5 Wood floor killers to avoid (or reduce) at all cost?

Looking down at the kitchen floor you recall the days when the floor looked fresh and new after it was sanded and finished over 8 years ago. Since then the floor saw a lot of action. Where has the time gone? and what caused this damage to the floor?

Let's explore the reasons why your wood floor wears out:

Here is a list of 5 Wood floor killers to avoid (or reduce) at all cost:

Gravel on the outside of your homes entrance 

Gravel on the outside of your property gets stuck under your shoes and will enter the home. These small stone particles acts like sandpaper on your lovely wood floor

- How to improve / avoid? 
 Lay a hard surface path to your entrance door or implement a no shoe policy in your home

Walk off mats

Have a good look at your walk off mat at your entrance door.
If it looks tired and dirty ensure it gets replaced immediately - If you do not have one you have to get one to help you save ALL your floors in your home. That's right, the dirt you track in from outside harms all the floors in your home

- How to improve / avoid? 
Get a fresh new walk-off mat or replace the old one you have - If you have a coir mat and need it replaced call us on 01223 863632 and we can help - www.artofclean.co.uk

The wrong cleaners and dirty worn out mops
Many people belief a floor cleaner is a floor cleaner and this is sadly not the case.
Harsh cleaning products can do a great job at cleaning though it harms the protective layer on your floor. If you have a wood floor the best way is to maintain it with a wood floor cleaner followed by the correct maintenance top up sealer ( for oiled floors use Magic Oil care from Pallmann - http://www.artofcleanonline.co.uk/Floor-Care-Products/Wood/Pallmann-Magic-Oil-Care.Html?cPath= - For Laquered floor use Finish Care Stop from Pallmann   http://www.artofcleanonline.co.uk/Floor-Care-Products/Wood/Pallmann-Finish-Care-STOP-750ml.Html?cPath= )

The best cleaner for a wood floor is Pallmann Clean: http://www.artofcleanonline.co.uk/Floor-Care-Products/Wood/Pallmann-Clean.Html?cPath=

- How to improve / avoid? 

Buy the correct cleaners and care products - Spend a bit more and you will find your floor last so much longer.

Dogs (Actualy the nails on their paws)
When dogs walk on a slippery floor they naturally extend their claws to get a better grip - If this is on your wood floor you will find your wood floor scratch very fast.
It is advised to use oil on your wood floors if you have dogs - It is less slippy for your pets and it do not scratch.

- How to improve / avoid?
Opt for an oil finish on your wood floor if you have dogs.

Bad quality laquers/oils or wrong laquers/oils or sealers for the floor area
We see many clients fall in the trap of a floor sanding firm that only offer them one type of finish for their wood floor wether the  floor is in the bedroom or the kitchen. It is important that floors that are exposed to water like bathrooms to get a 2 part lacquer applied - these finishes are much more water resistant.

If Oils are used it is essential to opt for a oil that comes with a hardener. This makes the finish more hardwearing

- How to improve / avoid?
Ask many questions when you get a quote for floor sanding and get more than one opinion on what floor finish you should apply.

Pine wood floor before sanding

Pine wood floor after sanding

Pine wood floor after sanding and finishing with Pallmann lacquer

Art of Clean is a specialist cleaning firm in: 

Wood Floor Sanding,

Stone floor Cleaning,

Carpet Cleaning,

Rug Cleaning,

Upholstery Cleaning 

Leather Furniture Cleaning, 

Working for domestic or commercial clients throughout Cambridgeshire, Essex, Suffolk and Hertfordshire.

For more information on our services contact our friendly team on 01223 863632 or email us at info@artofclean.co.uk

Pine floor sanded and lacquered in Cottenham Cambridge

We have recently sanded and lacquered a pine floor in Cambridge. Lovely results!

Pine wood floor before the sanding

Pine wood floor after the sanding

Pine wood floor after the sanding and lacquer applied

Art of Clean is a specialist cleaning firm in: 

Wood Floor Sanding,

Stone floor Cleaning,

Carpet Cleaning,

Rug Cleaning,

Upholstery Cleaning 

Leather Furniture Cleaning, 

Working for domestic or commercial clients throughout Cambridgeshire, Essex, Suffolk and Hertfordshire.

For more information on our services contact our friendly team on 01223 863632 or email us at info@artofclean.co.uk

Pine floor sanded and oiled in Girton

Beautiful transformation on this pine wooden floor.
It was very dry and no protective finish was left on the wood floor.

We sanded the floor and reapply Pallmann Magic Oil finish. This looks natural and lovely on this floor.

See the video below on how Pallmann Magic oil is applied and the protection it offers on wood floors

Pine floor before the sanding

Pine floor after the sanding

Pine floor after the sanding and oiling

Art of Clean is a specialist cleaning firm in: 

Wood Floor Sanding,

Stone floor Cleaning,

Carpet Cleaning,

Rug Cleaning,

Upholstery Cleaning 

Leather Furniture Cleaning, 

Working for domestic or commercial clients throughout Cambridgeshire, Essex, Suffolk and Hertfordshire.

For more information on our services contact our friendly team on 01223 863632 or email us at info@artofclean.co.uk

What to do when sanding floors that follow through to other rooms

 

Sanding wooden floors is a time-consuming and disruptive job, so considerations need to be made when planning the work to ensure you don't add unnecessary work and hassle to your schedule.

 

If you are sanding a floor, such as the hallway, that receives high foot traffic and will need attention much sooner than adjoining rooms, a challenge can arise when there are no floor bars to divide the space.

At this point you have two options:

1. If all of the adjoining rooms have wood floors that have some degree of wear that need to be addresses immediately or in the near future then it will be best to have them all sanded at the same time.  This will eliminate the issue of having to disrupt the house on multiple occasions.  Also, and very importantly, having all the floors sanded at the same time will mean there will be consistency across the board, so each room will seamlessly merge into one another.

2. if you have rooms where the wood floor is in a great condition and does not need sanding, though it is connected to a busy hallway, then you may want to consider fitting a very nice high end brass strip to the floor following the sanding – (always after the sanding so no accidental scratch marks are created) This way you visually break the rooms up  so you do not need to sand all the floors

Here is a link to a place that sell a very good brass door strip - http://www.jimsengineering.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=36%3Abrass-door-strips&catid=2%3Achandlery&Itemid=2

Art of Clean are specialists in: 

Hardwood Floor Cleaning, 

Stone floor Cleaning,

Carpet Cleaning,
Rug Cleaning,

Upholstery Cleaning 

Leather Furniture Cleaning, 

Working for domestic or commercial clients throughout Cambridgeshire, Essex, Suffolk and Hertfordshire.

For more information about our services please contact our friendly team on 01223 863632 or visit www.artofclean.co.uk.

 

 

 

 

Frequently asked questions about floor sanding: how to sand a floor from Art of Cleans perspective

1. Is it dusty?
The professional sanding machines that we use collect up to 99% of the dust produced! (depending on how level the floor is).  It can never be 100% efficient.  To protect against this we will bring dust sheets and masking tape to seal up any openings and spaces that need to be kept dust-free.  We will also vacuum the floor several times during the process.

2. How long will it take?

That depends on the type of flooring and the finish.  It may take several days for  a large area or multiple rooms.  You will need to ensure that the area to be sanded will be free of traffic and furnishings for this period.  We will discuss timing with you when we give you your free quotation.

3.  Do I need to move the furniture?

The areas to be sanded will need to be cleared of all furniture before we arrive and no furniture to be replaced for 24 hours after the finish is applied (to allow the finish to reach full strength).  If you need help with this we can move them for you (additional fees may apply).  Hard wax oil will be OK to walk on after 4 to 6 hours depending on air flow.

4. Is it noisy?

The preparation (knocking nails in) and the sanding process are very noisy.  The sanding machines we use do have powerful electronic motors and are much louder than your normal D.I.Y. power tools.  The manufactures recommend that the operators wear ear protectors.  Obviously the application of stains and varnishes is a quiet process, except maybe for some out of tune whistling!

5.  Should I have my floors sanded before or after I decorate the rest of the room?

It is advised to leave the skirting board as the last item to be finished as some light scuff marks might show after the sanding.  All other decoration should be finished before.  Please discuss your requirements during the quote stage.

6. Do you use any harmful chemicals/products?

We use water based products that are odor free and non-toxic, unless otherwise requested.  We may use products that are alcohol based.  These have a strong smell that will disappear quickly and is completely harmless (unlike their solvent based counterparts).  We will ensure there is good ventilation.  In very rare cases we may use some paint stripper which is a little unpleasant.

Call Art of Clean for more information about our hardwood floor sanding and finishing services on 01223 863632 or see our website www.artofclean.co.uk to find out more.

We are a professional cleaning company who specialise in Carpet Cleaning, Rug Cleaning, Hardwood Floor Cleaning, Stone floor Cleaning, Upholstery Cleaning and Leather Furniture Cleaning cleaning for domestic an commercial clients through out Cambridgeshire, Essex, Suffolk and Hertfordshire.

The thee stages of wood floor restoration

Contact Art of Clean for more information about the services we offer.  Call us on 01223 863632 or see our website www.artofclean.co.uk to find out more.

We are a professional cleaning company who specialise in Carpet Cleaning, Rug Cleaning, Hardwood Floor Cleaning, Stone floor Cleaning, Upholstery Cleaning and Leather Furniture Cleaning cleaning for domestic an commercial clients.

HOW MOISTURE AFFECTS HARDWOOD FLOORING

Hardwood flooring, as the name suggests, is a natural product. While wooden flooring is a beautiful addition to any room, adding value and transforming the look and feel of a home, the fact that it is a natural product means that it can undergo changes. Wood responds to humidity levels and moisture in the air, and this can cause your hardwood flooring to expand or contract.

Wood is a hygroscopic material, meaning it has the ability to attract and hold water molecules from the air surrounding it. When exposed to the air, wood will attract or release moisture until it is at the same level as the surrounding atmosphere. So if there is excess moisture in the air, your hardwood flooring will attract some of this moisture, causing it to expand. If there is less moisture in the air, wooden flooring will release some of the moisture held within it back into the air, causing it to contract and shrink.

When wood goes through this change, it may not expand or contract equally in all directions. This expansion and contraction is completely natural, and as long as the movement is not too extreme, you should have no need to worry. There are some steps you can take to try and limit the movement of your wood flooring, however.

During the cold winter months, your home will be heated, causing the air to become dry and humidity levels to drop. This can cause your hardwood flooring to release moisture and contract, causing small gaps to appear. To limit this, try to keep the humidity levels in your home between 50-65% using a humidifier, or by placing damp tea-towels on your radiators.

Over summer, when the temperature is higher, humidity levels can rise considerably. This, in turn, can cause your wooden flooring to absorb the excess moisture in the air and expand, pressing the boards against each other. To stop this from happening, leave your windows open for a short period each day to allow the humidity to leave your room, being replaced by fresh air circulating instead.

Sourced from: http://www.justwood.co.uk

We are a professional cleaning company who specialise in Carpet, Rug, Hardwood floor, Stone floor, Upholstery and Leather cleaning for domestic an commercial clients.

 For more information about our services contact the team on 01223 863632 or at www.artofclean.co.uk to find out more.

How to choose the right wood for my new hardwood floor

Deciding on a new hardwood floor is an exciting task but one with many options to choose from. A new hardwood floor can increase the value of your home, update the style and bring new life to your existing home.

With multiple factors influencing your ideal choice of hardwood species for your new floor, it’s important to think about everything that will affect your floor, from maintenance to installation and style to cost. 

Other than color, grain and species preferences, the following will affect the type of hardwood that will work best for you:

1. Subfloor type

2. Lifestyle and living habits

3. Cost and maintenance

Here are the other factors you should think about

1. Color, décor and style

Subfloor Type

The subfloor, the floor in which your hardwood floor is installed upon, plays a role in which type of wood would work best in your space. Subfloors are often made of concrete (slab), particle board, or plywood, and each of these materials affects what is laid on top of it. 

Concrete slab subfloors really only work well with engineered wood, which is a look-alike man-made material that imitates real wood. It is often made with veneers. Engineered wood floors resist moisture more than real hardwood material.

Plywood floors are more likely the most common subfloor type. Plywood subfloors allow for more options to be laid on top and it is easy to affix the new hardwood to the plywood subfloor with nails. Solid wood and engineered wood floors work well with plywood subfloors. 

Particle board subfloors are not as common anymore but can be found in some older homes from the 70s. Particle board subfloors should really be replaced with plywood floors before laying a new floor down.

Lifestyle and Living Habits

Your living habits play a role in the best type of wood for your new floor too. If you have a big family with a lot of foot traffic, have pets or host parties often, a harder species of wood will last longer than a softer species. This also applies if high heels are often worn on the floor; a harder wood will resist dents from heels better than soft wood.

The Janka scale, a scale that measures the strength and hardness of wood floors, will tell you which species of woods are harder than others. While harder species of wood will have a higher defense from wear that does not mean that softer wood species should be discounted—maintenance is required by all species to keep your floor looking its best.

Cost and Maintenance

The initial cost of a hardwood floor often shocks people, but as I have said before in my previous blog post, hardwood floors are not always expensive nor hard to maintain. But these two factors will determine the species you decide on as price and maintenance do vary from species to species. Engineered hardwood is always cheaper than real hardwood, so engineered hardwood is a good option if you are on a budget.

Also, domestic hardwood floor species are typically cheaper than exotic species because of the closer proximity to where they are grown to where they are installed. But if uniqueness is what you are going for, exotic species offer that over domestic species.

Other costs you should think about include installation costs, whether you want your hardwood floor to come prefinished or unfinished, and any maintenance costs associated with having a wood floor.

The maintenance a specific wood floor requires may also influence your choice. The harder the wood species the longer the floor is expected to last, but, the finish of the floor also affects the life of it. Polyurethane finishes that are popularly used today produce a shinier coat, but light reflecting off the floor can show scratches and dents.

Another finish option is penetrating oil finish. Penetrating oil finishes are becoming more popular due to the fact that it is an all-natural, low VOC (Volatile organic compounds) finish. Like the name implies, oil finishes penetrate into the wood and also helps hide the effects of wear a little better. Penetrating finishes provide a less-shiny matte finish too. The type of finish used influences how often a floor needs to be refinished during its lifetime.

These previous factors are the factors that really affect the type of floor that would work best for you. Now for the fun part: color and style options!

Color, Style and Décor

The color that will look good in your space depends on the species (hardness) your lifestyle allows but also depends on the existing style of the space the floor is getting installed in.

When choosing the color of your floor, think about the existing color of things like your cabinets, trim and doors, and make sure those colors work well with your floor color of choice. Make sure the swatch of sample wood you are using is big enough to get the real feel of its color. I recommend at least a 2 ft. x 2 ft. swatch. 

The style of the wood you choose also impacts the look your space will take on. Lighter colored species like Pine, Cypress and Hickory give off a rustic feel, while Walnut, Mahogany and Cherry will lend well to a traditional look. Also think about the décor and furnishings you have in your home and how those would blend with the style of hardwood floor you choose.

Another thing to also take into consideration is that you can have most woods stained. If you want a much more durable wood but aren't sold on the color choices available, you could have it stained to achieve the color that would best fit the décor of your home.

When it comes time to make your final hardwood floor decision, make sure to have thought of each of these items to ensure you are getting the best, and right, hardwood floor.

Sourced from:http://signaturecustomflooring.com/

We are a professional cleaning company who specialise in Carpet, Rug, Hardwood floor, Stone floor, Upholstery and Leather cleaning for domestic an commercial clients.

 For more information about our services contact the team on 01223 863632 or at www.artofclean.co.uk to find out more.

Parquet flooring restoration

Beautiful parquet flooring restored to its glory! We love it :)
The floor has been finished with Magil oil from Pallman http://bit.ly/1l3oFw4

What effect will sunlight have on my wood floor

After a certain amount of time the sun will discolour your wooden floor, some floor finishes such as lacquers and oils which contain UV blockers can slow down this process, but you will still find that it will change colour over a certain amount of time.

To reduce the amount of fading on your wooden floor it would be advisable to move the furniture around your room frequently, you could also try drawing your curtains in summer at the sunniest time of day to reduce the amount of discolouration of your floor.

The photo below is where a rug had been placed on the wooden floor and had stopped the sun from bleaching out the colour.

If you would like some help and advice on your wooden floor then why not call our team of wood floor specialists on 01223 863638.