Defective or Not Defective: That Is The Question
When purchasing a beautiful new floor,
one of your worst nightmares is to receive the product and find out
that it doesn't do what you expected it to do! After all, you
spend
a lot of time and energy into the research and expense of actually
buying a floor to fit your interior, that is enough to upset anyone.
We would like to take some time to let you know in advance, what is defective and what is not defective. Not all cases can be clearly explained without circumstantial knowledge; however, we hope the information below will get you in a better position to determine if the concerns with your floor are controllable or avoidable, or simply manufacturer error. We would like to start by listing the most common concerns about wood based products:
My brand new hardwood (or bamboo) floor has dents in it, is that a defect? No. Each floor is different, however these are natural products and while the name "hardwood" sounds good, it can be misleading. Wood is strong and resilient but ultimately when subjected to enough force (potentially high heels, or a dropped can of soup) it will show the effects. The more dense a floor is the more difficult it is to dent. While concrete is super for resisting denting, it isn't much to look at, and it certainly doesn't add the same beauty of value that a hardwood floor does. Ultimately you have to choose, do you want a beautiful, comfortable floor with less dent resistance, or do you want to have a bullet proof floor? Either way there are positives and negatives. Think about an area rug to accent your new floor, and to protect it!
My brand new floor has scratches in it already, is that a defect? No. Scratches in laminate flooring, or hardwood flooring in particular are expected. These will build up over time to decrease the luster and initial beauty of the floor. It is similar to a new car. At first it is shiny and new, without a scratch on it. Inevitably you choose to park it in the wrong space, and next thing you know you have your first scratch. We also know that it won't be the last. What can we do to stop the inevitable? Perform regular maintenance using manufacturer approved products, sold at A&R carpet Barn, and at most other specialty retailers to prevent dirt particles from interacting with the floor. Prevent unnecessary interaction by clipping pet toe nails or not allowing them onto the new floor area. Removing shoes and leaving them at the door. (Yes, you should consider being that kind of household now!) Put pads on your chairs, and furniture legs to ensure that when they are moved they don't harm the floor. Ultimately when the scratches still occur, but the good news is that both bamboo and hardwood can be sanded and refinished when it gets to a point that is no longer acceptable to you, so long as the "wear layer" is thick enough (usually 1/8th of an inch or more). Don't forget that an area rug can help protect your new floor, and accent its beauty.
spend
a lot of time and energy into the research and expense of actually
buying a floor to fit your interior, that is enough to upset anyone. We would like to take some time to let you know in advance, what is defective and what is not defective. Not all cases can be clearly explained without circumstantial knowledge; however, we hope the information below will get you in a better position to determine if the concerns with your floor are controllable or avoidable, or simply manufacturer error. We would like to start by listing the most common concerns about wood based products:
My brand new hardwood (or bamboo) floor has dents in it, is that a defect? No. Each floor is different, however these are natural products and while the name "hardwood" sounds good, it can be misleading. Wood is strong and resilient but ultimately when subjected to enough force (potentially high heels, or a dropped can of soup) it will show the effects. The more dense a floor is the more difficult it is to dent. While concrete is super for resisting denting, it isn't much to look at, and it certainly doesn't add the same beauty of value that a hardwood floor does. Ultimately you have to choose, do you want a beautiful, comfortable floor with less dent resistance, or do you want to have a bullet proof floor? Either way there are positives and negatives. Think about an area rug to accent your new floor, and to protect it!
My brand new floor has scratches in it already, is that a defect? No. Scratches in laminate flooring, or hardwood flooring in particular are expected. These will build up over time to decrease the luster and initial beauty of the floor. It is similar to a new car. At first it is shiny and new, without a scratch on it. Inevitably you choose to park it in the wrong space, and next thing you know you have your first scratch. We also know that it won't be the last. What can we do to stop the inevitable? Perform regular maintenance using manufacturer approved products, sold at A&R carpet Barn, and at most other specialty retailers to prevent dirt particles from interacting with the floor. Prevent unnecessary interaction by clipping pet toe nails or not allowing them onto the new floor area. Removing shoes and leaving them at the door. (Yes, you should consider being that kind of household now!) Put pads on your chairs, and furniture legs to ensure that when they are moved they don't harm the floor. Ultimately when the scratches still occur, but the good news is that both bamboo and hardwood can be sanded and refinished when it gets to a point that is no longer acceptable to you, so long as the "wear layer" is thick enough (usually 1/8th of an inch or more). Don't forget that an area rug can help protect your new floor, and accent its beauty.