Elegant Flooring of Charleston SC aims to shine a light on hardwood floor facts and fiction. Consultation is our first responsibility, and we work hard to learn all about your lifestyle and flooring needs. We also strive to educate you on what to expect from the installation process and your ultimate results.
So, to help homeowners make more informed decisions about their investment in hardwood flooring, we present the following list of Hardwood Floor Facts and Fiction.
Wax On, Wax Off, Wax Often
This is not so much Fiction as a Fact that reached its expiration date. Up until the mid-20th century, wax was a necessity for maintaining the health and beauty of your hardwood floors. With the invention of polyurethane finishes and the introduction of increasingly durable hardwoods, the need for floor waxes has been largely eliminated.
In fact, floor wax would not only be redundant, but a handicap. When the time comes to refinish the hardwood, the wax layer makes that extremely difficult. Finally, wax on polyurethane creates an unnecessarily slippery surface and potential fall hazard in the home.
Save a Buck by Refinishing Floors Yourself
In terms of being happy with the results? Fiction. The pride that many do-it-yourselfers take in their skills and talents is sometimes well-deserved. Other times, they bite off more than they can chew.
It begins with tools. The equipment available to rent is rarely as versatile as that available to the professional. This, combined with the homeowner’s skill level, typically leads to stripping away more wood than is necessary or healthy for the floor. Finally, if weekend warriors manage to make it to the refinishing stage, they find that the off-the-shelf floor finishes are not of the same quality as the ones available to the professional.
The fact is, there are some DIY projects that are better left to the professionals, and hardwood floor refinishing is often one of them.
A Fine Finish Means Scratch-free Floors
Fiction. Some flooring manufacturers would like you to believe that their pre-finished flooring delivers superior scratch resistance, but it is not that simple. The fact is that different wood species and varieties naturally offer various levels of scratch and dent resistance, and no hardwood is completely impervious to wear and damage.
Additionally, a good finish, properly applied and maintained, may offer significant wear protection but less robust impact damage. There are many variables, but one fact is obvious: a long-lasting floor that helps bring warmth and beauty into your specific home begins with careful hardwood selection and the right finish. In other words, homeowners should seek professional help!
Avoid Hardwood Floors in your Kitchen
Fiction. Some homeowners assume that hardwood cannot manage the traffic in the most-used room in the home. In fact, the right hardwood floor, carefully selected and expertly installed and finished, will provide the durability to withstand constant foot traffic. And, aesthetically speaking, the warmth and elegance of hardwood can be a perfect complement to your cabinets and countertops.
Fact: Elegant Flooring is Here to Help
Your choice of hardwood flooring is an investment that will pay dividends in warmth, beauty, and durability, for as long as you own your home and beyond. Elegant Flooring of Charleston believes you should make that investment a well-informed one. We are here to answer any question or concern you may have about hardwood flooring, before, during, and after installation. Contact Elegant today, and let’s get to work!
