Try these steps for removing paint stains, in order if possible:

1) Try removing the stains using a small amount of hot water and some non-chemical cleaning agents first. These are less likely to damage your floor, but don’t use too much water or you will damage it. The success of this method depends on how old the paint stains are.

2) Use a mild cleaning agent

3) Try a putty knife, used very gently

4) Use paint thinner or acetone thinner, very carefully. You need to be patient, and always test on out-of-the-way areas first

5) If the first options fail, try using a heat gun to soften the paint so it can be lifted off. Don’t use the highest heat, and test in a corner first

6) Try a specialist paint removing product, checking with the manufacturer of your wood flooring that it’s suitable and safe

7) Sand the floor. This is the final option for the stubbornest of paint stains. Call in a professional floor sander if you aren’t completely confident of tackling the job yourself.

Here are the next few steps to consider:

Step 4: Decide who will fit your wood flooring

You have an important decision to make here, as you don’t want to ruin your expensive wood floors by laying them incorrectly. Before buying, decide whether you want to save some money and lay the floor yourself, or if you want to call in the professionals. The company you buy the flooring from may even offer to install it for you for an extra fee. If you do the job yourself, ensure you know exactly what you are doing, or the money you save by not opting for expert installation will be a waste.

Step 5: Prepare the room

Whether you have made the decision to install the floor yourself or you have hired a professional to do it; you still need to prepare the room. You need to clear out all furniture, take up any existing floor coverings and clean and dust thoroughly. Ensure that the subfloor (the layer underneath your existing flooring) is clean, dry, level and structurally intact. You may also need to leave your wood floor boards in the room they are to be installed in for a while, to acclimatise them to the conditions.

Step 6: Lay your floor and start enjoying it!

The basement is also a danger zone for hardwood flooring, as this area is exposed to a great deal of ground moisture coming from the earth. Wood flooring manufacturers have recognised this problem, however, and have come up with a few solutions:

• Laminate or engineered wood flooring

These types of flooring have more of what is called ‘dimensional stability’, meaning they are less likely to be affected by moisture. For example, engineered wood flooring is made by gluing layers of wood together at 90 degree angles from each other. This design means that if one layer starts to expand due to moisture penetration, the surrounding layers restrain it.

• Moisture barrier solutions

In addition to products like engineered or laminate flooring, you should also consider installing a moisture barrier layer between the wood flooring and the concrete at ground level. There are many types available, all designed to stop moisture rising and penetrating the wood.

Follow these steps to get your started on your wood flooring journey:

Step 1: Make plans

Unless you are getting wood flooring in just one room, walk around each of the rooms in your house and have a good think about what types of flooring would work best in each space. Think about colour schemes and the feel you want to create with the space, noting down all of your impressions and making accurate measurements.

Step 2: Research wood flooring

Browse online through the many different types of wood flooring available, ensuring that you only consider buying from a reputed seller. Some sites will even give you expert advice to help you choose.

Step 3: Consider your budget

Before making a final purchase decision, work out what type of wood flooring you can afford. Hardwood flooring is expensive – although it does last for years – but laminate flooring, whilst considerably cheaper, does not always offer you the same natural, authentic quality. A good compromise, then, could be engineered wood flooring, the price of which is mid-range.

See part 2 for the final few steps…

This enduring character, however, means that you can’t radically change the design of a room containing wood flooring on impulse. This is why you need to choose wisely when buying your floors in the first place. Choose a wood species – oak is usually best – that is neutral and will complement most colour schemes.

A drastic redesign

If you are planning to completely change the décor of the room and your existing wood flooring simply does not fit into the new design, pause a moment before taking up the boards and starting again. There are a few ways to modify the colour of your solid wood flooring slightly.

For example:

• Wood stain –This is where you can alter the colour of the wood by staining it. You will need to sand away the existing finish first, however, and then reapply when the stain is dry.

• Coloured oil – Most people nourish their hardwood flooring with colourless oil, bringing out the natural character and beauty of the wood, but you can find tinted versions.

• Floor paint – This is the most drastic option, allowing you to completely change the colour of the wood. Be extremely careful with floor paint though, as you could ruin the natural beauty of the wood.

For example, some people have it fixed in their heads that they want an authentic period style (Victorian, Georgian, Edwardian) in their homes, but they often find they have to compromise along the way. This is because their homes aren’t public buildings or museums; they are homes designed to be lived in.

Homes need to be comfortable, practical and perfectly suited to your lifestyle. So, if you have boisterous children and muddy pets bounding around, you can’t have super-expensive curtains or priceless heirlooms lying around.

The solution

You can still have a period-inspired home, but you need to put some thought into the design. The following are a few tips to start you off:

• Authentic wood flooring is something you don’t have to compromise on. Choose a variety that matches your period style and that is easy to clean. Remember though; hardwood floors may require some upkeep (waxing, buffing etc) to keep them looking their best.
• Use rugs to protect your wooden flooring – luckily, they fit into most period design schemes.
• Place your more expensive and decorative period pieces sparingly throughout the house, avoiding high traffic areas like kitchens and bathrooms.

Carpet vs. wood flooring

Many people choose carpets for baby’s rooms because they believe them to be more comfortable and they also absorb sound. However, carpets can be a nightmare to clean, especially when they are spilled on regularly (which is what generally happens with young children).

Wood flooring is incredibly easy to clean; a quick wipe will get rid of the spill or stain. This means you can keep your child’s room clean and hygienic. But what about comfort? Would a hardwood floor be impractical when a baby is learning to walk?

The solution is simple: complement your wood flooring with well-placed rugs. This gives you the easy cleaning benefits of wood flooring along with a cosy place for your child to play and learn.

Rug tips:

1. Ensure your rugs are non-slip for safety
2. Buy rugs that are easy to clean; that you can just fling into the washing machine
3. A large centre rug, placed near to the child’s bed or cot, is best.

Wooden flooring can work really well to boost the office atmosphere. And it can create the right feeling for guests or clients who visit your office. Perhaps the best places to use this type of flooring in an office are in the reception area and in the board room or the meeting room.

Creating a welcoming atmosphere for people who visit your place of work can work really well if you are trying to generate more business or sell a service. If potential clients are welcomed with an uncomfortable chair and a stained carpet, the reputation of your company may be tarnished and you may lose business. Not because of your sales strategy, but because of the way your office looks.

With so many different species of wood available, in so many different colours, it’s easy to find a suitable type of wooden flooring for any room in your office.

With quite a few different types of manufacturing methods of hardwood flooring, the planks in your home may not be solid blocks of wood. And there is even the possibility that the floor is a type of laminate flooring that looks like real wood.

The other possibility of course is that the wooden floor covering is engineered flooring. This will only have a veneer of a few millimetres thick on the surface, so may have been sanded down in the past and not have enough surface wood to be able to be sanded down again.

The only way to be certain if you want to sand down the floor is to remove the beading from the edge of the floor and remove one of the planks. Looking along the thickness of the plank you will then be able to instantly recognise if the wood is a type or solid wood flooring, engineered wood flooring or even laminate flooring.

• Mitre saw
• Hand saw
• Straight edge/combination square
• Tapping block
• Plank puller
• Spacing wedges
• Hammer
• Electric drill and hole saw
• Jigsaw and blades
• Wood glue
• Pin nails
• Safety gear – safety glasses, dust mask
• Pencil
• Tape measure
• Chisels
• Stanley knife

This is by no means a comprehensive list. And, you might find that you don’t use all the tools we have listed here. But when you are halfway though the job and find you need a tool you don’t have, it can be really frustrating.

We haven’t included them on the list, but a set of knee pads can be really useful too. Kneeling on a wooden floor all day without using knee pads can be quite tiring.