Hi. This is Guy Lee. I am a professional, licensed hardwood floor installer, repairer and refinisher, with experience in personally working in almost 700 homes on the San Francisco Peninsula.
Hardwood floors are a beautiful floor covering. With the modern, constantly improved finishes, they are suitable for all rooms, even bathrooms and kitchen.
I have had the opportunity to examine about 2000 hardwood floors. The condition of these floors range from pristine new to badly abused. If floors are treated like a cement garage floor, they can become very ugly in less than a year. However, with proper care, they can look great for 20 years or more.
The key to keeping your floors looking great is keeping water, chemicals, dirt and other abrasive materials off the floor. The first and most effective preventative measure is to place mats at the interior and exterior of all doors leading outdoors or into the garage (and telling the kids to wipe their feet!). If you have hardwood kitchen floors, place a rug or mat where you frequently stand, such as at the sink, frig or stove. Next, regularly sweep or vacuum up loose crumbs, sand, or other particles. Then periodically damp mop either with plain water or sprinkle and wipe off a hardwood floor cleaner specifically made for unwaxed floors (assuming they have been finished in the past 20 years).
Be sure never to put potato peelings or other matter down your disposall which could clog the drain. This could cause an overflow of your dishwasher and cause water damage. Just as common are leaks in refrigerator ice maker lines, which have inheritly leaky joints if not properly secured.
If your floors get dingy or start looking dirty in spots, consider having them refinished with are low cost “No Sanding” process to provide many more years of life.
By the way, if you ever have any questions or would like to get ahold of me, call me at 650-591-5286. Thanks!
Filed under: Hardwood Floors
I’ve known Guy for several years and I can attest to the fact that he’s a really great man! Really honest and really committed to doing good work. I’ve used his services more than once and my clients have loved him! I’d strongly encourage you to call him
what can I put on my bare oak floors tht will look clear and natural?
Karla, if your floors are truly bare or unfinished, they need immediate protection. Lightly sand off any dirt or water stains. Then vacuum and tack cloth to remove all dust. You can either then stain with a “Neutral” oil based stain, or go directly to applying 2 or 3 coats of a polyurethane. The stain will bring out the richness and grain, but will perhaps not give you as natural a look as you want. Using a water based polyurethane will give you significantly less “ambering” over the years than using an oil based urethane. Follow directions carefully and don’t skip any steps. I hope this answers your question.
Dear Lee, your website is the first I found and it’s awsome. Here’s my deal. I am restoring a house with pine wood floors, theyve been abused with carpet neglect, but im determined and excited with the challenge. It’s an old house…my question is what do you think of the style of painting hardwood floors…yea it would be easier but i feel guity even considering doing that,,, I have always had hardwood floors ,, ive have had my own cleaning business for over 30 yrs and would clean hardwood over carpet anyday thank you for your time… kimmy
Hi Kimmy -
Thanks for your inquiry. Pine is a very very soft wood for floors, easily absorbing dents and does not accept a typical stain very evenly. Painting can work well. You might paint the floors, after having prepared them properly with light sanding, and then coat them with a water based polyurethane finish for extra protection. The polyurethane is really a skin of tough plastic. Two coats are even better.
Or you could sand them down to the new wood, apply a sealer, and then 2 or 3 coats of polyurethane. This would avoid the problem of uneven staining and result in a natural looking wood. Water based urethane will not “amber” over time like oil based, but it does raise the grain. The solution is to lightly sand with 180 or 220 between coats, or use a “screen”. This will result in a georgeously smooth and beautiful floor.
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