Things to Consider When It’s Time for New Floors

Smith Bros. Floors Ltd.

A well-maintained hardwood floor can last your home a lifetime. Eventually, however, there’s only so much resurfacing, maintenance, and repairs that can be done before it’s finally time for a replacement. If that time has come for you, there are a few things you should keep in mind!

Knowing the Signs

In order to be sure that you’re in need of a replacement, it’s a good idea to try and spot some of the most common symptoms. You may remember some of these from our blog on the differences between replacement and refinish. As always, structural problems are what you should look for first. Subfloor damage or creaking and movement due to gaps are issues that can’t be properly alleviated with a refinish, especially if you’ve had many refinishes over the years. The same can be said for widespread damage due to water or pests.

Knowing What You Want

You’re probably aware of what your limitations might be due to subfloor type, heating system, and other factors. However, there are other questions that come up in the replacement process. Do you want to maintain the old look, or explore new species to change the feeling of your interior? Do you want to add value to your home in the long term? If so, sticking with solid or engineered hardwood rather than switching a laminate floor is definitely advisable. Thinking of prefinished flooring? This is great in terms of time-efficiency and cost, but if aesthetics are your priority, you’ll get more variety of options and a flush evenness between planks with a floor sanded and finished on site.

Knowing the Right Installer

Replacing your flooring, particularly if you have lots of space in your home, can seem like an intimidating endeavour. However, with the right hardwood professionals by your side, it shouldn’t be! Your installation expert will always be able to assist in finding the right floor for your tastes and budget. Not only could that replacement take less time than a refinish, but the work of a true hardwood expert will ensure only the best longevity for your new floor.

Is it time to give your hardwood flooring the complete overhaul? You’ve come to the right place. With nearly a century of experience, quality, and integrity, Smith Bros. can provide you with new floors that will transform the look of your home. To get started, get in touch with us at (403) 917-0847 today!

Acclimation: Knowing Your Interior Environment

Smith Bros. Floors Ltd.

Many of the most important factors at play in caring for your floor are categorized as aspects of your interior environment. This is one of several reasons why temperature, humidity, and the concept of acclimation are so important!

Your Floors and Their Environment

As you may know, the process of choosing the right wood flooring type for an interior involves considering a number of conditions, including what type of heating is implemented in your home and what your local climate is like. High-traffic activity due to pets, family, or friends might be the first thing on your mind, but temperature and moisture are critical too. As such, it’s important to look out for these factors just as attentively as you’d watch out for big spills or stiletto heels!

What’s Acclimation?

The term “acclimation” can have slightly different meanings depending on context. More broadly, it refers to making sure the heat and humidity of a room is optimal to the longevity of the solid hardwood flooring inside it. More specifically, it also refers to the process of leaving hardwood planks on site for a period of time, allowing their grain structure to adjust to their surrounding conditions. There are differing opinions in the industry regarding when and to what extent the latter process is necessary, but the effect of room humidity and heat on the integrity of solid hardwood (and the importance of keeping an eye on these conditions) is common knowledge.

The Right Conditions

While there are exceptions, a general guideline you can use is to keep humidity within a range of 40% to 60%, while temperature should fall within a range of 15 to 26 degrees Celsius. However, with certain exotic species, things get a bit more particular, so be sure to check with your retailer or installer. If you find humidity getting a bit excessive during some days of summer, a dehumidifier can serve to avoid expansion and cupping. Conversely, humidifying your interior during particularly dry winter days can alleviate contraction. With attention and care, your beautiful floors will stay in their optimal condition for years!

Have further questions on the unique needs of your flooring and conditions of your interior? Smith Bros. would be more than happy to answer them! To make sure your floors are being cared for properly, give us a call at (403) 917-0847 today!