Sunblock For My Floors?

Oh how we love to luxuriate in the suns rays and feel the warmth! Of course, we know that the sun's rays can be harmful to our skin and we should take precautions to protect our skin against the damage the sun can cause. Well, it's no different for hardwood floors!

Direct sunlight can cause floors to change shades. Some woods will fade and lighten, while other woods will will darken with sun damage. Protect your floors as you would your skin, just with a different form of sunblock:

• Hang window treatments to block out the sun.

• Rotate area rugs to help the floors age uniformly.

• Sheer drapes are great way to allow sunlight into the room, but block out the sun's harmful UV rays.

 If your floors have signs of sun damage, it is important to know the extent of the damage. For example, is it limited to just one or two board near a window or does it cover a wide expanse of the floor? Is the damage just surface deep or deep into the wood?

GR Flooring can assess the damage to your floors and make recommendations for repair. Give us a call to schedule an appointment.

Refresh Your Home for Spring!

Spring is a season of renewal and often sparks the desire for homeowners to redecorate or refresh their home. GR Flooring can help by installing or refinishing hardwood flooring. Don't forget, GR Flooring is the ONLY flooring company on Long Island that can offer Ultra Violet Curing so that your hardwood floors are IMMEDIATELY ready for furniture and footsteps!

Need some decorating inspiration? Here are some photos from the HGTV website. Take a look and give GR Flooring a call!

Distressed Wide Plank

Ebonized Hardwood

Brazilian Cherry

 

 

Reclaimed Wood

 

Want a Unique Looking Floor? Consider These Design Elements!

In our last blog, we discussed the different styles of wood to choose from when designing your home. In addition, there are many design elements to consider as well. These upgrades allow you to design an individual look that is unique to your home!

• Borders: Contrast can be added to the main area of the room by outlining the room in a contrasting darker species of wood. Borders may include multiple wood species, stone, marble, stainless steel, nickel and other metals.

• Medallions: Generally installed in the main field of the floor, such as foyers, medallions may incorporate multiple wood species and other materials such as stone, metal, or leather. Factory finished medallions can be routed into existing floors with minimal disruption. If you would like to add a personal touch, GR Flooring can help you choose the species and colors to fit your design idea.

• Hand-Distressing: This process is labor intensive and time consuming, but, creates a unique and antiqued appearance. Typically, the look is  achieved by hand-scraping with tools such as chisels, planes, wire brushes, awls, ice picks, and grinder.

• Painted Floors: Let your imagination run wild to design a truly individual and unique look! Your floor will be a piece of personal art. Create dramatic designs, patterns, country, formal, or anything you can imagine.

• Staining: Staining offers and affordable way to change the look of your floors. Light color stains can refresh old floors. Warm colored stains will produce traditional looks, while dark colored stains give a new look.

Spring is the season of renewal so get inspired and let GR Flooring help you create your new look!

Show Your Style!

Spring is a season of new beginnings and a time when many homeowners enjoy making home improvements. One of the best investments you can make in your home is to install hardwood flooring. Before you think that all hardwood flooring is the same, let us show you just a few of the many choices you have to make your floor unique.

Which wood species, grade, or cut will best fit your design idea and the purpose of the room? Should you use solid wood or engineered wood? Which finish will be best? We have discussed these in previous blogs and will be happy to advise you on the specific options you have for your home.

Now, though, let's talk about style. There are three styles of wood flooring:

• Strip Flooring: Ranging in size from 1 1/2" to 3" wide, strip flooring creates a linear effect which may make the room appear larger. Strip Flooring is often considered to be "traditional" wood flooring.

• Plank Flooring:  If you are looking for a more casual look, consider plank flooring. The width ranges in size from 3" to 7" and is also linear.

 

• Parquet Flooring: If a geometric, non-linear look is what you are after, parquet flooring may be for you. It varies in size and can create either simple or complex designs.

For more design ideas, stay tuned for our next blog which will discuss Design Elements.

Spring Cleaning? Don't Forget the Hardwood Floors!

Despite the cold temperature, Spring has officially arrived. So the spring cleaning begins! 

Spring cleaning typically brings to mind thoughts of window washing, drawer and closet clean outs, linen changes and more. For the enthusiastic spring cleaner, furniture and appliances may be moved and every nook and cranny may be scrubbed. 

Spring cleaning is all about freshening up your home so this is a great time to freshen up your floors! One of the best features of hardwood floors is the ability to refinish and bring out the shine. But who wants to deal with all of that hassle when the sun is shining and spring time activities await?

GR Flooring has the solution! The only Long Island company to use Ultra Violet Curing, we can have the entire process completed in one day! Our ultra violet curing technique instantaneously dries the floor allowing you to replace the furniture and rugs immediately. Just one day and your home returns to normal except that now you have gorgeous hardwood floors!

So let GR Flooring be a part of your spring cleaning! Call for an estimate on refinishing your floors with ultra violet curing and free up time to enjoy the spring!

Now For the Big Finish!

Deciding to install hardwood floors in your home or business is easy. They are beautiful, easy to care for, and can enhance any decor. The challenge, and the fun, is the plethora of choices to be made! Type of wood, solid or engineered wood, grade, cut, finish, design. It can be overwhelming, but GR Flooring is here to help make the process easier.

Here we will discuss the different types of finish you have to choose from:

Surface finishes are the most popular because they are water resistant, durable, and require minimal maintenance. Surface finishes come in many different types and are frequently referred to as urethanes or polyurethanes.

Ultra Violet Cured: Extremely durable and will last  two - three   times longer than any other finish. Resistant to scratches, scuffs, and black heel marks. No drying time required. Furniture and rugs can be moved back onto floor immediately.
Water-Based: Has a mild odor when applied, will dry within two to three hours and is very durable. Appearance is clear and will resist turning yellow over time.

 Oil-Based: Has a moderate odor when applied, will dry in 8 hours and is very durable. Appearance is amber in color.
                    
 Moisture-Cured: Has a strong odor when applied, will dry in about two to three hours in humid conditions, and is extremely durable and more moisture resistant than other surface finishes. Appearance is clear to amber.

With so many choices, let GR Flooring help you choose the best combinations and best style designs for your room!

   

Repair Common Wear and Tear on Hardwood Floors

Life happens and it will happen to your hardwood floors too. Luckily, with a little tender care hardwood floors can quickly recover.  Here are some tips to tackle common problems:

Floors Finished With Wax or Penetrating Stains

• Scratches - Wax the affected area using a soft, clean cloth.

• Dried Milk or Food Stains - Gently rub with a damp cloth, then rub dry and wax.

•  Heel Scuffs - Rub in a small amount of wax with fine steel wool and hand buff to a shine.

• Mold or Mildew - Rub with a wood cleaner using a soft, clean cloth.

Floors Finished With Ployurethane or Surface Finishes

• Scratches - Repair with a touch-up kit for urethane finishes.

• Dried Milk or Food Stains - Use a cleaner developed specifically for urethane finishes. For stubborn spots, scrub using the urethane cleaner and a scrub pad made for urethane floors.

• Heel Scuffs - Follow instructions for dried milk or food stains.

• Mold or Mildew - Use a cleaner developed for urethane finishes. If the mold or mildew lies beneath the surface finish, sand and refinish the area.