Wood floor stains come in a variety of finishes and options.  There are some wood floor stains that can be placed directly over your current stain, while others require sanding, paint thinner and then re-staining.  Read the directions and uses carefully on your wood floor stain prior to purchasing it.  You will also want to ensure that your floors can actually be stained.  Only real hardwood floors can be changed.  You will want to only purchase water-based wood floor stain.  They come in semi-gloss, matte, satin or high gloss finishes.  Depending on the type of look you want on your flooring, you may want to stick to the average, which is a semi-gloss finish.  Semi-gloss will still give your flooring that natural glow, but not be something you have to constantly wax to maintain.  You can find wood floor stains in a variety of wood grain colors that range from natural to light to dark in color.

Wood floor stains can be purchased for $20.00 to over $100.00 per gallon.  You will want to read carefully about the amount of coverage one gallon can provide.  There are some brands that will cover more square footage than others.  Factor in the cost of your stain versus how much of it you will have to purchase in order to cover your entire floor.  If your stain is able to cover the floor with its current stain, that will require less purchasing, but they typically cost more.  The majority of stains will require you to sand and use paint thinner to remove the prior stain.  So factor those costs into your purchase as well.

You can purchase wood floor stains at a variety of retailers.  When shopping locally, visit retailers such as Wal-Mart, Sears, Home Depot or Lowes.  At these types of retailers there are usually trained staff members that can give you advice on how to stain your floors properly as well as what tools or accessories you will need in order to stain your floors.  When it comes to shopping online, visit retailers such as BuildDirect, Amazon, eBay, BigPaintStore, ServiceMagic, or SimpleFloors.  Always factor in the cost of shipping whenever you are shopping online.  If you have to purchase several gallons of paint, the cost of shipping may not make it worth it to shop online.

Wood floor stains are a great way to finish up your flooring and give your home a little face-lift.  Always remember to stain your flooring in a color that will last you several years.  You never want to realize that you have to re-stain your floors after you have painted your walls.  Wood floors are a great way to add elegance to your home; pick a stain that makes a statement about you and works for your home for a few centuries to come.

Prefinished hardwood flooring comes in a variety of different stains.  You can find exotic patterns, vintage colors, etc.  Floor stains such as oak, tigerwood, vintage browns, mahogany, pine and other stain colors are available.  You will want to ensure that the stain color you select is one that can last in your home for years.  Try sticking to a neutral color that can grow with your family and its styles.  You do not want a floor stain that will limit the amount of decorations you can add to your home.  Prefinished hardwood flooring can be elegant when you select darker and more rich colors, but if you are looking for a more modern and bright finish, then you will want to select colors like pine or oak.

Prefinished hardwood flooring will certainly range in price.  The average cost is per square foot and will range anywhere from $4.00 to over $100.00 per square foot.  Over $100.00 will typically mean you are purchasing prefinished flooring that is made from more expensive varieties of wood.  Oak and pine are cheaper models and will typically be under $8.00 per square foot to purchase.  You will always want to keep in mind that the cost per square foot does not include supplies or labor to install that flooring.  If you plan to hire a professional service to install your flooring you will want to factor in the charges to install it.

You can find prefinished hardwood flooring at a variety of home improvement retailers and hardwood flooring retailers.  If you are looking to shop locally, visit retailers such as ACE Hardware, Home Depot or Lowes.  All three of these retailers offer affordable pricing, but it is usually meant for the do-it-yourself homeowner.  If you plan to have your flooring installed professionally, Home Depot and Lowes do offer installation packages with their flooring.  When shopping online, your flooring will most likely not have a back offer for professional installation.  If you are shopping online, you will always need to consider the cost of shipping.  Hardwood floors are hardly cheap to ship; therefore it can be pricey to have them delivered to your home.  If you are going to shop online, visit retailers such as Simple Floors, Lumber Liquidators, or Armstrong Flooring.

Prefinished hardwood flooring can be a great option for those that wish to install their own flooring.  Hardwood floors add elegance and warmth to any home.  Keep in mind that you will want floors to compliment your home for centuries, not just a few years.  Once you have selected the right floors for your home, your prefinished hardwood floors can be installed quickly and leave you with an entirely new look.

Cheap wood flooring can be a deceiving thing to look for.  There are a lot of retailers that claim their flooring is at a “discounted rate”, but then you still find it cheaper elsewhere.  Flooring that is created out of expensive varieties or rare varieties of wood will cost more than flooring created from your basic varieties of wood.  Most cheap wood flooring will be created from oak, pine or particle woods that are a blend of several different types.  Though it is easy to find cheap wood flooring, you want to ensure you purchase a quality wood floor.  Quality wood flooring is one that will last for a few decades or the lifespan of your home.  You also want to ensure you select a variety and color of flooring that will not outdate your home.  It is easy to go with a bold color of flooring, but imagine if that flooring will match your décor ten years from now.  You can find cheaper wood floors in a variety of natural stains that range from light gold to deep browns or deep reds.

The average cost for cheap wood flooring will range anywhere from $3.00 to $10.00 per square foot.  Always keep in mind that the cost of your flooring does not include the cost to install it.  Therefore, you will want to make sure that you factor in whether or not you plan to professionally install or install yourself.  If you plan to have your flooring professionally installed, see if your company can get discounted rates on high quality flooring prior to pre-purchasing your flooring.  Some companies have discounted rates on flooring that a consumer cannot get on their own.

You can find cheap wood flooring both online and locally.  It can be better to at least do your initial search locally so that you can see the different grains, stains and feel of hardwood floors in person.  A picture online can be rather deceiving at times, especially when it comes to color.  Visit local retailers such as ACE Hardware, Sears, Home Depot, Lowes or your local Armstrong Flooring retailer.  When shopping online, you will always need to factor in the cost of shipping.  Shipping for hardwood flooring can be rather expensive; therefore you should always calculate the cost of shipping as part of your budget.  If you are looking to shop online, visit retailers such as Armstrong Flooring, FindAnyFloor, DirectBuy, or LumberLiquidators.

Just about anyone can afford hardwood flooring.  Cheap wood flooring can still be elegant and give your home a timeless look.  Just be sure that you are not deceived by the words “discount” on retailers websites.  Though they claim to be offering a discount, you may actually be surprised to find cheaper wood flooring elsewhere.

The best hardwood flooring will depend on your uses.  If you do not plan on placing your hardwood floors in a high traffic area, then you can use more delicate materials.  If you plan to place your hardwood flooring in high traffic areas, you will want a durable brand of flooring that can withstand the heavy foot traffic, but still look nice.  Some of the most popular types of flooring are maple, bamboo, oak, pine, mahogany, and vinyl board.  Materials such as bamboo, oak and pine are very durable for long-term use.  You can find the best hardwood flooring in a variety of stains. There are light stains, warm tones, and even rich brown stains you can get on your hardwood floors.  Along with colors and material, you will also want to consider the coating or treatment applied to your flooring.  A top coating that does not require frequent waxing is more beneficial than those coatings that require constant waxing.  Think of your cleaning and just how often you want to spend hours waxing your floors.

The best hardwood flooring will certainly range in price, but one thing is constant – how they are charged.  Hardwood flooring is charged per square foot.  Prices will range anywhere from $4.00 to over $150.00 per square foot.  Materials such as oak, pink or vinyl particle boards will be much cheaper per square foot than materials such as bamboo, maple or mahogany.  The stain you choose can also determine the price.  Wooden floors that are stained naturally or close to their natural color will be cheaper than those that have a custom or darker stain applied.  Always select a stain that will match your house décor for years, not just in the moment.  This will help when you go to resell your home as well.

You can find the best hardwood flooring at a variety of online and in-store retailers.  If you are looking to do your shopping locally, visit retailers such as Home Depot, Lowes, ACE Hardware or even your local Armstrong Flooring dealer.  If you are doing your shopping online, visit retailers such as Amazon, SimpleFloors, FloorOne, or even LumberLiquidators.  Always factor in the cost of shipping whenever you are shopping online.  Unfortunately, shipping for hardwood floors will cost significantly more than your average CD purchase.  You may actually be able to find your best hardwood flooring locally for cheaper.

The best hardwood flooring is one that compliments your home and your needs.  Always select flooring that gives personality, but function to your home.  Pick a color and type of wood that can stand up to the years worth of tests and wear your family will put on it.  The best hardwood flooring is easy to find as long as you follow these simple guidelines.

Bamboo hardwood flooring can be found in a variety of styles.  The traditional stain for a bamboo floor is light in color, but you can find darker chocolate stains or even cherry stains to go with your bamboo floors.  When it comes to selecting which color of stain will suit your home, you will want to select a stain that can stay timeless.  That means if you sell the home or live in the home for centuries; the floor does not outdate it.  More natural and lighter tones can tend to outdate at home, while darker brown stains can be difficult to work with as your style changes.  A more neutral and light brown stain is popular in homes and can grow with your changes in style.

Bamboo hardwood flooring will always be priced per square foot.  The average cost ranges anywhere from $8.00 to $150.00 per square foot.  Bamboo flooring will cost more than your typical hardwood flooring, but it can be well worth the cost.  Always keep in mind that the cost of your flooring does not include the cost of installation.  It is not free to install them yourself either.  If you plan to install your bamboo hardwood flooring as a do-it-yourself project, then you will want to price out the equipment and supplies needed to install your flooring.    If you plan to hire a company to install your bamboo hardwood flooring, then you will want to price out the cost for them to install as well.

You can find bamboo hardwood flooring just about anywhere that flooring is sold.  If you plan to install your floors yourself, you may want to purchase your flooring at retailers such as Home Depot, Lowes, or ACE Hardware.  By purchasing the flooring at retailers such as this, you will also interact with individuals that are trained in installing flooring.  This can ensure you get the right tools you need to get the job done right the first time.  If you are looking to purchase your bamboo hardwood flooring online, visit retailers such as CaliBamboo, SmartStrandChallenge, or even Amazon.  Always factor in the cost of shipping when you purchase items online.  Flooring can be rather heavy, which means you may pay for it in shipping.  Though you may assume you are getting a deal online, the cost of shipping may actually make your product cost more than purchasing it locally.

Bamboo hardwood flooring can add a bit of style to your home.  No matter what color or variety, you are going to get a quality floor that will withstand the test of time.  Just always keep in mind that you want flooring that will last as long as your home.  That way you can still change your style, without changing your floor.

Throughout the years, too much pressure caused by walking and sitting on wood floors is bound to cause small cracks or splits in the wood.  While anything larger than an inch in diameter should be checked out by a professional, smaller cracks can be fixed by anyone.  All you need is some wood filler, which can be conveniently purchased at any hardware store.  A 4oz container of wood putty should be enough to get the job done and usually sells for under $10 in hardware stores.  Following the filling of the wooden crack, you should use some sand paper (240 grit is recommended) to smooth out the filling.

Over time, depending on the climate in which you live, you may see little gaps forming within the wood of your floor.  This is a natural occurrence and is temperature related, and changes over time.  In the event that you have gaps in your wooden floor that have stayed around longer than you would like, your best bet is to tighten the floor, which should be done by hardwood restoration professionals.

If you find that you have a wooden plank that is jiggling and feels like it is coming loose, you will want to consult a professional for your wood floor repair.  The plank will likely have to be removed, a process that you do not want to risk doing on your own.  Let the professionals take care of it with their wood floor repair experience and ensure that your floor will not encounter something like this again.

Regardless of where you live, it is likely that you have encountered scratches on your wooden floor at some point.  It often feels like the end of the world when it happens, but do not fret; it is easy enough to fix.  Wood floor scratches can be fixed using a sander, however this is an arduous task.  Make it easy on yourself by renting a power sander instead of sanding it by hand using sandpaper.  You will get the job done in way less time.  If you feel that the scratch is deep enough that using a machine to sand will not get the scratch out, then it is time to call in the professionals.  Professional power sanding tools are very expensive (usually cost over $1,000) and as a result, deliver top of the line wood floor repair results.

Due to the level of difficulty of the project, it is very common for people to seek the help of a hardwood restoration company to expedite the hardwood floor sanding process.  Depending on the size of your floor that you are looking to sand, you may need some heavy duty power sanders that a hardwood restoration company has, but you do not necessarily want to shell out for.  As a general rule of thumb, any wooden floor surface smaller than approximately 50 square feet can be sanded by hand with standard sandpaper (240 grit is the best type to use) while anything larger than that will require the help of a hardwood floor restoration company.

While a hardwood floor restoration company is more expensive, it helps to ensure that you will get the best possible job done refinishing your wooden floor.  Hardwood floor sanding is just one of the steps in the wood floor refinishing process and it is a step that has to be repeated multiple times throughout the procedure.  With the help of skilled professionals, it will happen much more quickly than if you are doing it on your own.  One of the best hardwood floor sanding tools out there is the Oreck Low Boy Wood Floor Sander and Buffer; unfortunately, this tool usually costs over $1,000, so it is most likely not a practical piece of machinery for you to buy.  Contracting companies have access to hardwood floor sanding tools like this, which helps them get the job done fast.

If you do decide to go with a professional hardwood restoration company to get the job done (recommended), then there are several steps you should take in order to ensure that you are getting a good price and a fantastic job done.  One step you may want to take is read up on the company you choose.  Online reviews are very helpful in this process, as any professional hardwood restoration company most likely has client rated views about their hardwood floor sanding quality.  You may want to look for a company that practices dustless hardwood floor sanding, which prevents extra work, such as putting down wetbed sheets to clean up all the dust caused by traditional hardwood floor sanding.  Whichever company you choose to go with, it is always good to look up price comparisons for similar hardwood restoration companies in your area, which will help to ensure that you get a fair price.

One of the challenges of wooden floors is the porous nature of the composition of most types of wood.  This makes wood susceptible to staining if it is exposed to liquids that sit for a long time.  While other types of floors, such as ceramic floors, may be suitable for mopping, this is not always the case for wooden floors.  There are better options for wood floor cleaning than the traditional mop.  One of the best options out there is getting a Swiffer WetJet.  There are many advantages to a Swiffer style “mop” as opposed to a traditional mop that we will discuss.

First, a Swiffer WetJet is extremely portable and storable.  This device and similar floor cleaning products can be stored in any crevice your home allows, without the need to worry about where to put the mop bucket.  Another advantage with a Swiffer WetJet floor cleaning products is the lack of maintenance.  There are disposable floor cleaning accessories that are compatible with this type of product, including dry wipes and wet wipes.  Simply place the wipe on the Velcro attachment of the floor cleaning device and wipe away.  I can tell you from first hand experience, devices like this make cleaning wooden floors a breeze, and are much better in the long run for the maintenance of your wood floor.

If you do choose to clean your wood floor with a mop, then make sure not to use too much water.  A good medium is to have a slightly damp mop for the floor cleaning process and never let puddles of water sit on your floor for extended periods of time.

Another good wooden floor cleaning practice is to buffer your floor.  A wooden floor buffer leaves the surface with a fresh polish and protective layer against any harmful damage.  Floor buffers in general are expensive, but give your floor an unprecedented look of cleanliness.  One of the best and somewhat affordable floor buffers for wood surfaces on the market is the Kenmore Professional Hardwood Floor Cleaner and Buffer, which can most likely be purchased at any major hardware store.

Any type of floor cleaning product that you are looking to purchase can be found at home improvement stores, such as The Home Depot, Kohl’s or Loews.  Products like mops and Swiffer-style cleaners can also be found in places such as Bed Bath and Beyond, Walmart, Kmart or any other store with a home cleaning section.

When applying wood floor wax, there are a few things to be careful of.  Waxy wooden floors in general are somewhat slippery, so you want to be sure that you do not apply too much wood floor wax.  Otherwise, you will be slipping and sliding across the surface and risk hurting yourself.  Apply just enough wax that it does not become difficult to walk across wearing socks without shoes on.  A relative amount of slipperiness is a sign of a healthfully waxed wooden floor.  When the wax is slippery, it prevents dirt, bacteria and dust from getting into the cracks of the wood and staining the floor.  Instead, it makes it so that dirt and dust simply glide across the surface, allowing for extremely easy cleanup.  If you are planning on using a mop or a cleaning method that involves a lot of water on the surface of your wooden floor, then waxing your floor is a must.  Since wax repels water, using a mop on a waxed floor is no problem at all, however without wax, the water will most likely seep into the wood and cracks over time, which will cause your wooden floor to expand.

Another important step is to make sure that you remove any existing layers of wax prior to applying a new layer of wood floor wax.  Since wood floor wax is so durable and long lasting, it is very possible that while you feel the need to apply a new coat of wax, the previous layer of wax has not yet fully deteriorated.  This can be done using a wood floor wax remover.  Wood floor wax remover can be purchased for less than $10 at any store that has a home cleaning or home improvement section, such as Sam’s Club, The Home Depot or your local hardware store.  Removing excessive layers of wax is a crucial step to prevent your floors from becoming too waxy and over time, not doing so will give your floor a yellowish hue, which you do not want.

If you are not confident in your ability to wax your floor properly another option is to hire a hardwood restoration company to do it for you.  This, of course, is a more costly process, however will ensure that your floor has the best wax coat possible, for both a pleasing look and a protective surface.

There are several different types of wood floor wax products available for purchase.  There are many expensive options out there, but you can easily spend less than $20 on your wood floor wax.  Electrolux offers a wood floor wax for $14.95, which can be purchased at any hardware store or retailer with a home furnishing/cleaning section.

There are many factors to take into consideration when thinking about wood floor refinishing for your home.  Some people are sensitive to the fumes that wood floor refinishing products often have, so if you easily get nauseous or light headed from strong odors, you may want to think twice if you are going to be the one laying down the refinishing paint.  In this case, it might be a good idea to call a hardwood restoration company to do the job for you.  In either case, ventilation following the wood floor refinishing process is incredibly both for your home and your family members.  Even if the chemicals in your hardwood refinishing paint are non toxic, it is still not healthy to have excessive exposure to these fumes.  A good idea is to refinish your floors early in the day, and allow the smell to fade away throughout the day.  Leave your windows open if you can, and try to stay out of the house while the refinishing paint is drying.

If you decide to go with a hardwood restoration company, it is import ant to make sure that you are getting some sort of satisfaction guarantee for the job they will be doing.  Your floors are an important investment and obviously if you are considering having them refinished, you know that how important good looking wooden floors are.  Make sure that whatever company you end up choosing gives you an affordable price (it never hurts to compare a few companies prices), and that they give you a 100% satisfaction guarantee on the product in writing.  In the even that they do not complete the job to your liking, you will want to be able to get your money back.

When someone decides to refinish their wood floors, it is important to know what supplies you will need.  Make no mistake, wood floor refinishing is not an easy process.  If you decide that you want to spend the day to refinish your floors however, you will most certainly need a sander of some sort.  If the area you will be refinishing is relatively small area, say less than 50 square feet, you can sand by hand.  Otherwise you will want to get an electric sander.  Orbital electric sanders are best for this type of job, and can be purchased at any hardware store for as little as $60.  In addition to a sander/sandpaper, you will also need wood filler to fill in all the holes and dents in the wood.  This part comes before the sanding, and wood filler can also be purchased at a hardware store, for under $20.