WoodFlooringGuy.com

What would you recommend for cleaning a wooden floor, when the varnish has worn off?

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…

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 are building a house and put down pre-finished hardwood floors. The builder set a table saw on cardboard on our floors and has been cutting the trim and woodwork. There is sawdust everywhere on my floors and in the cracks. Will the saw dust harm my wood floors? What is the easiest way to remove it?

Pictures of termite damage from the bottom up:

Larger Picture

Pictures of termite damage on the surface*:

Larger Picture
*It is possible to have termite damage, yet not see holes forming on the surface. See the articles we link to below for other signs of termite infestation.
The “leftovers” (wood residue, dirt, and excrement), which covered the entire subfloor:

Yes, […]

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.

We have a log home, with log walls on the inside. We currently have carpeting, but want to change to either laminate or hardwood floors. We have 2 puppies and occasionally they have an accident. What would you suggest, and should we try to match the color of the flooring to the walls or have a contrast?

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?

I just purchased a condo with hardwood floors that were installed about 3 years ago. It is summer in Chicago and it is hot and humid. The central air has not been on in the condo so far this summer so I am assuming that the floor has expanded about as much as it is going to. I see cracks in between some of the planks and in some corners the quarter round moulding does not cover small holes in the floor. The cracks between the planks do not bother me aesthetically. I am wondering if it is OK to damp mop the floor the way it is? Or is too much moisture going to get underneath the planks because of the cracks and holes?

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?

What can be used on hardwood to protect it from items such as a computer desk chair with wheels?