FAQs

Frequently-Asked Questions: Schmidt Custom Floors

Schmidt Custom Floors is proud to provide a vast selection of flooring products along with our trusted flooring expertise to customers throughout the Milwaukee and Madison, Wisconsin areas. Below, are some of the most frequently-asked questions we field from our customers, so explore the page to find answers to some of the questions you may have for us.

Q: What Should I Bring to Schmidt Custom Floors for a Successful Visit?
A: To ensure we have the information we need to serve you properly when you visit our showroom please bring the following:
- Blueprints and Room Dimensions
- Inspirational Photos
- Fabric Swatches
- Cabinet Samples
- Countertop Samples
- Paint Chips
Q: What is the Difference between Engineered Wood Flooring and Solid Wood Flooring?
A: Engineered wood is a real wood veneer mounted on top of a plywood base while solid wood is a plank sliced out of the tree. Engineered wood is 70% more stable than solid plank in terms of expansion and contraction and is recommended for use below grade and if you are worried about cracks. The wider the plank of solid wood, the more movement there will be.
Q: Can You Sand and Refinish an Engineered Wood Floor?
A: Engineered flooring can be sanded and refinished as long as there is at least a 2 millimeter wear layer on the product and the floor is level. If you engineered product has less than a 2 millimeter wear layer or has already been resanded, a buff and recoat can help revitalize the look of your floors. Our wood floor experts can let you know how thick the wear layer is on your floor.
Q: Do I Have to Refinish My ENTIRE Floor, or Can You Refinish Part of It?
A: We have highly-skilled flooring craftsmen who can refinish part of your floor, but there are some limitations. Our estimators will let you know what the best option is for you.
Q: Do We Have to Leave Our House While You Are Refinishing Our Floor?
A: No, but it is the customer’s preference, depending on the amount of work being done. It is certainly a livable environment, but some prefer to be out of their home while we’re working.
Q: What Can I Do With My Stairs?
A: Existing wood stair treads can be resanded and refinished to match your floor. When carpet is removed from your stairs, we can install a stair casing veneer over the existing construction-grade tread in most species to match your floors. Let us help you find the right option for you.
Q: When You’re Sanding My Floors, Will There Be a Lot of Mess?
A: The days of the dusty, dirty sanding process are over. The mess has been reduced to an almost 100% dust-free process with the use of our dustless containment system.
Q: How Do I Know if My Wood Floor Has Water Damage?
A: We will gladly send one of our experts out to your home to assess your problem. Generally, your floor will start to cup at the edges of each piece of wood. Sometimes we can recommend that you wait 4-6 weeks for the wood to dry out while running fans over the floor constantly. Most often, floors can be sanded and refinished once the wood dries out.
Q: What is Hand Scraping?
A: Hand scraping is a technique which involves using special hand-made metal tools to create texture in each board, giving it a distressed look. Our hand-scraping experts learned their technique from the Amish of Northern Wisconsin. Our craftsmen can hand scrape a new floor to give it a worn, old-world feel, and they can scrape your existing wood floor for a different look.
Q: Which Woods Are the Hardest?
A: The exotic woods are the hardest. Brazilian Walnut, Tigerwood, and Brazilian Teak are a few examples. Hickory is the hardest North American wood.
Q: Can I Install Wood in My Basement?
A: Wood flooring can be installed in basements or below ground level. Engineered flooring installed in a floating installation would be the most economical and stable over concrete.
Q: What Rug Pads Are Recommended for Hardwood Floors?
A: We recommend and offer a product line called Grip It. These rug pads come in natural rubber and synthetic polyester-lined pads that won’t damage your floors.
Q: What Cleaners Do You Recommend for My Floors?
A: We recommend our Schmidt Flooring & Finishes Cleaner for just about any surface in your home, including your floors. You can find a detailed list of the combinations of water and this cleaner that can clean those surfaces on our Care and Maintenance page.
Q: Wool Carpet vs. Nylon Carpet: Is Wool Hard to Clean? Does Wool Smell?
A: Like any carpet, wool should be vacuumed regularly and professionally cleaned each 18-24 months. Wool is naturally stain resistant. Blot out spills immediately. Clean with spot treatment. Wool is natural, sustainable, non toxic, and soil and fire resistant. Wool also naturally helps noise reduction and regulation of moisture levels in the home.
Q: What is the Difference between Porcelain and Ceramic Tile?

A: Ceramic Tiles:
Made of clay, minerals, and water, these tiles are fired and glazed because ceramic is porous. The glaze is where the color and look is introduced. When coated with a glaze of grade III or higher, ceramic tiles are extremely resistant to scratching.

Porcelain Tiles:
Made of a sand-like material, clay, and other natural materials that are more refined and purified than their ceramic counterparts, porcelain tiles are formed with pressure and heat. This makes these tiles more dense, less water absorbent, and stronger than ceramic tiles. Because of the moisture absorption rate, porcelain tiles can be installed outside where ceramic tiles cannot be installed.
Q: Is My Grout Going to Get Dirty?
A: Yes. All grout will get dirty and require regular cleaning. With new technology, however, certain new grouts are crack resistant, easy to clean, color consistent, and stain and chemical resistant with no sealing required.
Q: Can I Use Glass Tile on the Floor?
A: Yes. There is floor-rated glass tile that can be used on the floor for interesting accents.

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