|
||
|
|
|
||||||||||||
Floors for Folks Extras on Harwoods and Floors |
Huon Pine Tasmania: Did you know that the Huon Pine which grows in southern and western Tasmanian rainforests is perhaps the oldest living thing on the face of the planet earth? This enchanting timber is perhaps the world's most desirable and sought after furniture and veneering timber. Not cheap, but will most likely outlive any home that brings it into their dwelling.
What is the Hardest Hardwood?
When it comes to hardwood floors, most of us know what we want determined by look, feel, and use, and we leave the durability and clean-ability questions for the supplier. It might however interest some of you to know that there is a rating system in place that is used to determine how hard a particular wood is. Not that this scale is really useful when shopping for the end product, but it may fascinate those of you that like to acquire knowledge on such things. This rating scale is known as the Janka Scale or Janka Hardness Rating.
You can read more on the Janka Hardness Test her
What is the most Popular Hardwood used for Floors
This depends somewhat on where in the world you live, but generally speaking the most popular hardwood used for floors in modern homes is most probably Oak with Pine being a close second.
Just how long will Hardwood Flooring Last? As we've said earlier in this piece, Harwood flooring, that is properly maintained, will last a lifetime. The wood itself will most likely outlive generations of residents, but its finish may not.
A Hardwood floors that puts up with lots of people walking over it in outdoor footwear, playful pets, and boisterous kids playing etc, will obviously lose its finish faster, even though the wood will still be in good shape. Hardwood floors laid in a busy part of the home with lots of young family activity can expect to last anywhere between 6-10 years before the finish will need to be redone. Now when you weigh this up with the life expectancy of a carpet under similar circumstances, then it's not hard to see which side the value for money fall son.
How to fix all kinds of Scratches on Hardwood Floors
No one likes to get that first scratch on a beautiful and costly floor, but it will happen and there will be more to come. So is it possible for DIY Dad, or Mum, to fix those scratches up themselves? The answer is yes, and what's more, it's not the daunting task you might think it is. Here goes:
1. Gently rub steel wool over light scratches, or for deeper scratches use a lightweight sandpaper
Important: Gently rub along the grain of the wood to avoid creating new scratches.
2. Next you'll need to rub some mineral spirits over the prepared area(s). This will help to smooth out and pick up the fine dust particles caused by the steel wool or sanding.
3. Now with a plastic putty knife (important), continue to fill your scratches with premixed wood filler.
Important: Make sure you only use a PLASTIC PUTTY KNIFE.
4. After the filler has dried, very gently sand it down and wipe up all the dust particles.
Important: Only us a lightweight sandpaper. 180 grit should be perfect
5. Finally, refinish the repaired surface with a varnish, polyurethane, or a similar product.
Important: Avoid using foam rollers or brushes for this job as they will likely cause air bubbles. Opt for lamb's wool instead or a pure bristle paint brush.
That's it. Follow the steps above and take your time. It won't be too long before you're wondering where those scratches have gone to. Good Luck.
~ |
| |
Copyright © 2011 Floors for Folks. All rights reserved. Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Site Map |