Gorgeous to look at and easy to take care of, hardwood floors are popular with homeowners. While the flooring may look homogeneous at a glance, each wood species has its own texture and unique appeal. Here are some of the most common options to help you decide which to install.

What Types of Hardwood Floor Are Available?

1. White Oak

If you’re looking for lighter woods with durability, this will be the direction you want to go. It can be a pale brownish color or nearly yellow. It also has a distinctive, dotted grain pattern. It is a valuable, rather expensive wood, but is usually less expensive than cherry and walnut. White oak makes up one of the most desirable and durable hardwood flooring. It’s one of the hardest wood options available, so it’s helpful for homeowners with indoor pets. 

2.  Red Oak

If you’re looking for durability, go with oak. It’s resistant to stains, dents, and scratches, meaning you don’t have to worry about covering the floor with rugs to protect it. It’s also known for its distinct grain pattern, which has waves of brown and beige peppered with small areas of black. The natural pattern of the grain in Red Oak tends to be more visible. With its more uniform grain, White Oak may look like a more solid and substantial floor, but don’t let all those swirls fool you. Red Oak is just as durable and sturdy.

3. Hickory 

Domestically manufactured from hickory trees grown right here in the U.S., hickory is one of the hardest and most durable surfaces sold today. The fact that it is often used in the making of baseball bats and golf clubs is a testament to its incredible strength, density and resistance to wear and tear. Because it is less prone to scratches, dings and other types of damage, it is perfect to use in particularly high-traffic areas of the home such as kitchens and living rooms. The grain pattern featured in hickory floor boards boast a wide range of brown, red and tan shades. Marked by mineral streaks and knots, hickory floors feature an intricate, sophisticated and slightly antique appearance that translate to an unparalleled level of authenticity and quality. 

4. Walnut

Known for its darker color and more intricate texture pattern, this species makes rooms look more upscale and sophisticated. Since it’s a slightly softer wood, you must protect it with rugs. It’s beautiful in low-traffic areas, such as bedrooms. 

5. Maple

Maple floors come from the wood of a maple tree and are hardwood, making it perfect for flooring. Maple floors have gorgeous natural patterns in them with a soft striation and graining.

Maple hardwood flooring is a dense, durable product that looks beautiful in a range of decorating styles in your home. With differing plank sizes and colors, it meets any taste preference from traditional to contemporary. Maple flooring’s light- to medium-brown hues give a clean, refined look to your floors. Maple hardwood flooring is also easy to maintain as it doesn’t require any sealing. A good sweeping and an occasional mopping will keep a maple floor looking beautiful for years to come.

Aesthetically, maple flooring is typically creamier and lighter than a hickory or maple. It has faint mineral streaks running through it and the grain lines can vary from straight to wavy. Maple hardwood flooring is stable, yet stunning and is the perfect addition to any home.

There are a lot of variables when it comes to choosing the right wood floor that will suit your needs. At SVB Wood Floors we believe in quality hardwood flooring services. We are the Kansas City wood floor installation, refinishing and restoration experts throughout the KC metro. We’ve been serving the Kansas City area for 15+ years and we pride ourselves on top quality.

Right now, many of us are cooped up at home and while the situation is far from ideal, it can be a great time to get some cleaning done. It’s not only important to keep a clean home to lower the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and other germs, but getting a head start on spring cleaning can help you feel productive and make your home a more pleasant place to be. If someone in your home is sick, it’s important to not just clean, but to disinfect surfaces and your floors are no exception.

Should I Clean or Disinfect My Floors?

One of the first things to note is there is a big difference between simply cleaning and disinfecting your home. Cleaning helps to remove germs but does not kill them, though this does lower the risk of spreading infection as it reduces the number of germs. Disinfecting uses chemicals to kill germs on surfaces. This does not necessarily clean dirt or remove these germs, so it is always best to clean first and then disinfect to lower the risk of spread. The good news is, if no one in your home is sick it is only necessary to clean (without disinfecting) to reduce the spread and keep everyone safe and healthy. Keep up with a daily cleaning schedule like frequent and thorough hand washing to maintain a healthy household.

Fortunately, when it comes to flooring, fully disinfecting is rarely necessary in any case. CDC studies have shown that disinfecting floors has minimal impact beyond regular cleaning. We’ve included some disinfecting tips below anyway, but for the most part you don’t have to change your cleaning methods, though you may want to clean a little more frequently than usual.

Cleaning Tips for Hardwood Flooring

Just like any other time, daily use of a microfiber mop is a great way to keep your hardwood floors clean. You can vacuum with a soft-bristled floor brush attachment to clean up even more dirt, dust, and debris. Hardwood floors can be damaged by moisture so be sure to damp the mop.

Disinfecting Hardwood Flooring

Again, it’s important to clean hard surfaces prior to disinfecting, and if you’re using a disinfecting product be sure to carefully review the manufacturer’s instructions prior to use to know how long your disinfectant needs to be in contact with the surface to kill germs. It’s also good to know the difference between cleaners that kill bacteria and ones that kill viruses and look for the latter. Many anti-bacterial cleaning agents are also disinfectants that will kill viruses but double check the label.

Whenever you’re disinfecting, make sure to wear disposable gloves if you have them handy to protect your skin from the chemicals. If you only have reusable gloves, be sure to dedicate these gloves specifically for cleaning and disinfecting for COVID-19. Wash and clean your hands thoroughly as soon as you remove these gloves. Most hard surfaces recommend a bleach solution for disinfecting, but you’ll want to keep bleach and other harsh chemicals away from your hardwood flooring. The best option is to use a damp mop with a cleaner made specifically to disinfect hardwood floors for example Bona products. After damp mopping, dry the surface with a clean, soft, dry towel to remove any lingering moisture.

What Not to Do

When it comes to disinfecting wood floors, knowing which products you shouldn’t use is just as important as finding the right ones that work. When cleaning your floors, do your best to avoid using too much water and steer clear of using a steam cleaner to get the job done – either of which can warp the wood.

Certain household products like vinegar and baking soda are commonly used to clean various parts of the home but aren’t recommended for cleaning wood floors as they can wear down the polyurethane coating, which gives wood flooring that glowing shine.

Keeping Your Floors Clean to Keep Your Home Healthy

Frequent and thorough cleaning is important right now to keep your home safe and healthy from the spread of the Coronavirus and other illnesses. The good news is that your usual routine floor cleaning, no matter your flooring surface typically will suffice in lowering the spread of germs. Working out a daily schedule can help keep your home happy and healthy.

At SVB Wood Floors we believe in quality hardwood flooring services. We are the Kansas City wood floor installation, refinishing and restoration experts throughout the KC metro. We’ve been serving the Kansas City area for 15+ years and we pride ourselves on top quality. Your home’s hardwood floors can be simple or extravagant, but no matter what you’re looking for, when you choose SVB Wood Floors for your local hardwood flooring company in Kansas City, you’ll be thrilled with the results. In addition to residential wood flooring services, we also offer professional commercial flooring services as well.

Whether you are replacing aging floors in your home or installing new commercial flooring, it’s always recommended that you work with a licensed contractor. The quality of your floors is crucial for maintaining your property’s daily functionality and protecting its overall value. That’s why it’s imperative to hire a licensed professional for new flooring installations and hardwood floor repair in Overland Park, KS, or wherever you are having hardwood flooring services done. Here are 4 reasons to hire a licensed contractor.

1. Get the Right Floors

With so many different options available for new flooring, it can be overwhelming to figure out which is best for your space. You might need flooring that is aesthetically pleasing in specific situations; in others, your biggest concern might be durability. By working with a licensed installer, you get their expertise when deciding which flooring is best for your needs.

2. Seamless Installation

To obtain a license, professional contractors must demonstrate that they understand the best practices for installing new materials. That means you can rest easy knowing that you won’t need to pay for expensive floor maintenance and repairs down the road.

3. Discarding of Old Materials

Licensed installers don’t just handle your new flooring installation; they also dispose of your old flooring. This can save you time and money. Depending on what your old flooring was made of, it may be able to be recycled. A licensed contractor will make sure it’s taken care of in the best way possible.

4. Added Convenience

Even for the most seasoned DIY-er, floor installation is a major project. Since it’s so important to maintain a high property value, it needs to be done the right way. By working with a licensed contractor who has a proven record of successful installations, you can rest easy knowing that the project will be completed professionally without the stress of doing it yourself.

At SVB Wood Floors we believe in quality hardwood flooring services. We are the Kansas City wood floor installation, refinishing and restoration experts throughout the KC metro. We’ve been serving the Kansas City area for 15+ years and we pride ourselves on top quality. Your home’s hardwood floors can be simple or extravagant, but no matter what you’re looking for, when you choose SVB Wood Floors for your local hardwood flooring company in Kansas City, you’ll be thrilled with the results. In addition to residential wood flooring services, we also offer professional commercial flooring services as well.

Installing hardwood floors adds immense value to your home. If you opt to
continue your hardwood flooring installation through to your kitchen, you
might be wondering how to protect your investment in a room that is highly
trafficked and often synonymous with water (the natural enemy of your
glorious hardwoods). Here are some easy tips for protecting your hardwoods
in the kitchen!

Strategically Placed Rugs

There are a few “high-risk” areas in your kitchen that require a little extra
protection. Look around your kitchen and note any such areas – common
places are in front of the sink, dishwasher, and under any pet bowls. A
well-placed rug can go a long way in protecting your investment. Be sure to
select the right rug backing that will not discolor or trap moisture on your
floors’ surface.

There are many types of area rug pads to choose from offered in various
materials, thickness, weight, density, sizes, shapes, and quality. To prevent
damage to your floor, the pad should not include any glues, adhesives,
chemicals, plastics, or PVC as these can stain or stick to the floor surface. The
more density and weight of the pad, the more protection from denting
caused by the furniture weight pushing through the area rug. Our
recommendation for the most suitable rug pad on hardwood flooring is
either 100% natural felt, 100% natural rubber, or a combination of both.

Felt Protectors

If you have a kitchen island, you most likely have some bar stools to go with it!
Be sure to place felt protectors on the bottom of the chairs to minimize
scratches and scuffs. Non-abrasive, felt-backed products are best. Rubber or
plastic backed products can trap moisture & discolor your floor.

Regular Cleaning

Today’s hardwood floors are quick and easy to maintain. With a few low-cost
cleaning tools and a little preventative maintenance, they can look beautiful
for years to come. In addition to maintaining a stable environment, your
hardwood floor should be cleaned regularly. Simply sweep, dust mop or
vacuum to remove the dirt & grit that comes with the hustle and bustle of
daily life. In a busy kitchen, spills are bound to happen! Whether it’s a splatter
of brownie batter or a spilled glass of water, quick clean-up is key. When this
happens, immediately wipe up liquid spills with a clean cloth or paper towels.
When necessary, clean your floors with a hardwood floor cleaning product.
Depending on the kind of hardwood floor you have, cleaning instructions can
vary. Remember, we do not recommend all-purpose cleaners as they can dull
your floor’s finish or leave a hazy residue.

If you’re looking for quality, hardwood floor cleaning services in Overland Park or the Kansas City metro, call us today at (913) 396-6863 or (816) 944-3155 for a FREE, no-obligation estimate.

The temp outside is rising! Do you know how to protect your flooring investment? Here are 4 simple tips to safeguard your floors in the heat of summer!

Watch the Humidity Levels

This tip is important year-round and especially in the warmer months of summer. Air conditioning can dry out the air and in many areas of the country, humidity levels rise to extremely high levels in the summertime. Neither extreme is healthy for your hardwood floors. Some seasonal shrinking or expanding of your floors will happen – but you can keep this to a minimum by keeping the humidity levels in your home within the recommended range of 30-50%.

Give a Little Extra Attention to High-Traffic Areas

With warmer months comes more time outside! Of course, you know what that means – more potential dirt being tracked inside! Dust and grime can build up and scratch your floors’ finish. Keep dirt to a minimum with regular cleaning, paying a little extra attention to higher-traffic areas like hallways, entrances, etc.

Minimize Direct Exposure to Sunlight

You are careful to protect your skin during the warm summer months, the same should go for your floors! Just as too much sun can damage your skin, direct sunlight can easily damage your floor and cause unsightly fading and discoloration. Not only will closing blinds or drawing curtains keep your home cooler in those warm summer months, but it will also prevent unnecessary damage to your gorgeous hardwood flooring.

Check out this video for more information on how to protect your floors from the damaging rays of sunlight!

SAY “NO” TO WATER DAMAGE.

A quick swim in the pool or a run through the sprinkler is a great, refreshing way to exercise and cool off when the thermostat climbs to uncomfortably high levels. Be sure that when playtime is over, everyone is toweled off and dry before heading back into the house. Wood and water never mix – be sure to mop up spills as soon as possible to keep your floors looking great!

At SVB Wood Floors we believe in quality hardwood flooring services. We are the Overland Park and Kansas City wood floor installation, refinishing, and restoration experts throughout the KC metro. We’ve been serving the Kansas City area for 15+ years and we pride ourselves on top quality.