My house in Louisiana has hardwood floors. In 1991 we had a flood and
all my floors had to be replaced. AND, we had not just ONE flood, but
THREE floods while the floors were being laid. First, a storm and drain
issues caused my neighborhood to flood. While the floors were down and
raw (no stain or sealant yet), the central air unit in the attic got
plugged and flooded over onto the floors. After the stain and sealant
were done and the floors were new again, my daughter's waterbed decided
to escape and while I was draining it, it broke free and flooded the
bedroom for the 3rd time in 2 months! The fire department (great to
have well-placed friends!) pumped it out that time.

Anyway, I researched hardwood floors and learned that there was a man
in town considered an expert on hardwood floors - an old man who had
been working with them FOREVER! Not one professional or expert did not
consider him THE man! I was full of questions. This is what I learned:

1. How the floors are laid (I watched this.) They are the interlocking
boards like Susann mentioned. They must be laid from one corner and
done one row at a time in a specific manner. After all the boards are
down, they are sanded and swept clean. Once they are sanded, they are
stained. After staining, they are sealed. It takes time!

2. Sealing is done by waxing the floor or by using polyurethane.
Waxing is a better protectant, but it requires maintenance.
Polyurethane prevents leaking into the boards.

3. Pet urine in the boards canNOT be removed, it is never completely
out of the board.

LESSON: If you are not going to maintain the waxing, polyurethane the
floors to seal them. (You don't need to use the beeswax, Selina! A
commercial grade pour it on and then buff it will do.)

Since I have been renting from others for the past several years, I
have found a solution that keeps most everything protected. I cover
the carpet with a tarp. I then go to Wal-Mart and buy the $20 rugs to
cover the tarp. When the rug needs cleaning, I take it outside and
scrub it on the carport with soap and hot water. Nice and clean, let
it dry in the sun and then put it back on the tarp. You can pull up
the tarp and let the carpet below breathe occasionally, too.

Stay clean out there! I also spend a small fortune on OdorGone. Why?
Because my mother says the ferrets don't smell when I use it! lol

-- 
Renee Downs
"Eventually we will realize that if we destroy the ecosystem
 we destroy ourselves." Jonas Salk
"The most effective way to do it, is to do it." Amelia Earhart
It's amazing how much can be accomplished if nobody cares who
gets the credit!
Ferret Emergency Response, Rescue & Evacuation Team (F.E.R.R.E.T.)
http://www.ferretemergency.org

[Posted in FML 6303]