BE PREPARED !
Wood floors are a lifetime
investment, adding value and beauty to your home or office. As with any major
improvement you should expect some disruption and inconvenience. When having
wood floors refinished or installed make sure to give the floor contractor the
time he needs to complete the job without interference from other trades.
Other trades are allowed the necessary time to complete their jobs, thus so
should the wood floor contractor. Several factors you should be aware of:
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PRE-INSTALLATION
REQUIREMENTS CHECKLIST
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JOB
CONDITIONS
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The building should be completely
closed in, with outside windows & doors in place - ALL wet trades
(drywall, paint, ceramic tile, etc.) should have completed there work -Air
conditioning, heating and ventilation systems should be operating -The
temperature and relative humidity be at "normal living conditions"-
that is between 60 & 80 degrees (F) and between 30-50 percent humidity-
for a LEAST 7-14 days prior to the wood flooring being delivered. The wood floor
should then acclimate to conditions at the jobsite for 3 to 5 days. Moisture
testing should be the responsibility of the wood floor and/or general
contractor. Furniture, appliances, room furnishing, and old floor coverings
should be removed from rooms where flooring is being installed.
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INSTALLATION EXPECTATION:
-Plastic should be used to help seal off the work area -There will be sawing,
hammering and other noise during installation -Make sure you understand the
time frame involved & the duration of installation. -Finishing should take
place 5-7 days after installation( unfinished)-you can walk on the floor
during acclimation (before sanding & finishing) Also see Installing
Wood Floors- Industry standards & procedures.
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SANDING & FINISHING
EXPECTATION:
-There will be noise, dust and some fumes during this process -Even though the
area is sealed off, dust from the sanding process could & will probably
infiltrate other areas of the house, unless dustless sanding equipment is
used. Because fumes will be present during
finishing, pilot lights must be turned off -Keep pets away from work area at
all times -Make sure you go over the work schedule with the wood floor
contractor, know the number of days it will take, when the floor can handle
foot traffic, always allow scheduled work to be completed as specified. This
will ensure a good job & the best results possible. Make sure the floor is
protected and/or measures are taken so that other trades and/or people coming
in after the wood floors are finished. There is nothing more frustrating than
some one else not using due care & causing a good job go bad. ( See Finishing procedures &
standards )
Things you SHOULD NOT expect
from a wood floor finish !
1. A table top finish. Each piece of oak flooring sands
differently depending on its grain type (plain or quartered) making it
virtually impossible for a completely flat surface.
2. Dust-free finish.
Since your floor is being finished in your home it is not possible to achieve
a "clean room" environment. Some dust will fall onto the freshly
applied top finish.
3. A monochromatic floor.
Wood, as a natural product, varies from piece to piece. Remember it is not
fabricated -- it is milled from a tree and will have grain and color
variations consistent with the grade and species of flooring selected.
4. A floor that will not
indent. In spite of the term "hardwood", Oak flooring will
indent under high heel traffic (especially heels in disrepair). The finish
that is applied will not prevent the dents.
5. A floor without
cracks between the boards, or within the parquet pieces. Although your new
floor may start tight together, as a natural product it will continue to
absorb and release moisture. This natural process will cause the flooring to
expand and contract from season to season -- resulting in cracks between some
of the pieces in your floor. Some stain colors, such as white, will show this
process more than others.
Understand that furniture,
cabinetry, doors, etc., are fabricated in a factory under ideal conditions and
that they contain 1-10 different pieces of wood. Their floor is fabricated in
their own home and is made up of 300 to a thousand individually different
pieces. And that their floor is never to be duplicated -- a truly custom floor
of their own !
After the job is completed, go
over the job with the estimator and/or job supervisor. Maintenance procedure
should be reviewed, along with proper protection of furniture (place
protection under legs) before it is placed onto the new wood floor and items
of concern should be addressed. Remember, wood floors are an investment,
proper maintenance will give you years of beauty & enjoyment !
