top of page
Frequently asked questions
Flooring
Shutters
Almost always moisture. Water getting under the floor from a leak, high humidity without proper acclimation, or a wet concrete subfloor that was not properly sealed are the most common causes. Buckling specifically - where the boards lift off the subfloor - is usually a sign of significant moisture intrusion and needs to be addressed quickly before it spreads. If your floors are showing any warping or movement, call us before it gets worse. Catching it early is the difference between a repair and a full replacement.
Sweep or dust mop daily in high-traffic areas to keep grit from scratching the finish. Use a damp - not wet - mop for deeper cleaning and avoid any steam mops, which force moisture into the wood and damage the finish over time. Put felt pads under furniture legs and use area rugs at entry points where dirt and moisture come in. Keep indoor humidity between 35 and 55 percent year-round - Bay Area winters can get dry enough to cause gaps between boards. A properly maintained hardwood floor should not need refinishing for 10 to 15 years.
Brazilian walnut, also called Ipe, is the hardest commercially available hardwood flooring species. For domestic options, hickory is the hardest and holds up extremely well in busy households. White oak, which is currently the most popular choice in the Bay Area, sits in the middle of the hardness range - hard enough for everyday family use including dogs and kids, but still workable enough to take custom stain colors beautifully. The hardest floor is not always the best floor for your home - we will help you match the species to how you actually live in the space.
Yes. Engineered hardwood is real wood. It has a genuine hardwood veneer on top - the same wood you see on solid hardwood floors - bonded to a plywood core underneath. The top layer is what you walk on, stain, and refinish. The plywood core is what makes it more dimensionally stable than solid wood in spaces with humidity fluctuations. When someone tells you engineered hardwood is not real wood, they are confusing it with laminate, which has a photographic layer printed to look like wood. Engineered hardwood is the real thing.
A quality engineered hardwood floor installed correctly will last 25 to 30 years with normal maintenance. Premium products with thicker veneers can last longer. The lifespan depends heavily on the veneer thickness, the finish quality, how well the floor is maintained, and whether humidity levels in the home are kept stable. Engineered hardwood in a well-maintained Bay Area home with consistent climate control routinely lasts as long as solid hardwood.
Quality LVP flooring typically lasts 20 to 25 years in a residential setting. The wear layer thickness is the main factor - a 12 mil wear layer is suitable for most homes, while a 20 mil or higher wear layer is recommended for heavy traffic areas or homes with pets. Cheap LVP with a thin wear layer can show damage within five to seven years. Buy by wear layer thickness, not by price alone.
Laminate has a wood fiber core that absorbs moisture and will warp and buckle when exposed to water. LVP has a 100 percent vinyl core that is completely waterproof at the plank level. Both mimic the look of wood but LVP is more durable, more water tolerant, and better suited for kitchens, bathrooms, and Bay Area homes where humidity and temperature swings are common. For most homeowners today LVP is the stronger choice.
No. Laminate flooring is not waterproof. The surface resists light spills if wiped up immediately but the wood fiber core absorbs moisture and will swell, warp, and buckle with any sustained water exposure. Some manufacturers offer water-resistant laminate with a sealed core but even those are not fully waterproof. If moisture is a concern in your space, LVP is the correct product.
LVP planks are 100 percent waterproof - the vinyl core does not absorb water under any normal residential conditions. However the floor as a system is not completely impervious to water. Moisture that gets into the seams and reaches the subfloor can still cause damage, so proper sealing at edges and transitions matters. For kitchens, bathrooms, and basements LVP is the most water-tolerant hard flooring option available.
Quality laminate flooring lasts 15 to 25 years depending on the AC rating and how well moisture is managed. AC3 is the minimum recommended for most homes and AC4 is worth the small price premium in high-traffic areas. The lifespan shortens significantly with any moisture exposure. Unlike hardwood, laminate cannot be refinished when worn - replacement is the only option. Installed correctly in a dry above-grade space, a good laminate floor will give you 20 solid years.
bottom of page