A C & T Hardwood Floors

• Schedule contractors accordingly
       Damages are prone to happen in any construction site whether it's minor or major. Floors are much more prone to damages and therefore should be one of, if not the last contractors to be on site. Between painters and flooring contractors, this is an ongoing battle that can go on forever. What we have seen to be the best compromise is for the flooring to be last but having the painter come back to touch up where needed (usually trim where our sanders meets the base).
   

• Plan for downtime while floors are drying
       Every finish needs time to dry before walking on and even more time before furniture can be moved onto the floor. while waterborne finishes can be walked on hours after applied, it can still take a few days to a few weeks before it is fully cured. Oil based finishes require at least a day before walking on and a minimum of two days but preferably a week before furniture. Even when oil based polyurethane it is dry to touch and feels safe to walk on, it takes about a full month to fully cure, Regardless of the type of finish, you should never drag any furniture on a hardwood floor.

 

• Installations will need new flooring to acclimate to new environment
       Acclimation is key to most installations to keeping a flat surface. This can vary from a few days to a few weeks depending on the manufacturers recommendations and site conditions itself.  This will have to be measured to and should be followed to avoid inconsistencies in the flooring. Post environment changes can affect the floor as well and room/house environment should not go though extreme changes to avoid problems.

 

• Choosing an appropriate floor according to it's new environment.
       When choosing a floor, keep in mind where the room is located and if it is prone to flooding and/or high humidity levels. Certain hardwoods do better in higher humidity than others, but most cannot survive a flood. There are water resistant/waterproof options that might best fit your needs.

 

• Site-finish vs Pre-finished flooring
       There are many things to consider with choosing a site-finish and pre-finished flooring.

  • Pre-finish

    • Pros: No drying time, Durable aluminum oxide finish, Can be installed and completed by homeowner, Consistent color(PREFERENCE, grains show less), No fumes

    • Cons: Inconsistent milling may cause uneven surfaces that cannot be corrected, Seams tend to collect debris, Recoating does not have strong bond, Scratches are more difficult to correct

  • Site-finish

    • Pros: Can be recoated many times with strong bond between coats, Many colors and different finishes to choose from, Stains are easier to mimic, Grains are more prominent, More environmentally friendly option (less waste), Economical option, Uneven boards can be leveled by sanding

    • Cons: Fumes can be very prominent, Drying time can be anywhere from one day to one week depending on amount of coats required, Weather can cause delays in finish drying, Finish can pick up airborne debris, Outcome of the floor is dependent on the current condition of floor

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• Refinishing hardwood with or without stain (color)
      Refinishing a floor without stain will give you the strongest bond between wood and finish. A stain, while sealing a floor, does allow the finish to penetrate but not best hold. As long as the floor is being taken care of and not abused, the difference between the two is  not going to make a difference in longevity of your floor.

 

• Choices of finish/floor
       Always keep in mind of furniture and color of walls when choosing stain/floor. This can make a difference in your decor plans and overall appearance of the room.

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• Old floor vs New floor
       This is usually dependent on what kind budget you have set for your flooring project. While a new floor, will obviously, give you the best final product, one must consider the cost of refinishing an existing floor or installing a new. Most floors can be refinished to achieve a fairly close to a new floor look but can still show flaws if they are prominent.
   

• Temperature/humidity and how it affects finish
       Finishes, particularly oil based polyurethane, tends to fluctuate on it's drying time depending on the temperature and humidity.  Rainy, cold days usually take the longest to dry, while, on the other hand, a warm dry day will give you optimum drying conditions. Regardless of temperature/humidity, air exchange is usually key to getting a floor to dry well (and remove the smell as well)
   

• Dust and how to prepare
       Even with our dust containment system, dust can still escape (it's inevitable). For us, it more of the question of how little dust we let escape. Safe practice would be to close off/cover doorways to rooms and keep shelves clear or covered. Kitchen counters that have appliances and/or open containers should be stored away or completely covered.
   

• Scratches on finish
       Scratches happen, the best and best defense against them would be to avoid dragging anything on the floors. Dirt and debris from outside shoes and act as an abrasive to any finish. The biggest factor about fixing/hiding a scratch is how deep the scratch is.  If it's past the finish and reached the stain or raw wood, you might have a repair rather than a patch.
   

• Finishes done in different phases
       Planing to finish a floor all in one phase is ideal. This will give you the most consistent color and finish possible with a site finished floor. Floors that are done in different phases can cause inconsistencies, especially if the floor is adjacent to the previous finished floor.