Top Five Complaints and how to Avoid Them

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If you are a professional hardwood flooring contractor like me, installing wood floors becomes a second nature. From the preparation to the final product – it is a careful step by step process. Done right, it can yield a floor that can last more than a 100 years. It sounds so easy just reading about floor installation or watching a video on YouTube. So why are there so many problems in reality? Because installing a wood floor is not that easy. Every day home owners pay a good amount of money for so called professionals to install their floors, only to have a problem floor shortly after.

The most common complaints are:

  1. Cupping – that is when the edges of each floor plank are raised. A Simple solution to that is knowing your moisture content and relative humidity levels inside the home and the wood before, during and after installation. Many installers skip this step or don’t understand it. The fact is that any wood can be installed successfully in most situations. A simple check with a moisture meter and allowing time in the schedule for acclimation can prevent most of the cupping complaints.
  1. Gaps – whereas cupping is the result of the wood gaining moisture, gaps is the opposite. When gaps appear in the floor, it is an indication that the floor lost moisture. That means again that acclimation and/or living conditions were not met when installation took place. Gaps also happen during the winter season when dry heat from the home furnace dries the air and causes shrinkage in the wood floor.
  1. Squeaks – the floor look flat but makes a lot of noise. One common reason is a bad nailing technique combined with the wrong nailer and fastener gauge. Another reason could be poor milling of the wood. Either way, the installer should have noticed the issue before completing the entire floor. Another possible reason is that the sub floor has a lot of deflection so with every step the wood moves and in turn makes a squeaky sound.
  1. Appearance – with every flooring product the manufacturer usually allows for up to 5% of material to be out of grade. That means that in worst scenario every box of flooring will have 5% of flooring material that can’t be used or would not look so good with the rest of the floor. It is fair to say that in most cases the floor planks are pretty consistent and don’t actually have that much waste in each box. Nonetheless, when installing a floor it is good practice to mix up the boxes and communicate to the home owner what the material looks like. I’ve seen many who went to local showroom and looked at a small sample without being told that the actual floor would look much different. There will always be the dark board and the light board in the floor. It is a natural product, but when some planks look like they truly don’t belong – it is a problem.
  1. Transitions – doorways with really big and bulky thresholds or sliding doors with not so beautiful moldings. It is all in the details, that is what I was taught. The floor could like great but when the final touches are not crisp and pretty it can really ruin the overall “feel” of the install quality. Taking the time to plan out those details can pay off big time when the job is done.

At Avi’s Hardwood Floors we work hard to make sure every client is truly happy for years to come. This takes a lot of educating you the client and open lines of communication throughout your project. As it is impossible to make each floor perfect, we get pretty darn close to it every time.

Hiring a Professional to Sand and Finish Your Hardwood Floors – Understand What You Pay For

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Here at Avi’s Hardwood Floors we specialize in installing, sanding and finishing wood floors. That is all we do, every day five days a week all year. One client said to me recently that he did not appreciate the full art and effort it took to refinish a floor until he saw us in action.

These days it seems most flooring products in the market are part of a trend of colors like gray and white. These floors are mostly engineered and often wire brushed which means – you cannot refinish them in the future. The art of sanding and finishing is slowly disappearing as the need for craftsmanship is declining. The market is filled with more people who can only install floors at a simple straight layout, yet alone add borders or set inlays and medallions.

The art of sanding and finishing is more appreciated now than ever, as home owners who have solid wood floors start searching for someone to refinish their wood floors, they often times find it hard to find someone qualified to do the job. Most guys have not had any training in refinishing floors or simply cannot do it.

When you find and hire a professional to refinish your floors understand the following:

  • Refinishing floors is an art. Even with all the training and years of experience it is still all in the hands of the craftsman or woman
  • Every job is different so the professional is challenged with each floor in different ways
  • The task of reviving an old floor is a multi-step process, unlike what you might see on your local home channel. It is a time consuming process
  • True professionals who know their craft have been around for a while and would still be around for years to come
  • Putting a price per square foot on this type of labor is simplifying the idea that anyone can do it and provide the same result
  • Refinishing wood floors takes a lot of attention to detail, for example: protecting adjacent surfaces, owning the right machines to provide complete dust free sanding, mastering the technique for each wood specie, knowing what to use for filling oak vs. cherry, how to treat a top nail floor vs. tongue and groove, identifying and repairing a floor, choosing the right finish for the client and being able to master the use of each finish.

As you can see, sanding and finishing wood floors is truly an art. It cannot simply be taught by attending one school, watching a video or reading a book alone. It is a process of years of learning and with each wood floor comes a new challenge. Next time you look for someone to refinish your wood floor understand that not all who say they can – can do it well.

How We Contain Wood Dust

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Hardwood-Floor-Kitchen-White-CabinetsAt Avi’s Hardwood Floors we use several ways to control the cleanliness of your home while we sand and finish your wood floors.

We start with a clean site. Normally we would vacuum the floors and spend time taping off areas of the home where we don’t work. If we work in kitchen area we tape off all cabinets and if you have a big tv and wall mount speakers we will tape them off as well.

We use state of the art sanding machines – these machines are expensive industrial type sanders that are specifically designed for wood sanding. These sanders are the only ones in the world tested for wood dust emissions and are the most efficient in dust containment. Sounds like magic, right? Not really. We have seen other contractors claim to be dust free when in fact all they have is an old sander with a cheap utility vacuum attached to it. A vacuum sucks in the air and blows out air. If the vacuum is not designed to capture and contain the fine particles of dust then that dust will end up back in the air.

Some of our sanders have built in dust containment systems. All we have to do is empty the bags outside when they are full. Some of our other sanders are part of a dust free sanding system so all the vacuums are interchangeable and all the filters are HEPA filters. HEPA is the most efficient filter (and most expensive) in collecting fine dust.

Of course, there is always a few dust particles that get away and end up on the baseboards or in the corners. The last step of refinishing your floors is vacuuming every inch of the floors, window cells and other areas. We thoroughly check the site for any dust and wipe off any surfaces like counter tops.

The results yield a clean home with a newly refinished floor and a clean top coat of finish with no debris or dust stuck in it. At Avi’s Hardwood Floors we have done hundreds of jobs for families that had members of the family with allergies or other health conditions. We even did a few jobs for some with severe dust allergies. Those home owners had such strong reactions to dust they had specialty air cleaning systems installed in their home. Hiring us was the sure thing to do and we never disappointed anyone with our promise for a clean sanding job.

One client insisted we taped off their entire living room before we started work. We did. He came to check up on us a few hours into the refinishing process and said: “wow, there really isn’t any dust!” we just smiled and kept on sanding.

Trust us in doing a great job while keeping your home clean. This is not one of those empty marketing promises, it is the truth.

Why Should You Be Concerned about Wood Dust?

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  • Hardwood-Floor-hallway-staris-livingroomWood dust is not something our bodies can process. Wood dust is one of the more common causes of health problems especially lung related conditions.
  • Wood dust can irritate our bodies in many ways, for example breathing exotic wood dust can cause nose bleeds which we have seen happen on a job site. Dust rubbing on your body can cause skin rashes and other health conditions.
  • Wood dust is very hard to clean. We have heard stories about people cleaning their homes months after a sanding job was completed because dust was still settling in parts of the home. Wood dust is fine and light so once airborne it can travel all around your home.
  • A job site that is dirty will only yield a dirty floor finish. How can anyone provide a clean coat of finish when the air is full of dust? One of the most common finish complaints by home owners is debris in the final coat of finish on their wood floors.

How do we create wood dust and why does it get everywhere?

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We use several kinds of sanding machines:
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  • Belt sanders – the abrasive is a belt which spins around a drum in one direction
  • Single disc sanders – the abrasive is round and spins in one direction
  • Multi disc sanders – three discs which spin in multiple directions
  • Orbital sanders – single disc random orbit type

The one thing that is common to all these machines is this: they all create very fine dust quickly. Unless there is a vacuum there to contain the dust, it will get in the air immediately. The motor parts and fans inside the sanders help blow the dust off the floor and up into the air. Once in the air, the dust will travel several feet and often far enough into other rooms. It takes several hours for fine wood dust to settle on flat surfaces like shelves and floor coverings.

A big part of our business is fixing other people’s sanding jobs. We have seen dust on walls, in bedrooms all over the home owners stereo and tv. We have seen dust completely covering a furnace air return and piles of it inside floor heat registers. Dust must be contained for a good sanding job.

The Best Wood Floors for Dog and Cat Owners – Part 2

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pets urine stains on hardwood floorHow to use and maintain your wood floors living with dogs and cats in the home.

Dogs and cats are probably the most common pets we all have in our home. Much like any member of our family they spill water, shed hair, scratch the wood floors and just plain wear through the house just living in it. That is part of everybody’s life. Added to the equation is the fact that if not properly trained, pets will urinate on the wood floors and permanently stain the wood.

If you have a dog or a cat and hardwood floors in your home, this blog is to help you understand what your pets do to your floors and how to keep the floors clean and maintained.

Common topics my clients have asked me about:

  • Pets who shed hair on your hardwood floors – This is a pretty easy fix. You can use a vacuum, a broom or a lightly dampened mop. I find it easier to use a damp mop or a micro fiber mop. A lot of the new micro fiber mops will pick up hair and dust without having to spray anything on the wood floors. When the mop is dirty just take it outside and shake it clean.
  • Water spills around their water station – Water and wood do not mix. No matter the finish you have on the floor, water will penetrate through it and will soak in through the floor seams and end joints over time. Water spills and drips in one area on a daily basis will cause discoloration in the wood, stain the wood or cause minor expansion and swelling of the hardwood floors. To keep those from happening, use a dry clean rag or towel to wipe the area daily. I have seen some clients that placed a plastic sheet on the wood floors and that works well.
  • Scratches on your wood floors – dogs and cats, especially large dogs will scratch your wood floors very easily. The heavier the dog the more scratches. A common mistake with site finished floors is for the home owner to move in too soon after the last coat of finish was applied. Since the finish had no time to cure properly the pets would then scratch the wood floors quickly and easily. It is important to try and keep those nails groomed and filed. It is also recommended not to let your 80lb dog run and play inside…

Much like us dogs and cats use and wear our wood floors. Following these simple guidelines will help reduce wear and tear on your floors and keep them clean for all to enjoy.

NWFA Announced Leadership Award, 2015 Board

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2015 NWFA Avi HadadNWFA announces Leadership Award the 2015 Board.

NWFA’s 2015 board. Seated, from left: Steve Brattin, SVB Wood Floor Service; Jon Namba, Namba Services; Julie Russell, Glitsa, a division of Rudd Co.; Jeff Fairbanks, Pal Duro Hardwoods; John Lessick, Apex Wood Floors; Brenda Cashion, Pinnacle Interior Elements and Michael Martin, NWFA’s president and CEO.

Middle row, from left: Lenny Hall, Endurance Floor Co.; Avi Hadad, Avi’s Hardwood Floors; Jon Smith, Smith Flooring; (2014 Board member) Joe Rocco, Artistic Floors by Design; Jim Gould, Floor Covering Institute; Craig Dupra, Installers Warehouse; Chris Zizza, C&R Flooring and Tommy Maxwell, Maxwell Hardwood Flooring.

Back row, from left: Dan Natkin, Mannington Wood Floors; Kevin Murphy, Trinity Hardwood Distributors and John Wooten, CMH Space Flooring Products.

Source

The Best Wood Floors for Dog and Cat Owners – Part 1

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20161020_114247_smMany of us have dogs or cats as part of our family, and as such we let them inside the house on the hardwood floors. Dogs and cats will walk, run and play on the wood floors and much like us humans will cause some damages over the years. Normal use of our wood floors will eventually cause loss of sheen, scratches, dents, stains and discoloration. Having pets in the house often causes early wear and tear and/or excessive scratches. This leads me to guide you through choosing and using your new wood floors.

The first thing you need to remember is that what you are wearing through is the finish on top of the wood floors, not the wood itself. When considering a new hardwood floors, remember that you don’t need the hardest wood in the world. Unless you drop hammers on the floor every day you don’t really need a floor like let’s say Ipe’ or Strand Woven Bamboo.

The second thing to remember is what the plan for the near future is; Are you going to sell the home? Are you staying there for a while and might need to be able to refinish the floors?

The third and last thing to ask yourself is what kind of pet do you have? Is it a small dog or a big heavy dog that will scratch the floor finish easily? Is it a puppy which urinates everywhere and will stain the wood?

Let’s discuss these issues and figure out which wood is best for you:

  • If choosing a prefinished product buy a higher quality floor, usually the more you pay the better the finish. If you choose a site finished product make sure your contractor uses commercial finishes and not DIY cheap one component finishes. I recommend using a site finished product because of many reasons, the main one being – you can add one or two extra coats for more protection. That was easy, right?
  • If you are selling the home in less than ten years then you’ll need to make sure your hardwood floor can be refinished or recoated before you sell it. Nobody wants to buy a home with a beat up wood floor that needs work or cannot be serviced. If you bought a prefinished floor that cannot be sanded because of a thin veneer or because of a Teflon like coating then you have a problem. If you chose a solid site finished product then you can easily repair and sand it, and most likely change the color/sheen.
  • Important: no finish is impermeable – meaning if your dog urinates on the floor or a water spill stays on the floor it will eventually penetrate through the finish and stain the wood. The stain cannot be sanded off. The solution to this is preventing by training your pets, there is really nothing you can do with wood floors to protect them from liquid damage.

To summarize, choose a floor that is versatile in service and use. Don’t choose something too soft like Fir and you don’t have to use an exotic wood like Ipe’. There are many options for you out there like White Oak, Red Oak, Maple, Brazilian Cherry, European Oak and more. Do your research and make sure that in the end, you hire and consult a professional. In the next part I will discuss how to use and maintain your hardwood floors with pets in the home.

The Benefits of Refinishing Your Oak Parquet Floors

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20161004_130742We recently refinished two oak parquet floors in the East Bay area. In both cases, the transformation was overwhelming to the home owners. Their floors were in such bad shape that they considered a floor replacement as an alternative to the refinish. A floor replacement would have cost four to five times more than a simple refinish. These days it seems as though the traditional oak look is not IN, and the weathered barn looking oak is trendier than clear urethane finishes. Rushing to tear out a solid oak floor, no matter how old it is can be costly, time consuming and doesn’t necessarily yield a much better result than preserving the floor.

With just a few steps we took a worn, old looking oak floor and made it into the focal point of the house. Here is what we did:

  • With a full dustless refinishing we stripped the old finish to expose the bare wood
  • Carefully sanded the floor flat and repaired any damaged areas
  • Used the dust from the sanding we then filled the floor to minimize any gaps
  • Wiped on a neutral stain color to bring out the beauty of the oak grain
  • Applied commercial two part water base finishes to protect the wood for years to come

20161004_131553These are two cases of how to get the most bang for your buck with hiring the right contractor (Avi’s Hardwood Floors) who can assess the floor and make the appropriate recommendation.

There is nothing wrong with a not so perfect floor. Think of how you looked like when you were a teen and how you look like today. Now think about how old your floor is. Your floor is probably decades old, had seen foot traffic from hundreds of people, furniture and food spills. If it can still take another refinish, let it be. No reason to replace it just yet.

Matching your original oak floors with new

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A lot of home remodel projects call for new hardwood floors in additions, repair of areas where walls were removed and refinishing of the existing floors. It takes a skilled craftsman to identify the type of hardwood floors you have in order to get a match to your 100 year old floor. We got a call just for that type of project in the Berkeley area. The kitchen had old and worn vinyl floor and the home owner wanted to replace that with new hardwood floors to match what was in the rest of the house. A quick look around and I determined the floors were solid top nail white oak. Original to the home, those floors had seen quite the use and a lot of sun light over the years. I recommended using the same white oak floors in the kitchen with the only difference of a tongue and groove product instead of a top nail. The owners agreed to my recommendation and accepted the quote. We then scheduled the delivery date for the wood to acclimate properly to the home. Approximately a week after that we removed the old floor in the kitchen and installed the new white oak floors. We took the time to sand and seal the appliances areas so that they could be installed back in place immediately. That way the home owners didn’t need to worry about the appliances being installed after the floors were all finished and accidently scratching them. After we completed the install we checked the moisture content in the new wood, comparing it to the moisture content in the existing hardwood floors. That gave us a good idea of how long we had to wait before sanding and finishing the new white oak floors. We came back about a week later to sand the new white oak floor in the kitchen and the existing floors in the dining room. The owners stayed somewhere else while the finishing was taking place for a week. This was phase one of two to refinish the floors in the entire first floor. With having no place to put the furniture, a full schedule and young kids in the house we all decided to plan out and schedule the second phase later in the year. The finish on the older floors was a one component low solids water base. The finish faded over the years and was completely worn by the time we got there to do the work. When we were done the big difference in finish qualities and look was obvious to the untrained eye ever before. Four coats of high solid polyurethane showed a smooth, clear and rich looking finish, providing this family with a floor to be used for years to come.