WoodFlooringGuy.com

Q: We recently had maple engineered wood installed in our home. Can you recommend a treadmill mat? The manufacturer will not give me a straight answer. I am worried about moisture/mold problems, and do not understand what type of rubber to use. A: Is this a mat to put under the tread mill? Why not [...]

Q: I am looking into getting a new puppy. Our apartment has natural wood floors from the 1800′s (the house was built in 1860). Someone in my office mentioned a silicone cover that could be painted onto the hardwood while we potty-train the pup, and then peeled off later. Does this actually exist and, if [...]

Q: What is the best product to put under our furniture legs, tables, cabinets, end tables, sofas, etc.? A: Felt pads are the best to use, changed twice a year or as needed. Who makes the best ones I don’t have an opinion on.

Is it a good idea to install hardwood flooring in my kitchen? If so, how do you stop the weight of a refrigerator from denting the floor?

I am renting a house with hardwood stairs. I have 2 large dogs and they are scratching them up. Is there anything I can put over the stairs without adhesive or anything else? I need something that is not permanent. Floor runners? I do not want to nail anything since I am renting.

My hardwood floors were refinished 4 years ago. In the past year the floor is darkening, and there is separating of boards. There are smaller, darker circular areas. Mostly in the living room, which was carpeted for many years, but also in bedroom which was refinished many years ago. Some of boards are separating in the living room, and I can feel a slight bowing. My basement is dirt – house built in late forties. Few of boards appear to be eaten. Termite inspection last year revealed no termites, but moisture.

I want to put down hardwood floors in the living room and dining room, but we have a 100 lb. Golden Retriever. What type of wood flooring would be our best bet against scratches on the floor? He gets excited and prances around about 5 min. when someone comes over…

I plan on having 3/4″ wood (oak?) floors refinished, probably with 3 coats of water based poly. Some of these rooms will be used as video editing suites and will house tall equipment racks on casters with a moderately heavy load. The nominal dimensions of the racks are 21″ x 30″ x 7′ tall, each weighing between 150-250 lbs.

Can I use rubber back rugs on a hardwood floor?

I would like to put an area rug over my hardwood floor. If I do this over the years, if I remove it, will the floor be a different color where it wasn’t covered by the rug? I don’t want it to age to a different color.

We built a new home last year and installed S******* engineered wood floors throughout most of the downstairs. Even though we keep our dog’s claws clipped, we still have lots of scratches. The finish is aluminum oxide. I’ve tried the standard scratch repair kits (filler, crayon type fillers, etc.) and it does nothing. I’m trying to contact the manufacturer but do you have any ideas? Can the floors be sanded and refinished?

I was considering putting wood flooring in my home, my question is: What type of wood flooring is best for dogs to walk on and not damage? I have a Bulldog to two German Shepards who all seem to nail-walk on the tile floors.

I just obtained some pre-finished samples to help me choose the species, color and finish of my new floor. I have a dog. I tried to see how resilient the flooring would be by scratching the samples with my thumbnail. None of the samples seem very resilient, but what really seems to scratch is the finish, not the wood, and this uses the aluminum oxide.

My hickory 4-inch-board floors were installed in December 2005 in a brand new home. The boards are not laying completely flat. They have like a wavy appearance and you can feel the waves with your hands. I noticed this probably a month or so after installation. I have been waiting, thinking they might flatten out in time. Also, I hear loud “cracking sounds” coming from the flooring from time to time. Could you tell me what caused this and if there is anything that can be done about it?

Will my cats nails scratch prefinished hardwood flooring? What about moist hair ball regurgitation? Would they harm the floor?

I will be installing hardwood flooring next month. The flooring is going to be laid in my living and dining rooms. These rooms are located above my unfinished basement. Is moisture a concern? Should I use a vapour barrier underneath the new floor? According to your recommendations on your site you also suggest that 3/8 sheathing be installed on top of OSB / ply. If my OSB is installed on the length… Should the sheathing be installed the same way or on the width?

When can I put an area rug down on a newly installed hardwood floor?

…We’d like to have our floors professionally stained and finished in a dark [ebony] stain. However, we have a golden retriever and a collie/spaniel cross. Is there a recommended finish that can protect them? Do you think this is a good idea? I don’t seem to see any damage to the current oak from the dogs nails but am concerned if we go darker. We are in the Ottawa area if you can also recommend a local contractor?

How long must I wait before moving furniture back into a room after wood flooring has been installed on a cement foundation?

We are installing wood flooring in our downstairs and we have a clumsy golden retriever. I have heard to go with natural (no stain) and a thicker than normal polyurethane. My wife, of course, wants darker-stained hardwood floors. To keep the floors looking their best with as little scratching and dents as possible, and without being overly obsessive, what would you recommend we go with? What should we ask the contractor for?