I have small gaps between the boards of my hardwood floor. Is this normal?
Almost every wood floor endures some expansion and contraction as seasons and humidity levels change. When homes are heated during winter, humidity levels drop, causing boards to shrink and spaces to appear between the boards. In dry months, cracks can easily develop to the thickness of a dime on a typical solid 2-1/4" oak floor, with light-colored woods making the cracks appear larger.

Plank floors also will show cracks more. These spaces are to be expected and usually close up as the season changes and moisture returns to the air. To reduce the degree of change, home owners can add moisture to the air during the dry months, ideally by installing a humidifier in the furnace.

I've had some water damage from my fridge/dishwasher/etc. What is going to happen to my wood floor now?

First of all, you should contact your homeowners insurance. Usually they will walk you through a process, and tell you to go out and get a bid for possibly refinishing or re-installation of the floors. Most of the time you will just have to pay a deductible.
There are three things that can or will happen to your floors:

*Cupping
As with cracks between boards both cupping and crowning are natural reactions to moisture and should not be a concern if they occur only to a minor extent. More severe cases, however indicate a serious moisture problem.

"Cupping" describes a condition in which the edges of a board are high and its center is lower. Humidity is usually the culprit, although cupping also can happen after water has been spilled onto the floor and absorbed into the wood. The moisture causes the wood to swell, crushing the boards together and deforming them at the edges. In order to repair the floor, the cause of the moisture must be identified. Most often, indoor humidity will have to be controlled. Other causes could include situations such as a plumbing leak in the basement, which can allow moisture to migrate up into the subfloor and the wood flooring.

Once the cause of the moisture is controlled, cupping usually can be reversed. Often times the floor may naturally dry out and improve over time. Fans may be necessary to speed the drying process. After the floor has dried, it may be necessary to recoat the floor with finish, or to sand and refinish the floor.

*Crowning:
"Crowning" is the opposite of cupping: The middle of the board is higher than the edges of the board. This can occur when the surface of the floor encounters moisture. More often, it results when a floor has been sanded too soon after it has cupped. When this happens, the top edges of the board are sanded off, and thus are lower than the rest of the board when it returns to a normal moisture content.

*Buckling:
Buckling is one of the most extreme reactions to moisture that can occur with a hardwood floor. It happens when the floor literally pulls away from the subfloor, up to heights as high as several inches. Fortunately, buckling is an uncommon occurrence, usually happening only after a floor has been flooded. 

How do I prevent my floors from becoming warped or damaged? 

Controlling humidity is the most important factor in preventing problems with moisture and your wood floor. The correct maintenance also will go a long way in avoiding problems. 
Among the key points:
Clean your wood floor with a cloth lightly dampened with the recommended cleaning product, using the manufacturer's directions for us. It is best to buy a "floor care kit" recommended by your wood floor installer or retailer.

Why should I install a hardwood floor instead of carpet? 

The medical advantages alone as far as coping with dust in carpet versus hardwood is by far an excellent reason to go with hardwood floors. Homeowners and businesses have begun to realize the added advantage of hardwood floors- not only are they natural and biodegradable, and add to the value of your home, but they're also the floor of choice for those suffering from allergic reactions to dust and mold collected by carpets.

*The Environmental Advantage
Now that we're deep into the "green" movement, homeowners working to keep their houses environmentally sound as possible will be interested to know that most carpet is completely synthetic and does not biologically decompose. The Carpet and Rug Institute in Dalton, Georgia reports that current shipments of carpet in the United States exceed 3.9 billion square feet annually. That's a lot of carpet that will eventually find its way to our country's overloaded landfills. 

*The Medical Advantage
Coping with dust in the home is a familiar chore for everyone. Not only does it make a house look unattractive and neglected, but for those people allergic to dust or those whose asthma is triggered by the substance, it can cause a great deal of discomfort.
The National Jewish Center, named one of the nation's ten best hospitals in America, suggests hardwood floors as one method of reducing household dust. The center also has indentified molds and animal dander as a hazard for people with respiratory problems. Molds and animal dander can become imbedded in carpet and are impossible to eliminate by vacuuming alone.

How long will a wood floor last?

With proper care, hardwood floors can last the lifetime of a home or business. Wood floors are easier to maintain than ever, and they add value to any home.

How much does it cost to install a new wood floor, or refinish an existing hardwood floor? 

It all depends on what species of wood you have currently, or what you will want to install, and the square footage of your area that you want to install/refinish. We'd be more than happy to give you a free ballpark quote over the phone, or even come out and do a free in-home estimate and figure out exactly how much it would cost to do. Call Ryersons!

I recently just bought a house, and know nothing about the finish or what kind of wood is on the floors. How do I clean my hardwood floors now?

First try a water test and see if there is a wax on the floors. Start by putting a small amount of water on the floor to see if it beads up or clouds the wood. It if it does cloud up, chances are there is some kind of residue, such as a wax or an oil soap- most likely a wax on your floor. Until you are ready to do a complete sand & refinish of your floor, you will need to continue to wax the floors and buff them. Ryerson's sells wax, and cleaning products and can help you figure out exactly what you need to do to maintain the beauty of your hardwood floors. If the floors do not cloud up, you are most likely in luck, and may or may not have a swedish finish on your floors. 

To clean and maintain the quality of any kind of wood floors:

• Sweep and vacuum floors regularly.
• Place floor protectors on the feet of all your furniture.
• Remove spills promptly and wipe the area with Ryerson Floors Cleaner (or small amount of water) and wipe the area with a soft cloth.
• Use doormats at all exterior entrances to trap sand and grit before it enters the house.
• Use area rugs on high traffic pathways and especially on pivot areas such as the ends of steps and in doorways.
• Rugs should allow the floor to "breathe". Avoid rugs with rubber backing or other non-ventilating material.

Normally, first cleaning should be dry mopping, dusting, and vacuuming/sweeping your hardwood floors.

Do not let sand and grit build up.
Avoid walking on your floor in high heels. They can severely damage wood floors. Keep heels in good repair.

For Swedish Finished Floors:
If the floors look like they need more than just dry mopping, use a slightly damp mop (no Oil Soap!!) and a little bit of water and just spot mop your floors. Do not just dump a bunch of water on your floors, or let any maid services dump water buckets on the floor and push the water around to clean the floors. This is almost a guarantee that your floors will warp.

Ryersons' has gentle cleaners that will not damage your floor, removes black scuff marks, and does not leave a oily or soapy residue on the floors. We also have cleaning kits that are so easy to use, you can't imagine how you ever got along with out them before!

Do not use wax, oil soap or other household cleaners on your wood floor. The use of these products can dull today's waterborne floor finishes and make refinishing more difficult.

Cleaning your hardwood floor once ever 1-2 weeks is recommended. Frequency for general cleaning depends on the amount of traffic on your floors.