Book and Video Resources - books recommended by the Doc.

Every resources you find in this section was reviewed from start to end by the Wood Floor Doctor himself. Each book and video is specific to a certain aspect of Hardwood Floors. From Finishes to Installation. If you have any resources that you know of and don't see in our list make sure to e-mail the Doc and let him know.

RECOMMENDED BOOKS
HARDWOOD FLOORS by Don Bollinger
1990 Tauton Press Inc.
ISBN 0-942391-62-4
This book has got to be the best, most in depth discussion of hardwood floors I've seen yet. I am constantly using it as a reference guide as I'm building this web site. What makes this book unique is that Don, being a floor mechanic himself, shows you the most ideal way to install, sand and finish hardwood floors, not just the "industry standard". What more could we ask for?
UNDERSTANDING WOOD FINISHING by Bob Flexner
1994 Rodale Press Inc.
ISBN 0-87596-734-5
Bob became a member of paint and finish chemist's association , and spent 6 years studying the chemistry of finishes before he wrote this book. He'll show the properties of all the wood finishes and stains in a most entertaining manor. I just love flipping through myth and facts sections, his advise will keep you from buying worthless finishing products.
THE GUIDE TO EASY WOOD FLOOR CARE by Grant Aslett
1993 Marsh Creek Press
ISBN 1-880759-00-4
Grant has been in the cleaning business all his life, so his advice comes from first hand experience. We owe it to our friends the trees to make our wooden floors last for generations, and Grant will show you how. He goes well beyond just resanding of floors and this is a must read before you hire that floor sander, you may not need it.
Taunton's Complete Illustrated Guide to Finishing (Complete Illustrated Guide)
Publisher: Taunton (March 1, 2004)
ISBN: 1561585920
Taunton's Complete Illustrated Guide to Finishing features advanced techniques on controlling and adjusting color, disguising defects, and repairing finishes. This clear and comprehensive volume for woodworkers includes 850 color photos as well as 30 color illustrations.
FLOOR FINISHES ETC. by Creative Touches
1997 Cowels Creative Publishing Inc.
ISBN 0865738785
Although this is one of those corporate books (no specific author) I found lots of interesting wood floor treatments. After a floor is sanded and a base coat is applied to the wood, you now have a blank canvas on which to express your creativity. This book describes the methods for decorative graining, printed floor designs, aged finishes and lots more. A must read for those who want a really unique floor.
The Flooring Handbook by Dennis Jeffries
Firefly Books Ltd (March 1, 2004)
ISBN: 1552977528
Thorough and thoughtful guide to beautifying the ground... Who knew there were so many choices?... a valuable resource... visually fascinating.
Great Wood Finishes by Jeff Jewitt
Publisher: Taunton (February 1, 2000)
ISBN: 1561582883
Finishing wood surfaces can be tricky and time-consuming, and all that effort and time may not yield the beautiful product envisioned at the start. Great Wood Finishes is written by an expert in the field to help the occasional finisher/refinisher or hobbyist woodworker avoid that problem.
Sunset Ideas for Great Floors
Sunset Books Inc (April 1, 2002)
ISBN: 0376011785
The right floor goes beyond essentialit can add great drama and integrate a rooms architectural integrity.This exciting new edition puts all the latest flooring textures and technologies at everyones fingertips with beautiful photographs and up-to-date designs. Ideas for Great Flooring helps assess needs, explore flooring optionsincluding tile, stone, wood, resilient, laminate, carpet, cork, and concreteand make a choice that is functional, decorative, and lasting.
Sanding And Finishing Hardwood Floors (DVD Edition)
Publisher: Taunton Press; DVD edition (October 15, 2004)
ISBN: 1561587761
Not everybody will want to sand their own floors and Don wants you to be realistic about the difficult nature of this job. He reviews the various rental machines and their limitations. But his sanding methods are sound and I must say his attention to detail is far better than most of the pro's. If you're really concerned about restoring your floor and not butchering it use this video as a template. The finishing section is out of date as far as the acid cured finish he used, but the methods of application are sound.
BOOKS AND VIDEOS NO LONGER BEING PUBLISHED - USED ONLY

HARDWOOD FLOORS INSTALLING MAINTAINING AND REPAIRING by Dan Ramsey
1991 Tab Books Inc.
ISBN 0830635297
This is my less favored but still useful book on floors. The information is a little dated but still very sound. It has good drawings of sub-floor preparation that other books tend to skip over. Refinishing section could use an update but gives you an idea of how we used to finish floors, those methods can still be used. I don't think that Dan is a floor tradesman himself, and has relied on the opinions of others to write this book.

GLENN HAEGE'S COMPLETE HARDWOOD FLOOR CARE GUIDE by Glenn Haege
1995 Master Handyman Press Inc.
ISBN 1-880615-38-X
Here's an inexpensive little book that will get you knowledgeable. It has tons of product names and the manufacture's phone numbers are worth the price of the book alone. Glenn's approach is to give you many alternatives to simply sanding a floor down every time it looks a little scuzzy.

LAYING HARDWOOD FLOORS with Don Bolinger
1990 Taunton Press
60 minutes
Before you begin installing your own hardwood floor borrow this from your library if you can. Even if you have to buy it at $25 it could save you many times that avoiding future problems by installing it Don's way from the start. Some people might have trouble following a book's instruction's, instead this video makes everything crystal clear.

SANDING AND FINISHING HARDWOOD FLOORS with Don Bolinger
1990 Tauton Press
60 minutes
Not everybody will want to sand their own floors and Don wants you to be realistic about the difficult nature of this job. He reviews the various rental machines and their limitations. But his sanding methods are sound and I must say his attention to detail is far better than most of the pro's. If you're really concerned about restoring your floor and not butchering it use this video as a template. The finishing section is out of date as far as the acid cured finish he used, but the methods of application are sound.
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