SVB Wood Floors Blog

Monthly Archives: March 2014

Don’t Settle for Boring Wood Floors . . . 3 Wood Floors We Love

March 26, 2014Wood floor installationSteve Brattin

Posted by Steve Brattin on March 26, 2014

When many people think of wood flooring they think of flat, boring, standard styles. But that’s only because they’ve never been to SVB Wood Floors and seen what’s possible. Our entire staff dedicates themselves to outstanding work, learning new technologies and techniques, and exceptional style. Here are three of our all-time favorite wood floor designs that we have helped design and install. For a look at all of our designs, check out our photo gallery.

 

Designer Floors That Add Pizzazz to any Room

Our designer hardwood floors are anything but boring. The flooring on the left shows a custom inlay that we love. We used this one in the center of a foyer, and the rest of the wood flooring radiates out from the inlay in a square pattern.  This style can easily be customized, as we have a large variety of wood styles and types, stains, and patterns to choose from. Our inlay medallions look great in large rooms or foyers as a focal point.

 

Handcrafted Floors to Bring a Room to Life

If you’re looking for a hardwood floor design that will truly stand out from the rest, this is the style to use. Our handcrafted floors are customizable and totally unique. Our favorite example is the flooring in the center of the image above. The chevron pattern details in contrast against the stacked pattern makes for a natural looking transition from living room to hallway. Forget area rugs in this room. We would never want to cover this beautiful floor!

 

A Classic Style for a Model Home

You can never go wrong with a classic hardwood floor. But our favorite classic wood floor has something a little extra. Although this beautiful cherry stained floor looks typical at first glance, it has so much more. The diagonal-lay of the wood gives it a little twist, and the custom border also makes it a one-of-a-kind. If you’re deciding on new flooring, check out this blog post on Choosing Wood Flooring that is Best for Your Home.

 

If any of our favorite designs piqued your interest, call us for a free estimate at (913) 213-5187.

 

3 Problems Caused by a Poorly Installed Hardwood Floor

March 12, 2014Wood floor installationSteve Brattin

Posted by Steve Brattin on March 12, 2014

At SVB Wood Floors, we want you to have the best experience possible when it comes to having your hardwood floors installed. If you try and cut corners by hiring a non-professional company or doing it yourself, you will likely run across a few bumps a long the way. We’ve listed the top 3 problems we see, and how you can avoid them.

Improper Sanding

The way a hardwood floor is sanded can have a huge impact in the way it will look once stained and finished. An improper sanding job can leave unwanted shapes and scratches in the wood. It can also leave mounds of dust to deal with that can end up all over your home or business, and can get into the finish, causing an undesired grittiness to the final product.  A great way to avoid this is to call in SVB for our hardwood dustless refinishing. We use the latest technology with our sanding system to eliminate dust and keep it out of your home. That means less mess, and more beautiful floors.

Toxic Stain Mixes & Puddles

Companies with little knowledge of hardwood floors make these stain mistakes all too often. If you hire a company that doesn’t follow standard protocol when it comes to hardwood flooring, you could end up with a toxic combination. Volatile Organic Compound Laws ban the mixing of certain chemicals used in some stains. Years ago flooring professionals mixed paint thinner or even kerosene with their stains to thin it out. Today, most manufacturers recommend mixing the stain with neutral stain from the same company. On the other hand, if the workers you hired don’t thin the product enough, you could end up with puddles of stain on your floor.  In order to avoid such oversights, it’s always a good idea to hire a company that is a member of the National Wood Flooring Association. NWFA members, like SVB Wood Floors, are always educated and knowledgeable about the latest standards and practices, and will always deliver a high quality job that will last a lifetime.

Installing at the Wrong Time

Wood needs to be installed at the optimal time in order for it to look the best and last the longest. If it’s not, your floors could start buckling, cupping, or crowning. This is a sign of a moisture imbalance. Wood is a hygroscopic material, meaning it can take in or release water to its environment. The best time to install hardwood floors is when the wood and the environment are in balance. Then, it is said to be in equilibrium moisture content. SVB professionals use the latest technology to make sure we install your hardwood floors at the ideal time, giving you the perfect finish every time.

For the superior hardwood floor experience in Kansas City, call SVB Wood Floors at (913)-213-5187.