Frequently Asked Questions

Q. The floor beneath my rug is lighter than the exposed floor, what can I do?

A. Although hardwood flooring has effective UV inhibitors in its pre-finish, it is recommended that it not be exposed to direct sunlight for long periods. It is normal for hardwood floors that are exposed to sunlight to darken over a period of time. To eliminate the obvious tone differences, it is best to rotate rugs and furniture so the flooring recieves an equal amount of sunlight. Any differences in light exposure will eventually fade away.

Q. How can I protect my floor from early finish wear?

A. It is a good idea to implement a regular cleaning routine, as well at the use of throw rugs and felt or plastic floor protectors on the legs of furniture

Q. What are the different moldings and how are they applied?

• The Quarter Round molding is used to hide the expansion gap left around walls during installation.
• The T molding is used as a threshold in doorways or as a transition strip where the hardwood flooring meets floor or carpet of similar height. T moldings can also be used to change the direction in which the floor is laid.
• The Reducer molding is used as a transition from the height of the sub-floor to the height of the hardwood floor.
• The Stairnose molding is used to cover the front edge of a stair tread or step. If used on a stair, flooring is installed behind the Stairnose to cover the horizontal part (the tread) of the stair.
• The Stairtread molding is a one-piece molding used to entirely cover the structural stair tread.

Q. What are the benefits of hardwood flooring?

A. Hardwood flooring is one of the most popular types of residential flooring. Here are a few reasons why you should choose a hardwood floor:

• Solid hardwood offers a variety of grain patterns, natural color variations, and the beauty of a natural material
• Hardwood floors are easy to clean.
• Hardwood floors are ideal for allergy sufferers as they do not harbor dust or mites.
• Hardwood flooring is long-lasting. Although there is a 25-year structural warranty on Dansk Hardwood floors, hardwood floors can last for decades.

Q. What is the difference between Select and Better, Mill Run and Rustic grades?

A. The difference between the various product lines is the amount of allowable character. For example, you'll find the most amount of character knots, mineral streaks, pin holes, etc. in the Traditional of Rustic grade, and the least, if any at all, in the Select & Better grade.

As a general rule, the lower the grade the more rustic and the higher the grade the more uniform the color, grain and quality.

Q. Can I apply a wax finish to my prefinished floors?

A. No. You should never apply wax finish to your surface type finishes.

Q. Engineered floor versus a solid hardwood product?

A. Engineered products, available in Planks, Strips are manufactured of hardwood using a cross-directional laminated construction (3 to 5 layers), with a top layer of premium hardwood. This construction counteracts the natural tendency of wood to expand and contract with seasonal changes in temperature and humidity, making engineered products inherently dimensionally stable. Solid products, available in Planks, Strips or Parquet, are manufactured from a solid piece of wood.

Q. Does wood flooring go well with most design styles?

A. Yes. In a recent survey, more than three-quarters of interior designers found that wood flooring works well with many decorating styles. Wood matches with contemporary, traditional and everything in between.

Designers rated natural materials as superior to man-made materials in beauty, prestige, style, maintenance, and durability.

Q. What about installing wood in high traffic areas like kitchens?

A. The urethane finishes on most new wood floors stand up to water and traffic, bringing wood flooring into kitchens, and other higher-stress areas. These finishes resist wear and stains better than other finishes and require no stripping, no buffing and no waxing. High traffic areas include exterior doorways, hallways, mud rooms, and the areas in front of the sink, stove and refrigerator. To protect the floor just inside exterior doorways, use walk-off mats or small rugs to catch tracked-in dirt and grit. Place small rugs or mats at other high traffic locations. Watch for grit or pebbles that may be brought in on the bottom of the shoe. This should be done a regular basis.

Q. Is there a difference between square-edge and eased-edge designs?

A. Yes. With a square edge, the sides of each plank or strip are square. An eased edge, more commonly known as a beveled or micro-beveled edge, features a slight angle on the top edge of the plank or strip. An eased edge can help mask slight subfloor imperfections, and can be felt if walking on the floor in bare feet.