Sawing Methods
In addition to the specific features of each wood species, sawing methods* can create a wide variety of visual effects.
The most common methods are plain sawing, quarter sawing, and rift sawing.
* None of these sawing methods can guarantee the same results on 100% of boards.
Plain sawn
The plain sawing method is the most common. It consists of sawing boards off the log in strips parallel to the pith. These boards are then sawn lengthwise again. Every board sawn this way has a unique appearance. Floors made with plain sawn boards have greater color and pattern variations than floors made with boards sawn using other methods.
Quarter sawn
As the name implies, the quarter sawing method starts by sawing the log into quarters. Boards are then sawn off the top parts of the faces of each quarter, cutting through the growth rings at about a 90 degree angle. This method usually produces fairly uniform boards with similar grain patterns*.
* These patterns are created by the rings of the oak.
Rift sawn
If we continue sawing boards off the faces of the quartered log, we get rift sawn boards, which are differentiated by the fact that the growth rings on the outer edge of the log are different from those nearer the pith. The grain on the top of the board wi ll be linear, while the grain on the ends will be somewhat slanted.
Article courtesy of Mirage Floors
Shock Therapy
Wool has an amazing ability to absorb moisture from the atmosphere; nearly 30% of its weight without feeling damp.
It’s this moisture absorption that keeps static buildup below annoying ‘blue-arc’ levels. However, wool also acts like a natural air conditioner absorbing
moisture during periods of high humidity and releasing it when conditions are dry. During periods of extreme dryness, such as during the middle of winter when windows are closed and heaters run, this moisture releasing property, on occasion, may temporarily compromise wools ability to completely eliminate noticeable static build-up. Misting with distilled or ionized water will help dramatically and as soon as temperatures warm and heater use diminishes, noticeable static build-up will disappear.
Hardwood Floor Care & Maintenance
Care & maintenance for your new wood floors:
- Avoid heavy traffic for the 1st 24 hours after the final coat is dry (socks are recommended).
- Place felt pads on all furniture to avoid scratching the floor.
- Support furniture & heavy appliances with wide bearing, non-staining glides or casters.
- Place a quality door mat at the entrance of your home to help protect your floor from abrasive dust & grit.
- Maintain normal interior humidity levels. Humidity should fall within a range of 35% to 50%.
- Place area rugs in high or concentrated traffic areas to make long term maintenance easier.
Common Sense Care & Maintenance:
- Immediately blot up spills or spots with a light damp cloth.
- Frequently vacuum or sweep your floor to prevent dirt, dust and grit from scratching or dulling the finish. Use a vacuum with a soft brush attachment.
Basic Coatings Floor Care System – Squeaky™
- Regularly clean the floors with Basic Coatings Hardwood Floor Cleaner. Basic Coatings floor care system consists of a non-toxic waterborne cleaner specifically designed for polyurethane-finished hardwood and a re-useable microfiber mop for cleaning and eliminating dust and allergens.
- Basic Coatings floor care is waterborne, pH neutral and non-toxic. Unlike all-purpose cleaners and oil soaps, they quickly clean tough stains and spills—from dried spaghetti sauce and red wine to scuff marks—all without dulling your floor’s beautiful finish or leaving any residue. No mixing or diluting; they’re ready-to-use.
- Lightly mist a 4’ x 6’ area of your floor or directly mist the cleaning pad. Finish one area before moving on to the next. When your mop pad becomes soiled, rinse with water, thoroughly wring out the pad and continue cleaning with Basic coatings Hardwood Floor Cleaner. When the mop pad becomes excessively soiled, launder and replace with another clean mop pad. Continued use of excessively soiled pads may cause streaking.
- Your Basic Coatings Microfiber cleaning pads are reusable and washable. Do not use any fabric softeners, dryer sheets or bleach on your Microfiber cleaning pad as these products will diminish the natural cleaning characteristics of the microfiber.
Don’t:
- Use wax, conditioners or acrylic waxes
- Use steel wool on the floor
- Use ammonia based cleaners
Long Term Floor Care
- As a floor ages, signs of normal wear and tear should be expected. This is natural, it happens to all wood floors. To restore luster and extend the wear layer it may be necessary to recoat the floor with a new layer of polyurethane finish. The floor is buffed using a light screen and a new layer of finish is then applied. Don’t wait until the finish has been worn down to the bare wood. If you think it may be time to recoat your floor, please give us a call to provide you with expert advise on the best time and or method for keeping your floors in top condition.
