HARDWOOD FLOORS WILL DENT

The term “hardwood” is relative to “softwood” in terms of hardness. Hardwood floors will dent from impact with “high heel” shoes, furniture sliding across the floor and even your pet’s nails. No finish that is applied to the hardwood will prevent the dents, however the finish should contour to the dent to protect the hardwood from moisture penetrating the bare wood. Scratching the finish with any abrasive or sharp object is not considered normal use or wear.

HARDWOOD IS NOT A MONOCHROMATIC PRODUCT

Hardwood is a natural product, and will vary in appearance from one board to the next. It will have grain and color variations consistent with the grade and texture of the selected species.

HARDWOOD MAY “GAP”

Although the hardwood floor “strips” start tight together, they will continue to absorb and release moisture. This ‘hydroscopic’ process causes the hardwood to expand and contract from season to season with the changes of the humidity in the environment. As a result, some gaps may appear between some of the individual boards in the floor. It is critical to the performance of the hardwood floor that the house temperature remains between 60 – 75 degrees Fahrenheit and the interior house humidity be within the range of 35 – 55% moisture content.

SPECIES CHARACTERISTICS

Each species of hardwood reacts differently to ultraviolet rays from the sun, which may cause the wood to darken.

MAINTENANCE OF THE FLOOR

Each hardwood floor needs to be maintained on a regular basis to avoid excessive deterioration and damage to the finishes and the hardwood itself. Regular sweeping, vacuuming or mopping with a dry mop are recommended to assure that sand, grit and other debris do not damage the surface of the flooring. Damp mopping with a manufacturer approved cleaner is recommended to maintain the hardwood floor’s original appearance and luster. Place a walk-off mat or area rug at all entries or high use areas to protect the floor’s finish from excessive wear.

NO SWIFFERS

Swiffers put a film on the manufacturer’s coating.