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Our Frequently Asked Questions page will continue to be updated. If you have a question not addressed, please drop us an e-mail with your question and we'll get back to you!

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What are the advantages of hardwood flooring?
Wood floors are not only an attractive addition to any home, they also increase the value of the home. The facts are in... real-estate agents acros the country have concluded that homes with wood floors are more likely to sell quicker with bigger returns over ones without. Wood floors maintain their value.

Do you suffer from allergies? Millions of people do, and proven tests have shown that wood floors provide a healthier and cleaner environment. Plain and simple, harboring dust and microorganisms don't stand a chance living on a hardwood floor. That makes wood floors hypoallergenic.

Wood floors can last forever. How long? A proper maintained wood floor has been known to last more than 3 centuries. That's over 300 years!!

More choices! More grades! How about some Tiger wood, Bamboo, Brazilian Teak? Maybe some Character grade Hickory suits you. Of course, Oak and Maple are always popular.

Product construction advances. Below grade wood floor installations are now being done. Engineered products offer new ways to get that solid wood floor look and feel in the lower levels of your home. Homes located in close proximity to lakes or are subjected to higher levels of humidity will also benefit from this type of product. See 'What is an engineered wood floor?'.

Wood floor finish advancement. New types of finishes make your floors more durable and hold up longer to everyday wear and tear. Dedicated Wood floor finish companies push chemists to create or improve existing wood floor finishes, making them stronger, last longer, and most importantly, safer for the environment.

Stains... there are many different stain colors to choose from. It is amazing how a wood floor can make a room look completely different just by changing the color a shade or two.

Wood is one of our natural resources. It is renewable, reusable, and biodegradable.

How long will my wood floors last? What kind of things can I do to help prolong its life?
Your wood floors will last many generations with some good cleaning & care habits. Wood floors are simple to take care of. Listed below is some basic information and tips that I have concluded to while installing and finishing wood floors for the last 14 years.

1. Oil based polyurethane and standard waterborne acrylic coated wood floors will last approximately 3-5 years before needing a recoat. Many variables contribute to this 3-5 years span. Traffic type and amount as well as basic cleaning maintenance are two of them (based on a 3 coat initial application.) I recently went back to add more wood flooring to a past customers home and found that the wood floors I installed and finished 3 years prior still looked like the day after completion. This polyurethane covered wood floor was properly taken care of and because of that, it will not need a recoat anytime soon. What is a recoat? A recoat is a simple process that involves a thorough cleaning and scuffing to the wood floors' last applied layer of finish. Once that is done, a new fresh coat of finish is applied. This simple process cosmetically rejuvenates a wood floor and further adds more life for its protective finish layers. Some of the latest newer finishes offer a substantial increase in time before a recoat is ncessary. Those types of finishes can extend recoat times for another 2-5 years. Benjamin Wood Floors can help you choose a finish that will both help extend those recoat times and hold up better to your particular everyday home or office traffic.

2. Water and wood do not mix. Although a certain amount of moisture is ok for a wood floor, excessive amounts of moisture will have consequences. Large liquid spills should not be left on a wood floor for extended periods of time. Place walk-off mats in areas where excessive water, dirt and grime could potentially be tracked in. Places like exit and entrance doors are prime examples for a walk-off mat. In kitchen areas, below the sink, is also a good idea. The use of felt protectors on furniture legs makes for an excellent wear deterrent. Dining room chairs are perfect candidates. They are always on the move. Bo doing this you will extend the life of any wood floor.

3. Know the signs. When areas of your floor turn hazy or become lack luster, it may be time for a recoat. To avoid damage to the wood itself, the layers of finish must be kept up.

4. Use a humidifier in the dryer months of the year. Homes with large amounts of wood flooring will benefit from the addition of a humidifier. Wood expands and contracts, that's a fact. To keep this better controlled, the use of a humidifier in the dryer months of the year can help or eliminate the usual seasonal squeaks and gaps caused by low humidity levels. Mid-winter in Michigan is usually when homes are driest.

5. Appliance removal and installation. An inexpensive piece of 1/8" hardboard works great to protect the floor when moving an appliance. Rolling a heavy refrigerator out for service onto your hardwood floor may cause damage. The wheels on the refrigerator are usually the culprits. The potential damage factor is eliminated with the use of the hardboard. It can be found today at most home improvement stores.

When is it safe to put area rugs on my wood floors?
Area rugs on a wood floor can provide an attractive break-up in large open spaces. It is recommended that area rugs not be put down until after full finish cure time has occurred. Oil modified polyurethane typically takes 14 days to fully cure. Waterborne type finished typically cure in 7 days. Pre-finished wood floors are ready right out of the box.

What is an engineered wood floor?
Multiple layers of material laminated together form this type of woof flooring product. Much the same way a piece of plywood is consturcted. These multiple layers are usually passed at 90 degrees of one another and glued togehter. A thin layer usually 1/32" to 1/4" of choice specie hardwood material is laminated as a finished top. It is usually end matched and offered as a tongue and groove lock together product. It can be installed as a nail down, floating, or glue down application. This type of constructed product is a great alternative for applications over concrete, below grade, or in areas that will be subjected to higher humidity levels. Its' "plywood" constructed layers make it very stable and less likely to expand and contract like a solid hardwood product.

How do I clean my wood floors?
Vacuum, sweep or dry mop your wood floors regularly as you would with any other floor overing. A nice soft bristled vacuum sweeper works great to get all grit and heavy debris first. Use a wood floor recommended chemical cleaning agent. It is best to use a cleaning agent that will not leave a residue build-up over time. Products that leave a lasting residue could create an adhesion problem when it comes time to recoat your wood floor. There are a couple companies that make a nice cleaning agent specifically for hardwood floors. My favorite is Bona brand hardwood floor cleanery. It is a non-toxic formula that cleans very well without the worry of potential residue build-up.