result can be a work of art.

First try at Blogging!

2009-08-21T20:41:00.000-07:00

Well, this is all new to me and really don't know how to do it - so bear with me while I catch up!