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Every type of flooring material requires some degree of maintenance, including hardwood floors. If you decide to install hardwood flooring in your home, there are certain problems that may arise in the years following the hardwood floor installation. Fortunately, many of the problems can be prevented with regular maintenance. Here’s what you need to know:

Scratches

Over time, you may start to notice tiny scratches in the finish of your hardwood floors. To prevent scratches, try to avoid walking across your hardwood floors with shoes on, especially if they’re high heels or cleats. If you have pets, don’t let them walk across the hardwood floors since their claws can easily scratch through the finish. You should also protect your hardwood floors from scratches by placing protective pads underneath any furniture pieces in the room.

Warping

If a significant amount of water lands on your hardwood floors, it may cause warping. Why? When wood becomes wet, it expands in size, and then contracts again once it begins to dry out. The result is warped wood, which means the planks may look curved or may even curl up at the ends. To prevent this problem, it’s imperative that you protect your floors from water. If you spill water on your floors, wipe it up as quickly as possible to avoid warping. Don’t use water when cleaning your hardwood floors, either. A simple dust mop or broom should do the trick.

If you are concerned about warping, talk to your flooring professional to determine if there is a water resistant finish that can be applied to the top of your floors. Learn how to straighten a warped floor.
 

Fading

Are your hardwood floors exposed to sunlight? Even if the floors are inside your home, if they’re located next to large windows that get a lot of sun, the color may start to fade over time. Talk to your flooring professional about applying a UV-resistant finish to your floors. If this is not an option, or if you want extra protection, prevent UV exposure by pulling down the blinds or closing the curtains when it’s sunny outside.

Buckling

Hardwood floors expand when exposed to humidity. Because of this, flooring professionals usually suggest letting the wood sit for a few days inside your home before it is installed so it can adjust to the humidity level. If your flooring professional fails to let the wood acclimate, or if he installs it incorrectly, the floors may begin to buckle and appear uneven. If you spot this problem, it’s important to contact your flooring professional right away so it can be repaired as soon as possible.

These common problems can easily be avoided if you take care of your hardwood floors. If you’re ready to choose hardwood floors for your home, it’s time to get in touch with the professionals. Contact the team of design experts at Ward Hardwood who have a knack for helping clients choose the right flooring for their homes, and preserve it for years after installation. Call 303-674-6966 to set up a consultation today.

When choosing hardwood flooring in Colorado, you will need to make a number of decisions, including the color of the wood, type of wood, and of course, width of the planks. The width of the individual planks can affect the look of the entire room, so don’t rush this decision. Here are a few things you need to consider before deciding which width is best for your home: 

The Look

What look are you trying to achieve in your home? If you want your room to have a clean and minimalistic vibe, narrow planks may be the better choice for you. On the other hand, wide plank hardwood is typically used in homes with a rustic or country feel. It can also be used in traditional homes, where it looks elegant and timeless.

The Size of the Room

Where will you be installing hardwood flooring? If you are laying the hardwood in a small room, narrow planks can open the space and make it feel larger than it really is. Wide planks can make small rooms feel more cramped, especially if the ceilings are low, so it’s recommended that you only use wide plank floors in rooms that are on the larger size.

Material Cost

Material costs will vary depending on the width of the planks. Narrow planks, usually called strip flooring, tend to be more cost effective than wide plank materials. If choosing wide plank materials, keep in mind that a random mix of widths will usually be more cost effective than all one width.

Wood Detailing

ider planks tend to have more visible detailing that give the wood an authentic feel. For example, you may not be able to see the grain of the wood or knots on narrower planks, but these features are usually fairly visible on wider planks. If you want to be able to see this type of detailing, it’s best to stick to wider planks.
 

Resale Value

If you plan on selling your home in the near future, it may be best to choose wide planks since these are preferred by buyers. Today’s buyers are looking for wider planks that measure between 4 to 8 inches wide, or somewhere along those guidelines. If you have these in your home, you may be able to attract a greater number of buyers and sell your home faster.  When it comes to wood floors, choose wisely.

Personal Preference

Above all else, it’s important to make this decision based on your own personal preference. This is your home, so you should have the flooring that you like the best. Keep the above tips in mind, but don’t forget to ask yourself which style you prefer before making a decision.
 
Have you decided between wide and narrow plank hardwood? If so, it’s time to get in touch with the professionals. Contact the team of design experts at Ward Hardwood who have a knack for helping clients choose the right flooring for their homes, and preserve it for years after installation. Call 303-674-6966 to set up a consultation today.

It’s fairly common to use reclaimed wood in kitchens, living rooms, and bedrooms, but it’s far less common to see reclaimed wood used in bathrooms. If you want a unique bathroom design that will make your home stand out, consider using reclaimed wood from a hardwood floor showroom in your bathroom. Here are some tips to help you bring your vision to life:

Be selective about where it is used.

Water and wood are not a good mix, which is one of the reasons why wood is rarely used in bathrooms. But, if you want reclaimed wood incorporated into your bathroom, be selective about where you put it. For example, you shouldn’t plan on having reclaimed wood around the shower or tub, since it is very likely that water will splash onto the wood here. Work with your contractor to determine areas of the bathroom that are not exposed to much water.

Put it in the powder room

Even if you place wood far away from the shower and tub, it will still be exposed to steam. If this concerns you, you may want to use reclaimed wood in a powder room instead of a full bathroom. This way, you only have to worry about the water from the sink coming into contact with the wood.

Your bathroom does not have to be rustic

Reclaimed wood is often used to create a natural, rustic vibe, but that doesn’t mean you can only use it in this type of bathroom. In fact, pairing reclaimed wood with modern features such as shiny silver faucets and crisp white countertops creates a beautiful contrast that adds warmth to the room. The lesson? Don’t limit the possibilities for your bathroom by thinking that you can only use reclaimed wood in rooms with a rustic feel.

Create a backdrop

Cover the wall behind your sink with reclaimed wood to create a bold statement. This is a great way to incorporate reclaimed wood into your bathroom because it is so unexpected. Statement walls are often used in living rooms and bedrooms, but no one expects to see one in a bathroom. Be a trendsetter by bringing the statement wall concept to your bathroom!

Use it as art

If you don’t want to cover an entire wall in your bathroom with reclaimed wood, consider covering just a portion of it with different pieces of reclaimed wood. Buy pieces in different shapes, sizes, and colors, and have your contractor arrange them on your wall to create a unique patchwork. No one else will have something like this in their homes, and your guests will be impressed with your creativity.

Now that you know the many different ways you can use reclaimed wood in your bathroom, it’s time to get in touch with the professionals. Contact the team of design experts at Ward Hardwood who have a knack for helping clients choose the right flooring for their homes, and preserve it for years after installation. Call 303-674-6966 to set up a consultation today

Before you install hardwood flooring in your home, it’s important to do your research to determine whether it’s a good choice for your lifestyle. But as you research, you may stumble upon a few common myths about hardwood flooring in Colorado. Learn the truth behind these common misconceptions:

Myth: Engineered wood is fake wood.

Many people believe “engineered” actually means “fake,” but that’s simply not the case. Engineered wood is made by combining multiple layers of wood, so there’s nothing fake about it. The only part of engineered wood that is not actual wood is the sticky adhesives used between each layer of wood and the shiny finish on top.

Myth: Wood floors are easily damaged.

Every type of flooring material will show signs of wear and tear over time, and wood is no exception. If you have young children or pets in your home, ask the flooring professional for advice on which wood species you should choose. The durability of each species is measured using the Janka scale, so a flooring professional can walk you through each option and its score on this scale to help you make a decision. Learn more about the Janka scale.

Of course, there are ways that you can extend the life of your wood if you want to preserve its beauty. For example, you should try to avoid walking across your wood floors while wearing high heels or cleats so you don’t scratch the finish. Use rugs at high traffic areas such as doors, entries and kitchen sinks.

Myth: Mopping is the best way to clean hardwood floors.

Many people assume that the best way to clean hardwood floors is with a mop and a bucket of water, but there are a few things to consider here. Always use a dedicated mop and bucket so as not to contaminate the hardwood with other cleaning chemicals, and avoid using excessive amounts of water. Sweeping with a dry microfiber dust mop or vacuuming with a soft bristle brush attachment also works well.
 

Myth: You can use any kitchen cleaner on your floor.

There’s absolutely no truth behind this myth. Most kitchen cleaners contain harsh chemicals such as vinegar or ammonia, and these should never be used to clean your hardwood floors. If you need to clean your floors with something besides a dry dust mop, talk to the flooring company to see what products they recommend. Or, look for a product that is designed specifically for hardwood floors.

Myth: Hardwood floors cannot be used in kitchens.

It’s true that some hardwood floors are a better fit for the kitchen than others, but it’s not true that you can’t use hardwood floors in your kitchen at all. Many flooring professionals recommend engineered wood for the kitchen because it is a bit more durable, but talk to your flooring professional to see what he thinks is the right choice.

Now that you know the truth behind these common hardwood myths, it’s time to get started planning out your new hardwood floor. Contact the team of design experts at Ward Hardwood who have a knack for helping clients choose the right flooring for their homes, and preserve it for years after installation. Call 303-674-6966 to set up a consultation today.

Everyone seems to know that hardwood floors need refinishing at some point in their lifetime. Refinished hardwood flooring looks beautiful and new, but here’s a question most people don’t know the answer to:

When should you refinish your Colorado hardwood floors?

Hardwood gets better with age, right? It gets a more unique, beautiful look over time. Still, over too much time, it can become an eyesore if not properly maintained. Many people may want to refinish the floor themselves, thinking that it will save them money and time. That thinking is false on both counts. Time is money, and refinishing a hardwood floor is a lot of  work for one family member to take on alone, not to mention time-consuming. Plus, it is that hard - you have to know what you are doing, or your floors will turn into a fright fest in short order.
 

Still, how do you know when it is time to call a local flooring expert?

Here are a few foolproof tests to determine if your floor needs refinishing. 

1. How to know if you have a hardwood floor or a hardwood laminate is a good question to ask. Make sure your floor is genuine wood and not a wood-style laminate. Many homeowners need to ask this question because newer laminate is very good at mimicking the beauty of real wood.
    
2. Pick the spot on your floor with the most foot traffic, such as the kitchen in front of the fridge, or the bathroom. Dump a spoonful of water on the floor there. If droplets form on the surface with no absorption into the wood is a sign that your finish is working correctly, and the newer look is a result of the wood aging in a healthy way. If some seeps into the wood but some remains on the surface, your finish is very close to its last breath, and you should consider having it refinished in the next few months. If all of the water soaks in and it leaves a dark stain, your floor needs to be refinished immediately.
    
3. Repeat this process on the other dingy parts of the floor, as well as on the least trafficked areas, to see if the whole floor needs refinishing, or just the spaces that people walk on the most often.
    
4. Find a space between two boards of wood, and insert a small card (like a business card) between the boards as far in as you can. Make a pencil mark at the edge of the boards. Measure from the bottom of the card to the pencil mark. If the pencil mark is ¾ of an inch or less from the bottom of the card, you cannot refinish it yourself without risking extreme damage to the wood. You must call a professional. If the pencil mark is over ¾ of an inch from the edge, it is possible to do it yourself, if you feel you truly know what you are doing.
    
5. Remember, professionals know how to safely handle all of the chemicals, and usually come in a team to get the job done quickly - they will even move the furniture for you. Doing it yourself may seem rewarding, but it is a long, messy, and stinky project if you take it on alone.

If you are looking for a Colorado company that will refinish your hardwood floors, call us at Ward Hardwood Flooring. View our wide variety of finishing treatments to pick the best option for your wood, or call us for a free consultation!