HARDWOOD FLOORS

Evening Star, Issue 20312, 22 October 1929, Page 14

HARDWOOD FLOORS

THE USE OF OAK Changing modes of life are affecting the finishings of the house in many ways. One way in which this is evident is the failing use of the carpet, which may possibly bo occasioned by the popularity of dancing. Dancing is bad for carpets, rolling the carpet back is a nuisance, and ordinary board floors are neither sightly nor do they make a very satisfactory surface. As a substitute, to cover deal floors with linoleum which can bo polished, is not always wise, as unless the floor has been properly ventilated the practice is very apt to give rise to dry rot. Oak is rightly regarded as the most desirable floor but the cost of oak block and the construction which it requires place it beyond the purse of the average house owner. However, oak flooring strips, tongued and grooved, arc now to be obtained laid in narrow widths over the deal flooring. Tin's provides an economical oak floor which is practically everlasting. As the end of the .strips of this flooring are tongued and grooved, no back cutting is necessary and there is consequently very little waste, the boards fitting neatly into each other and secret nailed. It is-’manufactured in twe sizes, the first being 13-16 in thick by 2lin wide, and is specially suitable fnt now houses, as it can bo laid directly on the- joists without un-der-flooring. The second, which is |in thick by 2in wide, must he laid over a sub-floor THE CARE OF OAK FLOORS It is readily appreciated that the greater care that is taken in the beginning, the better will bo the floor’s wearing quality. If tile floor has been discoloured, or is spotted, the old finish can be removed either by hand scrapers or by an electric scraper, or by the use of a varnish remover Dirt, stain, and blemishes cannot'be hidden by varnish, shellac, or wax Grease spots can sometimes be removed with denatured alcohol, and some dark stains may he bleached out with a saturated solution of oxalic acid, which is prepared by dissolving in hot water as many oxalic acid crystals as the water wall dissolve. If it is desired to remove tho finish entirely, the floor can be scrubbed with a standard brand of varnish remover and then bleached with oxalic acid. When completely dry the desired finish may be applied. When oak floors have been finished with shellac the floor has a hard, brilliant finish which can be kept in good condition by an occasional very light application of either liquid or paste wax. If water has been spilled on a shellac-finished floor, turning it white in places, tho spots should be lightly nibbed with a cloth moistened with a little denatured alcohol. This should be done very lightly to avoid removing the finish. If it is desired to wax an oak floor, the original coat of wax should be paste waxed and applied either by hand or machine Perhaps a wax finish is the easiest to keep in perfect condition, .as they only need dusting with a dry cloth mop and an application of wax every six months, or in some cases even onco a year. Of course, parts of the floor which receive the greatest amount of wear, such as in doorways, at the foot of stairs, etc., need more constant attention Preparations which contain oil should never be used, as this will darken the wood, collect dust and dirt, and impair the lustre of the finish. Varnished floors if a good grade varrish is used, require no other care than an occasional wiping with a damp cloth or dust mop A floor finished in this way can be kept in perfect condition almost indefinitely by applying a coat of good floor'varnish about onco a rear.