Guy's Floor Service - Hardwood Page

Hardwood Information Sheet and Care Guide

WHY HARDWOOD AS YOUR CHOICE FOR FLOOR COVERING?

Hardwood floors have gained in popularity over the years because they are easy to maintain, moderately priced, can be resurfaced inexpensively and most of all because they are beautiful. You have probably heard that a new hardwood floor can be very messy and inconvenient process. By choosing Guy's Floor Service to do your flooring work, you have diminished some inconvenience involved with the job in a manner that is consistent with this information. We have compiled the following information to help ease the inconvenience involved with the sanding and the finishing of existing wood floors and the installation of new floors.

THE DUST
The sanding dust involved with sanding a hardwood floor is very fine and will filter through nearly any barrier. Guy's Floor Service will hang plastic for an extra charge. This will help, but not completely contain the dust. The customer is responsible for moving all items that could be damaged by the dust or extreme vibrations of the sanding process (food, pictures, window treatments, small appliances, etc.) Guy's Floor Service will not be responsible for damage done to wall coverings, from tape or tracks used to secure plastic. Guy's Floor Service cannot hang plastic anywhere that we cannot reach.

HARMFUL SUBSTANCES
Sheet vinyl over 10 years old may contain asbestos. Guy's Floor Service asks that you have any suspected substance detected, tested and abated by an asbestos removal company. Guy's Floor Service will not be responsible for disturbing undetected hazardous materials. If you have a question about a specific item, your estimator will be of help to you.

THE WORK
Guy's Floor Service can move appliances for an additional charge, but assumes no liability for damage to these items. Guy's Floor Service cannot be responsible for any plumbing connections such as toilets, ice makers, and washer hook-ups, etc. Please have these items arranged prior to our arrival. Please remember that all items not expressed in writing on your proposal are not the responsibility of Guy's Floor Service. All debris caused by Guy's Floor Service will be hauled away as part of the job noted on the proposal. Guy's Floor Service will not be responsible for dust clean-up once the job is completed.

The actual process in a new wood floor installation for an average job is as follows:

Prep work varies on each job check with your estimator

Installation - 1 or 2 days

Sand, Fill and Stain - 1 day

1st coat - 6 hours plus up to 24 hours drying time depending on temperature and humidity.

2nd coat - 6 hours plus up to 24 hours drying time depending on temperature and humidity.

Base, appliances back in, resecuring carpet, etc. - 1 to 2 days

Your estimator will be able to refine these estimates for you. Keep in mind that unexpected things sometimes occur and may extend your completion time. Please make sure you have 200 volt outlet (dryer or range plug) accessible and operational.

Part of the benefit of a job-finished hardwood floor is that you can pick a stain color on the job. Wood can accept stain color differently on the job not to mention the impact of lighting and surrounding colors which will influence your final choice. We recommend that you make your selection as early as possible the day the job is being sanded. Gloss or Satin finish is also available and is usually selected prior to the day that we begin your job.

On the final day of the job, we can install new baseboards or quarter round if this was included in your proposal. We usually install new baseboards or quarter round to cover the expansion space that is required between your new flooring and the wall. Guy's Floor Service can not guarantee removal or reinstalling of used or existing base.

Guy's Floor Service will resecure your carpet next to your hardwood floors if it is included in your proposal. Carpet can get old and brittle as well as becoming discolored as the carpet ages: therefore, we can not guarantee the appearance of your carpet after it is resecured.

Because of the amount of dust that remains airborne or becomes airborne during the polyurethane process, you may notice some dust in your finish. This is unavoidable: however, there are some things you can do to alleviate this problem. You may cover your heat vents in the rooms that we will be working in as long as that does not slow the drying time enough to inconvenience you. You can also avoid disturbing anything that may cause dust in the area surrounding your wet finish. If a small amount of dust happens to settle into the finish it will walk off with normal foot traffic in a short period of time. Small bubbles in the finish will also walk off with normal foot traffic. Call your estimator with any questions.

TOUCH UP
When removing an existing floor, we have a reputation for taking the utmost care: however, sometimes damage is unavoidable. Please be prepared for touchups to paint, wall coverings, trim and cabinetry.

DOORS
Cutting doors and resetting your threshold may be included in your proposal. Cutting doors is usually required when laying a new oak floor because we are raising your floors by 3/4". In order to get a nice looking fit around your threshold we will remove it and set it on top of your wood floor at an extra charge. This will also facilitate an area rug in front of the door. Closet and interior doors may also need to be cut and reset. Check your proposal to make sure that this is covered. In most cases dishwashers, and stackable range ovens can be adjusted to compensate for the extra 3/4" wood floors but the question should be addressed with your estimator.

HEALTH CONCERNS
The fumes from the finishes we use can cause headaches, nausea, or nervousness and irritability. Please try to avoid the fumes for a few hours after application. If you have special health concerns or are pregnant, Please consult your physician.

SCREENS & RECOATS
Due to the multitude of cleaning products on the market today, Guy's Floor Service can not guarantee new finish adhering to the old finish when a screen & recoat is performed on your floor.

CARING FOR YOUR HARDWOOD FLOORS
Taking care of your hardwood floors is as easy as frequently sweeping with a dust mop. When your floors need a deeper cleaning, you can damp mop the floor using a product such as Dura Seal, which can be purchased at your local Sherwin-Williams store. Remember, the less water you use on the floor, the longer your finish will last and it is recommended that you use a dry cloth to wipe the floors. The beauty of a Polyurethane system is that you can have a new coat of polyurethane on your floors from time to time as long as water or a mixture of white vinegar and water is used sparingly to clean. Using wax, Oil Soap or anything else will keep a new coat of finish from adhering to your existing finish.

High heels will cause dents in your floor. Actually they cause dents in many flooring products because about 1,200 pounds of pressure per inch is exerted on a small pressure point. Other flooring products, such as vinyl, adjust for the problem by putting embossed (pits) into the surface of sheet vinyl which can be hard to clean. Hardwood floors have a very smooth, even, easy to clean surface when new. The dimples from high heel shoes accumulate over the years and you have the option of resanding your floors eventually. Please be sure to protect your floors from the bottom of your chairs by using Easy Glides, a self adhering carpet pad which is applied to the legs of your furniture. Please be careful with casters on your hardwood floors as they can bruise your floor. Be cautious with any heavy object on your floor and don't roll your refrigerator or drag anything directly across your hardwood floors. Always use a thin sheet (1/4") of plywood or Masonite when moving something heavy across your floors.

WHITE AND GRAY FLOORS
Guy's Floor Service will no longer be offering a wide variety of whitewash or gray wash floors. The new procedure on all white or gray was floors will be as follows:

Sand and water as necessary. All floors to white or gray washed will require watering to open the wood grain.

Stain with #201 white or drift wood gray stain wiped dry. We will not make floors whiter or grayer. The stain requires 72 hours to dry before finishing. No exceptions.

Finish will be water base, 3 coats, satin or gloss

After a final coat of finish, carpet (area rugs) can not be put into place for 7 days to allow finish to cure properly.

The nature of white floors is that there are maintenance items. Cracks are more obvious because of the contrasting white background of your floor. Be prepared to recoat a white floor every 6-8 months with a water-base finish.

REMEMBER
Wood is a natural product and is continually expanding and contracting depending on temperature and humidity conditions. It is not uncommon for cracks to occur in your hardwood floors during dry winter months. When the floors absorb moisture during spring and summer months, the cracks may close up slightly. Always remember to call the Professional at Guy's Floor Service at 303-375-8777 for prompt courteous service with any questions regarding your floors.

Guy's Floor Service Inc.
email: webmaster@guysfloor.com

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