Category: Blog

How to Prepare for Hardwood Floor Installation

hardwood floor installation

Hardwood floors are beautiful and durable, lasting many years. It is always a worthwhile investment to have these installed in your home.

The benefits of getting professionals to install your hardwood flooring are clear. It is hard work to put them in yourself. Using equipment like a flooring nailer, if you aren’t experienced with it, can be dangerous and result in damaged flooring. A wood floor simply looks better when a professional does it. However, you may wonder if there are any jobs you can do before the floor installers arrive.

Some preparations will need to be done by the flooring company, but some simple tasks are easy to do and make for a smoother process. In particular, dust proofing your house will make a big difference in keeping dust from getting all over the house, so it is well worth investing some time into.

 

Remove Doors and Obstructions for the Hardwood Floors to Go In

The easiest job you can do to prepare for your new solid hardwood floor is to remove all furniture and other obstacles out of the area. Taking doors out, as well, makes the process easier.

Start opening up your home areas to give access to the floor space with no obstructions, so your new hardwood flooring can be installed evenly, right to the walls. Remove any baseboards, and trim to make room for the expansion gap for the new hardwood floor to expand into.

Removing Doors

Removing doors is fairly easy. You will leave the hinges in place, and just remove the doors from the hinges. Tap the hinge pins from the bottom end with a nail and hammer. Get someone to hold the door for you, and then remove the hinge pins. Together, slide the door off. Save the pins in a plastic bag so they don’t get lost.

Removing Baseboards

Use a pry bar close to any baseboard nails, to pry baseboards away without breaking them. You can dispose of them or carefully store them to reuse if you haven’t broken them. Be cautious of the little nails. This is another easy job.

Door Frame and Door Trim

Frames and trims are more difficult to remove, but can also be taken off with a pry bar. If you don’t do this step, during the hardwood floor installation, the installers usually cut the bottoms off of them to slide the hardwood floor under.

However, if you do this, during the hardwood flooring installation, the boards can be fitted in more tightly, and you can either trim and replace the old frames, or get new ones, and have a more perfect fit. You will have a more professional end result if you do take the time.

removing door frame

Prepare for Dust

Dust is a major problem when you install hardwood floors. Wood floors need sanding after being nailed down.

Floor installers will generally take some precautions when completing the wood floor installation, but doing this yourself will save them time and you can ensure that it is done really well. If you have anyone with asthma or a similar concern, this is even more critical.

Close all unnecessary doors and cover the doorways completely with plastic sheets. Tape them down securely with masking tape.

Put plastic all around the area that is being worked on. To keep dust out of your air ducts, so it doesn’t end up all over your house, seal plastic over heating ducts and vents with tape. It is essential after you have done this to turn off your HVAC.

Create a Separate Workspace

If possible, create or clear a separate workspace for the flooring installer, such as a garage. If the flooring installers can do jobs like cutting wood outside the house, it will help to cut down on dust and cleanup.

If the weather is good, a patio will work as well as a garage or better, if there is more space. The flooring installers will need a solid floor, GFCI outlet, and adequate lighting.

Prepare the Subfloor Ready for Installing Hardwood Flooring

Check with your flooring installers before starting this job, as they may want to do this themselves, as the quality of their work depends on the subfloor. Also, they may be able to lay the floor on top of an existing flooring, if it is in good condition and is a laminate flooring or another similar type. Also, if you think your old flooring may have asbestos, get a professional in.

If you have carpeting, it will definitely need to be pulled up and is something you can do on your own to prepare.

If you are removing the original flooring materials, be sure to completely pull up the carpeting or flooring, as well as any residue, and vacuum or sweep well.

If you discover your plywood subfloor had moisture damage and mould, you should contact a professional about removal.

Otherwise, you can do work on the subfloor to make it smooth and even for a better installation surface for the new wood flooring.

Contact Us for All Your Wood Flooring Needs

Supreme Flooring specializes in hardwood and laminate floors. We are experts in installing wood flooring, taking time, and paying attention to all the details for a perfect installation. We always provide superior quality, including trim work for a complete, professional look.

 

Pet-Friendly Flooring: Best Floors For Dogs

You love your pup, so you want to find the most appropriate flooring for pets, with their safety and comfort in mind. However, attractive flooring that’ll survive scratches, as well as the inevitable dirt when your dog tracks mud in on muddy paws, would be ideal, too!

Some floors are better for dogs generally, but your pet’s breed, temperament and age impact what the best flooring is for you. Consider the location, traffic, and your priorities and needs before deciding. Scratch and stain resistance are critical factors for most people, while easy cleaning and dog comfort are also desirable. Whatever you choose, the best flooring for dogs is a durable one.

Carpet

Generally, carpeting isn’t the most dog-friendly flooring, unless your dog is a well-trained, older dog, with joint pain or stiffness concerns, needing extra softness and traction.

Otherwise, there are several disadvantages to carpeting. They attract and trap pet hair, so you’ll need to vacuum frequently and shampoo regularly. More expensive types may resist pet stains, but dirt, pet hair, dander and odours are hard to remove. Unclipped pet nails snag on looped carpets, potentially damaging the carpeting or nails.

If you still decide on carpet, choose a darker colour to hide any carpet stain, or opt for replaceable carpet tiles.

Laminate Flooring

Laminate is attractive, with the look and appeal of a wood floor, and is one of the best flooring for dogs. Although these artificial wood floors are one of the most cost-effective options available, the real advantage for a pet owner is the protective layer. This layer makes it a hard-wearing, scratch-resistant flooring that’s easy to clean, and resistant to staining.

A laminate floor is warmer and more comfortable than some others for furry friends. With a pad and good underlayment, not only are these are softer, well-insulated, and warmer, they have good sound absorption. Textured options give pets the grip they need.

Ignored spills from water bowls may be absorbed or seep through cracks; however, cleaning up right away will prevent any issues. 

Supreme Flooring can install the perfect laminate flooring for you.

Vinyl Flooring

Vinyl is another of the best flooring for dogs. Vinyl plank flooring simulates hardwood flooring, while vinyl tile imitates stone, ceramic, or slate. Choose one with texturing for traction. 

Luxury vinyl flooring is preferable to standard vinyl floors, which is too thin for durability with pets; luxury vinyl tile and planks are sturdier with better scratch resistance. All provide stain-resistant, easy-to-clean surfaces, however. 

Because of the seams, moisture can leak down through, so you still need to mop up pet accidents and other spills quickly, or look for vinyl sheet flooring for fewer seams.

Bamboo Flooring

Bamboo is an environmentally-friendly, unique, stain-resistant flooring. Most options are tough, but some strand-woven varieties are extra durable. 

While it’s one of the pet-friendly floors, there’s a wide range in quality of bamboo flooring, so if you choose to use bamboo, be sure to research thoroughly to avoid issues. They’re easy to clean, but known for being a moisture-sensitive flooring.

Cork Flooring

Like bamboo, cork is environmentally friendly and unique. This warm, softer flooring for dogs absorbs sound well. It’s antibacterial, antimicrobial, and hypoallergenic. However, it is not one of the more durable flooring options, getting scratched and dented easily, and is sensitive to moisture damage.

Ceramic, Stone, and Porcelain Tile Flooring

Although expensive, these floors are extremely durable and highly resistant to pet damage. If installed well, with stain-resistant grout and sealants, they’re water resistant and handle spills and heavy mopping. Porcelain is more resistant than ceramic tile.

Because tile is waterproof flooring, it’s the best flooring for puppy accidents or for incontinent dogs. However, some aspects make it unsuitable for other dogs. Engineered tile has a warmer feel, but traditional tile floors typically are cold and hard, and uncomfortable for dogs. Additionally, most tiles are slippery, affecting active dogs who may slip while playing, as well as older dogs.

Solid Wood Flooring

Many pet owners worry about how dog-friendly hardwood floors are. However, with some basic care, these can be one of the best flooring for dogs. By trimming your dog’s nails regularly to reduce scratches, and cleaning spills right away, real hardwood floors are both attractive and suitable for most pets. Select one of the hardest woods for the best hardwood flooring. 

Engineered hardwood is a more cost effective and sturdier option; in addition, engineered wood floors can be regularly refinished. Improved scratch-resistant finishes protect solid hardwood floors, too, and you can sand and refinish these if necessary. Strong grain patterns, matte finishes, and distressed or reclaimed wood floors camouflage any scratches well.

Both engineered wood flooring and real wood floors are easy to sweep. They have a warm, natural feel, and good traction. If installed well, with a good underlay, they’re more comfortable and have better sound dampening. Supreme Flooring is an expert in hardwood flooring, helping you find the best option for both you and your dog.

Rubber Flooring

For specific areas, you may want to consider rubber flooring. It’s a sustainable flooring that’s fairly durable and bacteria-resistant. It has excellent traction unless wet, and is soft for comfort. If you prefer not to use full sheets, durable rubber mats provide the same benefits in key spots. There are also rubber dog kennel mats for added comfort.

Contact Us

Supreme Flooring specializes in hardwood and laminate floors, expertly installing them to be the best flooring for dogs. Trust us to install your pet-friendly flooring today in the Mississauga area.

 

 

How To Make Hardwood Floors Shine

How To Make Hardwood Floors Shine by Supreme Flooring

Hardwood floors enhance the look of your interior and add a bit of warmth to your house. And unlike floor coverings, linoleum, or tile patterns, they don’t struggle with being out-of-date. But nobody will be dazzled by faded, cloudy wood floors.

Most homeowners keep their wooden floors safe by placing a rug over them, which does more harm than good. So how do you clean hardwood and get them nice and shiny again?

How To Properly Clean Wood Floors?

Dirt and dust are the worst enemies of your wooden floors. That’s why cleaning it should be executed with great care. Cleaners with harsh chemicals can strip wood floors, leaving them dry and brittle. Avoid soap because it leaves a residue, making your floor dull. You can create homemade wood floor polish with a few natural ingredients to restore your floor’s natural shine.

Vacuum The Floor

Remove all rugs on the floor. Vacuum your floor thoroughly, then use a soft broom or dust mop to sweep up to get all the dirt around furniture legs that the vacuum can’t reach. Sweep your floor daily, so dust and grime don’t build up and cause scratches, deteriorating the floor’s finish.

Mopping

With a microfiber or sponge mop and warm water, mop the floor following the wood grain direction to prevent streaks. Avoid over-wetting your mop. Adding a few drops of dish soap won’t harm your flooring. But remember that the dish soap mustn’t contain any wax or oils.

Rinse the floor with clean water. Dry it once you are done mopping to remove any leftover moisture.

Make Your Own Wood Polisher

Olive Oil, White Vinegar, & Water – This is the best natural cleaner for laminate and wood flooring. Combine a quarter cup (1/4) of olive oil with one-third of a cup (1/3) white vinegar and five cups of hot water. Add a few teaspoons of lemon juice (or lemon essential oil) to add a citrus scent.

Vinegar is a natural polish that will help eliminate debris and grime. And olive oil is the key ingredient to making your floors shine and look rich.

Vegetable Oil & Vinegar – Mix equal measures of white vinegar and vegetable oil to produce a simple yet compelling cleaner for your entire floor.

The vegetable oil preserves your floor’s finish and allows it to maintain its shine.

Black Tea – Brew 5-6 tea bags for 15 to 20 minutes and pour the tea into a spray bottle.

The acidic level in black tea can get the dirt out of the grooves of the hardwood floor.

Apply The Homemade Polisher

You can apply any ingredients or mixtures discussed above to polish your wood floor naturally. Once your polish is mixed, lightly spray it on your flooring and use a dry microfiber mop head to smear it in.

Start from the corner and work in sections to best control the amount of polish you’ve applied. Apply only gentle pressure. Thin layers will dry faster than thick ones, and you can lay another coat if necessary.

No Rinsing Needed

After you apply the polish, your floors will look naturally shiny. To eliminate the excess moisture, you can buff dry the floor surface with a microfiber mop.

Shine Your Hardwood Floor With A Commercial Polishing Product

You can also purchase a commercial wood floor polish; choose one with a spray applicator.

Begin at the back edge of the room and pour a small amount of the solution on the floor. With a flat-surface mop, spread it in the same direction as the grain. Use long, even strokes and work towards the opposite wall. Mop in a back-and-forth motion to eliminate all air bubbles before proceeding to the next section.

Allow the polish to dry before you return furniture to its spot and allow foot traffic on the floors. Apply a second coat if needed.

Make Your Hardwood Floors Shine Again

Shiny floors completely transform the look of your home as it brightens the entire room. Even in smaller, darker rooms, it gives a feeling of bigger space and light. The method above will help you keep your floor glossy and free from chemical remains in commercial products.

Supreme Flooring has got your back with hardwood flooring options for a reasonable price. Now that you know how to keep your hardwood floors shining, it’s time to invest in a hardwood floor that matches your home.

Check our hardwood flooring options, and if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.