Hardwood Flooring Stores Throughout the San Francisco Bay Area
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Installing Hardwood Flooring
When it comes to hardwood flooring installation, we recommend hiring a professional. Hardwood floor installation is a labor-intensive process that requires special tools and expertise. Because your hardwood floors will be a part of your home for years to come, it’s important to make sure that your flooring installation is done properly. At the Floor Store we have 9 area locations that have trained hardwood flooring installation professionals with years of experience. We’ll make sure your hardwood floors are installed properly so they are secure, safe and beautiful.
BEFORE INSTALLATION
Before installation, it’s important to remove everything from the room, including furniture, curtains and decorations. Your hardwood floor may need time to acclimate to the room before installation. This time can vary from a few days to a few weeks – your Floor Store installation professional will let you know how long this may last.
DURING INSTALLATION
During the hardwood flooring installation, your installation professional may use different techniques depending on your situation and the product to be installed including:
- Nailing down flooring
- Stapling down flooring
- Gluing down flooring
- Floating flooring
Depending on the technique used, there may be a fair amount of noise during the process. This will be particularly true if your floors are being sanded and finished.
AFTER INSTALLATION
After installation, it will be up to you to maintain your new hardwood wood floors. Pay special attention to cleaning and to preventing scratching and denting by using rugs, mats, and felt pads for furniture.
If you are sensitive to dust and odors, good ventilation should be established for 48 to 72 hours after installation to make sure that dust from the installation settles. From there, routine care and maintenance are up to you!
If you have questions about floor maintenance, we would be happy to answer them for you. Feel free to contact us at the Floor Store Location nearest you.
Frequently Asked Questions
You Have Questions? We have answers!
Hardwood flooring is available in three distinct types: solid wood flooring, engineered wood flooring and longstrip flooring. These types differ in the way they’re manufactured, which has implications for where and how they’re installed and how many times they can be refinished. Solid wood flooring, as its name implies, consists of a solid piece of wood with tongue and groove sides. Engineered and longstrip flooring are both manufactured by stacking thin layers of wood to create one wood plank. If you have questions about which type is best for you, feel free to contact us. We’re happy to help!
With pre-finished wood flooring, boards are sanded, stained and finished by the manufacturer. This cuts down on installation time and floors are ready for use right after they’re installed. Unfinished wood floors must be sanded and finished after installation. While the process takes longer, these floors allow for more customization or matching of colors to existing floors.
This is largely up to you. “Species” of hardwood refers to the species of tree from which the flooring was constructed, such as maple, oak or ash. Different species have different looks, hues, and degrees of hardness. At the Floor Store, we have dozens of species to choose from, and can help you choose one that meets your sense of style and budget.
The beauty and life of your hardwood floors depends on how you care for it. Follow a proper cleaning routine to keep it looking great over time. A few easy steps can extend the life of your hardwood flooring solution.
Place area rugs, throw rugs or mats in high traffic areas to prevent scratches on your floors. In addition, use floor protectors on the feet of your furniture and be careful when moving furniture around a room. Be conscious of footwear (high heels can scratch and dent wood surfaces) and pets (keep pet nails trimmed to avoid excessive scratching).
You should not wet-mop hardwood floors. Too much moisture can permanently damage wood flooring, causing cracking, splitting and discoloration. If you spill water on your floor, you should clean it up immediately with a clean cloth. The best rule is to follow manufacturer recommendations for cleaning – while a damp, almost dry mop may be recommended for maintenance, excessive water will definitely damage your floors.
Some of Our Flooring Brands


