hardwoodfloor

Tips on Mopping Hardwood Floors
By Kirsten Steinman

Cleaning hardwood floors can be a very tricky process. Hardwood floors can suffer damage as a result of standing water, extreme changes in humidity, and abrasive cleaners. It’s important you clean your floors with cleaning products that are compatible with the exact hardwood floor type you have.

As a self-proclaimed judge of floor cleaners, I was blown away by the Bona Hardwood Floor Mop. Bona is a Swedish company that distributes mops and cleaning solutions specifically tailored for hardwood floors. For those who have hardwood flooring in their home, you probably already know how difficult it can be to keep hardwood looking shiny and clean. Especially since they can only be cleaned with a damp mop every now and then. Bona is not only free from toxic chemicals so often found in conventional floor cleaning products, they are also deemed safe for the environment.

The Bona Hardwood Floor Mop comes with a microfiber pad that can be washed and reused up to a three-hundred times before it enters the waste stream. This simple fact makes the Bona mop one of the greenest floor products on the market. In comparison, Swiffer Wet Jet mop pads must be tossed after every use. Not only does this entail more money, it’s also not very friendly to the environment. The Bona hardwood floor mop is also unique in the fact that it simultaneously sprays the hardwood cleaner onto the floor as you mop. Mopping is quick, easy, and residue free. To find out more, check out this head to head test with the Bona Hardwood Floor Mop and Swiffer Wet Jet.

I was amazed by how clean Bona was able to get my floors, and won over by the fact that everything about the process was eco-friendly. While the initial cost can be a bit more than alternative cleaners and mops, in the long run it’s helped save me money. And actually, it’s quite reasonable - only $7.99 for a microfiber cleaning pad that will probably last you 2 years! You can buy Bona hardwood floor cleaning products and learn how to use them right on their website.

Bona doesn’t just make hardwood cleaning products; they also make cleaners for stone, tile and laminate floors. These water-based cleaning products are also made with environmentally responsible ingredients that are specially treated to clean all tile, laminate and stone floor varieties. And unlike other comparable floor cleaners, Bona products do not leave behind an unsightly residue.

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Hardwood Floor Cleaner Tips and Advice
By Jane Z Johnson

The one thing that can make a huge difference in the look of your home is having a brand new hardwood floor. But when your wood flooring begins to look old and tired, it can have just the opposite effect. This is why using a high quality hardwood floor cleaner is so important. Before you rush out and buy a hardwood floor cleaner, there are a few things you need to know first.

The first thing you need to be aware of is that there are different hardwood flooring cleaners that are made for specific kinds of floors. A tile cleaner would not be a good idea for a hard wood floor, so read the directions carefully or you could do more damage than good. When you are looking for a hard wood floor cleaner make sure the manufacturer says that it is specifically designed for wood floors or pre-enameled flooring.

The next thing you need to do is get the correct mop for your hardwood floor cleaning. This may not seem like a big deal, but it can make a big difference in the way your floor looks. Using the correct mop will also save you a lot of time. Nobody wants to spend hours cleaning when it should have only took you fifteen minutes. Some of the more popular brands will offer an all-in-one cleaning kit that come with a mop that is specifically designed for wood floors.

The next step in keeping your wood floors looking new, is to clean them regularly. There are certain floor cleaners that you can use for this, or you can do it yourself. If you are doing this yourself make sure you use a mop that is only slightly damp. Too much water on your hardwood floor will damage them.

When you are shopping around for a hardwood floor cleaner, you are better off going with a name brand. Choose one of the more popular floor cleaners that provides specific instructions and a number to call if you have any questions. Also, it is a good idea to read up on the reviews that other people have left. One of my favorite places to read reviews is Amazon. If there are a lot of positive reviews, then there is a good chance that the particular hardwood floor cleaner you are looking at is a good one to get.

When you are considering a hardwood cleaner, you should take a look at Bona Floor Cleaner for excellent prices, reviews, and resources on hardwood cleaners.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jane_Z_Johnson
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Tips on Mopping Hardwood Floors
By Kirsten Steinman

Cleaning hardwood floors can be a very tricky process. Hardwood floors can suffer damage as a result of standing water, extreme changes in humidity, and abrasive cleaners. It’s important you clean your floors with cleaning products that are compatible with the exact hardwood floor type you have.

As a self-proclaimed judge of floor cleaners, I was blown away by the Bona Hardwood Floor Mop. Bona is a Swedish company that distributes mops and cleaning solutions specifically tailored for hardwood floors. For those who have hardwood flooring in their home, you probably already know how difficult it can be to keep hardwood looking shiny and clean. Especially since they can only be cleaned with a damp mop every now and then. Bona is not only free from toxic chemicals so often found in conventional floor cleaning products, they are also deemed safe for the environment.

The Bona Hardwood Floor Mop comes with a microfiber pad that can be washed and reused up to a three-hundred times before it enters the waste stream. This simple fact makes the Bona mop one of the greenest floor products on the market. In comparison, Swiffer Wet Jet mop pads must be tossed after every use. Not only does this entail more money, it’s also not very friendly to the environment. The Bona hardwood floor mop is also unique in the fact that it simultaneously sprays the hardwood cleaner onto the floor as you mop. Mopping is quick, easy, and residue free. To find out more, check out this head to head test with the Bona Hardwood Floor Mop and Swiffer Wet Jet.

I was amazed by how clean Bona was able to get my floors, and won over by the fact that everything about the process was eco-friendly. While the initial cost can be a bit more than alternative cleaners and mops, in the long run it’s helped save me money. And actually, it’s quite reasonable - only $7.99 for a microfiber cleaning pad that will probably last you 2 years! You can buy Bona hardwood floor cleaning products and learn how to use them right on their website.

Bona doesn’t just make hardwood cleaning products; they also make cleaners for stone, tile and laminate floors. These water-based cleaning products are also made with environmentally responsible ingredients that are specially treated to clean all tile, laminate and stone floor varieties. And unlike other comparable floor cleaners, Bona products do not leave behind an unsightly residue.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kirsten_Steinman
http://EzineArticles.com/?Tips-on-Mopping-Hardwood-Floors&id=2037376

Bona X Hardwood Floor Cleaner - Gallon Refill

We found this article. It is pretty good. Come to our website or contact us for your hardwood flooring needs.

Designing With Hardwood Floors

Hardwood floors are suited to both casual and formal environments; they feel at home with modern or traditional and will compliment the decor of both minimalist and eclectic designs. Hardwood can be classic, rock, jazz, country, or hip hop. Today’s State-of-the-art technology coupled with an almost limitless choice of stains, finishes, styles and designs makes hardwood flooring one of the most practical and versatile floor coverings available. Their beauty is enduring and like a fine wine, they mature with age.

Nature provides the inspiration when designing with hardwood floors. The abundance of natural hardwood species provides a plethora of wood grain structures, each unique and each matching a particular décor. Oak woods contain a lot of growth ring patterns and knots, and are best suited to traditional and rustic decors. However, adding a high gloss finish can make them elegant enough for any formal dining room. Woods such as Maple, Walnut and Birch contain very little graining and lend themselves well to contemporary and modern designs.

The aesthetic appeal of hardwood is also influenced to a large extent by mineral streaking, the presence of knots and shade and color variation. These features are also used in the classification of hardwoods.

Clear - This grade of hardwood is free of defects though it may have minor imperfections. Flooring in this category tends to be very consistent with little mineral streaking and knots, also making it the most expensive grade. Select - This grade is almost clear, but contains more natural characteristics such as knots and color variations.

Common grades (No. 1 and No. 2) have more markings than either clear or select and are often chosen because of these natural features and the character they bring to a room.

No.1 Common has a variegated appearance, light and dark colors, knots, flags and worm holes. No.2 Common is rustic in appearance and will show all wood characteristics of the species. These grades have always been the least expensive, but the recent revival of the antique rustic look has resulted in prices skyrocketing.

Performance is a very important aspect when selecting a hardwood floor. Some hardwood species are less porous than others, making them harder and less susceptible to staining. The Janka Hardness Test provides the relative hardness of numerous wood species used in flooring. This rating should only be used as a general guide, as the hardness is also affected by growth region.

Plank construction and finish are also important factors when determining the durability of any wood floor. Plank construction comes in two forms, solid and engineered. Factors such as type of existing subfloor and relative air humidity will determine which floor is best suited to your needs.

Great advancements in finish technology have resulted in floors that are less susceptible to scratching, denting, fading, and are easier to maintain. The addition of Aluminum Oxide to the surface finish has added a measure of performance resulting in a hardwood floor that, maintained properly, should never have to be replaced.

This flooring article was written by Barry H. Get more tips and techniques at: Flooring information

article source: adzines.com

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How To Select Scraped//Distressed Hardwood Flooring

Hand-scraped and Distressed hardwood floors are becoming a popular choice in today’s upscale homes and commercial buildings. These floors are a newer trend but are rooted in history. Before today’s modern sanding methods, floors were hand scraped on site to make the floors flat. Today’s hand scraping is done to add texture, richness and uniqueness.

Distressed hardwood flooring is done by machine or by hand. In an effort to reduce high labor costs, manufacturers have created machine-made distressed/scraped looking floors. These are cheaper imitations of the real thing. The problem with machine distressing is repetition of the pattern. As you look across the floor you see the same pattern repeating across the floor. This lacks a natural feel to the floor.

True hand scraped is exactly that - done by hand. When properly done this method creates a truly unique floor. These floors differ greatly in the amount of the texture added to the floor and the skill of the person scraping the floor.

Some manufacturers are just denting, scooping, or roughing the floor. Others are sanding the floor unevenly to create a worn look. Still others are scraping the entire surface of the flooring creating the most unique hand made look. Some product lines allow the customer to choose between heavy, medium and light scraping. True artisans can create a reclaimed look complete with wormholes, splits and other naturally occurring character markings.

The labor used in hand scraping varies greatly. Some floor installers simply have their crew scrape the floor after it is installed in the home. Results vary widely based on the skill of the person or persons doing the scraping. Lack of control and expertise can lead to disastrous results. Scraping is a plant environment is also varied. Some are using illegal immigrants for the scraping labor; one company uses the federal prison system, smartly not advertised as such. Yet another uses Pennsylvania Amish craftsman to create their Amish Hand-Scraped collection.

Some homeowners are buying scraped floors unfinished and applying the finish on site, but most are choosing prefinished. These floors require special methods to prepare the floor for finishing. Regular on site sanding can destroy the texture of the floor that the customer is paying for. The most expensive lines are being finished by hand sometimes referred to as “hand rubbed”. Most of the prefinished floors are excellent and create convenience and speed of installation for the contractor and homeowner alike.

One of the great benefits of a prefinished floor is the ability of each plank to move independently with the changes of humidity in the home. On site finishing bonds the finish between planks requiring the finish to split as the floor contracts at dry humidity levels. These cracks rarely create a problem and are natural in hardwood floors, they are less noticeable in prefinished microbevelled floors.

Scraped floors that have darker finished tend to show the scraping more than natural finished floors. This is due to the finish pooling in the scrapes causing shadows drawing your attention to the character in the floor. Most hardwood flooring manufacturers have web sites showing the consumer what the floors look like. Many have displays at dealers near your home so you can actually see and touch what you are buying.

Hand scraped floors are not cheap. They are for those looking for a truly unique look. The cheaper machine made distressed hardwood floors material can retail around $10 per square foot. You will pay $15 and up per square foot for hand scraped. With most things in life, the real thing is hard to imitate and most people know a fake when they see it. A true hand scraped floor will give a unique, warm, rich look to your home and will be an absolute guaranteed conversation piece with your friends and guests.

About The Author

Doug Bolton is the owner of Homerwood Hardwood Flooring, located in the heart of the Pennsylvania hardwood region - Titusville PA. You can learn more by visiting their website at http://www.homerwood.com.

dbolton@homerwood.com

article source: adzines.com

Hey were just uploaded some photos of a current job. We are resurfacing the floors and replacing some custom inlays that are damaged.  If you have any questions post them here or contact us via our website

custom hardwood floor inlay