Hardwood Floor Cleaning and Refinishing: All About Bamboo Flooring

Part three of our series on hardwood floor cleaning explores bamboo and why it is a popular floor choice.

Bamboo Floors Require Special Cleaning |(310) 545-8750

Why Bamboo Flooring is Taking Off

Why buy bamboo flooring?  Well, for one thing it is about 70% cheaper than other floor types such as oak, teak, walnut or hickory.  In addition, it is much more ecologically sound.  One of the biggest environmental problems that we are going to be facing in the 21st Century is deforestation.  Without trees, the amount of carbon dioxide increases in the atmosphere.  So cutting down teak to make wood adds to this problem.   However, with bamboo, it grows incredibly fast, and as a result, can be re-established a lot quicker.

In fact, according to this article from the New York Times: "bamboo is popular with some designers because of its sleek appearance. It is “more subtle, less ‘knotty’ ” than other wood, said Roger Ferris, an architect in Westport, Conn. “It’s not something you’re typically used to seeing. That makes it really suitable for contemporary and modern design schemes. Steve Appolloni, a designer in Albuquerque, N.M., likes it for its “durability, cost, eco-friendly qualities and, depending on the source, its thickness and quality. "Bamboo is much denser than oak, Mr. Appolloni said, so it makes for a stronger floor that doesn’t warp as much. It is also less expensive than many other woods. (The average bamboo floor costs about $5 to $7 a square foot, not including installation, whereas walnut or pine can cost nearly $10 a square foot.) Because bamboo plants take only about five years to mature, unlike many trees, which can take 50 years or more, bamboo is environmentally sustainable. Like most woods, though, it can vary in quality, depending on the manufacturer and the finishing technique. Solid bamboo floors, which are the most durable, tend to be more expensive, and can cost as much as $9 a square foot. Engineered bamboo floors, which have multiple layers, can run as low as $3 a square foot, but the quality might not be as high." [READ SOURCE ARTICLE]

Bamboo Floor Care

First off, there is one thing we have to point out.  Technically bamboo is not a wood, it is actually more closely related to grass.  As a result, it is a lot more fibrous than regular wood is and as such, if you wish to do hardwood floor refinishing on it, you must use more than the usual caution.  You could find yourself tearing up the bamboo and shredding it.

So remember, whether you have oak, hickory or bamboo, take care of your floor.  And when in doubt, call in a professional hardwood floor cleaning service in Los Angeles.   

For more information on hardwood floor cleaning, be sure to read part one and part two.  

Morris Cleaning & Restoration
1007 N.Sepulveda Blvd. #1204
Manhattan Beach, CA 90267
(310) 545-8750

Hardwood Floor Cleaning and Refinishing: Oak Flooring

Part two of our series on hardwood floor refinishing explores oak flooring.

Hardwood Floor Refinishing | (310) 545-8750

Hardwood Floors:  More than One Type of Oak

Oak floors convey elegance and comfort at the same time.  What most people don't know is that most of the oak flooring is made of one of three types of oak.  If you have oak in your home it is either white oak, red oak, or black oak. Here is some information regarding oak from WIKIPEDIA.ORG: "Oak wood has a density of about 0.75 g/cm3, great strength and hardness, and is very resistant to insect and fungal attack because of its high tannin content. It also has very appealing grain markings, particularly when quartersawn. [READ SOURCE ARTICLE]

If you have a home with solid oak flooring, then you must know by now that it is worth a small fortune.  And it is worth the price.  Oak flooring brightens any room up.  It is tough, durable, and keeps its looks for a long time.  it is fairly easy to take care of, and clean.   Another great benefit of oak flooring is increases your home's resale value. So with that said, make sure that you take proper care of it.  

Oak Floor Care and Cleaning

Despite the fact that it is tough and durable, like all hardwoods, you must take care of it the right way.  You either need to call in a hardwood floor cleaning service, or if you do it yourself, make sure you don't use harsh chemicals like bleach.  You also want to avoid using anything oil based like furniture polish as it can leave a residue behind.  Never wet mop your oak floor.  Harsh chemicals can bleach your wood or even cause parts of it to dissolve, particularly softer sections.  In addition, chemicals such as bleach can strip the finishing off the floor as well, and leave the floor vulnerable to stains, scratches and pits.  

So remember, your oak floor is more than just floor.  So whether you have oak plank flooring or solid oak, you want to make sure that you take care of it.  It is an investment in your home both for now and for the future.  Sweep it lightly once a week, and make sure you have mats at the entry points.  Clean up spills immediately, and make sure you have a professional hardwood floor cleaning service come in every now and then to seal your hardwood floor.  

Morris Cleaning & Restoration
1007 N.Sepulveda Blvd. #1204
Manhattan Beach, CA 90267
(310) 545-8750
http://www.morriscarpetcleaning.com

Hardwood Floor Cleaning and Refinishing: Is It Time?

Is it time to get hardwood floor cleaning done? This article will explore some reasons why you may wish to get a professional service in to take care of it for you.  

Call a hardwood floor refinishing service for help with your flooring

Why Hire a Hardwood Floor Refinishing Service?  

Why hire a hardwood floor refinishing service?  For one, they are going to know what type of floor you have.  Laminate flooring requires far different care than floor that is solid wood.  You have to be careful what you use on a hardwood floor.  You never want to use harsh chemicals for example, or use anything that is very watery, otherwise, you're going to soak your floor and end up warping your boards.  However, there is also the risk that you take from something as simple as furniture polish.  

How can furniture polish damage your hardwood floor?  Well, for one, most furniture polish is either oil-based, or has wax in it.  As a result, even though the polish will clean your hardwood floor, after a while, the hardwood will start to soak up the oil and/or wax, and as a result, your floor will look dingy.  In addition, some hardwood floors such as teak have a naturally high oil content already, so adding more oil can discolor or even ruin your wood.  If you end up with oil soaked wood, at that point, there is no amount of cleaning that you can do that will bring back your floor.  What usually happens at this stage, is someone reaches for something acidic like bleach or vinegar to cut through the residue.  While white vinegar in small amounts can hep clean your hardwood floor, in larger doses, it can cause more damage.  That's where a professional hardwood floor cleaning service can help.  They have access to cleaning solutions that you don't have, and can also recommend some general care advice between visits.  

Hardwood Floor Refinishing in Rolling Hills, CA

If you have hardwood floors, and you need hardwood floor refinishing in Rolling Hills, as we covered above, do not try to do this on your own.  A professional service can determine a lot by visiting your home.  They can tell what type of wood you have as well as what will need to be done to it from a simple cleaning all the way up to a full refinishing job.  

So remember, you want to hire someone who knows what they're doing.  The best service to hire is a professional one that offers hardwood floor refinishing in Rolling Hills and throughout the L.A. Area.  

Morris Cleaning & Restoration
1007 N.Sepulveda Blvd. #1204
Manhattan Beach, CA 90267
(310) 545-8750
http://www.morriscarpetcleaning.com