Hardwood floors give the home a refined and polished look. But, while many people like the idea of hardwood floors, some are a little apprehensive about the price or upkeep. To relieve this uncertainty, manufacturers have created engineered hardwood floors.

Engineered flooring is a plank with a layer of hardwood on top and layers of other materials on the bottom. These planks don’t shift and move like natural wood, nor do they need to be acclimated to room temperature. Better yet, engineered flooring is so versatile that it can be tailored to a wide variety of hardwood floor patterns.

Whether you decide to invest in solid wood planks or engineered flooring, these wood floor pattern ideas will add personality and character to your home.

1. Herringbone

The herringbone pattern is a unique design that creates a broken zigzag floor pattern. Interesting facts about this design include:

• It gets its name from its resemblance to a herring fish’s skeleton.
• The wood pattern is laid out in rectangular tiles.
• Contractors stagger the tiles so they don’t create a perfect V-shaped pattern.

2. Chevron

There are some slight similarities between herringbone and chevron patterns, the main one being the zigzag design. However, unlike the herringbone pattern, chevron flooring creates a sharp V-shape that is much more pronounced.

When it comes to creating a chevron floor:

• Contractors cut the wood planks into V-shaped pieces and lay them on the floor.
• Installation requires expert precision and attention to detail.
• The floor has to be measured and the planks must be laid vertically.

3. Parquet

Parquet flooring is another type of hardwood floor pattern with a geometric design. Interestingly, parquet flooring has origins in France, with the Palace of Versailles having one of the most famous parquet flooring designs.

Like some French wines, the most most famous French parquet designs are named after places. They are Fontainbleu, Gaujacq, Aremberg, Chalosse, Chantilly, and Soubise.

Other interesting facts about parquet flooring include:

• Some people classify herringbone and chevron patterns as members of the parquet family, but those floor patterns have a distinct design.
• Parquet can be laid in any pattern, including hexagons, bricks, diagonal basket weave, and square basket weave.
• Parquet hardwood floor patterns often have a basket weave design that can be seen in the famous French parquet designs.

4. Exotic Hardwood Floor Patterns

This is an umbrella term that describes solid wood planks that come from foreign countries like Brazil and Australia.

The exotic wood for these floor patterns comes from rare trees that have their own special patterns and designs. It’s important to be aware that the timber is sourced overseas, so these types of wood floor patterns can be quite expensive.

Common exotic wood species are:

• Cherry
• Mahogany
• Oak
• Walnut

These wood planks often have rich undertones of red, burgundy, and brown.

When it comes to using exotic wood for your floors, it’s important to remember that installation requires a hardwood finish to preserve the wood.

5. Straight Pattern

This is one of the more simplistic floor patterns and the most common. Wood planks are installed horizontally along the width of the room.

When it comes to straight patterns:

• Straight planks create a brick-like wood floor pattern.
• Any type of wood can be fashioned into straight wood planks. Contractors create straight planks from oak, mahogany, and other wood species.
• Unlike other patterns, planks don’t have to be cut into wood tiles, squares, rectangles, or V-shapes. The planks keep their natural shape and form.

Find the Right Pattern for Your Floors

Contact us today to learn more about your home flooring options. And, if you’re looking for something really unique for your floors, don’t forget to see our gallery of custom floor inlays and medallions.

Few things make a house feel like a home as much as rich hardwood floors. The solid structure and warm coloring has universal appeal. Fortunately, hardwood flooring also provides a lot of value to a home from an economic sense. This means that investing in a hardwood floor may well be the best benefit to a home long-term.

Getting existing hardwood fixed can seem a daunting task. Fortunately, refinishing old hardwood floors can be an enriching experience, not a headache. And, with the lifecycle of hardwood flooring exceeding 25 years, you may only need to go through the process once or twice in a lifetime.

Refinishing Old Hardwood Floors

At the outset, it can seem daunting to get started refinishing stained wood. Fortunately, we have had a lot of practice in the field and have a knowledge base with some of the more common information.

Consider these five points when you embark to refinish a wood floor.

1. It’s a Process

Unlike a fresh flooring install, refinishing stained wood takes more steps. The efforts put in have to preserve as much of the original material as possible. Treatments then preserve those materials, so they last.

Generally, steps include removing any previous finish or stain, mixing and matching new stain, and sealing the wood. Repairs to damaged areas or closing up gaps that may have formed from settling will also need to be done.

Then the drying time comes into play. Many people ask, “How long does it take to refinish hardwood floors?” All in all, areas being refinished may be unusable for at least six days.

2. Price out Everything

Knowing the timeframe and efforts involved are a good first step. Knowing how much it will cost is the next step.

Going through the cost of labor, equipment, and materials will help you to see the full scope of what is occurring. This is because the reality of the task doesn’t sink in until the prices are tabulated. No amount of considering the time and effort involved seems to impact like looking at that bottom line.

3. Buffing and Sanding

Understand that several processes may be engaged to remove the old finish. Buffing discs called screens are used to remove non-waxed finishes. Coarser sanding is used to remove damage or wax finishes.

All of this puts particles in the air and into vents. Vents can quickly move particles to other areas of the house. Check the current recommended information on air safety for an idea of what prophylactic tactics to employ.

4. Stains

Good indicators of when to refinish wood floors include a dull luster and visible abrasions.

New installs of contemporary wood may also require an update to other areas. Updating colors ensures that the tone of the home matches better. Also, always be prepared for some stain testing to ensure a good match.

5. Poly Seals

Finally, know how many coats of polyurethane will be applied to complete a floor. Each coat has to dry before the next can be added, and this will change up your timetable.

You will also want to know the general health impact of different poly seals. If you have animals or small children, you will want something that can handle some damage. If you expect the floors to heat near vents or a fireplace, you will also want to know the heat rating and smoke points.

Scope It Out

Refinishing old hardwood floors may be an involved process, but it is rather straightforward when you get down to it. It does, however, take considerable skill and time. Thankfully, the results more than make up for the time and effort put in.

Remember that it’s always best to leave any hardwood refinishing project to a professional, especially if you don’t have any experience or the right tools. If it’s time to have your floors redone, contact us today for a free estimate.

Learning how to clean hardwood floors helps to protect your home investment. While it may seem daunting at first, caring for your floors is actually quite simple and only requires a few products.

This handy guide for hardwood floor maintenance will help you keep your floors pristine. With a few simple steps, you never have to worry about accidentally damaging your floors or needing to refinish them before their time.

Ready to make that hardwood shine? Read on!

How to Clean Hardwood With Preventative Care

The best advice for keeping hardwood floors in great shape is to practice good stewardship. Simple measures like removing shoes to prevent the tracking in of grime, using mats at the doors, and wiping up any spills or puddles will extend the life of your wood.

Additionally, keep scratches and scuffs to a minimum by using protective pads under furniture legs and rugs in high traffic areas.

A regular sweep with a microfiber or electrostatic dust mop is plenty for daily hardwood floor care. They help trap dust and particulate that has the potential to scratch the wooden planks. A vacuum with a special floor brush is perfect for a weekly or bi-weekly clean, as well.

Washing Hardwood Floors

For a deep clean, there are safe ways to mop hardwood floors that preserve the finish. High-traffic areas might need a weekly mop, while less-used areas are perfectly fine with a once-monthly wash.

Choose a mop intended specifically for hardwood floors, and use a wood floor cleaning solution such as Bona Hardwood Cleaner that is diluted to manufacturer’s instructions. Soak your mop in the cleaning solution, then wring completely out until it just feels damp. Make sure to mop with the grain of the wood.

When damp-mopping the floor, avoid over-saturating the wood or leaving any standing puddles that can warp the wood. If required per the cleaner’s instructions, run a damp mop with clean water to rinse away the cleaner. Use a dry towel to absorb any excess water, and run fans for expedited drying if the humidity is high.

There are many cleaning products intended specifically for wood floors, but you can make a simple cleaning solution yourself. Dilute one half cup vinegar in a gallon of water to make an inexpensive, effective floor cleaner.

Never use cleaners intended for other types of flooring, like vinyl or tile. These cleaners contain ingredients that can compromise the wood finish or leave residue on the surface. If desired, you can use a soft cloth in circular motions to buff the hardwood after mopping to bring out its shine.

Stain Removal for Hardwood Flooring

How you tackle stains depends largely on the finish of your hardwood flooring. Urethane coated floors are more protected from stain penetration, and often can be treated easily with a soft cloth and a wood-safe cleaner.

Oil-finished floors, common in older homes, are more prone to stains soaking into the wood. Washing hardwood floors without a durable finish may require additional steps to take care of pesky marks.

First, wipe the surface with a non-abrasive cloth to remove any top layers of stain. Then, take the following approaches depending on the situation.

For oily stains: Rub the stain with a soft cloth and slightly diluted mild dish soap to begin to break up the oils in the wood. Rinse with clean water, and repeat a few times if stain persists, as needed.

Pat dry afterward. Once the area is completely rinsed and dried out, be sure to smooth any raised woodgrain with fine sandpaper.

Dark stains, pet stains: Gently rub the stain with steel wool (#000) and floor wax for wood surfaces. You may apply diluted bleach or undiluted vinegar to remaining dark areas, letting the cleaner soak for up to an hour. Rinse thoroughly with a damp cloth afterward.

Heel or watermarks: Rub any scuffs or watermarks with #000 steel wool and floor wax to buff away the marks. If necessary, give the area a light sanding, followed by a mineral spirit wipe down.

These methods may have to be finished with stain, then followed by wax buffing to match the surrounding oiled wood.

Maintenance Keeps Floors Beautiful

Hardwood floors are an attractive, durable choice for any home. Not only can they increase the market value of any house, but they’re also a long-term investment for the life of your home.

While they may require occasional refinishing, hardwood floors are relatively easy to care for and maintain. And now that you know how to clean hardwood floors, you can take these simple steps to keep them beautiful for years to come.

Interested in other home flooring solutions? Visit us at My Affordable Floors today to see your many options. We’ve helped thousands of homeowners maintain their hardwood floors in Milwaukee, Racine, and northern Illinois!

We’ve all come to expect sumptuous hardwood floors in our homes. Now it’s time to turn up the volume with some serious wood floor designs that will leave your visitors speechless.

Whether in the hall or the main living space, having on-trend wood floor designs can give your home the wow factor you’re looking for. So here’s a guide to the hottest wood floor designs in Milwaukee to help you find just the right one for your home.

1. Geometric Patterns

Taking parquet to the next level, parquet tiles are available in a number of striking geometric designs that scream class and individuality. Deceptively simple, with maximum impact, these tiles make use of pre-laid intricate designs on wooden tiles, interweaving light and dark woods to make stunning designs.

You can also use parquet to create highly detailed inlays to your custom geometric designs.

2. Herringbone Design

Chevron and herringbone designs are a fabulous way to take the same material and lift it to a new level of style.

Drawing the eye in, they may be a classic style, but some things never get tired. You can experiment with narrower and wider hardwood strips to create the look that will perfectly complement your space.

3. Painted Hardwood

Giving your hardwood floors a new lease on life or a distinctive look needn’t cost the earth. You can choose to have your hardwood floors painted in a tone to match your decor or choose a whitewashed or pastel shade to create a chic beach house feel wherever you are.

If you dare to be bold, consider painting a pattern onto your tiles (such as a checkerboard) or design your own stencils to leave a truly individual mark on a room.

4. Au Naturel

After years of stains, vibrant hues, and smoldering blacks and grays, the au naturel look is quietly undergoing a resurgence. It promises to be a major style in the years ahead.

Applying a protective coat of lacquer or oil enhances but does not alter the natural shades and variation found in hardwood. This helps the wood’s simple, natural beauty to shine through.

Choose a timeless classic such as oak, and your floors will pair well with the changing decorating styles in the years to come.

5. Bleached Wood

Your goal with a bleached wood floor is achieving a sun-bleached, naturally distressed look to your floors. This may scream summertime and elegant escapes by the sea, but this effect can look great year-round and is great for smaller rooms. Its light color reflects light and creates the illusion of space.

You can buy bleached wood or existing hardwood floors can be bleached to remove the natural color from them. Whatever you choose, it takes skill to get it right. Make sure you use a contractor you can trust.

Find Your Own Unique Style

Everybody may have hardwood floors these days, but that doesn’t mean yours need look like everyone else’s. These are just a few of the many great options available to personalize your floors and put your stamp on any room.

Head over to MyAffordableFloors.com to see our great range of products and services for all of your flooring needs. Or contact us for a free estimate today!