Engineered Hardwood Flooring Dos and Don'ts

-- End Ad Box --->• Consult any information about your radiant
With engineered floors, you are free to consider theheating system in order to learn the best practice
possibilities of using hardwood in areas that wouldwhen using it under an engineered hardwood floor
mean disaster for a solid hardwood floor. Engineered• Inspect your batch of engineered hardwood
hardwood floors allow you all of the beauty andflooring for any defects before you begin an
organic feel, as well as a greater range of options asinstallation
far as the location of your installation. With the dual• Make sure that your subfloor is clean, dry and
features of an attractive top layer that is a reallevel before you install your engineered flooring
hardwood species, and a core which is designed to• Clean your engineered hardwood floors
shift and move with climatic changes, engineeredfrequently, seeing to spills immediately using DRY or
hardwood flooring is perfect for a basementDAMP mops, vacuums, and cloths
installation, or an installation in a summer home or• Use rugs and runners to protect high traffic
cottage that is not environmentally controlled all yearareas and access points to the outdoors. This will
round. Along with these functional benefits,minimize the amount of dirt and grit that can
engineered hardwood floors are often less expensivenegatively effect the finish of your engineered
than their solid hardwood counterparts, making themhardwood flooring
worth serious consideration on a budgetary level.Don’t:
With all of its features that allow these advantages,• Use wax-based cleaners, harsh detergents,
engineered hardwood truly stands as being in a classabrasives, or steel wool to clean engineered
by itself.hardwood flooring
Here is a list of things to consider when purchasing,• Apply finish to an engineered hardwood floor
installing and maintaining your engineered hardwoodthat has already been finished at the factory
floor:• Overwet engineered hardwood when cleaning
Do:— excessive moisture can still have a negative
• Consider the area where you will be installingeffect on your flooring, just as it would with solid
your engineered hardwood floor in terms of moisturehardwood
levels and foot traffic — use this to help you• Wear spike-heels or athletic spikes on your
to choose the species of flooring that is right forengineered hardwood floors
what you have in mindThis is of course by no means a comprehensive list.
• Allow for a certain level of wastage per squareWhen making a purchase or caring for an existing
foot when placing an order, depending on your levelfloor, it can be a great benefit to consult with the
of expertise. You are the best judge of how muchexperts. Local flooring contractors and sales experts
this will be, but a good range in general is 7-10% forin the industry are two great sources of information
non-professional installerswhen you are seeking to make an informed purchase
• Read all installation instructions and warrantyor when organizing a cleaning regimen.
information very carefully