The holidays are well on their way and with the holidays comes all the parties. Are you planning on having family and friends over for the holidays? Perhaps you just had an excellent hardwood flooring installation job done and you're just dying to show everyone how great it looks. Having beautiful hardwood flooring to show is great, but be wary because with all the holiday parties you plan on hosting comes the dirty floor and potential for damage to your hardwood flooring. Here are few tips from Chicagoland Pro on how to keep your hardwood floors safe during the holiday celebrations:
Protecting Your Hardwood Flooring-- Christmas Tree
1- Use of felt appliques: If part of your decorations include having a Christmas tree there are a few things you need to keep in mind for the well-being of your hardwood flooring. If you have decided to use a real tree then this means you will obviously need to make sure that the stem or base of the tree is being watered. Here's where things can get tricky. If for some reason the base begins leaking water it can cause great damage to your hardwood flooring. No one wants a beautiful hardwood flooring installation job ruined, so save yourself the trouble and make sure the base of the tree is protected. Place a felt applique tightly around the base of the tree. If any water seeps out, it will not be directly on the hardwood flooring.
2- Say no to sap: Here's another tree tip-- If you intend on using a real tree as a part of your holiday directions watch out for the sap that could potentially wind up on your hardwood flooring. If you find a spot where sap has accumulated the best way to remove it is to stick an ice cube on it. This will pop the sap right off. After you pop the sap off clean the floor with a hardwood flooring-safe cleaner.
3- Eliminate tree needles: Protect your hardwood flooring from all of those pesky pine needles that trees can leave behind during the holiday season. Keep a microfiber dust mop or hardwood flooring-safe vacuum handy at all times. Scratches on hardwood floors typically come from any debris left on the flooring that moves across the floor. This will dull the flooring's finish. Try to sweep the floor daily.
Protecting Your Hardwood Flooring-- Guests
4- Polishing: Before holiday guests arrive, consider a quick floor polishing. A quick floor polishing will make your floors look their best just in time for your guests to arrive. Just remember to leave yourself enough time for your handy work to dry. Give yourself a window of 1-2 hours before allowing people to walk on the floors.
5- Shoes off: Make it a point that all guests take off their shoes at the door upon their arrival. This will leave the dirt and debris from outside off of your hardwood flooring preventing any damage from being done.
Looking for more tips on protecting your hardwood flooring from all the holiday commotion? Feel free to leave us a comment below or contact us.
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Allergies and Flooring Choices
As time goes on, more and more Americans suffer from allergies and while some of those allergies are from outdoor allergens such as pollen, weeds or mold, some allergies come right from your own home. The most common allergens found in a home include dust mites, mold, and pet dander. Reducing places where those kinds of allergens can settle will not only improve your home's air quality, but it will also reduce allergy symptoms. What can you do to reduce allergens in your home? Start with your home's flooring.
Some types of flooring contains volatile organic compounds, known as VOC's in the flooring industry. Those compounds can trigger allergies in some people. People with asthma that are exposed to VOC's typically have more frequent asthma attacks. However, today many manufacturers deal VOC-free products. What flooring is best for allergy sufferers? Here's a list:
(1) Hardwood: As a Palatine Hardwood flooring company that has been in the hardwood floor installation and hardwood floor refinishing business for over 25 years, we strongly believe hardwood flooring has many benefits. Besides being aesthetically pleasing, hardwood flooring is great flooring to install for allergy sufferers. The hard surface of hardwood flooring leaves no room for any dust or allergens to hide.
(2) Cork: Cork provides a plethora of benefits for allergy sufferers. First, it is antimicrobial. Naturally occuring substance Suberin is found in Cork flooring. The substance reduces growth of mold, bacteria and multiple other allergens. While it is a rather porous material, its hard finish makes it hard for allergens to collect inside of it. A lot of homeowners say it is very easy flooring to clean.
(3) Stone tile: Not all stone tile makes for good flooring for allergy sufferers, but this all depends on the type of stone tile. Typically, the smoother the tile the less likely it will be that it will harbor allergens. If the tile is porous, it has more of a chance of holding onto allergens. Pick a tile that is more polished as opposed to tile that is natural looking.
(4) Laminate: Laminate flooring, like tile, is not always the best choice for allergen reduction, but it can be a good choice depending on how it was manufactured. Laminate flooring is typically manufactured by taking multiple layers of wood composite and gluing them together. The problem is that VOCs, as previously mentioned, could be in the adhesive used in creating the laminate flooring. As mentioned before, many manufacturers are aware of this and stay away from adhesives with VOCs. Like hardwood flooring, laminate flooring provides similar benefits.
(5) Bamboo: Bamboo flooring is a great choice of flooring for allergy sufferers. It provides similar properties of hard flooring and won't provide a home for dust or other allergens. Bamboo flooring is water resistant, which is another great benefit. Like laminates, manufacturing is important with this type of flooring since VOCs may be present.
If you have comment or questions on anything hardwood flooring related, feel free to comment below or contact us.
Palatine Hardwood Flooring
Palatine Hardwood Refinishing
Palatine Hardwood Installation
Hardwood Floor Install
Chicago Hardwood Floor Installation
Some types of flooring contains volatile organic compounds, known as VOC's in the flooring industry. Those compounds can trigger allergies in some people. People with asthma that are exposed to VOC's typically have more frequent asthma attacks. However, today many manufacturers deal VOC-free products. What flooring is best for allergy sufferers? Here's a list:
(1) Hardwood: As a Palatine Hardwood flooring company that has been in the hardwood floor installation and hardwood floor refinishing business for over 25 years, we strongly believe hardwood flooring has many benefits. Besides being aesthetically pleasing, hardwood flooring is great flooring to install for allergy sufferers. The hard surface of hardwood flooring leaves no room for any dust or allergens to hide.
(2) Cork: Cork provides a plethora of benefits for allergy sufferers. First, it is antimicrobial. Naturally occuring substance Suberin is found in Cork flooring. The substance reduces growth of mold, bacteria and multiple other allergens. While it is a rather porous material, its hard finish makes it hard for allergens to collect inside of it. A lot of homeowners say it is very easy flooring to clean.
(3) Stone tile: Not all stone tile makes for good flooring for allergy sufferers, but this all depends on the type of stone tile. Typically, the smoother the tile the less likely it will be that it will harbor allergens. If the tile is porous, it has more of a chance of holding onto allergens. Pick a tile that is more polished as opposed to tile that is natural looking.
(4) Laminate: Laminate flooring, like tile, is not always the best choice for allergen reduction, but it can be a good choice depending on how it was manufactured. Laminate flooring is typically manufactured by taking multiple layers of wood composite and gluing them together. The problem is that VOCs, as previously mentioned, could be in the adhesive used in creating the laminate flooring. As mentioned before, many manufacturers are aware of this and stay away from adhesives with VOCs. Like hardwood flooring, laminate flooring provides similar benefits.
(5) Bamboo: Bamboo flooring is a great choice of flooring for allergy sufferers. It provides similar properties of hard flooring and won't provide a home for dust or other allergens. Bamboo flooring is water resistant, which is another great benefit. Like laminates, manufacturing is important with this type of flooring since VOCs may be present.
If you have comment or questions on anything hardwood flooring related, feel free to comment below or contact us.
Palatine Hardwood Flooring
Palatine Hardwood Refinishing
Palatine Hardwood Installation
Hardwood Floor Install
Chicago Hardwood Floor Installation
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Dealing with Hardwood Floors and Noise
We
have come across hardwood flooring forums with posts from homeowner’s with
hardwood floors who describe noise associated with walking on their home’s
hardwood flooring. No, noise is
not uncommon with hardwood flooring, but there are reason why the noise is
present and there are a few different things homeowner’s can do before they put
flooring in and even after they have flooring in that is considered noisy. Here are a few tips on dealing with and
prevent hardwood flooring noise:
Why there is
noise
First
off, you are probably wondering why there is noise associated with hardwood
flooring in the first place. There
is no simple answer to this question, but there usually are a couple different
culprits that could be the source of the noise. First, the room angle, more commonly if the room has high
ceilings and unusual angles, can really amplify the noise. Choosing the right hardwood flooring
for the space you are putting it in is certainly important. Having a professional hardwood flooringinstallation company install hardwood flooring is usually the best bet since hardwoodflooring experts can typically make the best suggestions on what flooring is
best for your space. Another
culprit could purely be an echo.
Obviously echoes magnify sounds big and small and some rooms have more
of an echo than others. Again,
this could be due to room angles and ceiling height. Most hardwood flooring experts will agree that the main cause
for a squeaky floor is old age, loose boards that are rubbing against nails in
the floor or a nearby board, defective construction, or bad lumber. For the most part, squeaky floors are
the result of loose, gapped, or warped floorboards and joists.
What you can
do
You’re
annoyed by the noise of your hardwood flooring, so what can you do? There are a couple of steps to take
that could help with the noise:
First: Locate the specific squeaky board and
determine which boards around it are affected as well. Have a helper walk around the squeaky
spot while you pinpoint the exact floorboard it is emanating from.
Second: If you find that the problem is on the
main floor and the basement ceiling has exposed joints, this will be significantly
easier because now you can make repairs from below. If this is the case,
installing wooden wedges between the squeaky floorboard and the joist can
tighten loose fitting floorboards. However, make certain that the wedges do not
raise the entire level of the flooring.
Third: If the basement ceiling is finished or if
the squeaking is above the main floor, a different approach will be
needed. This situation will call
for the repair to be made on the surface of the floor rather than beneath it.
Once again, locate the squeaky board(s) and corresponding joists and drill
several small holes and then hammer in spiraled flooring nails in a
"V" type formation downwards through the flooring and into the
joists. Forcing additional
bridging between two joists can help make loose joists more stable. Bridging should be placed every 8
inches of span between joists and then toenailed at both ends of the joists.
This additional support will provide further support for the floor, which
should greatly help and eliminate any squeaking sound.
Fourth: Another reason why the floors may be
squeaking might be warped underlying joists or floorboards. A warped joist will result in sections
of the flooring being insufficiently supported, which will result in squeaking. So if this is the problem, what should
you do? Forcing a piece of wood
that is longer and wider than the gap up against the joist and nailing them
together can repair this problem. Floorboards themselves can become warped and can
be noticeable when they curl upwards on an end. This can be corrected by
drilling spiraled flooring nails through the curled up end and down into the
underlying joist.
For
the most part, expert installation can help you avoid the noise commonly
associated with hardwood flooring.
For more hardwood flooring advice, please feel free to comment below or
contact us with questions.
Palatine Hardwood Flooring
Palatine Hardwood Flooring Installation
Hardwood Flooring
Palatine Hardwood Refinishing
Palatine Hardwood Flooring
Palatine Hardwood Flooring Installation
Hardwood Flooring
Palatine Hardwood Refinishing
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Today's Hardwood Flooring Trends
Trends aren't just a part of the fashion world.
Trends are even a part of the hardwood flooring world. Installing and
refinishing hardwood flooring for the past 25 years, we really have seen it all
here at Palatine Hardwood Flooring company Chicagoland Pro. What are
today's homeowners looking for in their hardwood flooring today? Here are
a few today's hardwood flooring trends:
(1) Sustainability: As time goes on we
become more and more concerned about preserving the environment. Concerns
for forests and the environment has began impacting how hardwood flooring is
being produced. Sustainable domestic species of wood have become popular
as the days of cutting down forests just to produced lumber has began fading.
Homeowners are choosing materials like bamboo or cork, which offers peak
performance like that of hardwood flooring, but there's no need to cut down
trees. Bamboo, cork and other similar materials are great sustainable
products, which is great for environmentally friendly folks.
(2) Authenticity: Homeowner's today are
looking for authenticity in their hardwood flooring. The idea of
incorporating more nature into our homes comes through in our flooring choices.
Hardwood flooring gives a touch of nature to our homes and perhaps that's
why homeowner's today seek out authenticity in their flooring. Authentic
flooring harkens back to the flooring of the past reminding us of a life-style
that was slower paced and perhaps that's part of why homeowner's are liking the
authentic flooring.
(3) Wide-width wood planks: Buildings and
homes constructed in the 1800s feature hardwood flooring with wood planks with
wide-widths, different from our hardwood flooring today. Typically boards
today are 2 to 3-inch widths, whereas older flooring was commonly 5 to 8-inch
widths, depending on the wood species. Manufacturers are looking to
provide wider-widths for homeowner's looking to again bring back parts of the
past.
(4) Distressing wood flooring: Instead of
the perfected look, homeowners are starting to like the distressed look of
hardwood flooring again. The 1970s ushered in a want for distressed
flooring, but typically that meant the floor looked extremely distressed.
Gouges, stains, slices, marks show some authenticity.Today distressing is
making a comeback, but is more toned down then distressed floors from the past.
(5) Color: Homeowners usually want their
flooring to match the rest of the decor in the room, so it's only natural that
color is a popular trend. Homeowners today aren't just interested in
different shades of brown flooring. They even show interest in a wide
variety of other colors including whites (off-whites), blacks, grays and reds.
Stain allows you to pick your color choice.
If you have comments or questions, just comment on
this post or contact us. We're always happy to talk hardwood flooring.
Friday, July 20, 2012
Refinishing FAQs
Are you
considering a hardwood floor refinishing for your hardwood floors? Or do you find yourself asking the question, “When
should I refinish my hardwood floors?” Here at Chicagoland Pro we get asked questions
like that quite frequently. It may
seem like the answer to this question should be simple when in actuality, it’s
not. The answer to this question can vary. We typically see homeowners decide to get
their floors refinished after some wear and tear, while some homeowners will
get floors refinished that have very little defects just to achieve that
perfect, flawless appearance. The point
is, there really is no golden time to get your hardwood floors refinished. Here are a couple common refinishing
questions asked frequently by homeowners accompanied by our answers:
Q-“Does refinishing hardwood floors
effect the floors durability or strength?”
A- No, refinishing your hardwood floors should not affects
its durability or strength. This is
dependent on what type of hardwood floor you have. If you have an unusually thin hardwood floor,
then the answer to the question is yes, it could affect the durability or
strength of the floor. It depends on
how old the flooring is and how many times it has previously been refinished. Flooring
installed in the 30s was much thinner and as a result shouldn’t really be
refinished more than a time or two.
Really, it all depends on the wood type or specie. Most flooring today won’t be an issue and
refinishing your floors shouldn’t cause problems in terms of durability or
strength.
Q-“How many times can a floor be
refinished?”
A- This answer can depend on what type of flooring you
have. The thickness of the floor
determines how many times it can be refinished, so the thicker the floor, the
more times this process can be done. The condition of the floor also determines
how many times it can be refinished. For the most part, solid hardwood can be sanded and refinished
many times, unless it’s so old that the floors are worn down to the tongue and
groove, then that’s another story. We always suggest that
homeowners consider
what they are trying to achieve with the refinishing process first.
Q-“How long does the refinishing process take?”
A- The entire process, when accounting for sanding, can
take anywhere from 4-6 days. It is best
to be out of your home during that time or to avoid walking on the floors
during that time.
Q-“I liked the color of my old
stain. Is there any way it can be
reserved?”
A- Typically, when an older floor needs refinishing the
color and original finish is completely sanded off. It’s essentially like starting over new
again. New stain will be put onto the
floors.
Refinishing your floors, especially if they are older, can
really rejuvenate them. If you have more
questions on refinishing hardwood flooring, just contact us here at Chicagoland Pro. We’d be happy to give you a few
pointers.
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
The Do's And Don'ts Of Cleaning Hardwood Floors
One of the most common questions asked by homeowners when deciding whether to get hardwood floors or not is, "How do I clean hardwood floors?" Here are a couple of the do's and dont's of hardwood floor cleaning:
DO- Sweep hardwood floors- Invest in a great broom to keep those hardwood floors clean. A good broom can sweep away some of the little impurities.
DO/DON'T- Vacuum hardwood floors- Here's where having hardwood floors could get tricky! If you want to vacuum hardwood floors, only use a vacuum that doesn't have a beater bar. Upright vacuums with beater bars can put dents in hardwood floors, which is why they should never be used. Vacuuming can be done if you're using a vacuum without beater bars (such as a canister vacuum) with hardwood floor attachments. This type of vacuum will help clean between the floorboards without damaging the wood.
DO- Utilize rugs- Place rugs in areas that experience high foot traffic to prevent dirt, dust and dents from accumulating on hardwood floors. Also, place rugs near any areas where water could potentially splash onto hardwood floors to prevent water from seeping into the wood. Water can ruin hardwood causing it to warp or splinter.
DON'T- Use rugs with rubber or vinyl backing- In some cases, rubber or vinyl backing has damaged hardwood flooring, so check with the floors manufacturers to make sure rug backing won't be an issue.
DON'T- Use soaps or waxes- This includes any ammonia-based cleaners or oil soaps. Soaps or waxes could dull the finish and prevent future recoats from sticking to the polyurethane.
DO- Clean any sticky spots with a damp towel or sponge- Don't saturate the towel or sponge. The less water the better!
DO- Minimize water exposure- Always clean up spills immediately!
DO- Use a professional hardwood floor cleaner- Special cleaners are available and recommended for hardwood floors as a remedy to remove occasional nicks and marks on the floor. Spray some cleaner on a cloth to remove the marks. Be gentle!
For more cleaning tips and tricks, contact us or visit our webpage.
The Great Debate: Hardwood Versus Laminate
It’s the age-old debate—which is better, hardwood or laminate flooring? When deciding between whether to get hardwood or laminate flooring there are a multitude of things to consider. Price, installation, and variety are just a few things to think over before choosing flooring. Before making your selection, consider the pros and the cons of both.
Laminate- Laminate flooring is made from several materials that are pressed together at high temperatures. The photograph or image of hardwood is then placed on top of the material and is covered by a clear protective layer.
The Pros
-Durability- Since laminate floors are harder to dent and scratch, it makes a great flooring option for the kid-friendly or animal-friendly household. YES, lifestyle should be taken into consideration when choosing flooring.
-Easy installation- Laminate floors can be placed on top of almost any current flooring, except for carpeting. Flooring underneath isn’t destroyed in the process. Most laminate floors are installed easily with a tongue-and-groove system.
-Budget friendly- The flooring itself and the installation tend to be a little easier on the wallet than hardwood flooring and installation.
The Cons
-Moisture can damage laminate flooring- The materials in laminate floors are water resistant, however excessive moisture can cause laminate flooring to warp. This is something to consider depending on where you would like to put laminate floors. Thinking of placing it in the bathroom? That might not be the best choice.
-Harder to repair- Unlike hardwood floors, laminate can’t be refinished. Individual pieces can be purchased, but may not match the original flooring.
Hardwood- It’s the real deal! Hardwood is made from all types of harvested trees and depending on how exotic the trees are will depict the pricing. Hardwood is considerably pricier to buy and to install, but most homeowners will agree that the results are worth it.
The Pros
-Variety- Hardwood comes in great variations of all sorts of beautiful wood. There is no set standard wood. Homeowners can choose from woods like oak, ash, hickory, teak, etc.
-Resale appeal- Since many homeowners are looking for hardwood floors in their home, installing hardwood floors can instantly up your homes resale value.
-Long lasting- Hardwood floors are built for the long haul and hold up over long periods of time. They can be sanded and imperfections can be refinished out.
The Cons
-Price factor- Hardwood floors can get a tad pricey depending on which wood you choose and hardwood installs can cost more than laminate installs.
-Moisture- Excessive moisture can damage hardwood flooring, but (here’s a pro!) it can be repaired.
-Imperfections- Hardwood is susceptible to scratching and denting, especially in high traffic areas of the home. Lifestyle should be taken into consideration when purchasing either type of flooring.
Still having trouble deciding whether to go with hardwood or laminate? Talk to the experts here at Chicagoland Pro and we will help you choose.
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Palatine Hardwood Refinishing and Sanding Services
You might be tired of seeing your hardwood floors looking damaged and dull after years of regular wear and tear. So, you take action by wanting to begin a Schaumburg hardwood floor refinishing project - taking whatever steps necessary for making your hardwoods look brand new again. But if you have limited experience with home improvement projects, you may be feeling a bit overwhelmed and as if you do not know what to do first. But there's no need to feel lost! Here is a simple guide for refinishing hardwood floors and giving them that shiny and beautiful look back again. Follow these steps and guidelines, and you'll have a picture perfect hardwood floor before you know it!
First things first, you would need some materials to make this possible. The materials you will need are wide brooms, heavy and light sandpaper, gloves, rollers with long handles, floor wax, brushes, wood stain, rags, floor sanders and edger, shop vacuums and dust masks.
There are three main processes involved in wood floor refinishing. These include sanding the floor, staining the floor, and finally finishing the floor. In the first process, you should remove first all of he furniture, rugs, mats, etc. from the room with floors that you plan to refinish. Then after doing this, you must check the floor and see if there are any nails or other sharp objects protruding from the surface. Remove them right away, for they destroy the sandpaper sheet when you start to sand them.
If you need help with these issues, please give Chicagoland Pro a call today or email us directly!! We're actively accepting Hardwood Refinishing Projects Daily.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
End Block Flooring: Palatine Hardwood Installation Services
Here's something in the unique category! Doubtful if many of us have ever seen this kind of Palatine hardwood floor pattern work. Leave it to anyone's imagination, end block flooring can offer a multitude of designs.
Chicagoland Pro can install these types of products for you. Products offered vary in four different thicknesses and glued to any proper subfloor. Following installation, sanding equipment is brought in much like traditional hardwood floors.
The appearance offers a busy look, but think about using them for border work or entry ways. If they're installed with solid 3/4" floors, other preparations will have to be considered to reach the same vertical height.
Friday, April 13, 2012
Palatine & Schaumburg Hardwood Floor Refinishing
You might be tired of seeing your hardwood floors looking damaged and dull after years of regular wear and tear. So, you take action by wanting to begin a Schaumburg hardwood floor refinishing project - taking whatever steps necessary for making your hardwoods look brand new again. But if you have limited experience with home improvement projects, you may be feeling a bit overwhelmed and as if you do not know what to do first. But there's no need to feel lost! Here is a simple guide for refinishing hardwood floors and giving them that shiny and beautiful look back again. Follow these steps and guidelines, and you'll have a picture perfect hardwood floor before you know it!
First things first, you would need some materials to make this possible. The materials you will need are wide brooms, heavy and light sandpaper, gloves, rollers with long handles, floor wax, brushes, wood stain, rags, floor sanders and edger, shop vacuums and dust masks.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Best Hardwood Flooring Types for Dogs
Wood floors and dogs don't mix.
You're 100% correct. So that's why, instead of steering you to ceramic tile or a similarly scratch-proof surface, we have to seriously deal with the question of which wood floor is best for your dog. What's the problem at hand...or paw? Claws are the main issue unless you're prepared to declaw your Golden. Urine is next. Maybe that's not an issue with your dog (great), but then we have the added issues of mud, dirt, rocks.
All of those things still pale in comparison to claw-induced scratches. Put out as many runners as you like: Your dog will not remain confined to them, guaranteed.
What types of flooring can keep scratches at bay?
Pre-finished, hardwoods. Hardwoods, not soft. Soft wood such as pine or fir are poor choices for houses with dogs. No amount of surface prep can shield against dog claws.
Hard Maple: If you're looking for flooring on the domestic front, hard maple may be the way to go. Hard maple has long been used as a surface for basketball courts, so it should stand up well to pet traffic. Hard maple can hit a Janka rating of 1,450 or higher. Don't confuse hard maple with just any old maple. It's a specific type, alternately called sugar or rock maple.
Bamboo: Strand-Woven and FossilizedBamboo is a grass, not a wood, but in the flooring industry it is often classified as wood and can be subjected to a Janka test, too.
Bamboo flooring is very durable, but only as a result of the manufacturing process that impregnates the grass with hard resins. I mention the Cali brand of bamboo flooring because its Janka rating is an astronomical 5,000. Compare this to a Janka of 2,000 to 3,000 for conventional strand-woven bamboo flooring.
You're 100% correct. So that's why, instead of steering you to ceramic tile or a similarly scratch-proof surface, we have to seriously deal with the question of which wood floor is best for your dog. What's the problem at hand...or paw? Claws are the main issue unless you're prepared to declaw your Golden. Urine is next. Maybe that's not an issue with your dog (great), but then we have the added issues of mud, dirt, rocks.
All of those things still pale in comparison to claw-induced scratches. Put out as many runners as you like: Your dog will not remain confined to them, guaranteed.
What types of flooring can keep scratches at bay?
Pre-finished, hardwoods. Hardwoods, not soft. Soft wood such as pine or fir are poor choices for houses with dogs. No amount of surface prep can shield against dog claws.
Solid hardwood, not engineered wood. Engineered wood flooring is a sandwich of laminated wood with a real hardwood veneer on top. Engineered wood flooring is a superior product, but it raises red flags for a dog-inhabited homes. Engineered wood can take only a limited number of light sandings. Scratch marks might be able to be sanded down hard; once. A second deep sanding poses a risk of exposing the structural wood beneath.
A few types of wood will work best are:
Brazilian Walnut or Ipe: This type of Palatine hardwood flooring is universally hard and dense. Beyond that, it's mostly a matter of personal preference. Ipe, often called Brazilian walnut, is hard enough that it's even used on exterior decks.
Brazilian Walnut or Ipe: This type of Palatine hardwood flooring is universally hard and dense. Beyond that, it's mostly a matter of personal preference. Ipe, often called Brazilian walnut, is hard enough that it's even used on exterior decks.
Hard Maple: If you're looking for flooring on the domestic front, hard maple may be the way to go. Hard maple has long been used as a surface for basketball courts, so it should stand up well to pet traffic. Hard maple can hit a Janka rating of 1,450 or higher. Don't confuse hard maple with just any old maple. It's a specific type, alternately called sugar or rock maple.
Bamboo: Strand-Woven and FossilizedBamboo is a grass, not a wood, but in the flooring industry it is often classified as wood and can be subjected to a Janka test, too.
Bamboo flooring is very durable, but only as a result of the manufacturing process that impregnates the grass with hard resins. I mention the Cali brand of bamboo flooring because its Janka rating is an astronomical 5,000. Compare this to a Janka of 2,000 to 3,000 for conventional strand-woven bamboo flooring.
If you want a quote on sanding your scratched Hardwood floors, or replacing soft wood floors with a hardwood alternative, give Chicagoland Pro a call at (630) 217-2748.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Chicagoland Pro offers Sanding and Finishing!
Hardwood Sanding and Finishing ServicesMost sanding work will take a minimum of three days, though more time may be required if you require finishing. Pastel and dark-colored stains will take extra time to dry, as will any finishes with a water base.
Picking Stain ColorsWe will show you stain colors as soon as we've sanded some of your floor. For best results, have a picture of a floor you like or a color that you want. If you can show us an approximate color, we gave give you a smaller number of shades to choose from and it will be easier for you to make a choice.
Dustless Sanding and Refinishing
Power
Please note that our machines require 220 volt outlets. If your home doesn't have them available, don't fret — we will safely run wiring from your fuse box or circuit breaker to power our machines. This way, we won't have to interrupt the electricity in your home.
Dustless Sanding and Refinishing
Power
Please note that our machines require 220 volt outlets. If your home doesn't have them available, don't fret — we will safely run wiring from your fuse box or circuit breaker to power our machines. This way, we won't have to interrupt the electricity in your home.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
When to Refinish your Hardwood Floors
Engineered hardwood floors need more refinishing than traditional hardwood floors. Some hardwoods might need refinishing throughout their entire life. Hardwood floors have some of the beneficial properties of tiles. One is that it will not amass hidden soil or stinking compounds. Because of the highly useful properties, wood floors are often preferred to cemented or tile floors.
Engineered wooden floors which have two or more layers are widely used in North America. It is preferred to natural or solid wood because solid wood expands and contracts in varying temperature. Keeping good care of your wooden floors is as important as cleaning your house. Proper vacuuming, sweeping, damp mopping should be done at regular intervals in order to keep them safe from excessive grit and heavy foot traffic.
Engineered wooden floors which have two or more layers are widely used in North America. It is preferred to natural or solid wood because solid wood expands and contracts in varying temperature. Keeping good care of your wooden floors is as important as cleaning your house. Proper vacuuming, sweeping, damp mopping should be done at regular intervals in order to keep them safe from excessive grit and heavy foot traffic.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Palatine Hardwood Flooring and Repair!
Chicagoland Pro, Palatine Hardwood Flooring has been in business for over 25 years. The owner is personally involved in every project because he does all of the work: Hardwood Floor Installation, Hardwood Flooring Sanding and Finishing, Hardwood Floor Repairs, Hardwood Floor Maintenance and Hardwood Floor Installation and Repair Estimates.
We service all of Chicagoland and the surrounding counties. What are you waiting for? Request a Free Estimate today!
There are several things to consider when deciding on a hardwood floor installation. For example: What direction do you want the floor installed? What width boards do you want? Do you want border work? Do you want flush-mount vents? What kind of subfloor do you have? If you have existing hardwood floors, do you want existing floors refinished? Do you want the new floors to match or contrast existing floors? Do you want floors laid onto existing floors or transitioned? These are just a few decisions that you need to consider. We'll explain all of the options to you to help you make decisions that you will be happy with.
Hardwood Floor Repair Palatine
We service all of Chicagoland and the surrounding counties. What are you waiting for? Request a Free Estimate today!
Our Services
Hardwood Floor Installation in Palatine
There are several things to consider when deciding on a hardwood floor installation. For example: What direction do you want the floor installed? What width boards do you want? Do you want border work? Do you want flush-mount vents? What kind of subfloor do you have? If you have existing hardwood floors, do you want existing floors refinished? Do you want the new floors to match or contrast existing floors? Do you want floors laid onto existing floors or transitioned? These are just a few decisions that you need to consider. We'll explain all of the options to you to help you make decisions that you will be happy with.
Hardwood Floor Repair Palatine
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