TSquared Woodworking
TSquared Woodworking
Honesty, Integrity, Quality
Specializing in Wood Floor Install, Repair, Refinish, Maintenance and Consultation,
F.A.Q.
~~~Please feel free to fill out the form below and ask any question of your own! I would be happy to offer my honest opinion or share ideas. ~~~
The endless quest for knowledge cannot be truly appreciated until its shared
Install Related Questions:
When is it necessary to install new Material?
-Wood floors are a major contributing factor to the look and value of your home. weather you're replacing existing wood flooring or upgrading, wood floors set the space apart. Old carpets can pose a real threat to people with allergies and damaged material can lead to troubles elsewhere.
Can repairs be made to existing flooring?
-When a particular floor has sufficient material life left to justify refinishing, but has an area in need of replacement, repairs may be necessary to achieve the desired result. In most cases, a qualified craftsman can easily make repairs to a floor that are almost invisible. Sometimes; because of factors such as age of material or budget limitations, different methods of repair must be utilized that may be more visible. A quality driven professional will be able to determine the best solution for your budget and material conditions.
What kind of materials are available?
-Basically there are two major options when it comes to material.
Factory Pre-Finished- These floors come in a wide varieties of material types and systems. From floating to fixed, from vinyl to hardwood; These products are extremely durable and take considerably less time and hassle out of the project scope. Material cost is much higher than unfinished, but the entire finishing process is removed from the equation. Because the material is finished offsite, it is subject to any variances in the subfloor and will translate any imperfections to the surface. Subfloor prep is one of the most important factors in a successful prefinish install. To minimize the visibility of milling variances, a small bevel is milled into the flooring edges which gives off a "individual plank" look. Floating floors are not milled with a micro-bevel and remain smooth to simulate a traditional floor.
Unfinished- Wood floors have been installed, sanded and finished for over a century. This tried and true method constantly evolves to the growing trends of our society. There are a multitude of options from wood species to stain colors and finish; that allow for full customization of the outcome of a project. An unfinished floor can be sanded flat to provide a smooth finish without obstruction.
How long does the install process take?
-Depending on the size and scope of the project, an install can take anywhere from one day to upwards of a few weeks. Most installs fall into about a one week slot in the schedule.
How much waste is involved in an install project?
-The amount of waste on a project is directly related to the quality of the type of material involved. The installer must determine what material is to be discarded by many factors such as structural integrity, milling and looks. A good installer will be able to manipulate the outcome of the floor to allow for less waste with visually pleasing and lasting quality. One can expect to include anywhere from 5%-20% waste in the project scope. All waste should be appropriately recycled.
Sanding Related Questions:
When is it necessary to refinish a floor?
-Wood floors are subject to damage from a variety of situations. If left untouched, the damage can worsen to the point of needing replacement. Refinishing floors before the material is damaged can save a huge amount of cost in material replacement. If there are areas of the floor that no longer have finish protecting them, a refinish may be necessary to extend the life of the wood. In cases where the material has been damaged due to moisture; refinishing can often remedy the problem without replacement. Prior to refinishing; All issues with moisture must be resolved and moisture content of the material brought to equilibrium, to insure the integrity of the work.
Is refinishing, a cost effective approach to building equity in my home?
-Wood floors contribute greatly to the value of your home. Properly maintained floors can last a lifetime and tell a story as they age. There is no substitute for a properly sanded and finished floor when it comes to your homes equity. If enough material remains on the surface to sand without damage; Refinishing will always provide the most return on investment. Educated, quality driven wood floor professionals (using the right equipment and techniques) can in most cases exceed the quality of the original sand, resulting in a much better looking floor than you've ever had!
How long does the process take?
-Depending on the scope of the project;Sanding and refinishing will take a minimum of 3 days to complete. Typically 4 coats of polyurethane is the standard and in some cases more than one coat can be applied in a day. Most residential projects fall into a 1-2 week slot in the schedule from start to final coat.
Can the site be lived in during the process?
-Living onsite during any remodeling process of your home can prove to be a challenge for both you and the professional. whether you're living onsite or not; great care must be taken to ensure dust does not contaminate the living space beyond the project space. In some cases dust barriers must be removed to allow access to the livable space in your home. This can allow for any airborne dust to infiltrate into your living space resulting in a less than desirable clean up process. Of course, its not always an option to relocate during the project and a professional who has your best interest in mind will always be able to accommodate for whatever situation may arise.
How much dust is produced?
-More than some people see in their lifetime! Luckily with advancements in dust collection and retention, most of it ends up in a bag. Whats left can be vacuumed out and taken away. There should be very little to no dust leftover after a sand job to produce the best finish result. For an absolute clean, it is recommended that a professional cleaner be hired to follow up a refinish project.
What is done with the dust?
-Some dust can be hazardous and must be disposed of in the proper facilities. Most dust is relatively inert and can be composted or recycled for use elsewhere like spill recovery or fuel briquettes. All dust is very flammable and must be contained in such a way to minimize potential fire hazard.
How much material is removed in the process?
-The amount of material to be removed from a sand job is directly related to the condition of the surface to be sanded, the type of material, and the experience level of the flooring professional. Some floors require significantly more sanding to produce the desired result while others take minimal. Its important for the future maintenance of the material that the floor is sanded to a flat surface. Any deviation will result in poor initial finish application and maintenance challenges in the future.
What needs to be removed from the site?
-All items within a job site must be removed to allow for the refinish process. Some items that are within spaces easy enough to plastic off can be left behind; at the risk of dust infiltration. Furniture, pictures, trinkets etc. should all be outside of the project space. Its always better to remove every item at the beginning, to provide an open canvass for cleaning at the later stages of finishing.
Who is responsible for clearing out the work space?
-In the initial meeting to discuss the scope of your project, moving and clearing of the items in the space should be discussed. It should be assumed by the customer that they will be responsible to clear out any items unless it is included in the project scope. If it is determined that a professional must be hired to move and/or store your belongings for the time frame of the project, that should be included in the contract.
What kind of equipment is necessary for refinishing?
-Wood refinishing has been around since the invention of sand paper. The equipment involved is increasingly more effective, cleaner and safer to use. The market is constantly making updates to refine the way we do refinishing. You can NOT achieve the same results with a rental unit as you can a specialty sander. Even using state of the art equipment involves a great deal of knowledge on the tools themselves and the nature of the material to be sanded. For the best results Look for contractors that not only have higher grade tools, but the knowledge to effectively use the tools to their utmost potential.
What is the process involved in a typical refinish project?
-Typically to refinish a floor one must start with a proper assessment of the project scope. This way all aspects of the project can be laid out within the contract so all parties have a clear insight on what to expect and a budget and payment schedule for the project can be determined. Once the contract is signed and a deposit for the project exchanged, the job will proceed on the start date included on the contract.
-The first step to any in- home project is to prep the area for work. this may include moving furniture, removing doors, setting up dust barriers and ventilation. Once the prep work is completed any repairs or install to be done should happen before sanding is to begin. The sanding process will completely remove all traces of old finish and bring the floor to a "like new" condition. Great care must be taken throughout the whole process to avoid excess material loss and sanding marks. Once all the sanding is complete it is time for the finishing process.
-Lastly, the project area is vacuumed clean of any standing dust and the stain or sealer coat is applied. The following three days will be all finish work with dry time overnight. A buffer is used before each coat to abrade the previous; for smooth results and optimal finish adhesion between coats. In some cases finish can be applied more than once in a day and can boost the project completion forward. Before the final coat is applied any fixtures such as doors or baseboard heater covers will be put back. A comprehensive cleanup of the project space is important before the final coat to ensure a smooth finish.
Finish Related Questions:
What types of finish products are available?
-There are many different types of finish available on the market today. Manufacturers are constantly improving their formulas to meet today's growing trends and limitations. The two major categories are water and oil based polyurethane. There are a multitude of options within either of these categories that all have their own unique challenges and benefits. Its important to chose a finish that will maintain the integrity of the wood surface within the conditions of your home.
How long does the finish take to dry?
-With the right drying conditions oil based poly takes roughly 8 hours minimum to dry to a point of being able to walk on. Water based finish is usually dry within a few hours.
What kind of odor is the project area subjected to?
-Water based finish (generally speaking) will produce very little odor as it cures and what odor is produced is quickly dissipated with the quick dry time. Oil based poly can produce significantly more odor as it cures for a much longer period of time. If the work space is isolated as it should be, there should be minimal odor infiltration.
What kind of odor is the project area subjected to?
-Water based finish (generally speaking) will produce very little odor as it cures and what odor is produced is quickly dissipated with the quick dry time. Oil based poly can produce significantly more odor as it cures for a much longer period of time. If the work space is isolated as it should be, there should be minimal odor infiltration.
How durable can i expect a finished floor to be?
-Durability is in direct relation to both the type of finish used and the material its used on. some species of wood are much softer and even with the toughest finish will require a more frequent maintenance coat. Its best to allow your finish to cure for the proper period of time before any damaging traffic may occur. Most of today's polyurethanes have U.V. inhibitors chemically added within and will maintain their color for longer periods of time than they have historically. In any case; finish must be maintained regularly to obtain lasting durability. This could mean re-coating anywhere between a year to 10 years, depending on the traffic situation in your home and the type of finish used. Finish should be maintained before damage to the wood can occur to avoid having to fully refinish the floor.
What Kind of color options are there?
-There are endless possibilities of color variations in stain to both choose from, or mix together to achieve whatever look you're going for. Stain can even in some cases be mixed within the first coat of polyurethane to achieve a multi-toned effect on top of a stained floor. It is very important to have an open mind when it comes to a stain project. Every type of wood takes color different. Oak grown in the northern hemisphere may take a shade or two different than oak grown in the south. Its always best to have an on site sample made up to give the ok on the project.
How soon can the floor be used after finishing?
-Typically after a final coat the floor can be lightly walked on the next day. Great care must be taken as the coat will take up to 72 hours to dry to a hardness suitable for regular traffic. As with most finish it is recommended all coverings such as area rugs be left off the surface for up to 3 weeks to allow for a solid cure.
I have a pet, What kind of precautions should i take to prolong the life of the finish?
-To maintain the integrity of the finish surface, be sure to keep your pets nails groomed. dog's and cat's claws can bite into the finish and leave scratches behind even after years of use. With pets in the household it may be necessary to maintain the floor more frequently to prevent the scratching from getting to the surface of the wood.
Will a maintenance - "buff and coat", solve all my floor problems?
-Depending on the extent of the damage to the finish surface, many times a buff and coat can. however if the raw material has been exposed because the finish has worn off; it must be refinished to bare wood. A buff and coat will not alleviate any damage that has occurred to the floor. It is important to maintain your floor before any damage makes it down to the wood. Scratches and dents cannot be fixed by a maintenance coat, but they will be protected once again by the two coats involved in the buff and coat process.
What can be done to maintain the look of the new floor?
-The best way to protect your floor from damage is to minimize any moisture exposure and excessive wear. Spills should be cleaned up IMMEDIATELY to avoid any damage. Floors should be wiped free of dirt and debris regularly using absolutely minimal moisture. If you want your floors to maintain their fine- furniture like appearance, its necessary to treat them as if they were fine furniture. As is true with anything you want to keep looking and performing at its best; That includes regular maintenance and cleaning.