Benoakley

If you're looking for hardwood floor tips whether you've already installed hardwood floors or are planning to do so yourself or hire a hardwood floor contractor, then here are some quick tips and some money-saving tips to keep in mind.

1. Do plenty of research online and at your local hardwood floor dealers before you make any decisions or purchases. You want to fully understand prefinished and unfinished hardwoods. Talk to the salespeople and take a close look at the hardwoods. If you can't do this in person then go to some websites online and read all you can. Hardwood floors can be an expensive investment in your home and you want to know what the best flooring is based on your budget. Understand the various types of woods and the variation in prices. You can choose a less expensive hardwood and still have a beautiful floor.

2. If you don't plan to do-it-yourself and plan to hire a hardwood floor contractor get quotes from at least four of them. Make sure to ask for references and if possible check their work out at the installation locations. Hardwood costs have a broad range in price from cheaper hardwoods to the more expensive woods. There are many types to choose from including exotic, oak, Brazilian oak, cherry, maple, etc. And many manufacturers including Bruce, Shaw, Mohawk, Mannington and Armstrong, Quotes can vary widely. You can save a lot of money if you take a little time to compare.

3. Try not to use any water on the finished flooring. If you have to use any cleaners make sure they are neutral PH hardwood floor cleaners. Spray or buff them on for the safest approach.

4. Kitchens are not a good place to install a hardwood floor. The kitchen is subject to too much spilled water, cooking fluids and food messes. If your kitchen has them now, clean up any spills just as soon as they happen to prevent any damage to them. Also before you install them consider this -when the day comes that you want to sell your house, prospective buyers might be turned off by hardwood floors in the kitchen. Save lots of money now by not installing them in the kitchen. Use more appropriate kitchen flooring instead.

5. Make sure to have everyone leave their shoes at the door when entering your house. This is one of the best ways to preserve your floors, reduce wear and tear on your home and keep out harmful bacteria, viruses and other organisms as well.



These are just a few of the best tips to save your hardwood floors and save you money.

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cleveman

I like #5 the best. If Obama gets health care reform, we oughta be able to make this a part of the american culture as well. But I can't help thinking we should start by urging people not to sleep in their shoes, then work towards having them leave them at the door. Small steps.

neolitic

Nothing says,"Welcome!" quite like,
"Stop right there, and take off your
shoes before you enter my home."
After all, what's more important?
Friends or floors?

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cleveman

That's exactly the attitude which has to change. You have to do it automatically and teach your children to do it.

They say when the Mongol hordes overran Berlin in the war, they were drinking from the toilets.

I have people regularly try to wash their hands in my kitchen sink and dry their hands on my kitchen towel.

I had a roommate in college who was sharing a house with a little old lady. He would hack one up and spit it into her kitchen sink, then rinse it down. She finally asked him to leave.

So you've got to fetch them up properly...

Cdat

Shouldn't this info be in the DIY forum? Just sayin'.................

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Cdat

....and another thing. I make my own. I don't see my name on that list!

Quite honestly, did you copy and paste that from some magazine or something? Looks like a kid wrote it. Just sayin'..........

__________________
"Nothing is too good for you guys...and that's exactly what you're gonna get..."
"'Status quo,' as you know, is Latin for 'the mess we're in...'"

Floorwizard

I would recommend further info be directed to the correct area.
This is an article and is best posted in that area.

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"in 20 years you will regret more what you did not do than what you did"