Part of the responsibility of homeowners is the upkeep and restoration of their homes in order to maintain its good condition. Now, wood floorings are still considered to be a top choice by most people because it exudes that warm, comfortable and inviting atmosphere at home. It does have benefits but one of the disadvantages of having this type of flooring is that it requires regular maintenance.

Is floor sanding and sealing really necessary? The answer is yes. If you want to know why there is a need to do routine floor sanding and sealing, here are some of the reasons:

The primary reason why it is a necessity is because it provides protection to your floor. Homes are considered to be a valuable investment that is why a lot of effort and money are put into it. You will only want the best quality in every aspect. If you want the wooden floors to retain its good and scratch-free condition then sanding and sealing are essential. By putting a protective layer, it prevents water from soaking to the floors. It saves the hassle of having to deal with molds and mildew later on.

In case you failed to do a routine maintenance, floor sanding and sealing is the way to regain the floor’s old shine and luster. In case the woods start to look dull and lose its shine due to constant scrubbing and cleaning, it is advisable to perform sanding and re-staining in order to restore its appearance or give it a new look.

Lastly, sanding could save you money in the long run. Wooden floors are subjected to regular wear and tear. It is only vital to check it on a regular basis and examine if repairs are needed. Among the common problems that you might encounter are loose planks and nails. Proper sanding could help prevent the situation from getting worse.

Just a piece of advice to homeowners, floor sanding is not recommended as a do-it-yourself task. It is recommended to seek the services of professionals that are trained and equipped with the right tools for this job.

Reprinted from: http://www.flooringnews.com

Turns out, wood flooring is not just for walking. It can also be art. Just look at Marbelous Wood from Denmark’s Pernille Snedker Hansen. To achieve this look, Hansen first drips earth-tone and neon inks into water, and then she dips a piece of pine into the water, which picks up the ink; it’s similar to a paper-marbling technique from eastern Asia called suminagashi. Next, the boards are sealed with a UV coating, and after installation Hansen recommends sealing the floor with a waterbased finish. Each piece of Marbelous Wood, which is part of the Danish Crafts Collection 15 at www.craftscollection.dk, is custom-made by hand. For Hansen, it’s an organic experience every time she makes her drips and dips a board in the water: “It feels more like a dialog with the materials instead of [having] full control,” she says.

Reprinted from http://hardwoodfloorsmag.com

If you were viewing this foyer floor in person at New York’s Gracie Mansion—the official residence of the Big Apple’s mayor—you’d initially think you were gazing upon a beautiful marble floor, and that’s just what the painters want you to believe. Upon closer inspection, you’d realize you are standing on wood planks, and that the marble is, in fact, an illusion. While the marble is an illusion, the life-changing opportunity it presented for people living with HIV/AIDS was real. The workers responsible for restoring the floor during the mansion’s most recent remodel came from Chelsea’s The Alpha Workshops, a nonprofit school for and employer of HIV-positive artisans. They were tasked with mimicking the style of itinerant painters from the 1790s, the era during which the mansion was built, says Workshop Executive Director Kenneth Wampler. The workers began with a freshly sanded floor, chalk lines and painter’s tape. Using variously sized paintbrushes and painter’s combs, they applied off-white, cream and brown glazes on the white squares, and white and pale gray glazes on the black squares; last was a waterbased urethane clear finish coat. So how does one achieve this faux look? Practice. “I can tell you from reading a lot of faux painting techniques that it is never well-described,” Wampler says. “The way you paint a good faux marble is by practicing painting faux marble.”

Reprinted from http://hardwoodfloorsmag.com

ST. LOUIS, Missouri (June 15, 2011) – From flooring and cabinetry to moulding and furniture, American hardwoods have been treasured for generations, and for good reason. They offer warmth, durability, luxury, and design options that are unmatched by faux-wood products.

Recently, however, an abundance of green product labels and misinformation has led to confusion in the marketplace, and has everyone asking, “Are American hardwoods really a sustainable resource?” The American Hardwood Information Center,www.HardwoodInfo.com, wants you to know that the answer is yes!

Hardwood forests naturally regenerate themselves and do not need to be replanted like softwood forests. For this reason, their harvesting methods differ. The preferred method of harvesting hardwoods is single-tree selection. A professional forester evaluates a forest and determines which trees are ready to harvest. This responsible forest management practice not only provides a sustaining supply of hardwood, but it also ensures the overall health of a thriving forest – including water quality, wildlife habitat, biodiversity, and recreational opportunities – and has allowed the volume of our hardwood forests to more than double since the 1950s.

Wood also is a carbon neutral material. Healthy forests absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and release oxygen. The carbon is then stored in the wood for the life of the tree and the products made from it.

Advanced technology also ensures minimal wood is wasted during the manufacturing process. Every part of the tree is used. For example, tree bark becomes mulch, sawdust becomes animal bedding or fuel for boilers to operate dry kilns, and trimmings become paper. No other material can compare.

It’s clear. There really is no better or natural choice for green building and healthy home environments than American hardwoods. Learn more by visiting www.HardwoodInfo.com.

The National Wood Flooring Association is a non-profit trade organization of more than 3,000 wood flooring professionals working worldwide to educate consumers, architects, designers, and builders in the uses and benefits of wood flooring. The NWFA can be contacted at 111 Chesterfield Industrial Blvd., Chesterfield, MO 63005, or at 800-422-4556 (USA & Canada).

Reprinted from NWFA

There are three styles of wood floors available on the market today: strip, plank, and parquet. Each style is available in a variety of species, colors and widths, so choosing the right style simply is a matter of which look you prefer.

Strip flooring ranges from 1-½” to 3” wide, and creates a linear effect in a room, often making the room appear larger. Strip flooring generally is considered “traditional” wood flooring.

Plank flooring typically ranges from 3” to 7” wide. While plank flooring is linear, like strip flooring, its wider widths often create a more casual look.

Parquet flooring can vary in size, and usually generates a geometric, non-linear look. Parquet flooring can be very simple in design, or somewhat complex.

Reprinted from NWFA

Before work begins, remove all furnishings, draperies, paintings, and other items from the room. For new installations, the wood will need to acclimate, which will vary from two days to two weeks or even longer depending on the species.

If your floors are being sanded, finished or refinished, be prepared for some noise and disruption. Dust containment systems can minimize debris, but no system is 100% effective, so cover any items that you want to keep dust-free. When the finish is applied, stay off your floors until it has dried. The time required will vary depending on the type of finish used.

After the finish has dried, put felt pads on the bottoms of any furniture to minimize scratches and dents. Place rugs at all entrances, avoiding those with rubber backs, which can discolor your floor. Avoid walking on your floors with cleats or high heels.

Reprinted from NWFA

The Hardwood Federation will hold its annual Washington, D.C., Fly-In on Sept. 19-20; the lobbying group characterizes the event as an opportunity to reach influential policy makers.

Top issues expected to be discussed with representatives during the Fly-In include economic recovery, hardwood product advocacy, the Farm Bill, green building, U.S. Forest Service management of land, and the Lacey Act, according to a survey of members the Hardwood Federation recently completed.

Hardwood industry representatives will have the opportunity to meet face-to-face with the Obama Administration, as well as members of the U.S. Congress and their staff. For more information, contact Deb Hawkinson at deb.hawkinson@hardwoodfederation.com.

The Hardwood Federation is a wood products industry lobbying group of which the NWFA is a part.

Reprinted from: http://hwfmag.com/

The bible is full of stories of revelation; it even devotes an entire book to them. In February, the First Church of God in Paragould, Ark., had a revelation of its own and, while it was not of biblical magnitude, it required hard work and an element of faith.

Earlier this year, Pastor Kevin Edgar decided the carpet in his church needed to be replaced. When he and some volunteers began tearing up the tattered covering, they revealed a hardwood floor underneath, and they decided they would refurbish the hardwood instead of covering it again. That’s when Edgar asked professional floor man Richard Wall to help out. Wall, who has attended the church for the past six years, feels indebted to the church for helping him overcome addictions to methamphetamine and alcohol.

“I’ve been in flooring all my life, and I love doing floors,” Wall said. “There’s nothing more rewarding. Now that I have gotten my life back thanks to the church, everything I try to do, I try to do in God’s will.”

Wall and a crew of other volunteers helped Edgar hand-scrape the old carpet glue off the wood floor, and then Wall spent two days sanding it flat. Next came two coats of polyurethane finish, and today the floor is well equipped to handle the footsteps of the church’s parishioners.

While the church was getting its makeover, Wall saw the project as an effort to further his own life’s makeover. “With wood flooring, you strip off the old and go down to the bare foundation,” Wall said. “From there, you go through the proper processes to get to your finished product. You can’t miss any steps, and you can’t cut any corners. You have to have patience, and you have to have faith that what you’re doing is the right thing to do.”

Reprinted from: http://hwfmag.com/

Looking for an eco-friendly way to add beauty and warmth to your home or building? Look no further than natural, sustainable American Hardwoods. American Hardwoods bring the beauty of nature indoors with unmatched design flexibility. American Hardwoods are an environmentally-conscious choice.

American Hardwoods are:

Renewable: American Hardwoods are an abundant, natural material that is self-regenerating and naturally prolific. Nearly twice as much hardwood grows each year as is harvested. And, according to the U.S. Forest Service, the volume of hardwoods today is 90 percent larger than it was 50 years ago.

Locally Grown: American hardwoods are locally grown so less energy Is requires to transport them, which results in a reduced carbon footprint when compared to non-native woods. Plus, studies have shown that it takes less energy to manufacture products from wood than other material. Studies show that making products from steel, aluminum, glass, concrete, and brick can require up to 126 times more energy to manufacture than American Hardwoods.

Carbon Neutral: Healthy forests are net producers of oxygen through photosynthesis. Growing trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and separate the carbon and oxygen atoms. The oxygen is released back into the atmosphere, while the carbon is used to grow roots, trunk, branches, and leaves. The carbon is then stored in the wood for the life of the tree and the resulting products, such as wood flooring.

American Hardwoods also provide:

Efficient use of by-products: Virtually every part of a log is used as lumber for flooring. Advanced technology and manufacturing processes ensure efficient use of wood by-products.

Life Cycle Analysis: Solid hardwood floors can last for up to 125 years or longer creating a long life cycle. When considering life cycle costing, the useful life of American Hardwoods can span generation, making them more favorable and cost-effective over the lifecycle than competitive products.

Third-Party Endorsement: The U.S. Congress passed resolutions in 2009 and 2010 that officially recognized that the American Hardwood industry sustainable manages and environmentally preferable, natural resource, and that hardwoods should not be discriminated against in government procurement programs. In 2011, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) agreed and announced an endorsement strategy regarding the merits of domestic wood a s a preferred green building material.

For more information about American Hardwoods, including design tips and a species guide, visit www.hardwoodinfo.com.

Reprinted from: http://www.woodfloors.org/

Karen Luther sees the difficulty in owning both wood floors and a heavy dog. “The unfortunate thing is that I don’t think people realize dogs can damage wood floors before it’s too late,” she says. Luther started her Internet-only retail shopAllDogBoots.com in May 2010, and she’s been surprised by how often people contact her with this problem, something to which any wood flooring installer or retailer can also relate. “I get quite a few phone calls for this, and it’s not something that I would’ve expected,” she says, “but a lot of people put in brand-new hardwood floors, and they’ve got a 40-, 50-, or 150-pound dog that has ruined the floors the first week.” For the homeowner-cum-wood-floor-defender, Luther recommends Meshies by Barko Booties, an AllDogBoots.com house brand. Selling for $24.99 and available in red or blue, Barko Booties are lightweight, fit securely and won’t slide—best of all, they’re breathable so that dogs can still sweat through their paws when they have them on. (You knew dogs sweat through their paws, right?) So there you have it: Meshies will keep you, your customers and their dogs happy.

Reprinted from: http://hardwoodfloorsmag.com