Southern California Hardwood FAQs

As a wood floor naturally expands and contracts with changing humidity and temperature levels, you may hear small cracking or squeaking noises.

It’s natural for hardwood flooring to yellow, grow darker or even lighter over time, depending on the wood species. Exposure to direct sunlight and some artificial lighting accelerates this process. Moving furniture and rugs will keep your floor well blended.

A quality engineered floor will last as long and perform as well as a solid wood floor, and can even be refinished. The thicker the veneer, the more times you can refinish engineered hardwood floors. As a rule of thumb, count on 1–3 times. If your surfaces are starting to show deep scratches or look dull from years of traffic, learning when to refinish hardwood floors will help you decide if it is time to restore their shine.

Solid hardwood is cut from a single piece of wood. Solid hardwood flooring can be installed above or on grade, but is not recommended for below grade. Engineered hardwood is made from multiple layers consisting of a thick top layer of solid hardwood, an inner core of high-density material and a hardwood backing. Engineered wood floors offer superior strength and stability, making them suitable for dampness-prone areas like finished basements and bathrooms. Whichever construction you choose, avoiding daily habits that damage your hardwood floors keeps your finish clean and free of deep scratches from daily foot traffic.

The moisture content of the wood needs to adjust to the conditions in the room prior to installation. To acclimate hardwood flooring, place the packaged boards—cartons open and raised off the floor—in the room where they will be installed for 5–7 days. It is not necessary to acclimate engineered wood flooring. Once your installation is complete, following a proper routine and knowing how to properly clean hardwood will protect your new investment from grit and debris.