IX. CLEAR EXPECTATIONS
A.
At one
time, if you had floors your choices were pretty much dirt or wood. Because of this, most people had a
basic understanding of what they could expect and not expect from wood
floors. In the decades of the
wall-to-wall rug, the 60's, 70's, and 80's, the disappearance of this general
knowledge, as well as advances in materials and techniques made by the flooring
industry and growing concern for environmental issues have led to
misunderstandings and unreasonable expectations of wood floors, within the
profession as well as in the general public.
B.
What
a Client Can Not Expect
Some
things are simply not possible with a hardwood floor and a client should not
expect them.
1.
A
table top finish. Each plank of wood flooring sands
differently depending on its grain type (plain or quartered) , direction, etc.
making it impossible to obtain a completely table-top smooth finish.
2.
Dust-free
finish. Since a floor is finished "on
site", it is not possible to achieve a "sterile" environment.
Some dust will fall onto the freshly applied top finish. If the area is not kept isolated, other
debris may accumulate.
3.
A
monochromatic floor. Wood, as a natural product, varies from
piece to piece. It will have grain
and color variations consistent with the grade and species of flooring
selected.
4.
A
floor that will not indent. Despite the term
"hardwood", wood flooring will indent under pressure such as high
heel traffic (especially heels in disrepair), heavy furniture, etc. The finish that is applied will not
prevent the dents.
5.
A
floor without cracks or separations. As a natural,
organic product, a wood floor will continue to absorb and release
moisture. This natural process will
cause the flooring to expand and contract from season to season, resulting in
cracks between some of the boards.
Some stain colors, such as white, will show this process more than
others.