Greg is looking at changing the look of his home from the current glazed tile and carpet that he has through-out his home to a more inviting and homeowner friendly one. He is talking with David Holt, owner of Holt Maintenance Co. which has been in business since 1976.

Q- David, what types of floors have you found that are long lasting and are good for the home?

For the kitchen, glazed tile is one of the longest lasting floors and the easiest to maintain. Splashes and spills are a lot easier to wipe up and the surface lasts a lot longer than finished wood, depending on the quality of the tile.

There are many grades of glazing and that definitely affects the longevity. The more layers of glaze or thicker the glaze, the more wear you’ll get from the floor. I have seen cheap glazed tiles have the glaze wear off in much too short a time, so that they become difficult if not impossible to maintain. Since the tile is non-porous, wax and other finishes won’t stick to it, so layers of protection above the glaze can’t be added. The only solution then is to replace the flooring.

Thinner grout lines, well sealed, are also easier to keep clean. Fine (sand) grout leaves few if any crevices for dirty water to get stuck in.

Mats can be placed near the sink and a rug under any breakfast table, to soften the surface for standing on.

The above also applies to bathroom floors.

Q- David, which floor do you think would be better hardwood or tile, as far as maintenance?

For the remainder of the house, hardwood floors can be easily maintained and of course do not hold dust and dirt like carpet does. The trick here is to have and maintain a good finish on the surface of the wood. Prefinished floors with, generally, an aluminum oxide coating, seem to last well. Oak floors, well coated with polyurethane, also last very well with the proper care, and seem to last longer than maple floors do. It could be that newer finishes compatible with maple are harder and longer lasting than they used to be but oak can accept very hard finishes. Remember, it is the finish that takes the wear, not the wood underneath, when the floor is maintained properly.

Dustmopping and cleaning with a Bona Kemi or Woodwise type hardwood floor cleaning system are very good and fast ways to care for wood floors with a polyurethane finish on them.

The floor should be recoated every eight years or so of “average” usage, thus it is always the finish being worn by traffic and not the wood.

Rugs and runners can be used to lessen the impact of walking on these floors.

In every case, chairs and other furniture sitting on hard floors (tile, hardwood, whatever) should have felt pads on the leg ends to keep from scratching or wearing away the floor.

Q-  What would you suggest would be the best flooring for kids?

For the little ones, carpets or rugs should be the most comfortable to crawl on. But, hard floors are easier to keep clean/sanitized.

              Tony at Glen Pacific Carpet and Floor has been in business for 27 years and is a good friend of Holt Maintenance Co. Greg is now talking with Tony.

              Greg is leaning toward a maple wood floor. From the information above, he wants a hard coating on it.

Q- What would you recommend?

Maple flooring is a terrific choice, especially since it is even harder than oak. Maple has a truly rich appearance with a "smoother" look when compared with oak

Q- What are the options on wood floors?

Where to start?  Everything from natural (meaning not stained) to stain colors which span the rainbow Species of wood from oak to exotics like Koubari from Africa. High gloss and low gloss finishes, aluminum oxide coatings or full oil base coatings for wear resistance. Differences in gauge and widths abound. Quite literally, the options are endless.

Q- What are the costs involved?

Again, hundreds of options means hundreds of prices to fit any budget. Hardwood material can range from a low of about $2.00 per square foot on up into the stratosphere plus labor and any "extras." That's the beauty of using a real pro who really knows the product, and what it takes to install it right the first time.

Thank you very much David and Tony!

Tony’s contact info: http://www.glenpacific.com

David’s contact info: mailto:david@holtfloorcare.com