Hardwood Floors & Installation

YES, IT MATTERS WHO INSTALLS YOUR HARDWOOD FLOORS

Learn about hardwood floors and installation with Aladdin Carpet & Floors, a trusted Maryland remodeling company. Browse through questions on solid wood, engineered wood, wood species. Aladdin Carpet offers free in home estimates, so get started on your new hardwood floors today!

Which wood species is for me?

Wood species selection depends on a multitude of factors, including, but not limited to, overall lifestyle, area traffic, and design expectations. For example, Oak, Ash, and Hickory have significant grain patterns in their finish, hiding scratches and dirt. It is also important to consider the Janka Scale rating of each wood species. This determines the strength of the wood plank and will be necessary, especially for heavy traffic areas.

Red Oak

Maple

Hickory

Birch

What’s the difference between Solid and Engineered wood?

Comparisons between solid and engineered are on the minds of homeowners every day. Solid hardwood is a solid plank(3" or wider) or solid strip (less than 3" wide) of wood. On the other hand, engineered wood is composed of different layers of wood glued together. Engineered wood is more stable and can be installed in many different areas of the home, including the basement. Solid wood can only be installed on or above floors over plywood subfloor. Solid wood is mainly installed by nail or staple method. Engineer hardwood installed by glue down, staple or floating methods. Acclimation in the installation area for solid hardwood is required by all the wood manufacturers, however; not all the manufactures require their engineer hardwood to be acclimated. Solid hardwood can be sand & refinished up to 4 times while only some engineered wood floors can be sand & refinished.

What brands of Hardwood do Aladdin Carpet carry?

Aladdin Carpet carries a variety of well known brands in both solid hardwood and engineered wood. These include PG Model, Shaw, Wickham, Anderson, Bruce Mannington, Armstrong, Somerset, Kahrs, Mohawk, and Lauzon.

Do the molding and trims have to be the exact same color as the wood?

Do not pressure yourself to match the moldings and trims because they are made to coordinate with the wood and not to match it. Generally it is made in a separate factory and due to the variations that are inherent with natural wood there may be some noticeable differences.

Why do I see gappings in my floors every couple of months?

This is called seasonal gapping. These gaps appear and disappear in your floor as the seasons change. This is more noticeable in homes with gas/propane heating. This is a normal condition and cannot be prevented.

I recently installed a new hardwood floor and I see minor cracks in the boards. How can I prevent that?

You may notice right after installation or several months later some wood boards show minor cracks (checking) in the finish mostly near the end of the boards. As the seasons change your wood floor may check. This is a common occurrence and not a defect.

Why has the color of my floor changed overtime?

Natural materials may experience color changes due to sunlight, lighting or from being covered with an area rug. To avoid shading in the floors, we recommend moving around furniture and area rugs from time to time.

I see minor bumps in my hardwood floors. How can I prevent that?

Installation of hardwood strips and planks should be perpendicular to the joists. Due to age and structural settlement of the house, there could be minor bumps in the floor and will be projected to the new floor and not due to the installation.

Why should I hire a professional to install my hardwood, rather than a DIY project?

If you’re ready to take on an extremely difficult DIY project, go for hardwood! Otherwise, leave hardwood to the professionals. Often, the majority of complaints regarding hardwood floors come from the installation process, not from the product itself. Various issues can arise with hardwood floors, whether it be the acclimation process, nail placement, subfloor or more. Only certified professionals with time, dedication and experience, like Aladdin Carpet & Floors, can truly bring out the beauty of newly installed hardwood.

Can I install hardwood over a crawlspace?

Yes, but installing hardwood floors over a crawl space needs more attention to detail. Make sure the crawl space has good air ventilation. Also, to keep the moisture from rising, cover the dirt with plastic (minimum 6mm thickness) and randomly place rocks throughout the area.

How do I take care of my hardwood floors?

Maintain your home temprature range between 60 to 80 degree Fahrenheit and relative humidity (RH) between 30% to 50%. Low and high relative humidity can cause many issues with hardwood floors such as crowning, cupping, gapping, cracking, roug or raised grain at the end of the boards, etc.
Apply felt pads under the legs of all furniture. Sliding any furniture on the hardwood will scratch or make impression marks on the surface.
High heels should be kept in good condition. A 110lb woman in high heels applies 1400lbs per square inch on pressure on the floor.
If there are pets, keep their nails trimmed and the ends smooth.
Sweep, vacuum or dust mop the floor regularly. Dirt left on the floor is like a sandpaper that can dull the finish.
Wipe spills immediately with a damp cloth. Excessive moisture left on the surface can harm the finish. Use mat or scatter rug/s near the sink and dishwasher. This reduces moisture exposure.
Clean marks or tough stains with Acetone. Fingernail polish remover will not harm the finish.
Always clean the floor with a known brand wood floor cleaner.

THINGS YOU SHOULD NEVER DO TO YOUR WOOD FLOOR:

Do not wet mop your wood floor. Water raise grain on the surface of the wood and eventually dulls the finish.
Do not pour cleaners or liquid directly on the floor. Always pour the cleaning liquid on a mop or cloth.
Do not use a household dust treatment (Endust, etc.). This may scratch the surface.
Do not use household cleaners or detergents on the wood floor.
Do not use an electric wood floor cleaner.
Do not use sprayer mop. It will damage the finish.
Do not use a scraper or sandpaper to remove dirt from the floor, it might scratch the surface of the wood floor.
Do not use chairs with rollers on a wood floor. It will damage the finish.
Do not use vaccum cleaner head with beater bar on a hardwood floor. It will damage hardwood flooring finish.