General Questions

  1. How to find a good home improvement contractor?
  2. Do I have to use an architect?

Questions About Floors

  1. What options do I have if I want a floor that looks like wood?
  2. Are solid wood floors better?
  3. What about laminate floors?
  4. What is veneer flooring?
  5. Can I sand and refinish my Medallion Hardwood Floors?

General Questions

  1. How to find a good home improvement contractor?
    • Ask the contractor how long he has been in the home improvement business. Two or three years is a minimum, with good job references.
    • Check if the business is licensed by the local Department of Consumer Affairs:
      New York City – Web site www.nyc.gov/consumers;
      Nassau County – phone 516-571-2600;
      Suffolk County- Web site www.co.suffolk.ny.us;
      Westchester County – Web site www.westchestergov.com/consumer;
      Rockland County – phone 845-364-2680;
      Connecticut – Web site www.state.ct.us/dcp;
      New Jersey – phone 973-504-6200.
    • Ask for contact information of three customers for whom he has recently done similar work. Ask their opinion about the quality of work, about the conditions of the job site the workers were leaving every day and if the project was finished on time and within budget.
    • If the contractor has a Web site, ask if the pictures represent actual projects he has worked on. If possible, try to arrange to see the finished project or to talk to the owner/manager of the premises.
    • Ask if the contractor is insured and bonded.
  2. Do I have to use an architect?
    Architect would not generally be needed for a simple updating of a kitchen or bathroom, but should be hired for jobs that change the footprint of a home of significantly alter the plubming or wiring. On major projects for which bids are sought, an architect’s blueprints and design documents are essential. Those specifications will allow contractors to make complete and accurate bids.

Questions About Floors

  1. What options do I have if I want a floor that looks like wood?
    If you want the warm, clean look of wood flooring, there are basically three options:

    • Solid Wood Floors
    • Laminate Wood Floors (made from plastic
    • Veneer Wood Flooring (a combination of real wood and plywood)
  2. Are solid wood floors better?
    It looks like the real thing because it is. Solid wood floors come in variety of woods and colors and are generally more expensive than any of the laminate. (Veneer flooring costs about the same as real wood.) You can save money by buying unfinished and unstained solid wood flooring, but then you have the challenge of finishing the job. Also, real wood is more difficult to install than the substitutes because it comes in smaller pieces and must be nailed down. It’s also easier to scratch, stain and gouge. However – real wood looks like real wood, and it can always be refinished when it begins to look shoddy.
  3. What about laminate floors?
    Laminate floors like Pergo imitate the look of real wood by using a photograph beneath a clear plastic coat. These floors are available in a large variety of styles and are generally less expensive than real wood. They are also more durable, more scratch and gouge resistant, and tend to do better in highly trafficked or damp rooms such as bathrooms. They are easer to install because they come in sheets that use a tongue and groove system for installation and are glued, not nailed down. However—faux finishes are never as interesting as natural wood patterns and once the finish is gone, you can’t refinish it.
  4. What is veneer flooring?Veneer flooring is engineered-wood flooring that uses a thin veneer of real prefinished wood over plywood. The cost is similar to the cost of real wood. But, like laminate flooring, it is easier to install because it is comes in sheets with tongue and groove and is glued instead of nailed to the subflooring. Veneer floors are not as durable as laminate floors. However – veneer floors are as interesting to look at as real wood, and they can be refinished, but their thin layer of wood limits how much they can be refinished.
  5. Can I sand and refinish my Medallion Hardwood Floors?
    Yes. Medallion Hardwood Floors axe made of 3/4″ thick real wood. An experience professional can sand and refinish your floors a number of times. However, if you simply want a new finish wear layer, we recommend screening and recoating. A sand and refinish is best when you want to change the color of your floor. However, after a number of years, you may begin to notice some patterns in your floor where you have your highest traffic. When this occurs, contact your local hardwood flooring professional regarding a “screen and recoat”. This process involves “roughing up” the surface of your existing floor and applying a new coat of finish over the dull areas. Once completed, your floor will look as good as new.