Should hardwood floors always be installed perpendicular to the joists?
posted by blue_beetle on Sep 10, 2009 - 11 answers

How can I limit damage to my virtually-unfinished hardwood floors without the trouble/expense of refinishing? [more inside]
posted by aabbbiee on Aug 25, 2009 - 14 answers

How to protect hardwood floors from my dog and child? [more inside]
posted by Mid on Jun 15, 2009 - 9 answers

Need a hardwood flooring recommendation for West Los Angeles - specifically, the Culver City area. [more inside]
posted by AsRuinsAreToRome on Mar 20, 2009 - 2 answers

What's a relatively reasonable amount to expect to pay to repair a hardwood floor in an office? I know, how long is a piece of string, etc. but this seems just a bit out of whack to me... [more inside]
posted by barc0001 on Feb 4, 2009 - 9 answers

Ho do I remove confetti and streamer stains from hardwood floors? [more inside]
posted by Felicity Rilke on Nov 5, 2008 - 7 answers

How best to protect hardwood floors from chairs? [more inside]
posted by canine epigram on Aug 29, 2008 - 8 answers

If I steam clean a carpet that has been installed on top of a painted hardwood floor, will I ruin the hardwood? [more inside]
posted by perpetualstroll on Aug 1, 2008 - 3 answers

I'm looking for recommendations for a hardwood floor retailer/installer in the Greater Toronto Area. [more inside]
posted by kate blank on Jul 13, 2008 - 7 answers

We're in the middle of having a new kitchen installed. As part of the remodel we knocked down a couple of walls. The house has hardwood floors throughout yet the contractor did not put anything down to protect the floor(!!) when they did the demolition. No surprise then that there are scratches and a couple of gouges on the floor. We're not happy. How to approach this? What rights do we have? [more inside]
posted by NailsTheCat on Jul 11, 2008 - 10 answers

How do I remove this strange glue from my previously carpeted hardwood? [more inside]
posted by bradn on Jun 29, 2008 - 5 answers

How does one go about making their own ear gauge plug jewelry from hardwoods? [more inside]
posted by franklen on Mar 16, 2008 - 7 answers

Water damage to our hardwood floors - what can/should we expect? [more inside]
posted by jquinby on Feb 1, 2008 - 4 answers

Do we really need to refinish our hardwood floors before we list our condo? [more inside]
posted by AgentRocket on Jan 11, 2008 - 23 answers

What are these reddish brown stains on the floor of my "vintage" apartment? [more inside]
posted by Jess the Mess on Oct 19, 2007 - 12 answers

I'm looking for a reasonably priced vacuum for use on hardwood floors. Doesn't need any sort of powered brushes just suction. Thanks!
posted by sandpine on Sep 17, 2007 - 12 answers

How do I fix my hardwood floor which I messed up? [more inside]
posted by tabulem on Sep 10, 2007 - 12 answers

I cut my foot pretty severely on a broken glass, and now it looks like someone slaughtered a pig on my hardwood floor. How do I get the blood stains out? [more inside]
posted by gemmy on Jul 22, 2007 - 10 answers

Any 'real' success stories with getting water/mildew stains out of an oak hardwood floor? [more inside]
posted by zenpop on Jun 30, 2007 - 2 answers

I'm having my hardwood floors refinished by professionals. It will take 3 days and in addition to the sanding they'll be applying 4 layers of polyurethane (no sealer) Does this sound good to you? Did I pick the right guys? [more inside]
posted by Lorna on Jun 10, 2007 - 6 answers

Please help me find a PDF or other free printable document that I can take with me to identify trees using a YES/NO question and answer format. [more inside]
posted by Pastabagel on May 10, 2007 - 6 answers

Jute rug damaged my floor! My wife and I are moving out of our apartment, and when we rolled up the jute rugs, there seems to be damage to floors underneath as though the actual rug wore into the floor. [more inside]
posted by mzurer on Mar 8, 2007 - 8 answers

What is the best way to clean a hardwood floor? I've gone the Murphy's Oil Soap route and it just leaves splotches, even after I try to wipe it with a rag afterwards. I'd rather avoid getting on my hands and knees. Anything that is tried-and-true and will make my floor shine? [more inside]
posted by printchick on Sep 15, 2006 - 9 answers

Have you ever seen a warped, damaged engineered hardwood floor? [more inside]
posted by spacewrench on Jul 25, 2006 - 5 answers

How do I dry hardwood flooring? [more inside]
posted by phyrewerx on May 22, 2006 - 4 answers

Hardwood Floor Filter -- How can I spruce up my hardwood floor without a major refinishing project? [more inside]
posted by Mid on Mar 10, 2006 - 7 answers

oil spill on hardwood floor: cleanable? [more inside]
posted by Hackworth on Feb 18, 2006 - 8 answers

Experiences with hardwood floors in the bathroom? I have decided I want to install hardwood flooring in my bathroom. If you have ever lived with wooden bathroom floors, please let me know if there is anything I should be aware of. [more inside]
posted by evoo on Jan 17, 2006 - 25 answers

I'm currently considering buying a circa 1900 house that has one major issue, both the first and second floors reek of cat urine. Does anyone have experience with erradicating this odor from an older home? [more inside]
posted by Yukon on Dec 1, 2005 - 15 answers

I need tips on floor sanding. [more inside]
posted by Yelling At Nothing on Jul 18, 2005 - 8 answers

RenovationFilter: We just bought an old library out on the great plains. Yes, library. But that's not the point. It's a wonderful, hundred-year-old brick building. The floors are beautiful, straight-grained, old-growth fir. Unfortunately.... [more inside]
posted by dersins on Jun 10, 2005 - 27 answers

I have a friend who wants to buy a sweet (and cheap!) fixer-upper in an up-and-coming section of Philadelphia. Thing is, she'll need to do a lot of work to renovate it, including putting in new floors... [more inside]
posted by AlexReynolds on May 18, 2005 - 14 answers

I just moved in to newly built condo... I have spent a lot of money to option IN for SHAW Brazilian Cherry Hardwood floor..(100% covered 1300sq.ft (according to my research it maybe engineered Durashield coated ones like most hardwood floors now days)... Just before I moved in I saw a builder employee cleaning the floor.. He told me he is using PINE-SOL type cleaner... It did look shiny at first.... But I have been here for 3weeks now... The white films would not go away... even now my socks are yellowish oil all over when ever i step one or two steps.... foot marks are eveywhere... now it looks dusty and smudged all over... (there is no dust... but looks dusty with smudges).... I tried to clean it off with No-Was Bruce hardwood cleaner.... No luck... I tried little bit of water in the corner with about 5 small towels... it finally came off (it took me about 1 hour to do 6sq.ft..) it was very hard work.... I contacted the manufacturer.. they said NO oil based cleaner or wax should be used on these.. especially Pine-Sol and Pledge.... They said It was coated like clear coats in new cars..never needing wax... so basically putting pine-sol on these type of floor is like spraying Armor-All on paint of new car....At least new car can be washed off with a lot of water and soap... [more inside]
posted by curiousleo on Apr 19, 2005 - 25 answers

Point one: We are beginning to look for our first home.
Point two: Hardwood floors are pretty.
Point three: We have a kitty we lovingly call "Madame Barfary".

I've looked and looked, but can't seem to discover whether cat barf is harmful to hardwood floors. Anyone have experience in this area?
posted by frykitty on Dec 10, 2004 - 30 answers

I'm gearing up to re-finish my hardwood floors this spring. My question is about stains and polyurethanes. Can I use an oil-based stain with a water-based poly coating over it? I can't seem to find any water-based stains, and I want to be able to put multiple coats of the poly down, and I only have about a week to do this (2 small rooms), so I need to take into consideration the quick drying times of the water-based finishes. The guy at the paint store said I could do the oil stain with the water poly as long as I let the floors cure first, but walked away from me when I asked him what that meant. Is a week enough time to sand and finish the floors of two rooms?
posted by archimago on Apr 27, 2004 - 6 answers

Does anyone have any experience with having wood floors installed. I just got a quote for almost 3k to install maple strips in less than 200 sq. ft. Home Depot does installations, and although I would like to patronize a small company, I can't do it for double the price. Any ideas?
posted by hummus on Apr 13, 2004 - 12 answers