Installation of floor - One to two days is usually sufficient for each 300 sq./ft. of prefinished floor being installed. Resanding of existing floor to a natural tone - Three days for 300-500 sq./ft. plus one additional day for every additional 300 sq./ft. Resanding of existing floors to a brown tone - Four days for 300-500 sq./ft. plus one additional day for every additional 300 sq./ft. Resanding of existing floor to a pastel tone - Five days for 300-500 sq./ft.

Answer: In most cases if a person has basic carpentry skills they can install a hardwood floor themselves. The only equipment needed is a hammer, nail set, and a table-saw. Some installation methods require use of other equipment, check with your retailer.

Correctly fitted and maintained a solid wood floor will last a lifetime, but correct fitting is crucial.

No. You should never wet mop your wood floor. Standing water left after wet mopping can dull your finish, damage the wood, and leave unsightly discoloring. If you happen to spill water on your floor, clean it up as quickly as possible. If massive amounts of water leak out onto the floor, such as a dishwasher that has leaked, it might damage the floor to the point where it would need to be replaced. Most homeowners insurance companies would cover the repairs needed if this were to happen.

Any room except a full bath. With the variety of products available and the choice of installation options, hardwood flooring can now be installed in any room of the home. The only consideration is whether the floor will be installed on, above or below grade. For example, because of potential moisture, solid hardwood is not recommended for installations below grade, such as in a basement. Engineered products, which are inherently dimensionally stable, are better choices for this type of area.

It is very easy to clean a Pre-finished hardwood floor. Simply dust mop, sweep, or vacuum (vacuum should have rubber wheels so not to scratch the floor). Most flooring dealers also sell cleaning kits, which come with a mop as well as an approved cleaner. If you are not sure which cleaner is appropriate for your floor, contact your local dealer for assistance.

No one can match finishes exactly, but an experienced professional with a good eye can get very close. For best results, consider refinishing the old floor with the same finish and sheen as the new one. Although wax finishes are easier to match, keep in mind that polyurethane finishes provide more protection than wax in kitchens.

While we ask our inspectors to sign a 30-day agreement, there is no guarantee that an inspector will be employed the full 30 days. The length of time away from home will be dependent on the needs of the disaster.

For a cataract operation for example, it will be 2 or 3 days, whereas a hip or knee replacement can take between 10 to 28 days to recover from.

The answer is yes, but if a room has under floor heating, it is doubly important that it be properly installed to allow for expansion and contraction. We are able to supply manufacturers' technical specifications regarding underfloor heating.

I've heard significantly varying answers to this question. They depend largely on whether you have skills needed by the population (whether native or cruising), how much (or rather little) money you can live on, and whether the officials of the country you're visiting want to kick you out (and whether you have somewhere else to go if and when they do).

The natural characteristics of wood include the grain pattern, dark gray or black marks and knots of various sizes. They are a result of the growth process of a particular species and are influenced by sunlight, soil and climate. Minerals can appear in several forms such as a light gray streak across a board to black lines in the grain. The same holds true for grain patterns and knots.

Cupping, or "washboard". Across the width of one piece of the flooring material, the edges are high, the center is lower. Generally develops gradually. Moisture imbalance through the thickness is the only cause. The material was manufactured flat and was flat when installed. Job site or occupant provided moisture is greater on the bottom of the piece than on the top. Find the source of moisture and eliminate it.

Depending on the type of flooring, it is usually graded from clear being the best - to #2 common, know as a rustic grade. CLICK HERE for an example.

Never damp mop a waxed floor. When cleaning a surface-finished floor, follow the manufacturer's recommendations. You may generally use a dampened (near dry) mop to maintain a wood floor, however excessive moisture will cause damage. Standing water can dull the finish, damage the wood, and leave a discoloring residue. If water spills on a wood floor, immediately wipe it up with a clean cloth.

Yes, Bruce offers several suggestions. If you have a minor chip or slightdamage, we offer a color-blended filler. Our touch-up kits take care of several different issues, such as scratches and chips. If the damage is severe enough, you can have individual boards replaced.

Three grades relate to the floors visual appearance only and not to quality. Select is the highest grade. It is knot-free, giving floors with uniform colour and texture. These floors command the highest prices, but some people find them monotonous. The cheapest grade is Rustic, where there may be small knots and colour variations in the wood. This can make for a lively, interesting floor full of character and in no ways impairs the quality. It depends what effect you want.

With all wood floors it's just a simple question of running a damp mop over them as part of your normal house cleaning routine.

Yes. However, tile will not bond directly to a wood floor. We recommend the following methods to prepare your wood floor for tile installation: Install Schluter Ditra, from Schluter Systems, with a latex thinset. Then install the tile using a non-latex thinset.

This really depends on the type of wood floor you have, the finish you have and how deep the scratches are in the top layer. For small minor scratches in a urethane finish you should be able to order a touch-up kit from the store you purchased the flooring from. Be sure to use the manufacturer's recommended finish products and test first by applying a small amount in an out of the way area. For deep scratches you will probably have to have a professional do a screen and recoat.

Some of the better quality engineered wood floors have a 1/8" thick finish layer and can be sanded and refinished 1 or maybe 2 times. The sanding and refinishing of an engineered wood floor is best done by an experienced hardwood flooring refinisher. If you have heat vents in your floor you can remove a heat cover to get a side view of your wood floor. This will help you check to see how thick you finish layer is.

Gapping in solid wood floors cannot be stopped completely. Wood expands and contracts with changes in humidity. Using a humidifier during the heating months may help reduce the amount of gapping in solid wood floors. Also, some wood species may gap expand and contract less than others. Engineered wood floors are much more dimensionally stable than solid wood floors and will show little or no gaps between planks.

Answer: Any exterior modifications to lots or common area require written approval from the Architectural Review Board (ARB). The process is described in the Blooms Crossing Owners Association Homeowners Manual. The manual and required forms are available online or by calling Chris Falwell at 703-631-7200.

Answer: That answer depends on several factors. Is the home priced competitively with other comparable homes on the market of the same price range, location, and amenities? If so, generally you can expect a 30-120 day marketing period in good market conditions, with favorable lending terms, and typical buyer activity.

If you look after the floor, there's no reason why it shouldn't last a lifetime. Things to watch out for are: stiletto shoes, furniture legs, dragging heavy furniture such as pianos across the floor.

Wood buildings can last as long as needed. In fact, wood can endure for centuries if it is in a protected environment like a well-designed structure. There's no reason a good wood building couldn't last indefinitely. In North America, we have countless houses still occupied that are well over 100 years old. There are many more surviving wood buildings world-wide far older than that, including temples in Japan built 1300 years ago.

With a U-PASS, there's no need to worry about leaving your car at home. If you have a faculty/staff U-PASS, if an emergency arises and you need to leave campus to return to your home, day care or Park & Ride lot, you can take a taxi and be reimbursed under the Emergency Ride Home program. Reimbursement is for 90 percent of the taxi meter fare (does not include tip) up to 50 miles per quarter.