FAQs
Q: What is the difference between the Atomic Trailer Mounted Dust Containment System and the portable systems used by others?
A: The Atomic Trailer System is the most powerful and effective dust containment system in the industry. It consists of a trailer-mounted and gas-powered vacuum situated outside of the house, and a hose that is attached to the sanding equipment so that all the dust generated by the sanding process is evacuated, BEFORE is has a chance to get into the air, preventing the infiltration and permeation of dust into drapery, furniture, cabinets, air ducts and air conditioners. You will not need to do site protection nor will you need to clean up. Portable systems, on the other hand, are plugged into conventional 110 volts home outlets. For a video presentation of the Atomic Trailer, click here.
The Atomic Dust Containment System is the only system that is Greenguard certified for air quality. Greenguard Environmental Institute (GEI) is an industry-independent, non-profit organization that establishes standards and testing for indoor products with the goal of improving public health and quality of life by helping manufacturers create better and safer products. For more information, visit www.greenguard.org.
Q: How dustless is dustless?
A: With the Atomic Dust Containment System, the floor sanding procedure is 99.8% dust free.
Q: Why go dustless?
A: The benefits are numerous: no dust, no clean-up, no lingering irritants, no downtime for site protection, and a better looking floor, as no airborne dust settles back down into the finish. It is the best choice for a cleaner and healthier home.
Q: What is the best finish available?
A: We use only the best finishes available: Bona Traffic waterbased finish and Glitsa Goldseal. Almost all of our customers prefer Bona Traffic because of its quick dry and cure times, low VOC level, durability, and beauty.
Q: Are there any guarantees?
A: After doing a comprehensive site assessment of your floor, we guarantee the price that we quoted. Also, we guarantee to meet or exceed the standards set out by the Hardwood Flooring Association. Because we use the best finish available and if you follow the manfacturer’s recommendations with regard to floor care, your floor will give you many years of enjoyment.
Q: Are you insured?
A: Absolutely. We have liability insurance and contribute to WorkSafe (WCB) and recommend that you hire only a company that does have insurance converage.
Q: What is the procedure for refinishing floors?
A: Sand the floor with coarse paper to level a new floor or remove old finish. Fill the entire floor area to eliminate cracks and nail holes. Sand the floor twice more with progressively finer grit sand paper, filling between sanding. Finally, apply sealer/stain then two coats of Bona Traffic floor finish.
Q: Do I have to leave my house?
A: The sanding procedure is noisy but as we are dustless, no dust will infiltrate the rest of your house so you can still sleep at home. The occasional customer may find the stain to be offensive and will want to make other sleeping arrangements for that one night. However, the filler and finish are waterbased and environmental, and as yet, have not bothered any of our customers.
Q: How long will it take for the stain or finish to dry so that I may walk on my floor?
A: You may walk on your floor 3 to 4 hours after Bona stain or finish has been applied, in clean and dry socks.
Q: I ripped up my carpet and found black spots. What are they and can they be repaired?
A: Black spots on a floor could mean a couple of different things. They can be caused by water damage from a flower pot or a water leak or they could be a pet stain, which leaves an ammonia burn on the finish. Often these stains will sand out or can be disguised by staining. If not, we repair the black spots by replacing a few boards.
Q: What are the benefits of site-finished versus pre-finished floors?
A: Site-finished floors have no “V” groove. They are repairable, a custom colour can be achieved when finishing them, and better quality finish can be used. Pre-finished floors have a micro-bevel on their top edge. Their finishes can be good but are not the best available. Pre-finished floors have thinner wear-layers than solid floors. In fact, we have seen pre-finished floors that can only be sanded once or not at all, whereas a solid ¾” tongue and groove floor can be sanded by a professional 5 to 6 times.
Q: Can my engineered floor be sanded?
A: If it can take a sanding, we have the state-of-the-art sanding equipment to do it.
Q: Am I a candidate for hardwood flooring?
A: All installations should start with a moisture test to ensure that there is a good relationship between the sub-floor and the chosen kiln-dried flooring. If a contractor doesn’t moisture test your floor, don’t have it installed.
Q: What are the differences between solid 3/4", engineered, and laminate floorings?
A: Solid 3/4” tongue and groove is usually nailed down to a wood subfloor in areas that have stable moisture content, usually no higher than a 12% moisture level.
Engineered floor can be used in areas with higher moisture content. Usually a moisture vapour barrier is used over concrete or a crawl space. Engineered floors are generally floating, glued or nailed down. Laminate floors are composite, not wood. They are not repairable and can not be sanded. Generally, they are less expensive.
Q: There are boards missing from or damaged in my floor. Can you repair my floor?
A: Yes. All floors can be repaired or replaced, although some repairs are easier than others. Repairs such as dented or broken boards and patched areas that require a spliced in section are common occurrences in the flooring trade. Please call us with any concerns or other inquiries. Contact us
Q: What is the best way to clean and maintain my floor?
A: After they’ve been newly finished, treat your floors with loving care. We recommend the following timeline to ensure proper curing:
- Walking on floors: 3 - 4 hours for Bona Traffic, at least 24 hours for Glitsa
- Replacing furniture on floors: 2 – 3 days
- Carpet covering: 2 weeks
- Any use of water: at least 2 weeks
Cleaning
Vacuum or sweep regularly. Place mats at exterior doors to trap dirt and grit. Avoid rubber backing or non-ventilated rugs.
Clean up spills immediately. Clean floors with a high-quality hardwood floor cleaner, which can be ordered from us. Do not damp mop your floor. Excessive water can cause your floor to swell or warp. Do not use wax, oil soaps or household cleaners on finished wood floors. They can dull floor finishes and make refinishing difficult.
Protecting
Ensure that your shoes are in good condition and that your pets’ claws are trimmed to avoid scratches and gouges. Use protective felt pads on the “feet” of your furniture. Maintain a consistent humidity level. Excessive swings in humidity levels will cause hardwood floors to swell, shrink, cup, and show excessive gaps between boards.
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