FloorTalk – for all the latest flooring fashions

Submitted by: Steve Cooper

There are few greater annoyances—more than annoyances, really—than discovering scratches, scuffs, dents and other damage to new wood flooring. Makes you feel like beauty has become the beast.

Fortunately, avoiding damage is possible. It’s a matter of taking a smart first step when you buy flooring. Look for products made to resist everyday assault from dog claws, grains of sand, dining room chairs, high heels, and such. Brand-name companies continually work to harden their finishes.

Anderson Hardwood has built its reputation on floors that stand up to punishment while also attracting attention through the natural appeal of wood. Specializing in popular dark floors, the company offers exquisite products in oak, maple, hickory, cherry and birch. The company makes planks up to seven inches wide and some are hand-scraped, which makes for a memorable finish.

Homeowners can be confident that these will stand up to abuse because Anderson floors are made from the hardest part of the tree. Compared to wood flooring sold strictly on price, this makes their pecan planks 102 percent harder, maple planks 77 percent harder, and oak planks 41 percent harder.

Not strong enough for you? Anderson has now added a new finish called Luster-Lock Ultra, a proprietary smooth, glossy surface. This formula makes the floor six times more scuff- and abrasion-resistant than competing finishes.

Based on performance of the new finish, Anderson is doubling finish warranties on their 3/8-inch, 5-ply products to 30 years and their 1/2-inch products to 50 years. Smooth-faced products also get 30-year finish warranties and solid-textured floors get 50-year warranties.

No more beast. Just beauty.

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There’s more late-breaking news about Anderson Hardwood flooring:

1. All Anderson flooring is now GREENGUARD Children & Schools certified, which guarantees products will contribute to good indoor-air quality. For certification, flooring was tested for the presence of more than 10,000 different volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and to make certain that formaldehyde is present only in exceedingly small amounts (less than 13.5 parts per billion). To maintain the certificate, flooring is regularly retested.

Go big green!

2. Flooring in the Tropical Reflections collection features Anderson’s exclusive PermaColor natural aging process. This process creates a deep, high-gloss finish without the use of stains, solvents or chemicals.

Breath easy, people.

How do I clean hardwood floors? 

How can I restore the luster to my wood floor? 

Is it okay to wear stilettos on hardwood flooring? 

What cleaning products should I use to clean hardwood floors? 

Get answers to these common questions and more!  Recently, Chris Davis (president and CEO of WFCA) was interviewed by Allison Lind (writer for AOL’s blog shelterpop) on this topic.  To learn more about the dos and don’ts of cleaning hardwood floors and to read the full article, click on the picture of the adorable puppy below.

Question:

Could you please tell me if I can use a steam cleaner on my laminate or hardwood floor?

Answer:

We cannot find a manufacturer of either laminate flooring or hardwood flooring that will recommend the use of this type of equipment on their floors.  To clean and maintain your hardwood or laminate flooring, sweeping and/or using a vacuum cleaner (without the beater bar used for vacuuming carpet) should be sufficient. Occasionally clean with a mop (micro-fiber or terrycloth hooded for laminate floors) slightly moistened with a cleaning product recommended by the flooring manufacturer. Wipe up spills quickly. NEVER flood either of these floors with water. Also on the “no-no” list are soap-based detergents, abrasive cleaners, scouring powder, wax or any type of polish. Also, use “walk-off” mats at entrances and exits so people and pets might lose some of those things that sometimes stick to feet prior to stepping onto your floors.

For more information on cleaning and care for your floors contact the flooring manufacturer or visit www.wfca.org.

Question:

We installed laminate floor in our home and have never mopped it, however I have damp clothed it w/a solution of the following:  in a 12 oz bottle I put in water and a cap of white vinegar – is this considered acceptable?

Answer:

For day to day maintenance an occasional damp mop, quick sweeping or light vacuuming with the hard floor attachments are usually all it takes to keep your laminate floor clean. Do not use soaps, detergents, or cleaners with wax because they may leave a film, dulling the floor. You can mix 1 gallon of water with 1 cup vinegar or ½ cup of ammonia per gallon of water. Laminate floors must never be waxed, polished, sanded or refinished and never use a wet or jet mop when cleaning.

For more information on laminate maintenance: http://www.wfca.org/laminate/care.aspx