Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Why does my wood floor change color?
A. Wood is a natural and living material that reacts to light. The color change that takes place is not a product defect. A good example to help understand this phenomenon is your skin. When exposed to sunlight, your skin will become tanned. If you conceal your skin with a bandage that part of your skin will not tan. However, once you remove the bandage, the newly exposed skin will gradually tan and become the color of the exposed skin. Wood flooring has the same reaction when a rug or furniture is placed over a hardwood floor and then removed. It is only a matter of time before the unexposed, lighter color part of the wood floor take on the same color as the rest of the exposed floor.
Q. What is the difference between laminate and wood flooring?
A. Laminate flooring consist of a thin film of imitation wood glued over a panel composed of high-density compressed wood particles (fibers). The result is a floor that, despite looking like wood, cannot be sanded, and therefore limits its longevity. Hardwood flooring consists of a hardwood wear layer, whether it is solid or engineered. Making for a natural-looking floor, with a real hardwood surface that can be sanded, stained and, varnished several times.
Q. What type of adhesive can I use for my Aurora Hardwood Northwest engineered flooring?
A. For Aurora Hardwood Northwest engineered flooring, we recommend the following adhesives:
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Bostik's Best
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Bostik's Moisture-cured BST
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Over Bostik's corresponding vapor retarding system
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Franklin Advantage 811
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Over Franklin's corresponding vapor retarding system
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For other adhesives, contact a Johnson dealer in your area for a recommendation.
Q. What is the best way to clean and maintain my hardwood floor?
A. Vacuum or sweep the floor regularly, especially before using cleaning products to remove all traces of dust and abrasive elements. Use a cleaner specified for wood floor care directly onto the floor or on a terry cloth mop to wipe the surface. We recommend that you wipe the floor lengthwise over the floor strips using a back-and-forth motion. For more information, please visit the Aurora Hardwood Northwest maintenance section.
Q. Can I wax my hardwood floor?
A. Aurora Hardwood Northwest does not recommend the use of wax on any of our prefinished hardwood floors. Once a prefinished floor has been waxed it must be waxed frequently. If you decide to refinish the floor, the wax may hinder the absorption of the varnish. Wax can also make a floor very slippery and dull the appearance.
Q. Which directional strip layout should I choose?
A. Generally speaking, strips are laid lengthwise (perpendicular to the floor joists). By changing the direction of the strip layout, various visual effects can be achieved. For example, a strip installed diagonally in a long and narrow room will make the space appear larger.
Q. How can I replace a Aurora Hardwood Northwest plank?
A. For board replacement, Aurora Hardwood Northwest recommends to buy an extra box of wood planks and store it in a temperature stable place in your home. Start by selecting a replacement plank that most closely matches the floor. Use a wood chisel, remove the tongue of the replacement strip. Next, remove the center section of the damaged strip using a wood chisel and carefully remove the tongues without damaging the surrounding strips. Thoroughly clean the floor and subfloor. Cut the replacement strip to the required length by cutting from the tongue end of the strip. Remove the bottom part of the groove, both on the side and the end of the replacement strip.
Insert the replacement strip, check it for fit and then remove it. The micro-V joint can be reshaped using sandpaper, a touch of stain and finish. Finally, apply glue directly onto the subfloor and glue the replacement strip in place.