Answers:

Q: Can I install solid hardwood flooring over a concrete slab?
A: With few exceptions the answer is no. The combination of Florida’s high humidity levels with concrete slab construction makes this an installation method we cannot recommend. If you have a concrete slab please make sure the hardwood floor you purchase is “engineered”.

Q: What is an engineered hardwood floor?
A: This is a product introduced to specifically address downsides to hardwood flooring, especially in slab constructed homes. Engineered hardwood floors have multiple layers of hardwood glued together with the grain going in opposite directions – this gives the plank superior dimensional stability and is far more resistant to expansion and contraction when the humidity in the environment changes. This allows the floor to be glued down directly to a dry, flat concrete slab. The top layer of the plank is the actual species of wood that you desire, pre-finished and stained at the factory. The advantage to this is with a factory finished floor you avoid the mess and fumes of a sand and finish installation – plus, the finish that comes from the factory is far superior to any finish applied on the jobsite.

Q: Can I sand an engineered floor?
A: That depends on the top wear layer of the floor you purchase. There are engineered floors available that have the identical wear layer of a ¾ inch solid floor and can be sanded and even re-stained multiple times. Simply put, the thicker the wear layer, the more expensive the floor. If you are not interested in changing the color of your floor, most engineered floors can have a “screen and coat”; a process that lightly abrades the existing finish and a new coat of finish is put over the top.

Q: Are there some hardwood floors that are scratch resistant?
A: All Hardwood floors are natural products and are cellular in their makeup. This means that they will dent and scratch. Don’t panic! The finish that comes from the factory is substantially better than the finishes of the past – Just be aware that scratches happen and are a part of owning a natural product. There are species and finish types that do a better job of resisting scratching and denting. If this is a major concern for you, bring it up to one of our consultants and we will point out which floors are better suited to your needs.

Q: How do I care for a hardwood floor?
A: Water is the enemy, you should never wet mop a hardwood floor. We recommend a wood floor care kit that includes a dry micro fiber mop head and a residue free cleaner.