Dans Papers - May 11, 2007

According to The National Wood Flooring Association, no other flooring enhances the decor of a room, provides timeless beauty or offers the warmth and value that wood does. That might sound a bit presumptuous, but many homeowners agree. And with so many types, styles and colors available today, they are having a tough time deciding which kind of wood flooring is right for them.

Like most home improvements, many factors must be considered when choosing a wood floor product. The type of wood should be chosen according to the room's use, decor and traffic flow. For example, if you are installing wood floors in the kitchen or family room, stay away from dark white or bleached wood floors because these rooms generally have high a traffic flow and are more susceptible to food and water spillage. Living rooms and dining rooms are often decorated in a more formal and traditional manner, and typically look best when complimented with darker wood floors. Because bathrooms are exposed to continuous moisture, they do not fare well with wood floors, and that is why they are usually tiled. If there is a guest bathroom in your home that is not used frequently and you would like to install wood floors, use bath mats and never leave water on the floor for a long period of time. In bedrooms, home offices and other rooms where rolling chairs, desks and television stands are in use, make sure the floor is protected and the rollers are not made of damaging materials such as metal.

Wood floors can essentially last a lifetime if routine maintenance is taken seriously.

High traffic or not, regular cleaning of your wood floors is necessary. Sweep, vacuum, dust and mop to remove dirt and grit. Do not use wet mops, ammonia or cleaning products for surfaces other than wood. If dirt is tracked, clean it immediately and keep contact with high heels to a minimum. Also, place protector pads under all furniture legs and area rugs in high traffic areas.

If your home already has wood floors, yet scratches, stains or other imperfections are keeping them from being beautiful, don't worry. There are plenty of ways to spruce up existing wood floors. Most hardwood floors are made from oak, which is easily reconditioned by sanding off the current finish. This type of job is dusty and removes a top layer of the wood floor. So unless you have experience in this trade, hire a professional. Softer woods such as pine or cedar can also be sanded. A process called screening is another option for reviving wood floors. This method removes the top layer of the existing finish without removing a layer of wood. Screening has become popular because it is less invasive, inexpensive and doesn't create as much dust as sanding.

There are also ways to tackle specific stains and mishaps without refinishing an entire room's floor. Wax from a candle or crayon can be removed by applying a plastic bag filled with ice until the deposit is brittle enough to crumble. Cigarette burns, if not too deep, can be treated with a touch-up kit made for urethane finishes. For deeper burns, scrape the area to remove charred fibers and then run the area with fine sandpaper, stain, wax and hand buff. If the burn reaches too deep, the individual plank or parquet board may need to be replaced. Food stains can be removed by gently rubbing the stain with a damp cloth, then rubbing the area dry and waxing. If your wood floor has a water stain, rub the spot with steel wool and wax the area. For oil and grease stains, rub the area with kitchen soap and repeat until the stain is removed. Let the affected area dry and then hand buff.

If you want to change the appearance of natural wood flooring, methods such as staining, bleaching or painting give homeowners a wide range of decorative options. These methods can add or change the color of a floor. Professionals recommend not masking the natural appearance of the wood, but using these methods to add color to enhance the beauty or surroundings of a room.

Refinishing or installing wood floors is a complicated process and requires specialized equipment, and is best left to professionals. Wood flooring offers a durability and affordability those other flooring options don't. There are so many possibilities and they will look beautiful for years to come.