How to Care for Hardwood Flooring

Hardwood floors start out rough. After the pieces are planed for a smooth finish, a tongue and groove is cut into their sides. Parquet floors are made with much the same process.

Engineered floors are created from several layers of wood veneer pressed tightly together. One advantage of engineered floors is that they can be laid directly on top of concrete slabs.

The finish on the floor will partly determine the best method of floor care. In general, caring for waxed wood floors is the same as caring for those coated in polyurethane -- but there are some differences. Waxed floors should be cleaned with a cleaning/waxing compound that lifts out dirt and adds a coat of fresh wax. Polyurethane-coated floors should be cleaned with vinegar and water.

First, though, find out if the floor is covered with wax or polyurethane. To find out, drip some water onto the floor. If the water beads and stays on top of the floor, it's probably polyurethane; if it soaks in after a few minutes, the floor is probably coated with wax. Another way to tell is to wipe the floor with a rag dampened with mineral spirits. If the floor is waxed, the cloth will develop a waxy feel.

8 Expert Flooring Tips

     1.   Lay Your Floors for Strength

For aesthetic reasons, many people choose to install their floorboards lengthwise across the room. But when you're deciding which way to lay your floor, be sure to run it perpendicular to your joist. This will make your floor as strong as possible and will prevent warping or separating in those pieces in the long run.

     2.   Start With a Level Surface

Before installing any type of wood flooring, it's important to make sure your subfloor is level. If there are voids underneath the floorboards, the floor will squeak. This floor was leveled with sand and topped with a rubber underlayment made from recycled materials.

     3.   Lay a Subfloor If Needed

If you plan to glue down your floor, the only preparation needed is to level the floor. But if you want to nail down your floor, you need to lay a subfloor. Be sure the total thickness of the flooring plus the plywood is enough to receive the nails.

     4.   Consider Floating Floors

Floating floors are inexpensive and easy to install – no nails or glue needed. They're also a great option if your old flooring might have asbestos in it. The boards can be installed right on top of your old floors, saving you the cost of calling in the pros to remove the asbestos.

     5.   Stick to Your Adhesive's Directions

When gluing a wood floor, check the drying time for your particular brand of adhesive. Work in small sections so you don't spread more adhesive than you can cover before it dries.

     6.   Try Engineered Wood in Damp Areas

Ideal for basements and other areas where moisture might be an issue, engineered-wood flooring consists of a top layer of real wood attached to multiple, thin layers of plywood or fiberboard. Depending on the thickness of the veneer, engineered wood can be refinished once or twice.

     7.   Always Test Your Stain

When it comes to staining, wood is unpredictable. Before covering your entire floor, test the stain in an inconspicuous area or on a sample piece of wood to make sure you are satisfied with the color.

     8.   Protect Your Floors

When staining wood floors, keep in mind that the stain is not a protective finish — it only adds color or tone to the wood. Applying another layer of protective coating or polyurethane will protect your investment in the long run.