Maintaining customer satisfaction is a crucial aspect of any business, but it’s even more important for hardwood floor companies that have earned the prestigious Diamond Certified award. For H & T Flooring, the key to keeping clients happy is simple: take the time to provide them with responsive customer service, regardless of the size of their projects. “Our job is to fulfill our customers’ needs, and we do that by learning their expectations, explaining their options and guiding them through every step of the refinishing or installation process,” says owner Mihai Mironov. “Good communication is the key to giving them the results they’re looking for.”

H & T Flooring has been installing and refinishing hardwood floors for residential and commercial clients throughout the Bay Area since 2018. The company has the in-house capabilities to work on everything from solid and engineered hardwood to laminate vinyl planks, and it’s also qualified to resurface old flooring that has sustained significant damage.

Unlike hardwood flooring companies that take an “assembly line” approach to each project, H & T Flooring gets detailed feedback from its clients so it can customize their flooring work from the start. “We always talk to our customers about what they want and how their projects are going,” affirms Mr. Mironov. “They know that if they have questions or need help with anything, we’ll be there to address their needs.”

Ultimately, Mr. Mironov sees H & T Flooring’s company-wide dedication to quality as its most important attribute. “We don’t cut corners and we do everything the way it’s supposed to be done,” he affirms. “We also educate our installers and refinishers so we can make sure we’re always sending highly qualified individuals to care for our customers’ floors, which they really appreciate.”

If you have hardwood flooring in your home, make sure you know the details about repair, refinishing and replacement.
Well-maintained hardwood floors add beauty and value to homes, but wear and damage can add up, leaving floors looking ragged and homeowners considering repair, refinishing or replacement. Here’s what you need to know about your options.

Repair
Beautiful, aged, extensive wood flooring is expensive to install, refinish and replace. So, in many instances, repairing damage to small areas is the way to go. Removing and replacing a few inches of damaged boards, sanding down water damage, fixing peeling areas, and repairing deep grooves or pitting can be a cost-effective solution that lets you retain your existing flooring.

Refinishing
Most hardwood flooring can be refinished. In fact, high-quality wood flooring can often be refinished up to 10 times before it needs to be replaced. During refinishing, you can address repairs, change the color with a new stain, make it more shiny or more matte, buff out imperfections, deal with squeaks, fill gaps, or patch loose knots. Refinishing is a time-consuming and messy process, though. There can be a lot of noise, dust, solvent smells and disruption. However, the cost is affordable and it can leave you with a floor that looks brand-new.

Replacement
Sometimes replacement is the only option. If your floor has been severely warped or refinished many times, or if there’s structural damage that involves the subfloor, repairing or refinishing it won’t solve your problems. In these cases, hiring a licensed contractor to pull up and completely replace the floor is generally the right choice.

So, how do you know which option is best for your floors? Mihai Mironov, owner of H & T Flooring in Millbrae, says the best way to start is by hiring a licensed flooring contractor that’s willing to talk you through your options and give you their professional opinion. “Make sure everyone who will be working on your floor is licensed and insured,” he adds. “It’s also important to know how the process will go. If your contractor tells you exactly what your job will entail, you’ll have confidence in their work because you’ll know what to expect.”

Q: How long will it take to complete my job?
A: It depends on the type of service, the condition of the current floor, the size of the job and other factors. Once we determine the specifics of your project, we’ll be able to give you a timeline.

Q: How soon can you start?
A: It depends on our schedule and your needs. We always have jobs scheduled ahead, so we can tell you when you can expect work to begin.

Q: Does it matter what type of flooring material I install in my home?
A: Yes. We always recommend considering high-quality materials rather than budget materials—they’re more expensive, but they’ll last longer and give you a better value. Your contractor should tell you what they recommend for your home, but you can also do your own research. Think about how the material will look in your home and how it will stand up to foot traffic. You don’t want to have to replace your flooring again in five or 10 years.

Q: Do you recommend vinyl planks or laminate flooring?
A: Both can be good products, but the trends are leaning toward vinyl planks versus laminate. Vinyl planks are getting better every day in every way possible. They’re more durable, more waterproof and better-looking.

Q: Do you stand behind your work?
A: Absolutely. Along with manufacturers’ warranties on products, we provide a one-year labor warranty on every job.