FAQ
General
Where can I purchase Blue Ridge Hardwood Flooring?
Blue Ridge Flooring is sold exclusively by The Home Depot.
Can I expect my flooring to have color and grain variations?
Part of the beauty and uniqueness of natural, real wood is that no two planks will ever be the same. Natural wood characteristics such as color variations, pinholes, knots, and darker mineral streaks are considered desirable, may be present, and will vary between different floorings.
Installation
May I install hardwood over a radiant heat system?
Blue Ridge follows the guidelines established by the National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) which only allows the installation of engineered White Oak or Red Oak hardwood flooring over a radiant heating system.
What is the difference between solid and engineered flooring?
Solid hardwood flooring is milled from a single piece of 3/4-inch thick lumber—it’s solid all the way through. The planks can be recoated or sanded and re-stained several times. Solid hardwood must be nailed/stapled down utilizing the appropriate fastener length specified in the installation instructions. Solid flooring should not be installed in a full bath or basement.
Blue Ridge Engineered Hardwood Flooring is produced by bonding five to nine layers of real, solid hardwood in a cross-ply configuration. As a result, engineered flooring is very stable and an excellent choice for all levels of the home, including the basement. Engineered flooring comes in click-lock or tongue and groove constructions. Tongue and groove flooring can be installed with staple-down, glue-down, and floating methods, and click-lock flooring can be installed with glue-down or glueless floating methods.
May I use tape, such as painter’s tape or frog tape, on my hardwood flooring?
Do not apply any tape directly to hardwood flooring. The adhesive can cause finish issues, peel off parts of the finish, or leave behind a sticky residue. If tape has been used and you are experiencing issues, reach out to the tape manufacturer to determine how to correct the issues you are experiencing. We do not manufacture tape and cannot provide information on how to remove residue or correct issues that arise from using tape.
Do I need to use a moisture inhibiter or underlayment under my flooring?
When nailing or stapling down a SOLID or ENGINEERED floor, Blue Ridge requires that an acceptable moisture inhibiter such as 15 lb. asphalt saturated felt, Silicone Vapor Shield paper, or Aquabar® B be placed between the hardwood flooring and the wood subfloor to help slow down moisture flow from subfloors.
If an ENGINEERED floor (click or tongue and groove) is floated, a foam underlayment designed for hardwood flooring should cover the subfloor. If installing over concrete, also install a 6-mil poly film first (unless the underlayment you are using includes a 6-mil poly layer).
No underlayment is required if an ENGINEERED floor is glued down.
What types of molding or transition pieces will I need?
Moldings vary based on their intended use. Find coordinating moldings through the Compatibility Guide which is included with every Blue Ridge Floor on HomeDepot.com. Since both moldings and floors are made from real wood, they can sometimes vary in appearance. It is best to identify flooring planks that coordinate closely with the molding. Plan to install the complementary flooring planks next to the molding.
When ordering hardwood flooring, how much extra do I need to allow for waste?
Blue Ridge recommends adding around 10 percent for waste and cuts, depending on the skill level of the installer and the layout of the space. For example, a diagonal installation will result in more waste than a traditional installation.
How much expansion space should I leave around walls and vertical obstructions?
Leave a gap equal to the thickness of the flooring next to any walls and vertical obstructions. This will allow the floor to naturally expand and contract with the seasons.
Why should I mix planks from multiple boxes during installation?
All hardwood flooring has color variations. Different boxes of the same species can vary noticeably in color and grain. By mixing pieces from multiple boxes during installation, shade variations across the entire floor will blend, showcasing the beauty of each unique plank.
How does moisture affect hardwood flooring?
Excessive moisture causes hardwood floors to expand, and insufficient moisture and/or relative humidity in the home causes hardwood floors to contract. While hardwood flooring will naturally expand and contract as the seasons change, non-ideal moisture conditions can lead to undesirable changes to the floor, such as cupping, buckling, gapping, or cracking.
Before installation, the moisture content of the flooring and the subflooring must be checked, making sure they meet the recommendations outlined in the installation instructions. Once the flooring has been installed, the humidity level inside the building should be kept within the recommended range of 35-55 percent, and the temperature should be kept between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit year-round.
Care & Maintenance
May I apply polyurethane to my prefinished floor?
Applying an extra coat of polyurethane to newly installed prefinished floors will void the finish warranty and is not necessary since the original Aluminum Oxide enhanced finish is 10 times more abrasion resistant than standard polyurethane.
May I use a steam cleaner on my hardwood flooring?
Steam cleaners should never be used on a hardwood floor; they can damage the product and void the warranty. Steam mops create drastic temperature and moisture changes that may warp the wood or lift the finish.
Can my engineered floors be refinished in later years?
Yes, they can be refinished professionally. Depending on the thickness of the wear layer or veneer, your options may be to either sand & finish or recoat. NWFA guidelines dictate that the minimum thickness for sanding & refinishing is a 2.5mm veneer, but there is no minimum wear layer required for a recoat.
Sanding & refinishing involves sanding down the top part of the wear layer. This process is used if a floor’s surface has significant damage or the owner wants to change the color of the floor. Recoating involves abrading the current finish and then adding a new layer of finish. A recoat cannot be done if any wax products, silicon cleaners, or oil soaps were used on the floors, as they will prevent the new layer of finish from bonding. For either method of refinishing, follow all directions of the finish manufacturer.
Once the flooring has been altered, the person who altered it assumes the finish warranty. If you are using a professional contractor, ask what warranty they might provide.
How do I remove glue left on my floor from the installation process?
Please contact the manufacturer of the glue to determine the safest way to remove the product from your floors.
I used an oil-based cleaner. How do I get the original shine back to my floors?
Please contact the manufacturer of the cleaner to learn if the cleaner can be safely removed from your floors. Note, the Blue Ridge warranty states: “Do not use liquid/paste wax, oil, oil soap, silicone, ammonia-based cleaners as they can permanently dull or cloud the finish.”
What can I do to repair small scuffs, chips, and dents?
For scuff marks on prefinished floors, use an eraser to remove them. For small dents and chips, use a stain marker to fill in any gaps in the finish.
What should I use to clean my floor?
Vacuum your floors weekly, and wipe up any spills immediately with a dry or damp cloth. Use a hardwood flooring cleaner such as Bona Hardwood Flooring Cleaner or Basic Coatings for a deeper clean. Please note, wood floors should never be mopped, and oil-based or wax cleaners can dull the finish.
Why is the floor beneath my rug lighter than the exposed floor?
All wood species are light sensitive, some more so than others. This means that wood flooring will lighten or darken over time with UV exposure. Depending on the species, it may take six months to a year for floors to reach their full, rich color. To eliminate tone differences, rotate rugs and furniture periodically so each area of the floor gets equal amounts of sun exposure. Eventually, any variations in color tones should fade away.