7 tips to preserve and maintain your hardwood floors One of the most common questions I get is prevent scratches in hardwood floors, so I thought these tips would help.   First, let me preface this by saying that ALL hardwood scratches. It's just a matter of time. Yes, some are harder than others and yes, some have a bit more scratch protection than others.   So given that all hardwood will scratch, here are some tips to MINIMIZE the scratches and prolong the life of your hardwood floors.     By far, the #1 culprit of scratches is dirt/grit, so do whatever you can to minimize this.   1. Take off your shoes! It is amazing how large an impact this can have on your floor. I just went to a repeat customer's home...a rental. We installed the hardwood over 2 yrs ago and it looks like the job ... 08/26/2013

What types of wood species can I use for my hardwood floors? I thought it would be helpful to gather a collection of the recent posts I've written on hardwood flooring species.  Soon, I hope to do some more posts on other hardwood species.  Oak hardwood flooring Oak hardwood is the most common species in the US and it's the most popular choice in Westchester County. Oak is reasonably priced, durable, accepts stains well (so it's easy to change the color), and oak flooring tends to hide scratches well. Most homes that already have hardwood have oak, and many homeowners would prefer to match what's already there, if they are adding to other rooms/floors.     There are 2 species of oak - red oak and white oak, and you can read more about the differences here: Red Oak flooring vs. white oak... 07/22/2013

As you guys know, I love Starbucks, and I'm here all the time.  On different days, it's a different Starbucks,  I'm finding that over time, I'm running into more and more people I know, especially  customers.  I also run into real estate agents and other networking contacts.  I have to say, my customers frequent this place a lot - it's a good fit with my target.  This does tend to lead to more closed business, more repeat business and more referral business, so I think Starbucks is a good habit...and worth well more thatn the $3.65 I spend on the coffee.   Today, it was a super nice customer.  She just closed on her new home on Friday, and tomorrow we are refinishing her hardwood floors in Cortlandt Manor.   LOL...as I was about to push submit, someone else I knew walked in.  He is in m... 07/01/2013

Installing hardwood flooring - how long does it take? How long does it take to install hardwood floors for your home in Westchester NY? This is a common question among Westchester homeowners, especially if deadlines are attached (e.g. a move in date) or coordination with a larger project (e.g. kitchen remodel or new addition).     While all projects vary in length, usually the largest factor is whether you are installing Prefinished or Unfinished hardwood. Generally, prefinished hardwood will take longer to arrive, but less time to install, while unfinished hardwood will arrive quickly, but will take longer to install due to the drying time. Every situation is different and sometimes the focus is on meeting a specific deadline; other times the timing is flexible but the customer wants ... 03/17/2013

I was so excited when I saw my Google Analytics today and realized that I now have 4 posts with over 10,000 clicks.  And, I even have 1 post with 20,000 clicks.   One of the great things about blogging is that your posts have a long shelf life.  These 4 posts keep growing, and in fact many have accelerated.  One of the things I do to give them a minor boost is to link to them from other posts.  This is one example of it, but I do it in many of my posts....feed the strong.   BTW, these posts were written about a year ago or so.   What's the difference between red oak and white oak flooring? 20,061 Oil based vs water based polyurethane.  15,779 Can you change the color of your hardwood floors? 11,536 How long does it take to refinish hardwood floors?   10,525   So, check out your google a... 02/20/2013

Leveraging your hardwood floors to help sell your house In Westchester County, hardwood flooring is the preferred flooring type, especially for the main level of the home.  If you have hardwood floors (rather than carpet), your house will generally sell for a higher value and sell faster.  Any real estate agent will confirm this...after all, this is what buyers are looking for.   I work with a lot of real estate agents, stagers, home sellers and home buyers.  And, the preference is consistent.  And, it's especially apparent when I'm working with new home buyers...they are almost always ripping up carpet and refinishing the hardwood underneath, as well as adding hardwood to rooms where it is missing.   It is rare for carpet to remain in place with a new home buyer...they will almost alwa... 12/23/2012

Hardwood floors:  Brazilian Cherry flooring - it gets richer with age Brazilian Cherry hardwood grows in Brazil (obviously) and is often referred to as Jatoba, its Spanish name. It's one of the more popular (and expensive) hardwoods.  Due to the climate and growing cycles, Brazilian Cherry is much harder than the typical oak you see in most Westchester homes. On the Janka hardness scale, Red Oak is a 1290 while Brazilian Cherry is 2350 - almost twice as hard as oak.     But, the main reason customers love Brazilian Cherry hardwood is its unparalelled beauty. The redness and depth of color is unparalleled, along with the richness of its smooth graining. Even if you stain oak to be red, you can't get same effect - it's impossible. Take a look.     Brazilian Cherry typically comes in wide... 12/13/2012