You Won't Believe How Easy These Hardwood Flooring Fixes Are

Do you love the hardwood flooring in your home, but wish you could get rid of some its imperfections?  Believe it or not, but you most certainly can.  There are some relatively simple repairs you can make to your hardwood flooring to make it look and feel like new again.  Here are a few flooring issues that have simple fixes:

1- Stains: Do the stains on your hardwood flooring just drive you crazy?  As hardwood flooring installation experts we understand how important the appearance of hardwood flooring is to homeowners.  Proper hardwood flooring installation and hardwood flooring maintenance truly does go a long way as far as how aesthetically appealing hardwood flooring remains over the years and let's face it, hardwood flooring tends to take a lot of abuse over the years.  If moisture has gotten into your hardwood flooring and stained it then sand off the finish and consider scrubbing with a wood bleach.  Rinse it a few times with water. Once the stain is gone, which could take a couple of treatments so don't get discouraged, apply a new finish.  Just make sure that the wood is completely dry.

2- Scratches:  Scratches on hardwood floors are unfortunately quite common and have a simple solution.  If the scratches are light, touch up any scratches on your hardwood flooring using a stain-filled marker.  Stain-filled markers are sold at most hardware stores and hide scratches quite well.  Some scratches, if they are more extensive, could require sanding.  It depends on the severity.  Scratches can be avoided by placing felt on the bottom of heavy furniture to avoid scratches if the furniture needs to be moved.

3- Spots: Spots on hardwood flooring can be fixed rather easily as well by the process of refinishing.  Tape around the damaged board and sand with 80-grit paper until the imperfections disappear.  Sand again with 120-grit paper and then brush on polyurethane.  Allow drying time and say goodbye to the spots.

4- Open joints: If you have big gaps that open up between planks, they can be stuffed with manila rope or no-tar oakum, which is a jute fiber that is commonly used by plumbers.

5- Squeaks: We mentioned squeaking and sounds in a previous post.  Taking the sounds out of your hardwood flooring can be a simple fix.  Figure out first which board is causing the squeaking, drill at an angle through its face until you reach the subfloor.  You must avoid splitting so be sure to position the bit at the center of the board at least 3 inches from either end.  Hold the board as you hammer a nail into the hole.  Recess the head with a nailset.  Lastly, fill the divot with wood putty.

Looking more tips and tricks on doable hardwood flooring fixes?  Leave us a comment or contact us.

How to Effectively Clean Hardwood Floors

  

 Chicagolandpro.co

Dark hardwood floors are very common flooring to have in their homes; they are elegant and beautiful floors. When you have dark hardwood flooring in your home’s main living areas: foyer, office, dining room, family room, kitchen, and bedrooms, they can get dirty.

While these floors are beautiful and make homes improve in value, they can be high maintenance; anyone with dark hardwood floors will agree. Every crumb, dog or cat hair, or spot of dust can show up on your floors like a big ol’ pimple on class picture day. We’ve all been there. It’s embarrassing. And just like the pimple showing up in the photo, having junk all over the floors when you have guests over is incredibly embarrassing.

So how do you deal with this dirt, while still loving your beautiful dark floors?

Relax. Your floors will not be 100% clean all day, every day. If you have pets, they will bring some dirt into the house and they will shed some hair. Your feet and shoes will bring some dirt into the house. If you try to clean every. Single. Dirt speck. You are going to drive yourself crazy. Vacuum and clean when you need to.

Have rules. With dark hardwood, footprints show up very easily. Consider wearing socks or slippers in the home. You can try shoes but those can scuff and track in dirt, unless you go the Mr. Rogers route and have indoor shoes. However, if you are keeping your floors clean for guests, then hold off on that rule for guests?

Have cleaning essentials. A vacuum, Swiffer duster mop (dry), and a microfiber mopping pad with hardwood floor cleaning spray.

Have a cleaning routine. Set up a schedule for days and times when you can get your cleaning done. Try to have one or two days a week when you can vacuum. Swiffer two to three times a week. Mop once a week.

If you need tips and help maintaining your floors with a trusted expert, then contact Chicagoland Pro, a hardwoodflooring expert. 

5 Things You Need to Know Before You Can Refinish Your Hardwood Floors

One of the more popular jobs my Chicago hardwood flooring company gets called to do, besides installation, is refinish hardwood floors. Some floors are close to 100 years old and can be a major undertaking to restore.

While for sake of time and sanity, it makes sense to hire a company, should you decide to do the job yourself, here are some tips to know.

1. It is a lot of hard work. 

Indeed, a lot of work. Depending on the size of your house and how much flooring you plan on refinishing, it can range anywhere from five days to seven or eight. And they will be long days. On one of my first jobs, it was a refinishing job for a house that wanted to redo their four bedrooms, the hallway, large living room, and the kitchen; I thought this was going to be a three day job. No sir! It took six days.

2. Know what is covering your floors. 

Back to the house I just mentioned in my first job. It was old and a little run down. Someone just bought it at an auction. Each room had a special challenge. A few of the rooms had no finish left on the floor and the previous owner had painted over the floors with this ugly yellow paint. One of the bedrooms had carpet covering the floor, then a thick layer of blue paint, then the hardwood floor. Due to the differences in coverings on the floor, we had to adjust our sanding style.

3. Price out your equipment. 

You will want to get a drum sander and an edger. Both are must-haves. Shop around and find the best price.

4. Stir up the poly between each use, okay? 

Some novices will make this mistake and it can be frustrating. If you use polyurethane, know that it is shiny but you can add a powder to reduce the shine. However, this powder will settle to the bottom so you have to stir the poly to keep it all mixed up. If you do not do this, then you might find some spots in your floors that are very shiny amongst more matte looks.

5. Know when to be done. 

Know when enough is enough. When you are refinishing old floors, there are going to be uneven spots; if your floors are covered in paint, you might find that you can't sand off the paint without ruining the floor. If you can't get the uneven spot or paint to go away without ruining the floor, do not ruin the floor. Sometimes, those little paint cracks or dip in the wood can make your floor feel and look vintage and organic.

Of course, if you cannot get a large bit of paint off or the floor is just in too bad of shape to restore, you can always cover with laminate hardwood flooring.

If you are unsure of what to do or would rather hire a company, then contact Chicagoland Pro, a hardwood flooring company in Chicagoland.



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How To Choose The Best Flooring For Your Space

Chicagoland Pro- Hardwood Installation, Repair and Refinishing 

Are you getting ready to do a renovation and not sure what type of flooring is best for your space. Let us help you make the best choice. 


Obviously, being a hardwood flooring company we are partial to hardwood floors. After 25 years serving the Chicagoland area we have never heard a client tell us that they hate their hardwood floors. In fact, when was the last time you walked into a home or space and thought "I hate these hardwood floors"? Probably never, and that is why we think installing hardwood floors is a good idea and a good investment. We realize that not everyone agrees so we want to help inform you on all the choices so that you can make the best choice for your home or space. 

The number one factor when trying to decide on the type of flooring you should install or add to a space is function. The way the space will be used, the amount of foot traffic, as well as the floors location in a space all play an important role in what type of flooring your choose. While many focus on the design of the space we encourage to first consider function and then narrow down design options based on what floor will perform better for it's designated space. 


1. Hardwood flooring is great because it can provide both functional and beautiful elements to a renovation. Not only will this floor look good and be easy to keep clean, but it is a great investment. Hardwood flooring can outlast the homeowners by many years and adds a significant value to a home. Not only will the floors last but when you are ready to sell your home, buyers will be more interested because of the hardwood flooring. 

Currently, there are many varieties and or types of hardwood flooring options for consumers. Engineered wood is a great option for those not interested in traditional hardwood floor. It not only is more affordable but also is better suited to kitchen and bathroom spaces, or those that have high levels of humidity.

People looking for GREEN Flooring options should consider bamboo or salvaged wood, and realize that traditional hardwood flooring is considered environmentally friendly. Not only does can hardwood flooring last for over a century, but you can make sure that it is certifiably green by contacting the Forest Stewardship Council. The FCS ensures that wood flooring products are grown and farmed responsibly. There are also Green floor finishes like the BONA finish we use at Chicagoland Pro that is guaranteed to have low amounts of VOC's. These options make wood flooring the best choice for those going to "GREEN".

2. Stone flooring can add a modern and upscale look to a home or space but is not considered environmentally friendly and comes at a high cost. Stone flooring can be a great choice for entrance ways and other spaces that are compact. We would not recommend stone flooring for large rooms such as living or dining areas unless you are ready to spend.
Stone flooring comes in many styles and options, but again, it's not always functional for every type of room.  

3. Vinyl & Laminate flooring is good option for people who have high traffic areas or the functionality of the space includes pets, kids and or constant cleaning. These types of floors are easy to clean and will function well in an area that will receive a lot of foot traffic. While it is not an investment or major improvement that will help sell a space, it can a fresh and clean look, if you are doing a remodel or sick of cleaning a carpeted area. There are many varieties to choose from, including some that look and feel like hardwood floors. For those that are interested in hardwood but do not want to spend the money on traditional hardwood, these types of floors are a great option. They will not last as long, but will enhance a space and offer easier cleaning, and less allergens. 

Have a question for our Hardwood Flooring Professionals? 

Get in touch with us:

+Chicagoland Pro Hardwood Flooring  

 Visit our website or Call  (630) 217-2748. 

Need help with a new installation or renovation? We can help! We offer repair, installation and refinishing services in the Northwest Chicago area and beyond. Here what our clients are saying & contact Chicagoland Pro today! 

Spring 2015 Home Renovation Trends

Spring is here, and along with cleaning homeowners are doing renovations. Recently Hardwood Floor Magazine reported a sizable increase in spring renovation for homeowners across the country. There is no better time than now to start your home project or remodel and we at Chicagoland Pro thought we can help by offering some information on current trends in the hardwood flooring industry.

Spring time is a great time to do home remodeling projects. So what are some of the things that people are investing in this year?

Here are a few that we found to be popular requests this year for hardwood flooring.
Other home renovations and investments that are popular this year include outdoor living areas, outdoor lighting and landscape changes.

When it comes to hardwood floors one of the most popular additions for homeowners this year is hardwood in bathrooms and kitchens. With the advancement of engineered wood, the possibilities are endless. These new types of wood are safer to use in areas that have higher humidity levels, and are much easier to clean. One creative way to mix things up and create a new look in your kitchen without a complete renovation is refreshing kitchen cabinetry and adding hardwood flooring to match.

Recycled or up cycled wood is another new trend that is on a lot of peoples minds as homeowners try to make their homes more environmentally friendly. Not only does salvaged wood save trees, but it also tells a story.

Many people are choosing to do some simple refinishing to their current hardwood flooring and creating dark ebony colors to make their space more modern looking. On the flip side, others are choosing to go with a normal natural look and limiting the amount of shine for a matte finish. Both of these options create a modern and clean feel, offering the benefits of hardwood floors, without the traditional look or a major renovation to your home.

Looking for more tips or help with your remodel? Get in touch with Wayne, from Chicagoland Pro to learn more about our current specials. We offer FREE estimates and can install or refinish your hardwood floors. Our service areas north and northwest of Chicago including Palatine, Arlington Heights, Long Grove, Lincolnshire and Northbrook.

You can also find us on Facebook or Twitter for more tips, tricks and hardwood flooring news.

Spring Clean Your Hardwood Floor

Chicagoland Pro- Hardwood Floor Installation & Finishing 

When the snow is melting, the life is coming back to nature, temperatures are rising, and people are getting happier, you know that spring is here. Sure, there is still some snow on the ground in much of the midwest but we know that spring is this close to being here and the age old concept of "spring cleaning" is knocking at our doors. 

Now, no matter what kind of floors you have, it is important that you get them clean and looking good for all those fun times you are about to have now that the roads aren't impassable due to the weather.

Hardwood flooring is definitely one of the simplest floors to clean and takes the least amount of work. Typically, to keep them in good shape means just having to sweep and vacuum them; you just want to keep all the dirt and dust (and other junk) from making your floors home and ruining them. Now, if you have spills or stains, you may have to use a mop or a wet mop device (the ones that have the spray and you attach the tissue to the base). If you use either one of these, make sure you do not soak your floor with too much of the liquid; use enough to get it clean but not to flood the place. Too much moisture can get in between the seems in the floors and ruin them; this can ruin the backing on the floors and perhaps ruin the finish.

If you are one to prefer carpeting, then what you have to do is vacuum and make sure that the vacuum filter is clean (this will give you a real good job at cleaning your carpet). If you have more aggressive cleanings to do, like for stains, then use a proper cleaning solution and blot the stain, don't wipe or rub.

If you have ceramic floors, then you have a pretty easy cleaning job as well, much like with hardwood flooring, your cleaning job is going to be a lot of vacuuming and easy mopping. However, you may have to do cleaning more regularly, daily almost. You have to do regular cleaning to avoid the buildup of things like mold, mildew, grime, etc. Use clean water and then wipe them dry. Make sure your grout is clean and good to go as well. If you have grout to clean, then mix some mild detergent (1/4 cup) with a gallon of water.

They say April showers bring May flowers, should there be April showers (or any other spring month), then try to keep the water out of the house and off your floors. If you have any questions, then contact Chicagoland Pro - a hardwood flooring company. 

Join us on Facebook for more tips and tricks and hardwood floor news. 

What You Need to Know About Different Kinds of Hardwood Floors

When doing research for future hardwood flooring projects, make sure you know what each kind of flooring is and how it will affect your project. Typically, when we think of hardwood floors, we think of the traditional are a medium brown that have panels that are a few inches wide. Well, while that is one kind, there are many others. 

Laminate floors. These are less expensive than genuine hardwood floors but they are not necessarily inferior quality. Most laminate floors are made with great quality nowadays and look and feel just like real hardwood. Laminate floors are made up of composite wood with a picture placed on top of the traditional hardwood look. Some kinds are glued into place while newer models are able to be placed and locked with no glue. One lure to this kind of floor is that is more suitable for those with pets.

Some people argue that it is better to use real hardwood that can be sanded down and refinished if there is any damage; while this is a good point, if you want laminate hardwood flooring, go for laminate. However, we will still explore real hardwood types.

Select red oak – this is a top grade hardwood floor. The select red oak is 2-3/4 inches wide. The knots in this type are often very tight and your color options are more limited. You do have the choice of the width as you can get wide choices of species of this kind of floor; you can get other species than the oak as well. For the select red oak, you are looking at a cost of approximately $5 per square foot.

Natural maple is another higher grade. This kind has more color variations than the select red oak. The width for the maple is 3-1/4 inches wide and also comes in widths of 4, 5, or even 6 inch widths. This type of wood floor is a bit more dense than the select red oak as well. How dense is it? Well, this is the kind of wood used for basketball courts and bowling alleys. For the natural maple, you’re looking at an approximate cost of $4 per square foot.   

 Rustic ash is the third kind. This kind has larger knots than the others and still has good color variation. This one is a bit less pricey than the other two kinds and costs approximately $3 per square foot. It is indeed a less classy style of wood and suited more for leisure rooms and lodges.

If you are looking to install hardwood floors in your home, then contact ChicagolandPro – a Palatine Hardwood flooring installation company. 

We have many hardwood flooring specials and other hardwood floor services.