14 - Friday, February 24, 1989 - Morth Shore News Hardwood floors Windsong voi grain easier to maintain N.Van. 80-1293 Feb. 25. 27. 28 A, HARDWOOD FLOORING is Brida! Registry more popular than ever among savvy homeowners. And it’s no wonder. The floor- ing choices range from traditional oak to exotic merbau or kambala, in rich natural tones or contem- porary pastels, and in planks or parquets. And, thanks to advanced factory prefinishes which add a durable, casy-care surface, hardwood floor- ing is ideal for any room in the home. But, selecting and installing a new hardwood floor is just the beginning. Keeping a new hard- wood floor looking new requires special attention. ‘‘The first step is to determine the type of factory finish on your particular floor,” says Brian M. Greenwell, director of marketing for a leading manu- Spruce up wooden floors FLOORS OFTEN are overlooked when planning home decorating Projects. Three cost-effective refinishing treatments, recommended by the National Paint and Coatings ASsociation, are bleaching, whitewashing and staining. Bieaching, as the name states, involves stripping the wood of its color. You can use an ordinary household bleach, but remember to work in a well-veatilated area, and wear protective goggles and gloves. Leave bleach on for 10-15 minutes, rinse and let dry. Some bleach residue will remain, so you must neutralize the floor’s surface by washing with a half-and-half facturer of prefinished wood floor- ing. A waxed finish is a penetrating Stain and sealer with a waxed sur- face, most often used on tradi- tional solid hardwood floors. A Swedish finish is an excep- tionally durable, water-resistant hardened acrylic polyurethane that does not require waxing. It is found on both solid planks and Parquets, and on the popular lam- inated flooring products, such as Tarkett Longstrip. While today’s no-wax factory finishes add durability and scrat- ch-resistance, it’s important to take precautions to avoid excess damage and wear, says Greenwell. He offers these tips: Wipe up liquid spills quickly. Although Swedish finishes are water-resistant, wood is a natural material that swells when it ab- solution of vinegar and water. Rinse with clear water, sand with sandpaper, brush off sanding resi- due, and apply a coat of polyurethane to ensure the floor’s durability. To whitewash wooden floors, bleach surface, and apply a white stain. Reapply stain until you achieve the desired effect, without losing the natural wood grain. Let dry overnighi, sand, dust and dampmop. Finish with a coat of polyurethane. Semi-transparent, oil-based stains are recommended for stain- ing wooden floors. Available in wood tones, oil-based stains allow See Decorating Page 15 Silk Specials Free residential and Spider Plant Also Cpen Sun. 12-5 % commercial consultations 985-9859 sorbs moisture and shrinks when it dries out. Because water can permanently spect a waxed finish, floors with this surface finish are not recom- mended for kitchens and other rooms where liquid spills are common. Avoid furniture glides that con- centrate weight on one tiny area and can permanently gouge any wood floor. Spread the weight by using wide, smooth caps under furniture legs. Be careful when moving heavy furniture. A piece of carpet posi- tioned under the furniture will protect the floor’s surface. Beware of high heels. They can leave dents or gouces. Tracked-in dirt and grit are like sandpaper on a hardwood floor. Use a doormat at every outside en- trance and be sure to vacuum it or shake it out regularly. In addition to these preventive measures, Greenwell recommends regular cleaning for all hardwood floor finishes. ‘‘Routine maintenance, with the proper pro- duct for each type of prefinish, is essential,’” he says. he ULTRASONIC. MEASURING TOOL Siam STANLEY J OLLYBU NES LUMBER COMPANY the speed oF sound with the push of a button. m FAST m CONVENIENT w Clip-on carrying case Sale Price ~Ag* ‘rit Baan, LUMBER COMPANY Mon-Fri. 160 Hanes, North Vancouver Sst. 5 2 biks south of Capilano Mall Sun. 19 am - 4:00 pm 980-3484