Many hobbyists and weekend do-it-yourself enthusiasts try to refinish their own hardwood floors in the hope of saving money. What they usually find is that refinishing the hardwood is best left to a hardwood flooring expert. When an expert in hardwood flooring sands and refinishes an existing floor, the floor can be brought back to life with a luster and shine that looks like it did when it was first installed. You will be left with a beautiful floor that looks like new with no streaks and no unsightly scratches or bubbles.

The most popular wood for flooring is oak. Oak is a common hardwood that, when used in flooring, usually presents with a very neutral color that is adaptable to a wide range of decor choices. Other floorings that are popular because of their adaptability and awesome grain and texture when looking for a rustic look are yellow pine and heart pine. Maple, birch and cherry are popular for a simpler look that does not have so much grain and texture. Of course if you are restoring a home that is over 60 years old, distressed or antique wood is very popular. This wood is recovered from buildings that were between 60 and 200 years old and are usually oak, pine or chestnut, depending on the area it is recovered from and the availability of wood at the original time of construction.

When you have hardwood flooring, dust mopping at least twice a week is essential. Dirt on the floor can be ground into the boards when they are stepped on. It is usually a good idea to use runners or area rugs in high traffic areas. The humidity in a house with hardwood floors should be kept between 30 and 50 percent since dry air can crack hardwood floors. Remember to never use cleaning products that contain ammonia, wax or oil soaps because these can build up on the floor and make refinishing difficult.