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Are you ready to transform the look of your home by installing hardwood floors? First, you will have to decide what color hardwood you want. This may not seem like a difficult choice, but once you see all of the different colors in a hardwood floor showroom, you will understand just how tough it can be. Here are some tips to help you choose the perfect color:

Think of the size of the room.

Which room will you be putting the hardwood floors in? If it’s a large and spacious living room with high ceilings, almost any color would work. But in smaller rooms, especially those with low ceilings, you should try to stick to light colored woods that will make the space seem bigger and more open. Dark woods can make small spaces seem cramped and gloomy, so it’s best to avoid these shades if you don’t have much space.

Don’t match the furniture.

Do you have wood furniture? It may seem logical to choose a wood floor that matches the furniture in the room, but this is not a good idea. Instead, choose a color that either complements or contrasts the wood furniture. This will give the room a much more elegant look.
 

Take samples.

Don’t rely on what you see in a showroom. You should always ask for samples and take them home with you to see what they look like under the lighting in your home. This way, you can hold the samples up against your furniture, curtains, and wall paint to see how well it will look together.

Choose natural if you want to conceal imperfections.

You may think it’s wise to choose a darker colored wood if you don’t want to see every piece of dust or debris that lands on your floor. After all, the darker the wood, the more it should conceal, right? Wrong! The truth is natural colored floors actually conceal dirt, dust, and debris better than any other color. If you have children or pets in your home, or simply don’t get around to cleaning the house as much as you would like, stick to a natural colored wood. Learn how to clean hardwood floors.

Think of the vibe.

What mood do you want to set with your hardwood floors? If you are going for a more chic, urban feel, dark hardwood flooring may be best for your home, which is why dark woods are often used in gourmet kitchens, libraries, and offices. However, if you want a classic, inviting look, it’s best to stick to natural or light colored wood, which is why light colored woods look great in living spaces, bedrooms, and rustic style homes.
 
Do you need help choosing the perfect hardwood floor for your home and lifestyle? Let our professionals help. 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.

Hardwood floors are a great investment—that is, if you know how to take care of them properly. Some homeowners install hardwood flooring in Colorado without first learning how to protect and clean them. If you want to preserve the beauty of your hardwood floors, make sure you follow these tips:

Cut your pet’s nails.

Do you have a dog? If so, make sure his nails are trimmed down at all times if you allow him to walk across your hardwood floors. A dog’s nails can easily scratch through the finish of your hardwood floors, leaving unsightly scratches that will need to be repaired.

Put down a welcome mat.

A welcome mat in front of your home serves two purposes: greeting people who have just arrived at your home, and protecting your hardwood floors. Kindly ask your guests to wipe their feet on a welcome mat before coming into your home so they don’t drag dirt and debris inside. If your guests walk across your hardwood floor with dirt and debris stuck to their shoes, they could cause damage.

Use the proper cleaning technique.

Proper cleaning is very important for your hardwood floor. Start by gently sweeping the dirt and debris off of your hardwood floor using a soft-bristled broom or vacuum with a bristle attachment.  You can lightly damp mop with vinegar and water, or use a product that is designed specifically for hardwood floors and follow the instructions closely. Wipe up spills as soon as possible to prevent damage. Do not let water spills, wet boots, etc. sit on the floors to prevent water damage issues. Learn how to clean hardwood floors.

Put padding on your furniture.

Don’t move your furniture back into the room after a hardwood installation until you have inspected the bottoms of every piece. If any piece of furniture does not have padding, make sure you buy some and put it in place. Furniture can scratch your hardwood floors if there’s not a layer of padding separating it from the floor. There are several options to choose from, including foam pads or adhesive pads that stick to your furniture’s legs. Make sure you choose one that is designed to be used on hardwood floors.

You should also be careful if you have any furniture with wheels, such as an office chair. If you can, pick up any furniture with wheels when you are moving it back into place after an installation. For everyday use, buy a mat to lay underneath this furniture to protect your floors.

Now that you know how to take care of hardwood floors, are you ready to install this flooring material in your home? Let our professionals help. 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.

If you’re thinking of installing hardwood flooring in your home, you may have stopped by a hardwood floor showroom or two to see the many different options. But, while you were there, did you notice people using a lot of words you weren’t familiar with? Were you unsure of how to talk to the sales team about what you were looking for? There are a lot of terms you should know to ensure you are making the right choices for your home. Here’s a handy guide to help you understand some of the most common ones:

Prefinished Flooring

If you order prefinished hardwood flooring, it means the planks will be stained to the appropriate color and sealed with a protective coating prior to coming to your home. Doing this before the installation reduces the time it takes to complete this project, so many customers prefer prefinished wood.

Reclaimed Wood

Some customers order reclaimed wood, which is hardwood that has been salvaged from another building. This type of wood goes through a refinishing process prior to being used in someone’s home. Even though it is refinished, it won’t look brand new once installed. Reclaimed wood is preferred by customers who want a unique, imperfect look.

Strip Flooring

The term strip flooring refers to the width of each hardwood plank. Strip flooring is narrow, usually less than three inches wide, while wide plank flooring is wider than three inches.

Finish

Applying a finish is one of the last steps involved in the hardwood installation process. Finishes can be oil, polyurethane, water-based, acid - cured, or many other types to choose from.

Refinishing

Now that you know what a finish is, what exactly is refinishing? If you no longer like the color of your floor’s stain, or if there is a lot of damage on the surface of your floors, you may need to have them refinished. This means a professional will come to your home and sand your floors to remove the current finish and stain. Once it has been sanded down, a new stain and finish can be applied to completely change the look.

Natural Stain

Many customers choose a colored stain to alter the look of the wood, but some still prefer a natural stain. A natural stain has a clear finish, so it will protect your wood without adjusting the color of it. With a natural stain, you can still see the natural grain running through the wood. This is often used in homes with a rustic or country feel, but it is versatile and can complement almost any type of interior design.

Are you ready to install hardwood floors in your home? Or, are you hoping to get more information on hardwood flooring before making a decision? 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.

Are you looking for a way to add bit of excitement and unexpected edge into your commercial or retail space? One way to do so is by adding a reclaimed wood wall treatment. Hardwood flooring in Colorado is timeless and sophisticated, especially when used in this unique way. Here’s how to make it work for you:

Balance the rest of the room.

When you incorporate a reclaimed wood wall into your design, you want this to be the focus of the space, so it’s important to create a balance by keeping everything else simple. If you really want to draw attention to the wall, use neutral colors throughout the rest of the space, and don’t overdo it with accessories or textures. If you fail to provide balance, the reclaimed wood wall will probably overpower your space instead of complementing it.
 

Choose the wood wisely.

Reclaimed wood will look more aged than standard hardwood, so don’t be surprised when you see marks or signs of distress. You shouldn’t shy away from using wood with these characteristics—you should embrace it. Signs of age add character to your reclaimed wood wall, so as long as the color works with your space, go for it.

You will also need to decide whether you want all the pieces to be the same width, or if you want some pieces to be wider than others. Using different widths makes the project even more eclectic and edgy, so it really depends on what look you are trying to achieve with the reclaimed wood wall.
 

Remove any trim.

If your space has any crown molding or baseboards, you will need to remove it before installing a reclaimed wood wall treatment. The wall has to be a completely blank canvas in order for this installation to work. Luckily, this isn’t difficult to do on your own as long as you have a crow bar. Learn how to remove baseboards without damaging the drywall.

Paint the wall.

Even though you’re putting wood over the wall, it may still be wise to paint it first. This is because reclaimed wood is not perfect, so there could still be tiny gaps in between each plank once the wall project is complete. If you’re a perfectionist, the paint shining through these tiny gaps could bother you, but don’t worry, there’s a way to fix it. Paint the wall black prior to beginning the project. A solid black paint will disguise the gaps and make your wall look complete.

Add a picture.

Once the wall is complete, consider drawing even more attention to it by hanging a single, brightly colored painting on it, or even your business' logo or signage. This look can create a bold, beautiful statement in the entryway of a commercial or retail space.

Would you like to hear more design ideas for your commercial or retail space? Contact the team of design experts at Ward Hardwood who have a knack for helping clients achieve the exact look they’ve envisioned for their space. Call 303-674-6966 to set up a consultation today.

After flipping through page after page of beautiful hardwood floors in interior design magazines, it’s easy to be sold on the idea of having hardwood flooring in your home. Before you call and schedule hardwood installation in Denver, there are a few things you need to consider, including:

Type of Wood

Consult with a hardwood floor company to discuss the pros and cons of each type of wood and determine which is best for your budget and lifestyle. For example, if you have kids running through the house, oak may be a good choice since it is durable. Cherry wood has a rich, elegant feel, but it’s one of the pricier options, so it may not fit within your budget. Here’s your guide to the different types of wood flooring.
 

Color

Take a look around the room where you plan on laying down hardwood floor. What colors will look best with the furniture, molding, and paint on the walls? Many people forget there are dozens of different shades of wood to choose from, so this is an important decision. If the rest of your room is dark, try brightening it up with a gray or white wood, but if the paint and furniture is light, warm up the room with a deep shade for the floors.

Unfinished vs. Prefinished

You should speak to a hardwood flooring professional about whether to buy unfinished or prefinished wood floors as well. Unfinished floors come without any treatment, while prefinished floors already have the UV-cured coating applied. Because prefinished floors are already coated, flooring contractors do not have to complete this step within your home during the installation. This means a shorter installation time without the pungent odors that come with applying the stain. However, some homeowners fear the finish will be damaged during the installation process, so they prefer waiting until the floors are down to coat them. The choice is yours, but ask a hardwood specialist for help making the final decision, as the experts at Ward Hardwood Flooring know the process that will work best for you.

Maintenance and Repair

Every type of flooring material requires proper maintenance and will eventually need to be repaired, and hardwood is no exception. Before you commit to installing hardwood floors, take the time to learn about the maintenance and repair process. Hardwood can be easily damaged when exposed to water, for example, so if this is something you don’t want to maintain in your home, hardwood may not be the right choice for you.

If you do your research and still want hardwood floors, make sure you speak to the flooring contractor about how to clean them once they’ve been installed. The contractor should be able to recommend cleaning solutions that will help you keep your hardwood floor in good shape for years to come.

If you are considering installing hardwood floors in your home contact the experts at Ward Hardwood Flooring. With over 25 years in the business, we have the experience and professionalism to assist you creating the custom wood design of your dreams. Call today for a free estimate at 303-674-6966.