Learn How to Refinish a Hardwood Floor

Learn How to Refinish a Hardwood Floor

5 Best Flooring Options for a Home Gym

5 Best Flooring Options for a Home Gym

Does Your Hardwood Floor Have Nasty Pet Stains?

Fret no more. One of the best parts about hardwood floors is that they can be refinished and made to look like new again. But only if done by a hardwood floor refinishing specialist. Someone with many years of experience and that special touch.  It literally requires expertise and artistry, and many steps.

Here is what it entails:

1.) Strip off the existing varnish

2) Sand the floor down to the naked wood.  This, as you might imagine can be very dusty unless of course, you have a state-of-the-art dustless sander.  We have invested in the best kind on the market.

3) Make necessary repairs. That could be as complex as lifting planks beyond repair and replace them. Most often all that is needed is the filling of gaps and dents.

4) Thoroughly clean the floor before any stain and varnish are applied.

5) Stain the floor to the desired color

6) Seal the floor with the desired top coating.

As you can see this is complex work. One benefit, while this work is being done, is that you have the option to change the color of the floor. There is no other type of flooring that allows for this kind of flexibility. That is what makes hardwood flooring such a great long-term investment.

If you have any concerns about your floor or want to discuss a refinishing project, just give us a call at (707) 864-2199. 

Looking for a Hardwood Floor Specialist is Napa?

Are you looking for a hardwood floor specialist in Napa?

Look no more!

West Coast Floor Company is a 2nd generation,family-owned, flooring company that specializes in hardwood floors. With 40+ years of experience, you can be sure we know what we are doing, and although we specialize in hardwood floors we can assist with all other types of flooring as well.

In addition to the flooring material purchase, we can help you with flooring design, advise on what top coating to use, the installation, and maintenance. In fact, our turn-key services are designed to make the selection and installation process as easy as possible.

The installation and maintenance of a solid hardwood floor requires special know-how and years of experience and is best left to a specialist. After all, hardwood floors will last a lifetime and you will notice any installation mistakes for as long as that. We have a lot of experience with any type of hardwood floor pattern that includes misc. types of parquette flooring, inlays and other interesting patterns.

We are proud to provide services for residential, and commercial properties in and around Napa, CA. This includes all cities in the Napa and Sonoma Valley, as well as Vallejo, Benicia, American Canyon, Fairfield, and Vacaville.  We go as far as Sacramento to assist you with your flooring needs. We are also one of the few companies in the Bay Area that supplies and installs sports flooring. 

For the convenience of our Napa customers, we also have a showroom in Napa - open by appointment only to be able to give you our undivided attention and keep you safe from Covid. You will find a big array of flooring samples that you can check out and speak to our design consultant. We also have a showroom in Vallejo which is open by appointment only also. So be sure to give us a call before you come by. You can find us in Napa at 800 School St. STE C and in Vallejo at 420 Virginia St., STE 1A.

So, if you want a solid hardwood floor, an engineered hardwood floor, one of the new waterproof laminates, luxury vinyl, or carpeting, why not book a time to meet with our design consultant and get the floors you always wanted! Give us a call today (707) 297-2476.

Which Are the Best Types of Hardwood Floors for You?

Why Choose Hardwood Flooring?

Hardwood floors are considered to be the most beautiful and best flooring option for your home. Not only can they last for over 100 years but also because their natural beauty is unmatched. Depending on climatic conditions, foot traffic, and budget considerations you can choose between solid hardwood and engineered hardwood flooring. Both are very easy to care for.

Let's take a closer look at the different types of the most common hardwood floors, and their benefits. 

Solid Wood Planks

A solid wood floor plank is made from a single piece of wood that has been cut directly from a tree and then cut into planks with tongue and groove edges. You can purchase the flooring materials as either pre-finished or unfinished in many American wood species as well as the exotic imports.  The investment for hardwood flooring is a little higher due to the cost of installation and the cost of wood. But when you consider its longevity the upfront cost is well worth it when considering this being a once in a lifetime investment.  

During the installation, solid wood floor planks are typically nailed to a subfloor in a pre-determined pattern. Natural wood can and will react to fluctuations in temperatures and moisture. As a result,  you may notice the floorboards expanding and/or contracting. Proper installation is crucial to prevent buckling or gapping. Solid wood boards can range in thicknesses from 5/16 to ¾ in and a typical width of 2 ¼ to 5 in.  Hardwood floors can be sanded bare and refinished several times to renew their beauty and give them a new lease on life. 

Solid Wood Tiles for Parquet Flooring

Parquet flooring has been around for a long, long time and is still in high demand. Especially with homeowners living in Victorian homes. They have a timeless beauty all of their own. Parquet flooring can be constructed in many different configurations. In fact, you are only limited by your imagination. To make the installation process easier, you would purchase wood tiles. Wood tiles are available in a variety of wood species and colors. The most popular parquet flooring options are Herringbone and Chevron but you can literally find lots of ideas on Pinterest.  Wood tiles are most commonly available in square foot tiles with square edges. Typically installation process is to use glue-down installation. Because you are dealing with much smaller pieces the installation process will take a bit longer. For a smooth flooring surface, expert installation is highly recommended.

Bamboo Flooring

We have seen a huge surge in popularity and demand for this type of flooring. And rightly so, bamboo floors are sturdy, easy to maintain, and also beautiful. There are 3 constructions in bamboo,

• Vertical: Here Bamboo stalks are vertically fused, resulting in consistent linear lines for a modern appearance.
• Horizontal: Alternating bamboo layers are fused together, maintaining growth joints for a natural appearance.
• Strand-woven: Shredded bamboo fibers are compressed into a durable flooring material mimicking hardwood.

Engineered Hardwood

This unique brand of hardwood flooring is very attractive to many homeowners due to its lower costs while still providing the look of hardwood. This type of flooring can be used in bathrooms and is very easy to clean. Engineered hardwood and can be installed over existing flooring which cuts down on installation time and labor costs since the old flooring doesn't have to be ripped out first. In addition, engineered hardwood is always factory finished so there is no waiting for the top finish to cure. No glue or nailing is required, planks click together for easy installation. Engineered hardwood is constructed of several thin layers that are fused together. Only the top layer is a thin slice of natural wood. Due to the cross-ply construction of alternates layers opposite one another, each layer can expand and contract in different directions with little to no visible change. Floors with a thicker top layer can be carefully sanded and refinished up to 2 times to remove minor scratches. More serious dents, scratches, and damages mean that the floor will have to be replaced. 

So you can see that when it comes to selecting the best hardwood flooring in your home there are many aspects to take into consideration before you can narrow it down to the one that is best for you.  A great way to help you with this process is to consult with a hardwood flooring specialist such as West Coast Floor Company in Napa.  Schedule an appointment in their Napa showroom to see an array of wood samples and get their recommendations.

Three Advantages You Need to Know About Laminate Flooring

Hardwood flooring is a great choice for your home. It offers the beauty and durability of other types of wood, but also provides an aesthetic beauty that cannot be matched by any other type of wood. In addition to these benefits, hardwood flooring can add value to your home because of the inherent durability and price of hardwood. Because of these benefits, hardwood flooring has become one of the most popular choices for flooring in homes today. However, if you are looking for a particular type of hardwood, it may be more challenging to find it than you first thought. 

If you are looking for laminate hardwood flooring, you will want to do your research first. There are many different brands and types of laminate, so it is important that you choose a reputable brand. In most cases, the best choice would be a brand of solid wood flooring. While laminate is very nice, solid wood flooring can provide the look and durability that you are looking for without the high price tag that comes with it.

In order to get the highest quality of hardwood flooring and the most durable product, you should purchase a system that combines moisture insulation with cutting edge technology that allows the top layers of hardwood to contract and conform to your foot traffic. Engineered hardwood floors use a patented forming process that enables them to closely resemble the appearance of real hardwood flooring. The top layers are compressed and shaped to exacting specifications while the bottom layer of real hardwood layering maintains a more natural appearance. Engineered hardwood flooring provides several advantages over laminate. For instance, solid hardwood flooring consists of several layers, each performing an important function. By building each layer of engineered hardwood flooring with the same exacting specifications as the layer beneath it, the result is an absolutely moisture-resistant and durable floor.

Another advantage of engineered hardwood flooring lies in the durability of its surface. Laminate and solid hardwood flooring may be made from the same or similar solid materials but they are often manufactured in slightly different ways. For instance, solid hardwood flooring may be manufactured with an open grain, which allows it to be less susceptible to nicks and scratches. However, solid laminate tends to be manufactured with a core consisting of multiple layers of plastic and other synthetic materials that can withstand the maximum amount of damage. On the other hand, engineered hardwood flooring can be made with the same open grain construction but is then coated with a polyurethane topcoat that protects the top layer from damage.

Many people are under the impression that unfinished hardwood flooring is substandard, but this simply is not true. Owing to the fact that hardwood floors are usually custom-made, most unfinished hardwood flooring has the chance to resemble its finished counterpart. For instance, if you have the opportunity to purchase an unfinished laminate floor instead of a solid hardwood floor, you will certainly have a more genuine product. If you were to buy a piece of unfinished hardwood flooring made from a piece of plywood that has been damaged, you would have the opportunity to sand the plywood and use the same procedures that you would use when repairing solid wood floors. You could also opt for the installation of over-the-counter solid wood flooring that mimics the natural look of unfinished hardwood flooring. This option may require that you purchase a plywood backing that is stained in the exact color and texture as the wood floor but has the added bonus of having a solid surface that can be sanded and painted.

The third advantage of laminate flooring that you need to know about is the moisture resistance that it provides. Hardwood flooring made from real hardwood often experiences high levels of humidity. For this reason, it is imperative that your laminate flooring be sealed to prevent the entry of moisture into the room where the floor is situated. In order to make sure that moisture does not seep into your house, make sure that you opt for laminate flooring that has been sealed by a professional.

If you are not sure which floor would work best for your situation schedule a visit to our showroom - open by appointment only - to see samples and discuss your project with us. We would be happy to help you get the very best flooring option.

West Coast Floor Company
800 School St.
Napa, CA 94559
(707) 297-2476

6 Tips to Keep Your Hardwood Flooring Beautiful

Solid wood floorings are a great investment not only because they look beautiful but also they last a lifetime. No other kind of flooring material can match their beauty and depth. And they will look magnificent throughout their lifetime if you take care of them properly. It's not difficult, and the proper kind of maintenance will give more life before they will need to be replaced.

1. The worst enemy of your wood flooring is moisture allowed to stand on any of your hardwood flooring. It can trigger buckling and discoloration. Make sure to wipe any spills immediately.

2. Avoid sand, grit, and dirt. These 3 imitate sandpapering, thereby scraping and dulling the glossy surface till it ends up being unsightly. Utilize mats near outside doors to avoid the dirt from getting into your house.

3. Avoid moving the furnishings to minimize damage from scratching and scraping. If you must, always raise instead of push or pull them.

4. Avoid direct sunlight on your hardwood floor. It can blemish the timber. Secure the sunlit areas with drapes or blinds.

5. Clean your wood flooring by using a soft broom, a container vacuum with a unique bare flooring attachment, or an excellent dust mop.

6. Pets pose a threat to your solid wood flooring as well. Their nails and claws will scratch surfaces. Keep your family pet's nails well-cut. Also, keep animal food containers off the floor surface area. Pets constantly spill food around the containers, which will harm the floor over time. Utilize newspaper or something more durable to safeguard the flooring.

If your beautiful hardwood floor does get a bad scratch in it, have comfort in the knowledge that it can be remedied. You could purchase a scratch kit from the hardware store or have a hardwood floor refinishing specialist come to the rescue. Generally, the "fix" is to sand and smooth the afflicted area and then re-stain and re-varnish. As simple as this may appear, it is not. It requires years of experience to achieve a satisfactory result and is best left to the professionals. One such company is West Coast Floor Company in Vallejo and Benicia, CA. They are a 2nd generation hardwood flooring specialist with 40+ years of experience. Visit their website or call them at (707) 297-2476.