ST. LOUIS – If homeowners are thinking of having wood floors installed, refinished, or recoated, the National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) recommends they contact a wood flooring professional now to schedule for the summer.

“Anytime is a great time to install or have maintenance done on hardwood floors, but summer can be one of the most convenient times for homeowners,” said Steve Brattin, President and Owner of SVB Wood Floors and NWFA member. “While flooring work is underway, homeowners may have to avoid a room or area of the home. If they’re already going to be out of the house on vacation for a week, they can avoid that disruption and return home to beautiful wood floors.”

If existing wood floors look a little dull, they usually can be renewed through recoating. A maintenance coat involves cleaning the existing floor’s finish, lightly sanding it, and applying a fresh new coat of finish. The NWFA recommends having a wood flooring professional apply a new coat of finish to floors every 3 to 5 years. Individual maintenance schedules vary a bit depending on use, wear and tear, and lifestyle.

A complete sand and refinish is recommended every few decades, when there are deep scratches, dents, or other flooring damage. It is also a good idea when the finish has worn away and the bare wood is exposed. Sanding a floor back to raw wood can be the perfect opportunity to restore the floor back to new, or even change the color of the floor.

“Whether floors need a complete installation, recoat, or a sand and refinish process, it’s best for homeowners to use a professional who has the knowledge and skills to do the job right,” said Brett Miller, VP of Education & Certification for NWFA. “Installing wood floors is a lot more complicated than painting walls or replacing the hardware on cabinets. In the long run, homeowners will likely save time and money by using a professional instead of taking a DIY approach.”

NWFA members have access to industry standards, training programs, and skills certifications that validate their professional expertise. The NWFA also maintains a Certification Program that was developed to recognize and promote the competence of wood flooring professionals throughout the industry. Find an NWFA professional by visiting: WoodFloors.Org/find-a-professional.aspx.

Wood floor maintenance tips and the free Homeowner’s Handbook to Real Wood Floors may be downloaded by visiting: www.WoodFloors.org. The NWFA thanks the following sponsors of the “Real Wood. Real Life.” initiative for dedication to the industry: Mannington Mills and Maxwell Hardwood Flooring.

About NWFA
The National Wood Flooring Association is a not-for-profit trade organization, with more than 3,200 member companies worldwide, dedicated to educating consumers, architects, designers, specifiers and builders in the uses and benefits of wood flooring. NWFA members receive the best in educational training, benefits, technical resources, and networking, to advance their professionalism and success. The NWFA is located at 111 Chesterfield Industrial Boulevard, Chesterfield, MO 63005, and can be contacted at 800.422.4556 (U.S. and Canada), 636.519.9663 (local and international), or online at www.nwfa.org.