How to Choose Hardwood Floor

Chicagoland Pro 

With so many choosing to invest in hardwood floors this spring we wanted to give a little insight to help consumers make the right choice when it came to their hardwood floor!

 In 2014 people are adding wood floors to increase property value but they are also getting creative with their floor of choice.  From the kitchen and bathroom, to wall's with wood installation, many are choosing to not only add wood, but are also refinishing old wood and modernizing the look of their home or office.

Creativity is driving people to think outside the box & we thought it would be helpful to provide some current insight into trends along with offering a few good tips for those choosing wood floors for the first time.

Some people may go for a modern & luxurious look while others may choose for a warm & natural look. Regardless of the style, both groups should consider all the options available to them and talk to a professional to ensure they are making the right choice for their space.

Things to consider when choosing Wood Floors

Major consideration should be placed on the finish, style, design, and location as well as the use of space where wood floors are being installed or refinished. 

Engineered Wood: More resistant to moisture & humidity. Quality of wood can be different from one manufacturer to another. 

Solid Wood: Durable and long lasting while offering options for refinishing for future remodeling.  

One of the most important factors to consider is location of wood flooring. The location can affect the type of wood and it's durability. Certain wood is better placed above ground while others are better for lower level installation. 

On Grade: Flooring installed on ground level.

Above Ground: This implies that the floor is installed on the second level or above.

Below: Below ground level, usually applies to basements. 

• Size: Measure the space to get accurate quotes and prices for wood. 
• Color: Use a color wheel or a color book to match colors & find the desired color your space. 
• Texture: Depending on the style of the room, textures can vary and provide effects to compliment the style or furniture of the room. 2014 trends include textured distressed & antique looks for wood floor.
• Width: Wide planks are gaining in popularity. Reclaimed wood can come in wider lengths &  offer less seams. There are multiple styles and colors to choose from. 

The Species of the wood is important to consider and with so many options, it's good to decide on the use and intention of the space first. While consumers might like the look of a specific species based on appearance  they may come to find that it is not functional for the space they choose to remodel.  It is also good to consider how much moisture and traffic the floors will get after installation. Wood grains are all different and adapt differently to the environment they are put in. 

• Oak: Most Popular choice for consumers. Red Oak is a great choice for high traffic areas of the home or office. White Oak offers similar benefits but in a softer look with light brown and gray tones vs. pink and red. 
• Walnut:  Softer than Oak and is consistently a popular choice for consumers. 
• Maple: Harvested in North American and Canada.
• Beech:  Imported from Sweden, Denmark, Norway. Colors tend to be warm browns with some red pigment. 
• Cherry:  Varieties offered for color. American Cherry offers soft, warm colors. Others can be more exotic looking.   Example: Brazilian Cherry wood provides mosaic looks. 
• Ash: Suggested for use in bright spaces with light. 

For more information on Wood Floor Species visit the National Wood Floor Association for a visual gallery.

Learn more about our New Green Stain Options at Chicagoland Pro

• Reclaimed Wood This wood is often taken from older homes and sites. It can be salvaged from an antique home and provide many more years of enjoyment once refinished. 
• Cork : From "Cork Oak Trees' Trees are striped of bark and hand harvested. Great choice for people with allergies or looking for a truly sustainable option as trees are never cut down in harvesting methods. These trees usually are grown in the Mediterranean region and are imported into the United States. 
• Bamboo - Often imported from Asia but local manufacturers are becoming easier to find. Bamboo is the fastest growing plant in the world and can offer a more sustainable option for the green home owner. The negative side of bamboo is it dents easily so rooms with high traffic are not ideal for bamboo installation. The United States Green Building Councils offers LEED points for bamboo installation. 
• 100 % Green Stains: Many Green stains are available these days & for best results contact a professional for consultation to ensure your are making the best choice for your new floors.

Hardwood Flooring vs. Tile

There is the never ending battle between flooring types: hardwood flooring and tile. However, what are the pros and cons of each? Let's find out. Even as a hardwood flooring installation company, we will remain objective and provide accurate pros and cons for both.

Hardwood Flooring 
Pros:

• Hardwood is natural. If you're a person who prefers to know the materials of things that they put into their homes, then hardwood is something that will likely appeal to you. 
• Adds a sense of elegance to the home. 
• Hardwood compliments almost any decor styles. 
• It increases the value of the home. 
• Very easy to clean. 

Cons:

• More limited durability. Wood floors scratch more easily and those cost money to repair. 
• If you want hardwood but want floors better for pets, then go for laminate hardwood flooring. 
• It can be higher maintenance, if you spill a liquid, you need to clean it up quickly. It can also require a resanding and hardwood refinishing. 

Tile

Pros:

• It is versatile, it is doable for any climate and locations of your home. 
• Easy maintenance for tile. You don't have to worry about scratches and such as much with tile. 
• If you damage a tile, all you have to do is pull that tile and the replace the square. 

Cons:

• It gets real cold in the winter. 
• It doesn't add value to the home and can conflict with decor if that changes after the installation of the tile. 
• It can be loud when walked on. 

If you are unsure about which to go with, consider which one is better for your needs and desires. If you want hardwood, then contact Chicagoland Pro. We service the NW suburbs and northern suburbs (Evanston, Wilmette, Northbrook, Barrington, etc). 

Spring Cleaning Your Floors

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. 

6 Great Ways to Destroy Your Hardwood Flooring

Hardwood flooring is often installed in homes to make the home look more beautiful, elegant, classy, and have floors that are just a whole lot easier to keep clean than carpeting. However, there are certain ways that you can really ruin you hardwood; many of these methods are things that seem like they would be good for the floors or just wouldn't be bad for them.

1. Using a vacuum that has a rotating brush. Why is this a bad thing for your floors? Well, for a pretty big reason; the brush can be very abrasive on you hardwood floors. When you vacuum, it is better to avoid using the rotating brush and instead go for something like a floor attachment, a brush roll will still be good to use. This is a bigger deal when you realize that vacuuming your floors is an important thing because leaving dirt on your floors can scratch them as well. 
2. Using a wet-cleaning device too frequently. This can become a source of water damage if you use a wet-cleaning device with a lot of frequency, especially if your floors are not in need of the heavy cleaning. This way to clean your floors is something you only need to do once or maybe twice a month. Day-to-day cleaning is kept to vacuuming and spot cleaning. This can also be a problem if you drench your floors in cleaner. Yes, the finishes on today's hardwood are stronger and much more resistant to water but that is not a reason to dump an ocean of cleaner on your floors. Instead, use a damp cloth with some cleaner and do what you need to. Hardwood flooring maintenance is not necessarily an all day chore, unless your floors are just that bad. 
3. Using a steam-cleaner. Do not use a steam cleaner if your floors have a wax finish or if your finish is real old; the steam will ruin the finish. If your floor can handle the steam cleaning, then go for a light touch on the steam. Also, don't let it sit in one spot for too long or this can create a problem area. 
4. Using the wrong rug pad. If you use a rug pad that has a rubber backing or mesh, this will dull the shine on your floors; if your floors are matte finish, then the rubber can still cause some discoloration. You want your floors to be that healthy, elegant color they had upon installation, don't you? 
5. Allowing your floors to sunbathe. Your floors are just like you, too much time in the sun can become a problem for coloration. Now, when you spend time in the sun, you get darker (or more red) but your floors get paler. You have seen the sun's effects on other things and you notice over time that those things got paler the longer they sat in the sun. 
6. Not being careful with sharp objects. You like to rearrange rooms, which means moving furniture. Sometimes we forget the leggings on furniture can scratch the floors and lead to hardwood flooring restoration. We also have to remember things like pet claws can also do damage. 

Hardwood Floors vs Carpeting

There are several different kinds of flooring one can have in the home but there is always a little debate about what kind is best. Perhaps the two main types of flooring that are in style these days are carpeting and hardwood floors and there are several good reasons for both kinds of flooring.

Carpeting: 

PROS:

• Carpeting is quiet. When you walk around the house and you have carpet installed, it makes for a nice and easy walk when you are trying to be quiet. Perhaps you are the first person awake in the morning in your home and try to get ready without waking others up. 
• Carpeting is soft on the feet. When you walk around your home, the carpeting is comfortable on your feet and absorbs the impact when you take a step. This is especially handy when you have to be on your feet for extended periods of time. 
• There are several different styles of carpeting, not to mention color. If you have a color scheme for your home or just a particular room, you can find a carpeting color that is going to match it. 

CONS:

• Carpeting is high maintenance. You have to do a lot of work to keep them clean. You have to do even more work if you have a spill. 
• Cleaning the carpet can be rather expensive and time consuming. 
• Carpeting can be a real problem if you have allergies since the carpeting traps in dust, dirt, dander, etc. 

Hardwood flooring: 

PROS:

• Hardwood flooring is safe. Unlike carpeting, hardwood does not trap in any potentially allergic material like dust, dirt, dander, etc. So you can have an easier time managing allergies if you install hardwood floors. 
• Hardwood flooring is very easy to clean. If you have a spill or notice some dirt on your floors, you just have to grab a paper towel or if you have a quick and easy mopping device, it only takes a minute to clean up. 
• Hardwood floors are a lot less work for maintenance. The effort required for effort to install, maintain, etc. is all minimal. 
• The floors look very beautiful and compliment any room decor and style. They are in high demand for homes and have been for some years now so that desire is strong and lasting. The installation of hardwood floors has been known to increase the value of a home.

CONS:

• They get worn in high foot traffic areas. 
• Scratches, gouges, scrapes, etc. can happen and need repairing. 
• In winter, they can be cold on the feet. 
• They do not absorb impact or sound. 

Ultimately, the decision is up to you whether or not you go with carpeting or hardwood. Perhaps this post helped you decide. 

Hardwood Flooring Cleaning Tips (for NYE)

New Year's Eve is here and that means parties or at least a get together. For many people, we will either be going somewhere to welcome in 2014 or we will be welcoming people into our homes to welcome in 2014. In both cases, especially if you are the one doing the entertaining, here are a few tips for you to keep your hardwood floors looking great as you have a great time tonight.

• Wipe up spills immediately. The longer you let spills sit on your hardwood floor, the harder it will be to remove and the better the chances it will do damage to your floors. 
• Use doormats, both interior and exterior, to collect any moisture and dirt that is on the bottom of your guests' shoes. 
• It is winter afterall; for those of us in the northern half of the US, it means there is snow and ice on the ground. 
• Place area rugs in spots of your floor that are considered high traffic points. 
• In front of food, sinks, fridges, etc. If you think a lot of people will be in an area, then put a rug there. 
• Consider a dehumidifier because it will reduce the amount of humidity produced by all the moisture outside and the body heat inside. 
• Do not let water, either being brought in from outside due to the snow or from spills, sit on your floors for extended periods of time (we have already mentioned this). However, in addition to it doing damage to the floors if you let it sit but it can also create a dangerous surface for your guests- they can slip. 

If you do have any damage happen to your floors after tonight's festivities that need hardwood flooring maintenance or hardwood flooring restoration then feel free to contact us. 

Winter Options for Hardwood Flooring

So winter is just around the corner now that we find ourselves in November. The mornings and nights are colder, or just downright cold, and there are times when walking barefoot on the hardwood floors is just not an option. So what can you do?

The options you have to solve the cold feet problem range from simple to more creative.

1. The first option you have is to use socks and/or slippers. If you would rather not cover up your hardwood flooring at all and just wear socks and/or slippers in the house, then that is a good option. 
2. The second option you have to solve this problem is by purchasing some rugs. You can find rugs in any shape, size, and color. You can get your rugs to match any upholstery or just a nice general color that compliments your rooms. 
3. Your third option is to purchase carpeting tiles. Carpeting tiles are just what they sound like, tiles of carpet that you easily install and can then uninstall when you no longer want them in. The perk to these is that if there is a stain one of them, you only have to replace one or however many are stained. 

If cold hardwood floors is not something you have a problem with, then maybe dry air is. As we know, in the winter, the air gets dry and this can be annoying for many reasons. For one reason, unknown to many, is that if the air is too dry then it can harm you hardwood flooring. What do you do to fix this? Keep a humidifier in the house. Aside from keeping the floors moisturized, it will help if you get dry skin during the winter too, just a tip. 

Make sure that you keep snow and ice off your hardwood floors. Just like when it rains, water can get trekked into the house easily when snow and ice are on the ground. Leaving the snow and ice on your hardwood floors to melt can ruin your flooring. This means laying down a welcome mat or two for people and pets in your home to wipe their feet on. 

If you are looking for a hardwood flooring company for some hardwood flooring maintenance then contact Chicagoland Pro - a Palatine hardwood flooring company.