Hardwood Flooring in Fountain Hills, AZ

Hardwood flooring in Fountain Hills often has to survive a summer with nobody home. The 2020 census counted 13,883 housing units in town and found 17.3% of them vacant, which in a place like this frequently means part-time residents who spend the hot months elsewhere. A closed-up house in the desert is hard on wood if the cooling is shut off or set too high. We install floors that cope well with those conditions and give owners clear guidance on settings while they are away.

Before you leave for the summer

The NWFA, as reported by Hardwood Floors magazine, recommends keeping homes with wood floors between 60 and 80°F and 30 to 50% relative humidity. In practice that means leaving the air conditioner on with a moderate setting rather than turning it off. A smart thermostat lets you watch the temperature from afar. If a neighbor or property manager checks the house, ask them to look for gaps, lifted edges or water near appliances, which are early signs something has changed.

Built on a planned-community grid

Fountain Hills was developed by C. V. Wood, president of McCulloch Oil, around the fountain built in 1970 that gave it its name. The town incorporated in 1989. Homes here mostly sit on concrete slabs, as is standard across Arizona, so engineered hardwood is the floor we recommend most. Its layered construction moves less than solid wood when indoor humidity drifts, which is exactly what happens in a house that is not lived in every day.

Floors that are easy to live with

With 40.7% of residents age 65 or older, per Census figures, a floor that is comfortable underfoot, easy to clean and not slippery is a sensible goal. Options worth talking through:

• Matte or low-sheen finishes that reduce glare and do not look slick
• Smooth, flat transitions between rooms instead of raised thresholds where possible
• Lighter mid-tones that show dust less than dark stains
• Engineered planks that can go over the slab without raising floor height much
• Stair treads with a nosing that is easy to see and grip

Light and views

The town holds Dark Sky Community status, granted in 2018, yet its daytime sun is strong. Homes face mountain views across the McDowells, and sun through big windows changes wood color over time. Cherry darkens, while maple and American walnut lighten, mostly in the first three to six months. UV-filtering window film blocks up to 99% of UV rays, and rearranging rugs early on helps the color change evenly.

Refinishing floors that are already here

Many Fountain Hills homes have been owned by the same family for years; 89.3% of people there had not moved in the past year. If your floor is scuffed but still solid, sanding and refinishing, or a lighter screen and recoat, may be all it needs. We check thickness and finish type before recommending one or the other.

Scheduling around your season

If you are only in town part of the year, tell us your dates. We can measure and quote while you are here, and in many cases finish the work before you leave or arrange access with someone you trust.

Call (480) 565-7673 for a free written estimate. We come out from neighboring Scottsdale, on the far side of the McDowell Mountains.