Category: Hardwood Flooring

Categories
Hardwood Flooring Home Decor Species

This How to Calculate Quarter-Sawn Oak Flooring Costs

Are you interest in converting your floors to quarter-sawn oak? Though quarter-sawn oak flooring costs are usually higher than plain sawn oak, the benefits are worth it. To begin, quarter sawn is less likely to swell. It is more stable and will not absorb moisture the way plain sawn does. The design of quarter sawn is also favorable because of the unique patterns that adorn each plank — the rays on quarter-sawn wood are flagrant flecks that create a lovely decorative feature for your home. But how do you calculate just how much quarter sawn oak flooring costs?

Measuring Quarter-Sawn Oak

The first thing you will want to know is how much wood you will need for the project. You’ll want to measure the dimensions of each room you’d like to convert to hardwood flooring; this is a simple task that you can do at home with a tape measure. Begin by measuring the length and width. Now multiply these numbers together to obtain the square footage of each room.

Quarter-Sawn Planks

Once you’ve configured the measurements of your flooring, you’ll need to choose which planks of quarter sawn you want to install; this is determined primarily by the width, thickness, and figure of your lumber. For low/medium fleck quarter sawn you can expect to pay between $4.08 to $24.20 per board foot based on 8” to 16” widths. For higher fleck quarter sawn it is approximately $4.58 to $27.20 based on the same widths. Use your square footage measurements to calculate how much the planks will cost you in total.

Installing Quarter-Sawn Flooring 

Installation prices vary by location, square footage, and the difficulty of your project. Furniture removal, replacement of subflooring, and removal of original flooring may be hurdles in your process. The best method to access the cost you’ll be considering is to use an online price comparison tool for your area. Clearing old furniture and removing original flooring can help to lower your estimates.

Try to get a few estimates before deciding, as some companies charge less than others. Fall and early winter tend to be down times for flooring installers. Choosing to install during these off seasons can also save you money, decreasing your quarter-sawn oak flooring costs overall.

Final Quarter-Sawn Oak Flooring Costs

After installation, you’ll want to choose your finish. Oiled oak flooring is excellent for a natural look. Natural finish oak floors cost about $1.50 to $4.00 per square footage. Once you’ve decided and calculated the above factors, you’ll total them for your quarter-sawn oak flooring costs.

Maintenance is also necessary when keeping your floor looking it’s best. Over time, the everyday tread will wear on your original oiled oak floor, meaning that you’ll eventually pay more for your floor.

Note: To keep your natural finish oak floors looking their best you’ll need to refinish every ten years or so.

Categories
Hardwood Flooring Hardwood Maintenance

5 Hardwood Finishes that Will Look Amazing on Your Floor

Whether you are planning to install flooring for the first time or just looking to refinish existing floors, there are some different hardwood finishes to consider. Choosing the right polish is crucial as it will not only determine how much maintenance your floors will need, but can also drastically change the look of them. From the traditional to the uber modern, here are five excellent choices to consider.

Hardwood Finish #1: Wax

Wax is essentially the granddaddy of all hardwood finishes as it is the coating that has been used the longest. While it is not as durable as modern poly finishes, it gives your floors a muted, organic feel as opposed to the high-gloss of most modern finishes. Since wax can be reapplied in small areas, it is the most low-maintenance type of finish over the short haul. But, it is more high-maintenance in the long run as it will need to be refinished more often.
Note: If you decide to switch from a wax finish to a polyurethane finish, the wax will need to be entirely removed before the poly finish can be applied.

Hardwood Finish #2: Polyurethane

There are two types of polyurethane to choose from: water based and oil based. Water based poly is more expensive but dries much more quickly and is easy to apply. Water based poly is also low odor and low VOC, while oil based poly has a strong smell and high VOC but also is far more durable. Water-based poly also has an excellent reputation for being far more eco-friendly than oil based and also dries clear, where oil-based poly dries with a slight amber tint. If you want a high-gloss, durable, long-lasting finish, then either oil or water-based poly is probably your best option.

Hardwood Finish #3: Acid-Cured (Swedish)

Often considered the Lamborghini of floor finishes, acid cured finishes are a professional-only floor polish. While they are supposed to be one of the hardiest floor finishes, they are also the most expensive, running between $3.75 to $5 per square foot. While they tend to dry quickly (in around 2 hours), they can take up to 60 days to fully cure. After about three days it is safe to walk on but can take up to two weeks to cure enough to lay furniture on and up to 60 days to put rugs back down so carpet fibers don’t become stuck in the finish.

Hardwood Finish #4: Moisture-Cured Urethane

Moisture-cured urethane is considered one of the hardest finishes available, but also has one of the highest VOC’s. Because it dries so fast, it’s difficult to apply, so it’s not recommended for DIY’ers. Also, because of the high VOC’s – which means fumes can last for weeks – respirators and proper ventilation are must-haves during application; you will also need to plan on vacating your home for at least two weeks following application.

Hardwood Finish #5: Penetrating Oil Sealer

Oil sealers are another more traditional finish, like wax. Oil is easy to apply but is not as durable as a poly finish. It also has a mellower sheen than poly finishes, so it’s a good alternative for those that like the look of wax, but not the labor of applying it. Since the oil penetrates the wood, it can also deepen the color, giving your floor a rich, beautiful finish.
Categories
Hardwood Flooring Hardwood Maintenance

What Kind of Vacuum Do You Need if You Have Hardwood Flooring and Carpet?

With many people opting for gorgeous hardwood flooring and carpet in their homes and businesses these days, the need for a vacuum to use on hardwood floors that also has increased power for carpet cleaning. Some people have chosen to install carpeting in some rooms while their main floors are hardwood which makes it necessary for a great vacuum cleaner that can handle both.

Hardwood floors require a vacuum that is gentle while carpeting needs a stricter approach. A vacuum cleaner that is great for both hardwood floors and carpeting present a bit of a challenge when it comes to engineering and construction but finding the perfect unit is essential for keeping your floors in tip-top shape.

How Well to Upright Vacuum Cleaners Work on Carpets and Hardwood?

When it comes to upright vacuum cleaners for hardwood and carpeted floors, the main feature to look for is a vacuum that can quickly switch for utilizing the spinning brush that you need for carpeting. A foot pedal is fantastic because it is quick and straightforward to use but a button to push is also convenient.

Upright vacuums that sport a nozzle height adjustment feature are imperative to keeping hardwood and carpeted flooring in excellent condition. The best one is an automatic adjustment feature, but a manual one will do fine too.

Stretchy, detachable hoses to clean hard surfaces, as well as stairs, drapes, and upholstery, are also crucial for a smooth and efficient cleaning experience when using your upright vacuum cleaner.

Most people opt only for an upright for the following reasons:

  • Easy to use
  • No programming required
  • Complete control over cleaning process
  • Fits easily in small spaces

Are Canister Vacuums a Good Choice for Hardwood Flooring and Carpet?

For many years, canister vacuums have been used mainly for hard floor surfaces such as hardwood, laminate flooring, and tiled floors but with the addition of features such as a brush roll, there are many canister vacuums on the market that are also great for vacuuming your carpet.

A canister vacuum that is lightweight will be easier to use than an upright and offer more maneuverability. This is even more important when you are vacuuming stairs and furniture.

What About Robotic Vacuums? Are They Your Best Choice?

In the age of technology, the advent of robotic vacuum cleaners has made floor cleaning more fun and convenient than ever before.

While most robotic vacuums work better for hardwood, tile, and laminate flooring, there are several on the market that can handle carpeting too.

The best robotic vacuums feature a rubber carpet agitator that can pull the dirt and pet hair from the carpet fibers while navigating from room to room without getting stuck. An excellent system for detecting dirt is also vital in keeping both hardwoods and carpeted floors looking clean, fresh, and pretty in your home.

See Also: “4 of the Best Robotic Vacuum Cleaners for Hardwood Floors“

Final Thoughts

From uprights to canisters to the most-advanced robotic vacuums on the market, there are plenty of incredible options to choose from to leave both your hardwood flooring and carpet looking and feeling spectacular. I prefer a robotic vacuum for daily maintenance and a canister vacuum cleaner for deep cleaning. Which choice do you prefer?

For more ideas, read more tips for cleaning your hardwood floors.

Categories
Hardwood Flooring Under-Floor Heating

Can You Store Hardwood Flooring in a Garage?

Storing hardwood floor material in the garage makes sense in terms of storage space. It’s perfect to remove unused items from the house without throwing them away. If homeowners viewed hardwood floor material storing from the material’s perspective, the garage may make sense depending on environmental conditions.

Environment

Temperature affects the appearance of hardwood flooring. Specifically, moisture shrinks and expands its normal form. Heat, cold air, and dry air equally affect the look and condition of the wood. And, any changes to stored wood will affect flooring installation. For example, if hardwood floor material stays in a chilly garage and is placed in a room-temperature area, the wood will over-expand, adjusting to the temperature change. On the contrary, wood shrinks and cups if hardwood material stored in a warm climate and installed in a colder climate, creating gaps during the drastic temperature change.

The worst case scenario is unusable hardwood floor caused by warping. So, you want to make sure your materials are stored in the proper environment prior to flooring installation. Ventilation is crucial in the garage for storing hardwood floors. It must stabilize at the correct temperature. A safe temperature for hardwood is between 60 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Hardwoods should preserve a 6-9% humidity level while the garage should keep humidity between 30-50%.

Learn more about Humidity for Hardwood Floors.

Garage Foundation

The grade level on the garage explains the garage’s foundation. The garage is below ground level, on ground level, or above ground level. Homes with garages below ground level are similar to walkout basement houses and drive under houses. Garages built on the ground level connect to or is beside a first story house. Garages above ground level mean the garage sits on top of a platform. For hardwood floor storage, avoid below ground level garages. Moisture naturally inhabits it due to the dirt behind the walls. Hardwoods stored there become impractical due to warping.

Storage Method

Hardwood flooring leaned against a wall warps and curves it over time. Continued careless storing methods can cause cracks, splits, and unwanted stains on the wood. Therefore, rely on environmentally-controlled storage solutions for hardwood flooring to keep it in good condition. Store hardwoods flat on the floor away from walls. Elevate wood off the concrete ground by stacking it on top of a level and stable object. Monitor the wood’s condition regularly. Relocate the wood to another area if the garage’s conditions change the wood’s exterior. Dry wet hardwoods after relocation and dry it again before installation.

In closing, the garage is a great place to store hardwood floors if it passes every test on this list. When it’s time to use the flooring, allow the flooring to adjust to the room’s temperature for a few days before contacting a professional to install the flooring. If the garage isn’t the place to store hardwoods, don’t worry. Our company has plenty of space available in our self-storage facility. Rent a storage facility for hardwoods, belongings, remodeling projects, and more. For more information on storing hardwood floors or storing belongings properly, contact us.

Categories
Hardwood Flooring Species

Discovering the Beauty of Oak Wood Floors

Oak FlooringAre you thinking of replacing the carpet in your home with hardwood floors? Consider the natural beauty and warmth of oak wood as your new flooring choice. In a recent survey of designers across the country, Oak came out on top as the favorite of 43% of them.  At MacDonald Hardwoods, you will find wide variety and selection of oak floors that will make a lovely impression when you enter a room. Let our Denver flooring company explain to you why oak is the best choice to use when deciding which hardwood flooring to use in areas of your home.

Wood flooring is a commonly selected as an upgrade from carpet that visually expands the size of a space and adds an increased value to your property should you need to sell your home in the future. Oak flooring, with its fine grain finish, has a timeless quality that is complimentary to any style or theme already present in your home. Its durability and clean lines also make it an ideal choice for any size home.

There are many benefits of oak floors, including that they:

  • Are eco-friendly
  • Are a thermal insulator
  • Reduce heating costs
  • Are easy to maintain and clean
  • Have a long lifespan
  • Are durable and easy to restore

Oak is an eco-friendly sustainable wood with a carbon footprint that is considerably less that other types of flooring options. This factor is important when selecting what type of hardwood to install in your home. An eco-friendly option will ultimately save on excess carbon emissions in the environment, resulting in a reduction of your monthly heating costs.

Highly resistant to moisture and easy to stain, oak is a popular choice for a durable solid wood surface with a long lifespan. A preferred choice for musicians, this flooring will add depth to the acoustics of a room, is very comfortable under foot, and adds a lovely aroma to a space.

Oak flooring is a wonderful option to use in any or all the rooms in your home. MacDonald Flooring is a leader of hardwood, tile, and vinyl flooring. Contact us today at 800-639-3006 to discuss the wide variety of selections and styles for your home’s flooring update!

Categories
Hardwood Flooring Home Decor

This is How to Match Hardwood to Bamboo Flooring

Many older homes have existing hardwood floors. These types of floors can sometimes be difficult to match to the more modern variety. Bamboo flooring is becoming popular due to its many natural attributes. Here are some tips on matching hardwood to bamboo.

Matching Hardwood to Bamboo Plank Width

For a more seamless transition, you need to take into consideration the width of the plank. Having drastically different plank sizes will make your floor appear mismatched. More massive planks are very popular because it can make the room seem bigger. Older homes tended to use smaller plank sizes due to the manufacturing limitations at the time. When it is possible, make sure to run the wood in the same direction; this can give your floor a more continuous look.

Leveling the Finished Heights

The second part of the equation is the finished height of the floor. The contrast will be undeniable if the two flooring types meet at different heights. There are a couple of ways that you can ensure this match. You can purchase flooring that is the same depth, or you can change the height of the subfloor to accommodate the differences in the height of the flooring. Make sure to use the correct subfloor material to have a stable base for your floors.

Using Flooring With Similar Wood Grains

Since bamboo is an engineered wood product, it can be difficult to match the wood grain precisely to other types of hardwood. Bamboo is characterized by having even horizontal lines across the surface. Each plank is very uniform due to the process; this differs from standard hardwood floors. A higher quality hardwood will have grains that are more even to get a closer match to bamboo. You can also select an engineered hardwood to achieve a closer match for your bamboo flooring.

Coordinating Complementary Tones and Hues

The coloring of the wood can make the transition appear more natural. You have two options when it comes to matching the tones of hardwood and bamboo. You can refinish your floors and stain them to match, or you can purchase products that already have similar tones. On often overlooked caution to take when buying darker-colored bamboo flooring is that the grading is different, and the planks will not appear as homogenous as a lighter color. This can be a good thing if you are trying to match it with your hardwood flooring.

What to do With Transition Pieces

When all else fails, you can use transition pieces in between your different types of flooring materials. These transitions are sometimes referred to as T-molding. There are ones that are flush as well as ones that can accommodate different flooring heights. In many older homes, this transition is achieved by changing the orientation of the wood flooring. This way it became more of a decorative feature than an apparent transition. This technique can change the style of your home.

Final Thoughts

There are many details to consider when matching hardwood to bamboo flooring. Width, height, grain, species, color, and transitioning materials are the most crucial of your flooring aspects to follow. Good luck with your project. If you need the help of a flooring expert, call Macdonald Hardwood Flooring today.

Categories
Hardwood Flooring Hardwood Maintenance

Is Hardwood Flooring Expensive?

What makes hardwoods expensive? What’s the perceived value vs. real value? The answer to the title question is relative to the reader, but indeed hardwood flooring is more expensive than other flooring alternatives. But what it comes down to for the consumer is whether they are willing to pay a premium for the vibrant, beautiful tones of hardwood to grace their floors or settle for a cheaper alternative.

When looking at real hardwood flooring for your home, you have to decide on one of two options for your flooring: solid wood or engineered wood?

Solid wood floors are as advertised: one solid piece of wood through the whole plank.

Engineered wood consists of a top layer of real wood with cheaper plywood layering the bottom portion of the plank.

There are many benefits to a homeowner in opting for hardwood floors in their home. The first advantage is the beauty that hardwood brings to a home. The tones of the grain of wood selected for your flooring can match furniture and cabinetry. Wood floors are simple to maintain and clean, and you can refinish it multiple time rather than replace it as carpet requires frequently.

But, before opting for hardwood, consumers need to consider the downside of the product before they decide if it is the right flooring for them. Hardwood is very sensitive to humidity and moisture in the home and the slightest bit of water, if left untreated, can cause damage to the wood. Because of this reason, areas where water tends to get on the floor, like bathrooms, are not recommended for hardwood. Hardwood can also be quite noisy if on an upper level of a home when walked on.

When the decision is made to go with hardwood floors in a home, many factors will come into play in determining what the final cost will be for the project. The first significant impact on the final price is the type of wood used.

Popular Hardwood Flooring Options

• Hickory

• White Ash

• Maple

• Brazilian Cherry

• Red Oak

• Cork

The looks all vary significantly between the types of wood as do the costs. Consumers need to shop around for the look and price that matches their needs.

The Cost of Hardwood Flooring Installation

Another factor in the final cost of the flooring is the installation of the flooring. For people looking to save costs, the installation can be done by yourself with some help, but it requires fundamental carpentry skills and tools.

Tools needed include:

• Tape measure
• Staple Gun
• Variable speed drill and bits
• Hammer
• Table Saw
• Chop Saw
• Chalk line
• Safety goggles

If you’re looking to save the work and have the installation done professionally, you can expect to spend a little more. Carpenters and contractors are a large part of what make hardwoods expensive. Some retailers that sell the flooring may offer deals on installation, so shopping around is essential.

Some factors that can influence final cost are the distance to your home, the amount of work around electrical, plumbing or HVAC systems and any applicable permit fees for the flooring. If you want to know how to choose the best hardwood flooring, consult the experts today.

Categories
Hardwood Flooring Hardwood Maintenance

Danish Oil on Maple Flooring: Keeping Your Hardwood Beautiful

Once you’ve invested in high-quality, maple hardwood flooring to make your home more elegant and comfortable, you may want to consider applying Danish oil to protect your hardwood flooring from moisture (which can cause unsightly discoloration, rot, and deterioration). Using Danish oil on maple flooring is one way to be proactive about protecting the shine and beauty you so admired when your new hardwood floors were first installed.

What is Danish Oil?

Danish oil is an excellent product for finishing wood, comprised of tung oil or polymerized linseed oil. Because Danish oil dries hard to the touch, it provides a satin finish that is water resistant. Often it is used as a primer coat applied to bare wood before paint or varnish. Danish oil on maple flooring gives a lustrous sheen to hardwood without being glossy or slippery.

How to Apply Danish Oil to Your Floors

Applying Danish Oil on maple flooring is a relatively simple operation. It is similar to using a coat of varnish. Vacuum the floor first, then wipe it with a dry mop to remove any additional dirt or dust particles. You should avoid cleaning it with water or other liquid as this will prevent the wood from adequately absorbing the oil and may even change the color of the wood.

Soak a dry cloth in the Danish Oil so that it is damp, but not dripping. Apply it first to a small corner section of the floor as a test to see the results. Then rub your oil-soaked cloth into the maple wood, using a steady back and forth motion that goes with the wood’s grain. Use caution not to rub the wood flooring against the grain as this may cause unwanted rough spots on your floor. Wait about five minutes for the danish oil to be thoroughly soaked into the wood before removing any excess with a clean, dry cloth.

Go across the room, applying the danish oil plank by plank. Lighter sections of maple flooring may need additional applications of oil to better blend in with natural dark sections. When finished with your initial application, wipe up any oil that the floor has not fully absorbed. If can be helpful to use a buffing machine to assure uniformity of oil across all of the flooring surface. Do not walk on the floor or use the room for at least 24 hours, allowing the oil to dry completely. If you want a darker surface to your maple flooring, apply an additional application of Danish Oil.

The Benefits of Danish Oil on Wood Flooring

You’ll need approximately 1 gallon of danish oil to cover 600 square feet of maple flooring. But by following the above tips, your reward will be a maple hardwood floor that has cured to a hard satin finish. Applying Danish Oil does a beautiful job of preventing liquid and other spills from ruining your delicate maple hardwood flooring.

Categories
Hardwood Flooring Hardwood Maintenance

The Right Way to Use TSP on Wood Floors

Your hardwood floors aren’t going to clean themselves, and if you have troublesome stains, it can be challenging and annoying to try to clean your wood flooring. Nevertheless, there is a way to take the stains out without too much elbow grease: TSP.
TSP (trisodium phosphate), is a robust cleaning option that not only helps the stain stick to hardwood better, but it also removes grease, stubborn junk, and mildew from both painted and unpainted wood. When it comes to your wood flooring, you want the best clean. Here’s how to properly clean your wood floors with TSP.

Step 1: Gather Your Supplies

The first step to cleaning with TSP is just that: finding the right gear. You should wear rubber gloves and goggles to protect your hands and your eyes. Cover nearby flooring as well as tile or laminate since TSP can react adversely to other floor types. Remove all furniture from the room and use plastic sheeting to cover anything that cannot be removed from the room like fireplaces. Also, wear old clothing that you do not mind getting dirty.

Remember that TSP is a toxic and powerful cleaning agent. When you are using it to clean, you need to take precautions to keep pets and kids away from the flooring until it is fully dried, and you need to wear the correct gear to protect yourself while cleaning. You also want to gather the right materials.

To use TSP on wood floors, you want first to collect the following supplies:

  • Two buckets large enough for a gallon of water
  • Two soft sponges
  • Goggles
  • Rubber gloves
  • A wooden stirring stick (paint stirrers work)
  • TSP powder
  • Towel or terry mop

Step 2: Prepare Your TSP Mixture

Next, you’re going to prepare your mixture for cleaning. Grab two buckets about the same size. Fill the first bucket with a gallon of warm water while stirring in a ¼ cup of TSP powder. You will want to use a wooden stirring stick to mix this use to prevent plastic or metal from breaking down. In the second bucket, you are going to fill it with warm water about the same temperature as the mixture. For cleaning purposes, you are going to want to use a soft sponge to get the job done.

Step 3: Clean Your First Section of the Wood Floor

Grab your sponge and dip it in the solution of TSP. Very carefully you are going to wipe only a two-by-two-foot portion of the wood with the saturated sponge to help detach the mildew and other grime. You will want to clean in small sections just to make it easier on you.

Step 4: Rinse the Section of Wood You Just Cleaned

Take a second small sponge and drench it in the bucket of warm water only. Squeeze out the excess water in the bucket, and slowly wipe it over the area you just cleaned with the TSP solution. You want to ensure that you are thoroughly rinsing the wood.

Step 5: Repeat the Process Until You’re Finished!

Continue cleaning the entire floor surface as described above, one space at a time. Since TSP can be difficult to work with, take your time and avoid spills or mishaps. When  finished cleaning your floor, you need to dry the wood entirely with your terry towel or mop. Some people even choose to dry as they apply the TSP on their floors, just to keep too much water from soaking into the wood.

If you’re looking for the best product on the market for wood flooring, try MacDonald Hardwoods Easy Hardwood Floor Cleaner today.

Categories
Eco-Friendly Flooring Hardwood Flooring

Eco-Friendly Flooring for Your Home or Office Space

Healthy, beautiful, and sustainable hardwood floors are perfect for the environmentally conscious consumer. A variety of flooring materials are manufactured in conditions and factories that do not meet air quality or emissions standards. MacDonald Hardwoods chooses wood and other flooring materials from sources that go beyond best practices for many of our products. The environmentally conscious consumer can trust MacDonald Hardwoods to uphold “green” values.

According to Escape Waste, green renewable flooring options are popular for home flooring installation with laminate and vinyl woods, and laminate tiles.

  • Laminate Wood – Laminate flooring yields stunningly realistic visuals and textures just like real wood. As a synthetic material, any wood can be replicated at a fraction of the cost and more economically than real hardwood.
  • Vinyl Flooring  – Vinyl flooring affords consumers the ability to resist scratches and other types of minor damage giving areas of high traffic a clean look in kitchens and bathrooms.
  • Laminate Tile – Laminate tile is more popularly known as Formica, a brand of laminate and plastic covering used on countertops and flooring.

MacDonald Hardwoods stocks and installs products from manufacturing facilities that adhere to environmentally friendly practices sustainable over the long run. Factories must be proven to comply with emissions standards from OSHA, European E1, and the California Air Resources Board. Wood floors are stained with finishes from ultra low VOC (volatile organic compounds) making them both scratch-resistant and eco-friendly.

MacDonald Hardwoods provides flooring installation in Denver with health and safety in mind. Our employees and your family will benefit from professional flooring installation and technicians who use safe and healthy methods in addition to our eco-friendly flooring products. Call MacDonald Hardwoods today to learn more about new flooring installation and more of our “green” values at 800-639-3006.

Schedule an
Appointment

929 West 1st Avenue | Denver, CO 80223
800.639.3006

    We ensure you get the right products at the right price. Complete the form and one of our hardwood flooring experts will contact you. Or call us at 800 639 3006 or 303 825 3006.