The Benefits Of Hardwood Flooring For Your Home’s Resale Value

Benefits Of Hardwood Flooring

One flooring material that is dominating the market these days is hardwood flooring and there are many homeowners and buyers that are opting for this kind of flooring due to the many benefits of hardwood floors. It is a smart investment because hardwood is easy to clean and can last well over 100 years. If you are considering selling your home in the future, you might be looking for ways to increase your home’s resale value and nothing will have as measurable of an effect as replacing your floors. Read ahead to learn more!


Key
Advantages Of Hardwood Floors


Strength And Durability

One benefit of hardwood floors is that this flooring won’t easily fade over time and will keep looking its best for many decades with proper care, and its durability is one of the main reasons why homeowners opt to upgrade to hardwood flooring.


Low Maintenance And Easy Cleaning

Another advantage of hardwood floors for many homeowners is the ease of cleaning. Hardwood floors are easy to clean as you can sweep, damp mop, or vacuum to remove any stains, dirt, or debris that is on the floors. One feature that makes hardwood flooring easy to clean and maintain is that they are more stain-resistant than carpets and if you spill anything then all you need to do is wipe it without scrubbing excessively. Routine cleaning and the occasional mopping with a wood cleaner will also keep your hardwood flooring looking beautiful for many years to come.

Can Be Refinished

Unlike carpet or tile, hardwood flooring can be refinished to stain a different colour. It is a benefit to have hardwood flooring because refinishing a hardwood floor would be significantly lower than buying and installing new flooring. If you bought a house and don’t like the colour of the wood floors, you can easily sand off the colour and stain the hardwood floors to a colour that you like without incurring the significant cost of replacing the floors completely.

 

Healthier Indoor Air

Hardwood flooring’s surface is completely smooth, and this feature makes it easy to remove contaminants with a broom or vacuum. This kind of flooring will allow you to maintain better indoor air quality inside your home when compared to carpet or tile which can accumulate dust, pet dander, and other allergens.

Why Does Hardwood Flooring Increase Your Home’s Resale Value?


Flooring is one of the most important features that create a lasting first impression of your home. It is also an important feature that homebuyers look for when searching for a new house. An advantage of hardwood floors is that they can add value to your home and when it comes to selling your home, many buyers will pay more for a house with such flooring. This is because many homebuyers plan to replace used carpets, and it is one reason why they are willing to pay more for a house that has hardwood floors. When hardwood flooring is already installed, it will eliminate the move-in cost for many buyers and this is what makes hardwood flooring so popular in the real estate market (and will help sell your home faster!).


Hardwood flooring’s timeless beauty and durability make it an excellent long-term investment for your home. Smith Bros. Floors has been operating for over a century and has the know-how and experience to help you find the best hardwood flooring option for your home. Contact us today to learn about all the hardwood flooring options that we offer to find the best fit for you. 

Comparing Different Types Of Flooring: Hardwood vs. Laminate vs. Vinyl (LVP)

hardwood vs laminate vs vinyl

Your home can see a lot of traffic which means your floors take the brunt of all the action! If you are looking for hard flooring options then hardwood, laminate, and vinyl flooring offer a multitude of options to pick from. The following article addresses the key difference between the three floor types that can help you make a more informed decision when investing in flooring for your home. 


Which Is Better? Hardwood vs. Laminate vs. Vinyl


Hardwood vs. Laminate

If you are looking for something more timeless and aesthetically pleasing, then hardwood flooring is better than laminate. However, laminate is a great flooring material for functional settings where practicality is your utmost priority. Laminate is a good option to install in a child’s playroom, in the family den, or in parts of the house where children and pets spend most of their time running around. Hardwood flooring can stain and it can also change colour if exposed to direct sunlight for long periods. On the other hand, laminate is stain-resistant (can be easily wiped) and its colour will not fade in direct sunlight. Laminate is easier to install than hardwood flooring, as most laminate uses click-and-lock assembly which avoids the use of nails or glue. If you are looking for an easy-to-install, practical, and low-maintenance flooring option then laminate is better suited for you than hardwood flooring.


Hardwood vs. Vinyl

Vinyl is scratch-resistant, and its colour does not fade easily when exposed to direct sunlight for long periods. Also, vinyl is waterproof whereas hardwood flooring is not. This makes vinyl a great option to install in washrooms and kitchens where accidental water spills can curl or shrink hardwood floors. In addition, hardwood floors can be resanded every 10 years, and vinyl floors can only be replaced and not repaired. Moreover, hardwood flooring is a renewable resource whereas vinyl flooring is not environmentally-friendly because it is made from PVC resin. Vinyl is a very low-maintenance and durable type of flooring and is increasingly being used in commercial applications for these reasons.


Laminate vs. Vinyl

Laminate and vinyl may seem similar to each other on the surface, and both are easier to install than hardwood flooring. However, there are some differences between the two that can influence your decision. For example, if you want to choose a flooring that is aesthetically pleasing, laminate offers options that are similar to hand-scaped hardwood, stone, and ceramics, among other materials. When it comes to water resistance, vinyl flooring is more water-resistant than laminate. As a matter of fact, all kinds of vinyl flooring are considered waterproof since sheet vinyl, LVT, and LVP are made with waterproof materials. In addition, when comparing laminate and vinyl, vinyl flooring is the easiest to clean and can even be wet mopped, unlike laminate which is not water-resistant and can get damaged by water sitting on it for too long.


Now you know what is the difference between hardwood, laminate and vinyl flooring.

Smith Bros. Floors has been in the flooring business for over a decade, and our expert team has the know-how of all the newest flooring trends! Contact us today. We will help you find the best laminate, hardwood, or vinyl flooring options tailored to your specific needs.

 

Chevron and Herringbone Flooring Trends

Chevron flooring trend

If you’re looking to remodel your floors, it is worth paying attention to current trends because herringbone and chevron patterns are making a comeback this year! These floor patterns can look stunning with solid hardwood, engineered hardwood, or luxury vinyl planks. Read ahead to find out what makes these patterns so unique in comparison to their other flooring counterparts.

Chevron Flooring
The chevron flooring pattern is having a comeback recently and this flooring style can be found in some of the most renowned palaces, manors, and homes. A chevron pattern can be achieved by having planks cut at a 45-degree angle and fitted together directly at a point to make a distinct ‘V’ shape. All types of wood can be cut into chevron flooring patterns. Because of the way in which the pieces are made, the chevron design ultimately brings out the beauty in the wood that it is constructed of. Oak, walnut, and hickory are some popular material choices when one is considering installing chevron-patterned hardwood flooring. 

 

Benefits Of Chevron Flooring

Some of the benefits of chevron flooring include:


Versatility: Chevron flooring improves the look of the furnishings and décor of almost any room. It is elegant enough to install in formal rooms, in modern settings, and in rustic or farmhouse interiors.

Beauty: Chevron flooring is best known for bringing the best out in the wood that it is constructed from, and evokes a timeless and beautiful feeling in any room that it is installed in.

Herringbone Flooring

A herringbone flooring pattern is differentiated by its perfect rectangle pattern, where rectangle blocks are placed in a broken zig-zag pattern in a technique that places one of the plank sides into the end of another. These blocks meet and create a straight line at the point where the ends meet. Herringbone floor patterns give you enough design to break up the monotony in a room, but are not dramatic enough to overwhelm the room. It is considered one of the most popular patterns in the market currently. There are many materials that one can use in making herringbone and chevron floors such as oak, walnut, and other types of timber in addition to options available in luxury vinyl planks. When herringbone flooring patterns are installed in small spaces, the zig-zag pattern makes the room appear bigger by drawing the eye to the width of the room and this creates an optical illusion of more square footage.

Benefits Of Herringbone Flooring

There are many benefits of herringbone flooring patterns which include:

Versatility: Herringbone flooring patterns are timeless yet trendy and can fit in with almost any furniture and décor while complimenting other features of the room instead of stealing the spotlight.

Functionality: The herringbone style is best used in high-traffic areas since this pattern is conducive to long-lasting flooring.

Durability: Herringbone flooring patterns can hold up years longer than other traditional flooring patterns and since the pattern is durable, it can last for decades.

To find a floor that is both durable and modern, Smith Bros. Flooring will help you transform the look of your interiors for many years to come. Our expert flooring team is available to give you useful tips regarding how to maximize the aesthetic appeal of your floor patterns and incorporate it into your interior design project. Contact us today to learn more!

Choosing Environmentally-Friendly Flooring

Environmentally-Friendly Bamboo Flooring

People choose to install environmentally-friendly flooring in their homes when they want to make healthy, smart, and sustainable choices for the planet. If you have allergy sufferers in your home, or young children and pets who spend a lot of time on the floor then an eco-friendly flooring option is something that you should consider too. There are a variety of flooring options available that offer a sustainable and environmentally-friendly foundation for your upcoming home or office project. Read ahead to learn more about the green flooring options available in the market!


What To Look For In Environmentally-Friendly Flooring

In order for the flooring to be sustainable, you will want an option that is made of natural and renewable resources. In fact, you should consider the ethics behind the material – does the manufacturer source their products sustainably? Are recycled materials part of the final product? It is also a good idea to think about the life cycle of the flooring you choose as well. Long-lasting flooring is better for the environment and especially more so if it is biodegradable. 


Environmentally-Friendly Flooring Options

Cork

Cork is harvested from the bark (rather than the wood) of the cork oak tree and the bark grows back within three years making it a great renewable resource. Some cork floors are also made from recycled waste such as recycled cork from the wine cork industry. Cork flooring is durable and can resist cracking and indentations and is naturally resistant to mould, mildew, and termites.

This green flooring option is becoming popular with homeowners due to its ease of cleaning, durability, and sustainability. Sweeping and occasional mopping with a damp cloth is all you need to do to keep your cork floors looking great. This flooring material offers unmatched durability when compared to other flooring materials, and small scratches are able to blend into the overall flooring pattern. Once cork floors are sealed with polyurethane, they can continue looking beautiful for many years to come. When properly maintained, cork floors can last 40 years or more.

 

Hardwood

Similar to cork, hardwood is manufactured from a renewable resource. It has a very low carbon footprint when compared to other flooring materials when it is sourced locally. Hardwood is environmentally friendly while also being durable and long-lasting. Some hardwood floors have been in houses for hundreds of years! Hardwood can be refinished many times which restores its original beauty and extends its lifespan. It is much more eco-friendly than a complete floor replacement, and hardwood is biodegradable and can be recycled to be used in other projects like furniture, and accent walls, and can be burned for fuel. Hardwood flooring is a long-term investment, and the beauty and timeless appeal of hardwood floors are undeniable.

Smith Bros. Floors is family owned and operated and has been in the industry for decades. We take pride in our craftsmanship and use industry-leading flooring and finishes because we want your flooring to last for years to come. We provide impeccable customer service from site visit, to quote, to installation and follow-up. Contact us today to find the perfect floor!

How Hardwood Flooring Beats Laminate

Hardwood Flooring Laminate

Flooring is a defining feature of a home. Hardwood flooring is inviting, beautiful and timeless. Laminate flooring (imitation hardwood) creates a look similar to wood. Need help choosing? There are several factors to consider. The following is a comparison of hardwood and laminate flooring to help you decide which is best for your home. 

What is hardwood flooring?

Each board of solid hardwood flooring is made from a single piece of hardwood that’s harvested from slow-growing trees. It’s dense and durable. The look depends upon the species of wood and the surface finish chosen. There are many options with different colours, stains and plank sizes.

What is laminate flooring?

Laminate is synthetic flooring. It’s made from melamine resin and fibre board material. It’s comprised of multiple layers, with the top layer featuring an imprinted image of wood that makes it appear similar to that of real wood. The end result is flooring that looks somewhat like hardwood. It’s available in a wide range of styles, patterns and colours. 

Which is right for your home?

There are many factors to consider when choosing between hardwood and laminate. 

Appearance:

  • Hardwood flooring’s natural texture and deep colours are beautiful, and appealing to many homeowners. Different types of wood, stains and finishes create an abundance of options. 
  • Laminate often looks like real wood, from a distance. Up close, the imitation is less than perfect. 

Size of planks:

  • Hardwood flooring planks vary from 1” to 3” to 6” to even 24” wide boards! 
  • Laminate planks can vary from less than 5” to 7” or more.

Cost:

  • Hardwoods that are abundant (oak, maple, ash) are less expensive. More unique species (Brazilian cherry, teak, Brazilian walnut, acacia) have higher prices.
  • Laminate flooring can be purchased for a fraction of the cost of hardwood. 

Durability:

  • Hardwood can last a lifetime! It does need to be protected from flooding. Scratching and wear mean it will periodically need to be recoated. If damage occurs, the floor can be sanded down and refinished. With proper care and refinishing, solid hardwood floors routinely last 100 years.
  • Laminate: Laminate flooring is moderately resistant to damage. Once scarred and/or abraded it will need to be replaced as it cannot be refinished or sanded. Laminate floors average about 15 to 25 years of life.

Comfort and Sound: 

  • Hardwood is hard underfoot and a bit noisy under heels and pet toenails. 
  • Laminate is somewhat soft underfoot but the hard plastic surface telegraphs the click of heels and pet toenails.

Water and Heat Resistance:

  • Hardwood can be damaged by standing water and floods. Too much heat causes boards to shrink and joints to open.
  • Laminate is water and stain-resistant, but water getting into the joints between planks can cause the edges and the fiberboard core to swell and chip.

Repair:

  • Hardwood: Small imperfections and damage can be sanded and refinished, allowing it to last for years.
  • Laminate flooring is not easily repaired. Sometimes individual boards may be replaced but they may not match properly. 

Care and Cleaning:

  • Hardwood floors are simple to keep. Sweep or vacuum and damp mop with wood cleaner. No need to polish and/or wax.
  • Laminates are also easy. Vacuum or broom. Then damp mop with laminate floor cleaner. No waxing is necessary. 

Installation: 

  • Hardwood requires installation by professionals. Solid hardwood needs to be nailed or glued to the substrate. 
  • Laminate is favoured by DIYers as it is easy to install. Planks click together at the edges with no need for fasteners or glue. It floats over a thin layer of foam underlay.

The room in which you intend to install it:

  • Hardwood is perfect for low-traffic rooms (bedrooms, dining rooms, sitting rooms) but unsuitable for damp rooms (basement, bathroom). 
  • Laminate flooring works well in rooms with a lot of sunlight as it does not fade easily. It’s moisture resistant so works better in bathrooms than hardwood. Laminate flooring is recommended for areas that are regularly used by children and pets. 

Resale Value:

  • Hardwood: Realtors claim that hardwood flooring makes a home easier to sell and helps a house sell quickly. Though the ROI of flooring is difficult to measure, real estate experts estimate that homeowners recover approximately 106% of their costs by installing new hardwood floors in their home before selling.
  • Laminate:  Laminate flooring is well-known for its low maintenance and ability to withstand high amounts of traffic. It’s resistant to staining, indentation and scratches, making it one of the most popular pet and kid-friendly flooring options for homeowners. It’s essentially a hassle-proof flooring option for the modern family. High-quality laminate floor ranks below solid hardwood for resale value but laminate commands a higher resale value than vinyl flooring.

 

Both hardwood and laminate floors have their merits and pitfalls. Hardwood is more expensive but easier to repair, lasts a long time and boosts resale values. It’s a great investment. Laminate flooring is more affordable, quite durable, is easily installed but repairs often involve redoing the entire floor. Laminate flooring will never pass for real hardwood. Nothing approaches the beauty of an authentic hardwood floor! However, there are situations (pets and kids, damp conditions) in which laminate functions well. 

Looking for a selection of beautiful hardwood floors? Contact Smith Bros. Floors, one of Canada’s oldest hardwood flooring companies, family-owned and operated. We use industry-leading flooring and finishes because we want your flooring to last! With a tested crew of installers and finishers and a lifetime guarantee on workmanship and longevity, Smith Bros. quality cannot be beaten! We provide exemplary customer service, from site visit, to quote, to installation and follow-up. Call us at 403-255-7791 for a free consultation.

What are my Colour Options for Hardwood Flooring?

Colour Options

Hardwood flooring is a classic choice with timeless charm. Manufacturers of hardwood floors constantly improve and change their flooring to keep it interesting, trendy, up to date and able to withstand the challenges of modern living. Today’s flooring is not your parent’s wood floors! These floors come in a wide range of styles, sizes, finishes, species and colours. How do you know which hardwood colour options to choose? The following is information about the many choices to help you decide what is best for your home.

Natural and light tones: These classic hues are similar to those found in raw wood and show off the natural characteristics and beauty of the wood. Choosing natural tones sometimes means not using any stain at all. Finish these shades with a clear coat to enhance the appearance of the wood itself and protect it from wear and tear. 

  • White: White tones are a popular design trend and look great in a wide variety of locations. White ash flooring has a natural, subtle variation with dark knot holes visible letting the character of the wood shine. White oak brightens any room, allows for unlimited decorating options, fits any décor and creates a warm, comfortable home.
  • Blonde wood colour is a versatile choice and goes well with contemporary, traditional and rustic-style homes. It makes a room appear large and open, especially if you use large planks. Choose from oak, maple, bamboo and/or ash.
  • Honey: Flooring with honey-coloured tones adds warmth and richness to a room. It’s a great alternative to the more traditional golden tones, while still giving you a natural colour palette to work with. This flooring matches most interiors, creating an inviting atmosphere. Honey wood floors are light enough to give you many of the benefits of blonde wood (making your room look larger and more open) while providing the rich warmth that comes from a slightly darker tone. You can find honey wood floors in many popular wood species.
  • Caramel is a richer, warmer version of blonde wood, ideal for homeowners seeking an option that is easy to maintain and that will complement any décor. It’s the natural tone of many hardwood species and is easily available. Carmel is a classic, timeless hue.

Whitewashed and bleached: These flooring hues have become an increasingly popular hardwood flooring trend due to their clean and modern look. They bring a beachy feel to your home. The light stain enhances the beauty of the natural wood while making the flooring colour more consistent. They help a room feel fresh and modern. 

  • Whitewashed wood is a popular trend. It creates a rustic, farmhouse aesthetic; an artistic worn-out look with the darker wood peeking out from underneath. This flooring is matte and subtle. Whitewashed flooring makes your home look brighter, bigger and more relaxed.
  • Bleached wood pairs well with casual interior design, adding a light airy feel. It’s a great choice for both modern and farmhouse kitchens. This method works well with white and red oak, with the white oak creating a contemporary look and the red a more traditional style. 

Dark wood flooring has been popular among homeowners for centuries. It has a timeless and authentic feel, rich and full of character, making a space feel upscale and luxurious. From deep browns to black hues to dark reddish browns and even shades of grey, dark hardwood floors are elegant and sophisticated.

  • Browns: Dark brown hardwood flooring brings style and sophistication to your home. It pairs well with light bright interiors and suits most styles of homes, including rustic cottages and modern houses or apartments. It can be elegant, modern, rustic and/or wild, all while bringing warmth to your space. 
  • Black is trendy but can be difficult to maintain as it shows every scratch and speck of dust. Reserve this hue of hardwood flooring for low-traffic areas and homes with no pets or children. 
  • Grey is neutral and goes with any style of décor. It can be dark, light or have blue undertones. It can be highly patterned and textured. This hue hides dust, bumps and scratches and has a calming effect, making it ideal for rooms where you want to relax. Try a dark grey hardwood for a formal dining room or a light hue for a child’s bedroom. 
  • Greige is a combination of grey and beige, yielding a different shade than flat gray. It offers the minimalist feel of gray with the depth of beige. This hardwood hue can be used in any room. The rustic charm of this shade works for modern and contemporary households. Greige adds a fresh look to bedrooms and gives living rooms and entryways a feeling of luxury.
  • Rich red and red-brown: With a lot of colour variation, these tones become the focal point of a room. Keep the rest of the decor simple and your hardwood floor will give the space a style boost. 

Rustic: Reclaimed wood flooring has a natural patina as, over time, wood takes on a dark rich colour, depending on its environment and its use. Rustic flooring offers character that lets you use a wide range of other colours and wood tones in the room.

Hardwood flooring is versatile and comes in a range of styles, sizes, finishes, species, and colours. Wood flooring stains and textures have evolved and can be used to complement any interior design, architectural style, or colour palette. Have fun choosing the best colour(s) of hardwood flooring for your home!

Looking for quality hardwood flooring? Need help determining the best colour and style for your home? Interested in exceptional service and advice? Contact Smith Bros. Floors, one of Canada’s oldest hardwood flooring companies that is family-owned and operated. We use industry-leading flooring and finishes because we want your flooring to last! With a tested crew of installers and finishers and a lifetime guarantee on workmanship and longevity, Smith Bros. quality cannot be beaten! We provide exemplary customer service, from site visit, to quote, to installation and follow-up. Call us at 403-255-7791 for a free consultation.

Staining Maple Flooring: Complications and Approaches

Maple Flooring

With both strength and beauty, maple is one of the most popular wood flooring options. These planks are tough enough to stand up to decades of wear, boast a neutral colour that suits almost any decor style and are highly affordable. Homeowners gravitate toward maple for its durability, smooth grain pattern and light, creamy colour. However, maple flooring does have some pitfalls you need to be aware of if you are considering installing it in your home. 

Why choose maple flooring?

With many options available, why choose maple for your floors?

    • Appearance and durability: Maple has a sleek, subdued look that allows your furniture to take center stage. It’s durable, affordable and a practical choice.
    • Timelessness: The smooth blonde tones and delicate grain pattern of maple provide a neutral base for decor. It works well in traditional and rustic homes as well as contemporary, minimalistic, modern, and coastal designs. Once placed in your space, maple flooring is adaptable and timeless.  
    • Any size room: Maple’s light colour optimizes daylight, making it a great choice for small, dark rooms. The lack of colour variation and grain pattern make maple perfect for large spaces.
    • Damage resistance: Bowling alley and gym floors are often built from maple as it stands up to abuse; dropped pans, rolling toys, pets, kids.
    • Affordability: Since it’s a fast-growing and abundant wood, the cost of maple is relatively low compared to oak, cherry, teak and mahogany. It’s a more environmentally friendly choice than wood from slow-growing trees.

The challenges of maple flooring:

Maple wood is beautiful but can be difficult to work with.

    • Staining difficulties: The tight grain of maple makes the absorption of stain uneven, resulting in a splotchy look. Either stick with the natural colour or try a dark stain as it will give you a more even finish. Staining maple is tricky and best left to a professional.
    • Visible scratches: Though maple doesn’t scratch easily, scratches stand out against the smooth grain. You’ll need to apply a protective seal in areas of heavy foot traffic. A wax rubbing compound may be used to polish out small scrapes and gouges. 
    • Humidity problems: Maple is not as stable as some woods, meaning it is responsive to changes in the environment. Fluctuations in temperature and/or humidity can cause boards to shrink, warp and/or split. Keep your rooms at a constant temperature and humidity level with the use of a humidifier and/or dehumidifier. Choose a supplier that guarantees that your maple has been handled correctly before your purchase. 

Does maple wood stain well?

You can stain maple, but it’s difficult to do without blotches because it’s a tightly pored wood. Maple absorbs stain unevenly. Achieving a uniform stain is a problem for even experienced finishers, difficult but not impossible. Always choose an experienced flooring professional when staining maple flooring. 

How do you successfully stain maple flooring? 

    • Water popping: To get maple to accept stain you can use the method of water popping the grain. This involves putting water evenly on the floor to raise the grain of the wood, then allowing it to dry overnight before staining. This promotes more even staining, but is not a guarantee of a perfect result. 
    • Trans tint dye: Toning lacquer topcoats with dye is a good way to stain maple. By mixing trans tint dye with lacquer you get the dark colour you want. Be careful to use a small amount of dye. 
    • Gel stain: This is one of the easiest methods to get a dark maple stain. Sand the maple with 36, 80, and 100 grit sandpaper to get an ultra-smooth surface. Apply the gel stain evenly. Because gel stain does not penetrate deeply, there will be fewer blotches. 
    • Condition before staining: Treating the surface with a pre-stain wood conditioner helps prevent streaks and blotches by evening out the absorption of oil-based stains. Conditioner can be applied over any wood but is especially necessary when working with soft or porous woods like maple.
    • Careful sanding: When fine sanding maple floors, always reduce drum pressure to its lowest setting and slow the drum speed, if your machine allows for it. Avoid sanding maple too smooth. Sanding finer than 100 grit and/or fine screening closes the already tight grain of maple so much that the finish coats tend to show a washboard effect that’s difficult to hide. Always consult the finish manufacturer’s directions.
    • Careful cleaning: The density of maple and the light colour tend to show even the slightest bit of dirt or dust. Thoroughly vacuum the floor, baseboards, window sills and adjoining areas. Create a clean area adjacent to your work area and clean your shoes, pants and knee pads before the application of any finish coats. 
    • Take care between coats: Maple’s density and light colour make screen marks, sandpaper lines and/or swirls obvious. Always use worn or old sandpaper, screens or abrasive pads. Minimal abrasion is preferable to aggressive abrasion.
    • Utilize the right finish: Shiny areas can appear on maple flooring wherever there are heavy finish spots such as drops, puddles, turn or stop marks. Stick with semi-gloss or gloss topcoats and use care when coating. Thinner coats work better on maple. 
    • Educate yourself about the difficulties involved in the staining of maple flooring so you are warned of possible appearance issues.
    • Use an experienced contractor: There is no magic solution or tool for sanding and finishing a maple floor. The trick is a diligent sanding job and the application of thin, uniform coats. Always use a contractor experienced in finishing maple floors. They’ll have developed methods and procedures for successful finishing and achieving beautiful results. 

Maple’s simple, understated beauty, durability and modest price have made it an enduring classic and a particular favourite for contemporary homes. To maintain your maple flooring, keep your home’s humidity under control. As maple is a tricky wood to work with, always hire a professional for staining and installation services. 

Looking for quality maple flooring? Need help staining and finishing a maple floor? Contact Smith Bros. Floors, one of Canada’s oldest hardwood flooring companies; family-owned and operated. We use industry-leading flooring and finishes because we want your flooring to last! With a tested crew of installers and finishers and a lifetime guarantee on workmanship and longevity, Smith Bros. quality cannot be beaten! We provide exemplary customer service, from site visits, to quotes, to installation and follow-up. Call us at 403-255-7791 for a free consultation.

How to Deal With Worn or Damaged Hardwood Floors

Damaged Hardwood Floors

Hardwood floors are durable and easy to maintain. However, eventually, they show gouges, scratches, discolouring and wear caused by high traffic, scraping furniture legs, pet claws, spills, UV exposure and/or high humidity. These imperfections detract from the beauty of the wood and increase the risk of further wear and tear. Many people assume that worn wood floors need to be completely sanded to look good again. That’s not necessarily true. Whole floor refinishing is messy, disruptive and costly and most hardwood flooring can endure only a few refinishings before it becomes brittle. So how can you stretch the time between refinishing projects? How can you repair those small worn areas? Spot treating is the answer. It’s a good alternative to whole floor refinishing. The following are some tips to help you deal with damaged hardwood floors and minor imperfections.

Know your finish: With many types of floor finishes available, it’s important to know which one was used on your floor so you can match it. Your flooring provider or a flooring specialist can help with the identification. There are several options:

  • Oil-based polyurethane
  • Water-based polyurethane
  • Wax coating
  • Varnish
  • Stain
  • Aluminum oxide coating

Clean: No matter what type of damage you’re dealing with, begin with a gentle but thorough clean. Remove all dust, hair and grime, using a vacuum or soft mop. Mix 2 to 4 drops of liquid soap in a quart of water and put it in a spray bottle. Lightly mist the areas requiring cleaning and rub with a microfiber mop/cloth. Then, lightly spray with fresh water and use a soft dry cloth to buff the floor. Avoid brooms, abrasive scrub pads and liquid cleaners.

The floor is scratched but the varnish is in place: There are many repair options for minor scratches based on the number and severity of marks. 

  • For only one or two small scratches, mix equal parts apple cider vinegar and olive oil in a small cup. Dab the mixture into the scratch. Leave it for the rest of the day. Then rub it out.
  • Small scratches that don’t penetrate the varnish can be handled with a wipe-on floor rejuvenator product available in most hardware stores or from a flooring specialist. These solutions hide surface scratching quite well. 
  • Camouflage small scratches with a walnut. Warm up the oil in the nut with your fingers, then rub into worn areas of the floor using small circular motions. Let the oil sit for a few minutes, then buff with a soft cloth. 
  • Coconut oil can also minimize scratch marks on unfinished or freshly sanded floors. Apply a thin coat of coconut oil with a brush or sponge, leave it for five minutes. Then buff with a soft cloth.
  • If the scratches are too deep for wipe-on products, try applying wax using a soft cloth. Wood wax can be clear, but also comes in common wood shades. If needed, use a plastic putty knife to force the wax into the scratch. Then remove the excess wax and buff the area. 
  • If your floor has a polyurethane finish, try a touch-up polyurethane repair kit. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Deeper scratches that penetrate the finish and the wood: 

  • Fill the scratch with wood filler that matches your floor (see a reputable wood flooring provider) and let dry. Fillers come in many colours and may need to be blended to match your floor exactly. Sand the scratch with 150 grit paper, then buff. 
  • Cover scratches with a wood stain that matches your floor. Use a Q-tip to remove any excess stain and let dry. 
  • Try stain markers and/or blending pencils. Apply to the scratch according to package directions, wipe away any excess, and allow to dry thoroughly.

Worn areas where the colour is gone: Rub a matching stain into the worn areas then coat with the varnish/finish originally used. 

Discolouration due to UV rays: 

  • Use a floor buffer with a 60 grid screen and run it over the area to remove the shine. Be careful to stop when the discoloration is gone. Vacuum the wood thoroughly. Use an 80 grid screen and repeat the buffing and vacuuming. Now use a 120 grit screen. Apply a stain that matches your floor. Let dry. Finish by applying the varnish/finish originally used on the floor. You may need more than one coat.
  • Alternatively, replace faded areas with new hardwood floorboards in the same colour, size and species as the original. 

To remove water stains: Use a stiff brush and minimal water to scrub the area. Wipe with a soft cloth and let dry. If you encounter mould, scrub with TSP. Gently sand using fine-grit sandpaper. Vacuum. Then wax/refinish the repaired area.  

Hardwood floors are renowned for their stunning, rustic aesthetic and they make a fabulous addition to any room. Though they are hard-wearing and durable, hardwood floors can succumb to scratches and the effects of heavy traffic. Before you resign yourself to the mess, disruption and expense of a full floor refinishing, try one of these simple repair techniques. The most suitable method depends on the type of floor, type of finish and type of damage your floorboards have endured. More severe damage might require the help of a professional flooring company.

Looking for quality wood flooring? Interested in exceptional service and advice? Contact Smith Bros. Floors, one of Canada’s oldest hardwood flooring companies; family-owned and operated. We use industry-leading flooring and finishes because we want your flooring to last! With a tested crew of installers and finishers and a lifetime guarantee on workmanship and longevity, Smith Bros. quality cannot be beaten! We provide exemplary customer service, from site visit, to quote, to installation and follow-up. Call us at 403-255-7791 for a free consultation.