So you’re thinking about getting hardwood floors installed. What should you expect? At SVB Wood Floors, we put together a little information to help you know what to expect with a hardwood floor installation. We have found that when our customers are familiar with the process, everything goes a little more smoothly and we end up with happier customers.
Step 1: Free Wood Floor Consultation
We always start with a free consultation. We sit down and review our hardwood floor checklist with you. We help you decide on a type of hardwood, species, width of planks, stain color and finish. We want to make sure you are completely happy with the floor you choose. We can bring in samples so you can see them in your home with your cabinets, other flooring, etc. to make sure that it will blend with your home. We can even custom mix stain to give you exactly the shade you want.
Step 2: Wood Floor Preparation
The only thing you need to do before the installation is remove as much from the room(s) getting new floors as possible. This includes furniture, drapery, paintings, etc. This minimizes the risk of any of your furnishings getting bumped or broken during the installation process. We will let you know when to expect us so you’ll have time to get ready.
Step 3: Hardwood Floor Installation
This is the most disruptive part of the process. Expect some noise and traffic in your home as our crew installs the planks. Once the planks are in place, they are sanded for smoothness. There is no need to vacate the home because we use a dustless sanding method that contains the dust and whisks it outdoors to our truck-mounted container. This dustless sanding process is great if you are refinishing your floors as well because it requires no chemicals to strip the old finish. It’s environmentally friendly, and very convenient because you won’t have to seal off the room or leave the home.
Related Read: All “Dustless Sanding” Is Not the Same
Step 4: Staining and Finishing Your Hardwood Floors
After we sand your floor, we stain it with a water-based stain of your choosing. When the stain is dry, we finish the floor with several coats of an environmentally safe, durable, and quick-drying topcoat. You choose the finish from matte to regular to glossy. Two to three hours after the finish is applied you are able to walk on the floor with stocking feet. No pets for 48 hours or furniture for 7-10 days (until the floor is fully cured).
Step 5: Maintaining Your Hardwood Floor
This is where our job ends, but you’ll want to keep your floors looking fantastic for years to come. You can keep your wood floors looking their best with common sense and proper maintenance. Keep your home’s relative humidity between 30 to 50 percent. Use only cleaning products recommended for your floors and use them regularly to keep your wood floors looking beautiful for years to come.
Related Read: 9 Simple Secrets to Keeping Your Hardwood Floors Looking Good
We hope this helps you know what to expect when installing a hardwood floor. Our team does their best to get the job done as quickly as possible with as little disruption to your life as possible. If you’re considering refinishing, replacing, or adding a wood floor, give us a call at (816) 965-8655. We’ll walk you through every step and make sure you’re thrilled with the final result.
