R.L. Colston  3/4" x 3" Brazilian Walnut

A:

Companies like Bona Kemi have excellent products, equipment, and information for finishing floors (http://www.bona.com/en/US/Craft/).

Also see - http://www.woodfloors.org/consumer/

Example of sanding/finishing method:

1. Load a drum sander with 80-grit sandpaper. Sand the floor by running the drum sander back and forth at a 45-degree angle from the direction of the floorboards, to grind the edges of the boards even with one another. Do the whole floor.

2. Re-load the sander with 120-grit sandpaper, and sand it in the direction of the floorboards to smooth out the surface. Thoroughly clean up the dust.

3. Starting at one corner, (only if using stain) brush on your wood stain, covering four or five square feet. Let the stain sit on the wood for a minute, then wipe up the excess stain with your cotton rags. Repeat section by section until the floor is completely stained. Let it dry overnight.

4. Pour a line of floor gloss across the floor boards near one wall, making the line about as long as your gloss applicator is wide. Use the applicator to slowly pull the gloss across the floor, avoiding the creation of bubbles. Repeat and continue pouring and pulling until the whole floor is glossed. Let it dry overnight.

5. Use a 220-grit sandpaper to lightly sand the whole floor by hand. Sand it just enough to take the shine off of the gloss. Re-apply a second gloss layer in the same manner as the first. Let it dry, sand it, and apply a third layer. Let it dry completely before using the floor.

A:

This is a solid 3/4" product designed to be nailed to a wood substrate.
But can be installed over concrete using our Elastilon underlayment.
What you should know about Elastilon Strong
An Elastilon-backed wood floor is much faster to install than traditional nail or glue-down methods.
Elastilon Strong can be installed on new concrete floors, handling up to 3.9% moisture content. A vapour barrier of at least 6 mil PE should be used below grade and on newly poured concrete above grade where the moisture content is above 3.9%.
Laid down with a 5/8” (15 mm) expansion gap, Elastilon Strong creates a dynamic, floating floor that expands or contracts naturally with the hardwood.
Elastilon Strong has no odor and is free of volatile materials.
Elastilon Strong gives cushioned comfort.
1/8” (3 mm) thick Elastilon Strong has ratings of IIC 62 and STC 54.
Thermal resistance: R _ 0,15 (m K) / W
Elastilon Strong carries a 70-year limited warranty. Thank you for your inquiry.

A:

It could be if you use Elastilon as your installation system or build a plywood subfloor. 3/4" solids are not recommended for glue-down. Find details on our Flooring 101 search, keywords "Elastilon" and "Cement". www.lumberliquidators.com/custserv/aboutus.jsp?pageName=Flooring101

A:

After it has been sanded and finished with urethane; We can only recommend our Bellawood Floor Cleaner, or cleaners that are safe for water based urethane finishes. Never use any polish, wax, oil soaps or cleaners that add shine to the floor. Thank you for your inquiry.

A:

Yes it is this product is Kiln dried to be within 6-9 % moisture content at time of milling.
Thank you for your inquiry.

A:

This random length flooring comes in 1' to 7' with the average being about 3' in length.
Thank you for your inquiry.

A:

Because it's dark and oily probably not the best to stain but could be. Test all products before using them on the actual floor. Oil-modified finish will require a lengthy dry time.

Note: staining this floor may take away it's natural beauty, stable floors are generally oak or maple.

A:

Great question.
Yes it can using our Elastilon product.
What you should know about Elastilon Strong
• An Elastilon-backed wood floor is much faster to install than traditional nail or glue-down methods.
• Elastilon Strong can be installed on new concrete floors, handling up to 3.9% moisture content. A vapour barrier of at least 6 mil PE should be used below grade and on newly poured concrete above grade where the moisture content is above 3.9%.
• Laid down with a 5/8” (15 mm) expansion gap, Elastilon Strong creates a dynamic, floating floor that expands or contracts naturally with the hardwood.
• Elastilon Strong has no odor and is free of volatile materials.
• Elastilon Strong gives cushioned comfort.
• 1/8” (3 mm) thick Elastilon Strong has ratings of IIC 62 and STC 54.
• Thermal resistance: R _ 0,15 (m K) / W
• Elastilon Strong carries a 70-year limited warranty.

A:

We do not recommend floating solid flooring ever unless it's installed with our Elastilon. Type Elastilon here for details - http://www.lumberliquidators.com/custserv/aboutus.jsp?pageName=Flooring101

More information - www.elastilon.com

A:

The full sentance goes on to state; If however, surface dimpling or tongue fracture occurs when nailing the denser species, drilling pilot holes and hand nailing may be required.
Regarding radiant heat mats; You would want to use a floating installation method. Because of the wide array of systems on the market, each with its own features, please consult with your radiant flooring provider for recommended installation methods.