Buying Wood Flooring

Hardwood Floor Tips 5 - 9

5: Manage moisture.

Water and wood make a difficult pair. Chronic excess moisture can produce rot, but a more common problem is moisture cycling, the extremes of humidity or repeated wetting and drying that can make wood warp or crack. Preventive measures start from day one: Wood flooring should be allowed to acclimate to a home's average moisture levels before it's installed. Do not glue wood flooring directly to a concrete slab; instead, install a moisture barrier and use flooring designed to "float" (see No. 8).

6: Protect the finish.

Don't rely on the wood to withstand wear and tear; two or three layers of a clear top coat such as polyurethane varnish will ward off moisture and keep the scuffing and material loss limited to an easily renewable protective layer. Never apply wax to a finished wood floor; it will interfere with subsequent refinishing.

7: Consider refinishing or resurfacing.

One of the big virtues of wood flooring is its ability to be renewed periodically during its lifetime. A light sanding will remove light scratches and discoloration, allowing you to apply another layer or two of varnish. For heavily damaged or badly cupped flooring, hire a professional with a drum- or belt-type flooring sander. Follow up with fine sanding, a stain, and varnish.

8: Try wood impersonators.

Vinyl flooring that mimics the look of wood has been around for decades, but it's been less than convincing. Today's resilient sheet flooring does a better job of passing for the real thing, and an even closer match can be found in laminate flooring. It's scratch-resistant but not renewable like real wood. Most types have a simple interlocking edge system that requires no nailing or gluing, making it a do-it-yourself choice or good for use on slab subfloors. Cost per square foot is about the same as standard domestic wood flooring, but less expensive than the exotic varieties.

9: Shop specifics and invest.

When price-shopping for wood floor products and services, be specific about what you need. Resurfacing an existing wood floor typically starts at $3 - $4 per square foot, but a light refinishing often called a "screen and coat" is less than half that amount. Think long-term; a properly maintained wood floor can last a century or more.