Your hardwood floors are an investment worth taking care of. Don’t let maintenance get pushed to the backburner! The flooring specialists at Elegant Floor Service have put together a list of hardwood floor cleaning and maintenance tips that should help keep your floors looking new year after year.

Professional Hardwood Floor Maintenance in Silver Spring, MD

If you want your wood floors to last a lifetime, you need to take care of them! With your busy schedule, everyday cleaning can become tough – but lucky for you, you can keep your wood floor looking as good as new with regular maintenance from a professional hardwood flooring company. At Elegant Floor Service, we provide hardwood floor maintenance to residential and commercial customers throughout Maryland, Washington, DC and Virginia.

If you don’t have time (or just don’t want to deal with) maintaining your wood floors yourself, give us a call or contact us online and we’ll take care of all your wood floor maintenance needs.

““

Good quality hardwood flooring is engineered to last a lifetime, able to withstand a reasonable amount of neglect or abuse. Though timeless in beauty and design, years of foot traffic from both humans and pets, chemical exposure from cleaning products, dirt, spills, and friction from furniture can take their toll, and floors can begin to look worn, dull and damaged. Unlike carpeting or tile which require replacing, hardwood can typically be refinished, and made to look as good as new, but the question is: Should you refinish your hardwood floors yourself?

The Refinishing Process

The method of repair is dependent on the type, and depth of damage to your floors.

Screening

The clear, protective coating placed on top of hardwood is designed to provide a barrier between the elements and bare wood, while adding a luminous finish and shine. This topcoat can become scratched, or scuffed, and while it may look unsightly, is merely surface damage. A buffing tool is used with a series of different grits, to remove the scratches and restore the original sheen, and finally, a new topcoat is applied,

Refinishing

In the case of more extreme damage, floors will need to be completely refinished from the ground up. A professional repair includes the following steps:

• Inspection. Before the process can begin, it will need to be determined if the floor is thick enough to withstand sanding. Solid hardwood is far more durable, and can accept refinishing as many as twelve times over its lifetime, while laminated planks require the thickness of the veneer to be at least one-eighth of an inch, and may usually only be refinished once.
• Sanding. A heavy duty drum sander is used to produce a smooth surface, obtained by using a series of progressively finer grit sandpapers. Because of the amount of dust that is produced at this stage, a protective mask and eyewear must be worn, and doorways carefully sealed to prevent travel to other areas of the home.
• Filling. Any cracks or holes discovered after the sanding process will be filled, and hand sanded to a smooth finish.
• Staining. Choosing your stain can be fun, but applying it is a long drawn out process, typically requiring several coats and sanding in between each.
• Finishing. The topcoat is applied, to add a layer of shine and protection, using either a water-based (eco-friendly, low VOC’s), or polyurethane (industry standard, recommended for high-traffic areas) finish. Several coats are applied, allowing floors to dry completely in between each one.

To DIY Or Not To DIY

The process of hardwood floor refinishing is labor intensive, noisy, and messy, requiring a wide variety of tools and safety equipment, and is best left to a professional with years of experience for a number of reasons:

• Using heavy equipment such as a drum sander, incorrectly, can result in permanent damage to your flooring, and replacement costs far higher than any money you would save refinishing your hardwood floors yourself. Leaving the sander in place for too long for example can cause gauging, and due to the heavy nature of the machine, may be hard to control.
• Dust and hair removal can be a challenge, and once embedded in dried polyurethane, will become an eyesore.
• Applying stain evenly is harder than it looks, and if not done correctly can result in uneven coloring or striping.

Hardwood Floor Refinishing in Maryland, Northern Virginia & Washington, DC

Are you ready to refinish your wood floors in Maryland, Northern Virginia, or Washington, DC? Elegant Floor Service is the company to call! Serving homeowners from Ellicott City to Silver Spring, Bethesda, Vienna, Alexandria, and everything in between, we provide a hardwood floor refinishing service that leaves our clients’ floors looking as beautiful as the day they were installed, regardless of whether they have oak, maple, or another type of wood floor.

Our goal is to do the job correctly the first time so you can start enjoying your refinished wood floors as soon as possible. So what are you waiting for? Contact us for hardwood floor refinishing today!

““

Hardwood is the number one flooring choice among homeowners, selected for its beauty, durability, and ease of maintenance. With regards to investment potential, quality, professionally installed hardwood flooring has greater resale value than any other type, instantly raising your home’s worth. As with any other type of floor covering however, you may encounter some common problems from time to time, though most are easy to avoid.

For hardwood floor repair in Northern Virginia, Maryland, or Washington, DC, contact Elegant Floor Service today!

Common Problems With Wood Flooring

Squeaks

The only noise you should hear when you walk across your hardwood floor, is footsteps—anything else, such as creaks or squeaks, commands attention. Squeaky floors can happen in a home of any age, any time, due to the following:

• Movement in the subfloor.
• Material imperfections.
• Seasonal humidity changes.
• Poorly fastened flooring.
• Substandard installation practices.

The cause and source of the squeaking will determine the method of repair, which may involve:

• Lubrication between the offending boards.
• Working liquid wax in between the boards (only for floors with a wax coating).
• Driving glazier points in to the gaps between boards.
• Hammering finishing nails through to the subfloor.

While these solutions may not appeal to even the most die hard DIY’er, they’re commonplace for a qualified, professional flooring company. Help prevent future squeaks by maintaining a consistent level of humidity in your home, year round.

Inadequate or Improper Maintenance

Avoid wet mopping, or steam cleaning your hardwood floors (daily sweeping and periodic damp mopping is usually all that’s needed), in addition to ruining the finish, the combination of heat and moisture is detrimental to their condition, which brings us to the next point…

Water Damage

Water is the number one enemy of hardwood flooring, and any intentional contact should be avoided. However, spills and accidents happen, so what should you do if your flooring gets wet? Clean spills quickly, and thoroughly, using a wet vacuum for larger jobs. The faster you can get the wood dry, the less damage that will occur. Prolonged or excessive exposure to water warrants a call to a professional, who will have the equipment and resources to remove the moisture and hasten the drying process.

Fading

Prolonged exposure to UV rays can cause discoloration over time, but is easily preventable by closing the blinds or curtains during the right time of day.

Improper Installation

Poor installation practices can result in a number of issues with your flooring, including:

• Splitting. Hardwood that is either too wet or too dry at the time of installation, or that is placed in a home where humidity levels are unchecked, may split or crack. Splitting may also occur as a result of seasonal changes, such as an extremely dry winter, or humid summer.
• Buckling or crowning. This phenomenon occurs when the installer fails to leave inadequate space between the planks to allow for expansion. Over time planks can swell, causing areas of unevenness.

Wood Flooring Repair Throughout Maryland, Virginia, & Washington, DC

These issues can be prevented by hiring a knowledgeable, reputable flooring company, but once the damage has been done, repair or replacement may be your only option. Looking to restore the sleek, polished appearance to your hardwood floors? Have minor scratches or dirt? At Elegant Floor Service, we set the standard for wood floor maintenance with our buffing, sanding, refinishing, restoration, and repair services, drawing on years of experience and training to provide a high-quality service throughout Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC.

Don’t wait to eliminate any imperfections in your hardwood floors! Contact Elegant Floor Service or call us at (800) 417-3172 for a free estimate or to schedule hardwood floor restoration in the DC metropolitan area!

So, you’ve decided to remodel your master bathroom. You’ve probably spent countless hours going back and forth between different fixtures and appliances—and now you have to choose the perfect flooring that complements your décor! But being one of the most important rooms of your home means that it needs to have durable and practical flooring. Elegant Floor Service installs a variety of flooring options throughout Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC.

Contact or call Elegant Floor Service at 800-417-3172 if you’re interested in installing hardwood or stone floors throughout your home in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, DC area.

Engineered Wood Flooring

Hardwood floors are a beautiful way to spruce up the look of your home. But when it comes to finding the flooring solution for your bathroom, most people steer clear of hardwood in fear ofexperiencing water damage. Unlike normal hardwood floors, engineered hardwood can handle the moisture that is typically found in a bathroom setting. There are many additional benefits including:

• Durability. This flooring option will not warp in high moisture or high humidity environments.
• Versatility. Engineered hardwood floors can be installed anywhere in your home, including bathroom, kitchens, and basements.
• Variety. There are many varieties, species, and styles to choose from—including hand scraped engineered wood flooring.
• Longevity. Some engineered hardwood floors can be sanded and refinished—extending the life of your floors.

Love the look of hardwood but want your bathroom’s floor to last? Consider installing engineered hardwood!

Stone Flooring

As a homeowner, you do whatever you can to minimize moisture damage in your home. By installing stone floors in your master bath, you will create a timeless look that protects your home against moisture damage. If you choose stone flooring, you will reap the following benefits:

• Versatility. Stone flooring gives off a timeless look that will match your bathroom no matter how many times you decide to change up your bathroom décor.
• Durability. With stone, you will have an extremely durable flooring solution that can withstand normal wear and tear. If it starts to show its age, you can re-polish it to hide any blemishes!

Marble, granite, slate, limestone and other natural stone or terrazzo floors are a beautiful accent to any home’s bathroom.

Ceramic Tile

Like stone flooring, ceramic tile can achieve a rich, textured, solid feeling in your home’s bathroom—but at a lower price point that many homeowners enjoy. Not sure if ceramic flooringis the option for you? Consider the following benefits:

• Durability. When looking for a floor for your bathroom, there is probably one major characteristic you’re looking for—water resistant. With ceramic tiles you have nothing to worry about!
• Longevity. If you’re investing in new bathroom floors, you need a flooring option that will last for years to come. Ceramic tile are extremely resilient and can last for 10 – 20 years or longer if well maintained!

If you’re looking for a customizable flooring option for a lower cost, then ceramic tile might be the perfect fit for your bathroom!

Bathroom Flooring Installation in Maryland, Virginia, & Washington, DC

Since 1987, Elegant Floor Service has provided engineered wood flooring and stone floor services to residential properties throughout Maryland (MD), Washington, DC and Northern Virginia (VA). From restoration to maintenance projects, we do it all—one time service or a regular maintenance program. Call our flooring specialists for assistance installing or repairing the floors in your master bath!

Contact Elegant Floor Service today or at 800-417-3172 to learn more about our bathroom flooring installation services in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, DC!

Installing natural stone floors can add a distinguished look and character to your home. Marble floors and granite floors are two great options for a beautiful and long lasting stone floor, but there are similarities and differences you should know about before you make your purchase! How do marble floors and granite floors measure up when it comes to stain resistance, durability, care requirements, variety and price?

Ready to install granite flooring or marble flooring in your Virginia, Maryland, or Washington, DC home? Elegant Floor Service offers stone floor installation, repair, and maintenance!

Marble & Granite Flooring Durability

When installing stone flooring in your home, there are a few things to consider. How much foot traffic do the different rooms of your home see on a daily basis? Do you have children? Are there pets in your Maryland area home? While stone flooring is rather durable, it is still susceptible to normal use and abuse that can lead to damaged floors. The following should help you determine whether granite flooring or marble flooring is the right option for you and your family!

Resistance to Wear and Tear

Marble floors are more porous than granite floors, thus making them more susceptible to staining. Low PH liquids (acids) like orange juice, nail polish remover, and vinegar can do serious damage to marble floors—but so can things like household detergents and cleaners that are caustic and have a high pH level. Marble is also much more likely to be damaged by scratches from pets or shoes and objects that accidentally fall on your floor. If your family is looking for a tough flooring option that holds up against everyday wear and tear, marble may not being the best option for your Washington, DC area home.

On the other hand, granite floors are far less porous and defend well against stains, scratches and wear. It is one of the most durable flooring options on the market today! While adding an aesthetically pleasing charm to your home, granite flooring withstands all kinds of use and abuse that allows it to last a long time—making it a cost-effective flooring solution.

Stone Floor Cleaning

Because marble floors can stain so easily, you must clean them as quickly as possible after a spill. But you must also remember that your marble floors need regular cleaning as well to remove the dirt and grime from everyday wear. It is critical that you do not use acidic cleaning detergents on your marble floors, as these will eat away your floors and degrade their shine and appearance. The best way to clean your marble floors is using warm water and a pH-neutral cleaning solution.

While granite floors are not as susceptible to staining as marble floors, you should still be careful not to use acidic liquids or cleaning supplies on them. For both marble and granite floors, use warm water and a pH-neutral soap like Seventh Generation. For a stronger, but still safe solution, try Simple Green Stone Cleaner.

Marble & Granite Floor Maintenance & Damage Prevention

One of the most basic steps you can take to help prevent against wear and tear on your marble and granite floors is to apply a neutral pH breathable sealer once your floors have been installed. Regular sealing of your stone floor is crucial because it repels stains until spills are cleaned! The sealer also helps to prevent natural wear and tear from everyday foot traffic. If you apply this sealant, be sure you consult the package for additional cleaning instructions!

Sand and dirt can scratch or even damage natural stone surfaces. If you install natural stone flooring in your Northern Virginia area home, make sure to sweep it regularly to prevent dirt from settling into the stone. This is ensure it looks new for years to come!

Variety and Price of Stone Flooring

Granite is a very unique stone, often cut for specific purposes and differing from stone to stone. Due to this variety and uniqueness, there are two major factors that add to the cost of granite: the rarity of color and the stone’s pattern. The heavier weight relative to marble also makes the cost of shipping granite more expensive, and this is also added into the final price. Granite floor tiles can range from $9-25 per square foot, not including installation. Marble is often manufactured in bulk, reducing the costs of cutting and shipping the stone. Marble floors range from $6-20 per square foot, not including installation.

Stone Flooring Installation in Maryland, Virginia, & Washington, DC

Since 1987, Elegant Floor Service has provided stone floor services to residential, commercial and government clients in the Maryland (MD), Washington, DC and Northern Virginia (VA) metro area. From restoration to maintenance projects, we do it all – one time service or a regular maintenance program. Servicing marble and other natural stone floors, we can take care of all your needs.

Contact Elegant Floor Service today online or at (800) 417-3172 to learn more!

““