Understanding Hardwood Flooring and other products

Understanding Hardwood Flooring and other products

When choosing Hardwood flooring and other wood products, it is important to understand the different wood varieties and grades.  Over the past few years, more and more people are using man made products in their home which offer perfection to the eye and create expectations.   Natural wood products are never uniform because every tree is an individual and no two logs have the same mineral streaks, knots or burls.  Wood from the same tree can vary in color, grain and character marks making the wood unpredictable.  No two boards from the same log are twins. Character marks are part of hardwood and should be expected in any wood product.   Character marks include Knots, Mineral Streaks, Grain, and Growth Rings. The character marks reflect the history of the tree and provide clues as to the trees past life.  .  Logs generally have very few clear boards but when they do these boards are given the highest grades.   Oak Wood Flooring can be graded

·         Clear (most expensive and least amount of character)

·         Select

·         No 1 Common

·         No 2 Common

·         No 3 Common ( most character)

It is important that you understand the type of grading that you have selected for your floor because the higher the number, the more natural character marks your wood will have in it.

In the Northern Part of the United States Red Oak and White Oak are the easiest species to obtain and generally result in a lower costing wood.  Close behind is Poplar, Ash, Maple, Cherry, Fir and Alder.  The hardness of the tree is something else that you want to consider when choosing your floor.  In areas like Minnesota where temperatures vary, you may want to consider purchasing a floor that provides the most amount of stability during the year.  The following is a list of wood products starting with the hardest and moving towards the softest:

·         Brazilian Cherry

·         Santos Mahogany

·         Hickory

·         Hard Maple

·         Cypress

·         White Oak

·         Ask

·         American Beech

·         Red Oak

·         Yellow Birch

·         Heart Pine

·         Walnut

·         Yellow Pine

·         Douglas Fir

Creating an exterior feature wall

Transform your drab brick into a beautiful feature wall. By simply overlaying your current exterior brick with mesh ,mortar and dry stack you can change the look and feel of your exterior.  This dry stack product created a beautiful feature wall on the outside of this property in Edina Minnesota.. Within one week, B  & R Hardwood and Tile was able to transform this home.  Call us today at 612-644-8779 or check us out on the web at www.brflooring.biz

Enhancing Natural Stone

Natural stone is very porous allowing it to soak up water, oil, grease and other stains that can make your stone look mottled and less beautiful. By placing an enhancer on your stone, you can restore its natural beauty and luster. Below are pictures of Flagstone that was never sealed. You can see the restoration and beauty of the stone as the enhancement process progresses.

Before Stone enhancement

Half-way enhanced

Enhanced

Let B & R Hardwood and Tile restore the beauty and luster to your natural stone.  Contact Kurt at 612-644-8779 or check us out on the web at www.brflooring.biz

Preparation of your subfloor

Beautiful floors require proper preparation especially when you are removing carpeting and replacing the flooring with wood or tile.  Any waves in the floor or dips in the flooring need to be fixed prior to floor installation.  I was recently called into a condo in Eden Prairie where the original contractor had cut corners and not prepared the subfloor properly.  The result was 13 or 14 large tiles that were hollow and susceptible to cracking.  This easily is avoided when the subfloor is properly prepared.  

When doing projects on your own, it is often tempting to cut corners.  My advice is to spend the extra time and money to do the project right.   Many times, I have been called into homes to “fix” a do it yourself project that did not turn out the way the homeowner expected. Often, I cannot fix the problem because the short cut they took requires a complete tear out of the materials.  Often, the materials cannot be saved and the project ends up costing the consumer twice as much because they took short cuts or tried projects that were beyond their skill level. 

B & R Hardwood and Tile does not cut corners.  We prepare every subfloor carefully to insure a beautiful result.  For a free consultation, contact Kurt Kuhlmann at 612-644-8779 or check us out on the web at www.brflooring.biz

Curb-less Showers

B & R Hardwood and Tile is proud to offer a curb-less shower system creating a seam-less transition between your flooring and your shower.  We are able to do this using Tuff-Form, a level entry product that installs directly onto your joist system.  We water proof your floors and your walls making your bathroom transformation last for years to come.  Check us out on the web at brflooring.biz or call Kurt Kuhlmann at 612-644-8779. 

B & R Hardwood and Tile, Inc  8445 Powers Place   Chanhassen, MN 55317

Sticker shock on bathroom remodels

Lately, I have been meeting with many clients wanting to remodel their main or master bathroom.  We start the meeting talking about the vision and the dream.  Most wish lists include: granite counter tops, faucets, lighting, natural stone tile, new frame less glass shower doors, furniture style cabinets, new spa tub, mirrors, doors, trim, moving plumbing, new sheet rock, painting, ceiling replacement, etc.  The shock usually comes when the consumer finds out how much it costs to actually transform their space.  According to Remodeling Magazine, the average bathroom remodel for a mid range home is $16,470.  Pricing swings up to $52,000 for an upscale home.  It is important to do your research before bringing contractors in to look at your space.  These numbers are not being provided to scare you but to make you aware that you may not be able to do everything on your wish list.  It is important to determine what your deal breakers are and what the “nice to have’s” are.   Our last few master bathroom remodels, cost $20,000-$35,000. These consumers replaced spa tubs, installed custom cabinets, bought granite, new faucets, new lighting, used natural store with decorative boarders, moved walls, replaced sheet rock, painted, etc. 

 I am often brought in to do bathroom face lifts, which usually do not involve changing cabinets, fixtures, or the “foot print” of the bathroom.  These remodels can be done for $10,000-$15,000 depending on room size if you are simply replacing tile and making minor cosmetic changes.  Tile selection impacts both installation costs and material costs especially when you choose natural stone, inlays, border effects, and glass tile that require intricate labor. 

For bathroom remodeling call Kurt Kuhlmann at 612-644-8779 or find us on the web at www.brflooring.biz 

Remodeling Magazine: www.remodeling.hw.net/2011/costvalue/division/west-north-central.aspx

B & R Hardwood and Tile

8445 Powers Place

Chanhassen, MN 55317

Quartz countertop care and maintenance

Care and Maintenance for Quartz

Many people today choose a Quartz counter surface because it is a non-porous material that is resistant to scratching, heat, and stain.   It does require some maintenance and it will scratch, burn and stain when it is not protected from harsh environments. To maintain the beauty of your stone, please use the following precautions with your counter tops:

·         Place hot pad and Trivets under items removed from your stove top or oven

·         Use cutting boards when working with knives and sharp tools.

·         Avoid dropping heavy items on the counter top surface

·         Do not use harsh chemicals, powders or abrasives like: bleach, oil soaps, oven cleaners, furniture cleaners, comet, and oil based products.  The best way to maintain your surface is to clean it with soap and water on a regular basis.  Non-abrasive cleaners are recommended.

·         Avoid using permanent markers, dyes, stains, paint thinner, strippers and chemicals with high alkaline/ PH levels.

Recommended cleaners for Quartz include:

·         Soap and Water

·         Magic Eraser by Mr. Clean

·         Simple Green

·         10 X Stone Polish

·         Denatured Alcohol

·         Rock Doctor cleaner

·         Hopes Surface Cleaner

To remove substances like gum, paint or tape use a plastic putty knife with soap /water and  gently scrape the counter top. If you have any questions, contact Kurt at 612-644-8779 or check us out on the web at www.brflooring.biz.

B & R Hardwood and Tile

Chanhassen, MN 55317

Hardwood Flooring Re-Finish Process

B & R Hardwood and Tile Floor Re-Finishing Process

B & R has been in the flooring business for 14 years restoring hardwood floors to their natural beauty.   Our crews are trained to follow the National Wood Flooring Associations guidelines.

·         B & R meets with the client to evaluate and measure the floor.  During this time, we inspect for pet damage, cracked boards, uneven boards, warping and other issues that can impact your flooring over time.  We measure the hardwood including, closets, hallways, treads and risers and other areas the homeowner wants refinished.   Bids are emailed to the homeowner within 3-4 days. 

·         Generally, we do not recommend removing trim during the refinish process.  Trim removal and re-installation is not included in our price but can be done for an additional charge.

·         Our process includes two cuts of sanding and three coats of finish.  Our finish usually is two coats of high quality professional oil base finish followed by one coat of water base finish.  This creates a smoother and tougher finish.

·         Most refinishes are completed in 3 days unless the homeowner decides to add a custom stain color.  This is an additional charge and takes an additional day to complete.

·         B & R uses state of the art dust containment equipment for the best professional results.  The homeowner should expect to find minimal dust throughout the work area as a natural result of refinishing floors.  B & R can provide cleaning services at the customer’s request for an additional charge.

·         If the homeowner hires B & R, they will be responsible for removing all furniture, household items, window treatments, items in closets, and wall hangings.  B & R can assist with furniture removal for an additional fee. If our crews arrive and have to move belongings, they will charge the customer extra for these services.

·         During the process, be prepared to avoid using the areas that are being refinished. You will not be able to walk on the floors because they will be drying.  Also be prepared for a very strong smell which will dissipate over time.

For all of your re-finish needs, contact Kurt Kuhlmann at B & R Hardwood and Tile . Phone 612-644-8779 or find us on the web at www.brflooring.biz

Buff and Coat verses full hardwood re-finish

Refinishing your hardwood floor versus using a buff and coat system

 If you have hardwood flooring in your home, it is very important that you know how to maintain and preserve its beautiful finish.  Over time your floors will sustain some damage from normal wear and tear.  This brings to mind two questions. How do you know when it is time to refinish my hardwood floors?  Should I completely refinish the floors or just have a buff and coat finish?

As a general rule, hardwood floors should be refinished every 5-7 years when it has deep scratches and dirt becomes imbedded and is hard to remove. If your floors are newer and have only slight surface scratches you may be able to get by with a buff and coat.  Although both processes require the homeowner to completely remove all furnishings from the room, there is a difference in price, quality, process, and life expectancy for the different finishes.

Buff and Coat processes are an inexpensive solution for newer floors that are in excellent shape and just need slight restoration.  They generally cost about $1.50 per square foot and can be done in one day.  Their finish life expectancy is about 2-3  years which means you are just delaying the inevitable full refinish of your flooring.  I would probably only consider this process if you are in a hurry and planning an event like a high school graduation or the sale of your home. 

Hardwood floor refinishing reconditions your wood, protects it with multiple coats of finish, and has a much longer life expectancy for the finish. It generally costs about $3.00 per square foot and has a life expectancy of 5-7 years. Hardwood Refinishing takes several days but in the long run may be your best option because when you factor in the savings over time, refinishing your hardwood may be the most economical solution. 

For more information contact Kurt Kuhlmann at 612-644-8779 or visit us on the web at www.brflooring.biz

B & R Hardwood and Tile

8445 Powers Place

Chanhassen, MN 55317

Re-Facing Exterior Brick

Recently, B & R Hardwood and Tile re-faced the exterior brick on an Edina home. The home had recently changed its siding color and the old brick looked dated and stood out against the new siding.  I recommended the homeowner try a new product that allows us to install  a new facade right over the existing brick. In less than the week, the old tired brick was replaced with a beautiful "dry stack" type style.  The homeowner was thrilled with the results.   Below I am posting a pictorial showing our process.  If you are interested in a free consultation, call me at 612-644-8779 or contact me on the web at www.brflooring.biz.

Angie's List

B & R Hardwood and Tile has been advertising with Angie’s List since 2003 and are grateful to have won the superior service awards since 2003.  The reason that I market on Angie’s List is because of the feedback that I receive from my clients.  As a contractor, it is important to obtain feedback about the quality of your services and workmanship.  Angie’s List gives the customer an open forum to provide honest constructive feedback to contractors.  Often times, people are uncomfortable voicing their feedback at the time of project completion for a variety of reasons: they have grown weary of workman disrupting their daily lives, they have not had time to process how they feel about the project or they don’t want to share their feelings with the contractor face to face.  Angie’s List is a great forum for allowing customers to share with others unbiased opinions about how the project went.  This allows me as the contractor to learn what I am doing well and what I need to work on.  Because I love what I do, I want my customers to have the best possible experience when working with B & R Hardwood and Tile.  Angie’s List has helped me assess and improve my business over the past 9 years and I am grateful for every Angie’s List customer that I have had the pleasure to work with.  I highly recommend you consider joining Angie’s List today and discover the value of comparing contractors using the customer feedback provided on Angie’s List. 

Kurt Kuhlmann
President
B & R Hardwood and Tile
612-644-8779
www.brflooring.biz

Transitional Flooring areas in your Home

With today’s flooring choices, many people are choosing to replace old dated vinyl flooring with tile or hardwood.  Changing from vinyl to tile can create transition challenges between old flooring areas and new tile or hardwood.  Many contractors will try to take short cuts suggesting you leave the Luan underlayment (below the vinyl) and just live with a bump down or reducer between old and new flooring types.  The reason they are making this suggestion is because they do not want to take the time to pull the staples or pound them into the subfloor because it is a time consuming process.   You do not have to accept as the only solution.

B & R Hardwood and Tile does not take short cuts.  We recommend that you pull out the Luan underlayment and properly level your floors.  The cost for this extra step is about $1.50 a square foot. This is a minor cost when you consider the floors will look better and you won’t have people tripping over the floor reducer. 

Here are the steps we take to insure your floors are level:

·         B & R Removes the vinyl, Luan underlayment, and all nails are either removed or pounded into the subfloor.

·         B & R evaluates the subfloor to determine if there are any issues and determines what areas may need to be patched. This also assures that the tile will adhere to the surface and not risk being uneven.

·         B & R sets tile underlayment to reach a level surface to your hardwood or tile transition area. This makes your floor have fluid transitions and avoids ugly bump downs or reducers between transitional areas.

We would love to help you transform your current vinyl to hardwood or tile flooring.  Please contact Kurt Kuhlmann at B & R Hardwood and Tile at 612-644-8779 or find us on the web at www.brflooring.biz .

Demolition process

When remodeling your home, you need to plan on dealing with dust and debris. Below are pictures of a recent bathroom demolition.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Excelsior

Warm wire and radiant floor heating systems

Thoughts on Warm Wire and Radiant floor heating systems:

Warm wire is a great way to take the chill out of room especially areas that are predominately tile flooring. Warm wire is a heating system that is proportionally spaced over the floor and is controlled by a programmable thermostat. This system can be used on tile, hardwood and some types of carpeting. Warm wire heating provides comfort to your home by controlling your flooring temperatures during different periods of time during the day.

Warm wire is used on areas that are over 100 square feet. It is installed on the subfloor on a track system that spaces the wires evenly. I highly recommend having a licensed electrician install your warm wire for several reasons: Many cities require it to be installed by an electrician, the warm wire must have a dedicated circuit, and if it not installed by an electrician your warranty may be voided. After the warm wire is installed by the electrician, the tile setter pours an underlayment using a self- leveling compound. This levels out the surface and prepares the area for the normal tile process.

Floor heating mat systems are usually used in smaller places like bathrooms. They are similar to warm wire except that the wires are already potted into the plastic mat. No underlayment is required with mat systems. The tile setter simply skim coats the mat with a trowel and sets the tile. Mats are not generally used on areas that exceed 100 square feet.

Below are some pictures of a warm wire install B & R Hardwood and Tile recently performed.

Feel free to check out our website at www.brflooring.biz or call Kurt at 612-644-8779.




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Twin Cities

Recent bathroom mold case

Bathroom mold

I was recently asked to investigate a mold problem in a newer downstairs shower in the Edina area. Another contractor had installed Travertine tile and had failed to seal the tile properly. Body oils and soap scum had penetrated the Travertine and gotten behind the walls. After carefully removing the moldy lower wall tiles, it was determined that the shower could not be saved. Sadly, this could have been prevented with the following measures by the original contractor:

• Installation of a properly working bathroom exhaust fan to remove moisture.
• Sealing the surface of the Travertine tile with a natural sealer. I recommend two coats of sealer.
• Using an additive to the grout to prevent penetration of body oils.
• Investigating the current shower drain and determining that it was not working properly, hiring a plumber to resolve the issue, and making sure that drain issue was resolved before installation of the new tile began.

We are currently remodeling this shower and will post pictures of our progress.

We do beautiful bathroom remodels. Check us out on the web at www.brflooring.biz or call Kurt at 612-644-8779.

Kurt Kuhlmann
B & R Hardwood and Tile
8445 Powers Place
Chanhassen, MN 55317


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Minneapolis / St Paul

Bathroom remodel in process

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Edina

Transforming your space to hardwood

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Farmington

Hardwood refinishing process

B & R Hardwood and Tile prides itself on high quality. We use the best people and processes. We do not take short cuts ensuring that your hardwood floor finish will stand the test of time. Here are things to watch out for: - Beware of low cost providers because they may take short cuts and use inferior products. We recommend three coats of finish. - Understand what buff and coat means... Buff and coat providers are inexpensive and their products only provide short term results and do not stand the test of time. The adage you get what you pay for is true with hardwood refinishing processes. - You need to make sure that you have experienced individuals running the equipment or you may end up with chatter marks and an over sanded floor decreasing the lifespan of your hardwood. The pictures below show our process....feel free to contact Kurt at 612-644-8779 or check us out at www.brflooring.biz


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Minneapolis St Paul area