Plank Flooring Care

Plank Flooring - Imagine your rooms finished in your favorite wood in extra long, distinctive wide plank floors once found only in historic period homes. The wider plank flooring, in longer lengths portend quality that stands out as a cut above the rest. Hardwood plank floors elevate ordinary rooms to the spectacular. The genial warmth and lustrous personality of wood plank flooring distinguish your home, making it memorable.

Paneling - Nothing compares to the unique experience of walking into a room with wood paneling. The captivating patina and texture of wooden paneled walls envelopes those who enter with a sensual warmth unachievable with any other treatment. Interior paneled walls have nearly always been decorated. Originally, hardwood paneling was used as a means to seal a room from cold drafts, but almost immediately became showcase for craftsmanship, with artistic expression reaching its peak in the 18th century.

Custom Doors - Customers often tell us that, of all of the fine architectural elements in their home, they are the most proud of their custom doors. We are confident that your family will be proud of how our custom doors compliment your home. We know of no finer hardwood door available at any price.

Care of your Plank Flooring - Properly cared for, your plank floors should last a lifetime and beyond. But, they do require care. Wood is naturally porous and can absorb and release moisture. If the humidity in you home rises, your wood floor will absorb that moisture, causing it to expand. If the humidity falls, your wood floor will release moisture, causing it to shrink.

Your installation should include expansion voids around the perimeter and around columns or floor inserts, plus expansion joints built into the floor surface. These features permit natural, normal expansion and contraction without damage to the floor. Too much moisture causes abnormal expansion, which can lead to cupping, or even buckling of your floor in exceptional situations. In abnormally dry conditions, the wood will contract, leaving separations between floorboards.

Five Steps For Proper Daily Maintenance:

1. Sweep the floor daily with a properly treated dust mop. If the floor is used heavily, sweep it up to three times per day.

2. Use throw rugs or mats at entranceways to collect grit and dirt that can damage your floors finish.

3. Wipe up spills and any moisture on the floor.

4. Remove heel marks using an approved floor cleaner applied with a soft cloth or dusting mop.

5. Make sure the heating/ventilating/air conditioning system is functioning properly, and set to maintain indoor relative humidity between 30% and 50% year round. In areas of consistently high or low outside humidity, a 15% fluctuation will not adversely affect the wood.

6. During wet weather, check for water leakage around doors and windows. Remove debris from expansion voids.

Never Do the Following:

1. NEVER shut down the ventilating system in your home for a prolonged period.

2. NEVER use household cleaning products or procedures. They can be harmful to the floor finish and to the wood and may leave floors sticky or slippery, and potentially harmful to athletes. We recommend cleaning with vinegar and water at the rate of 3 ounces of vinegar to 1 gallon of water.

3. NEVER clean your floor using scrubbing machinery or power scrubbers, which use water under any pressure. Water is your floor's worst enemy!

4. NEVER over wax your floor or use self-polishing Acrylic waxes.

5. NEVER walk on the floor with cleats, or high heel shoes.

6. NEVER slide furniture on the floors. Always lift heavy items when moving.