When it comes to caring for a home, proper maintenance is vital for longevity. This is true for the structural, mechanical aspects of the home, including the home’s flooring. With a bit of extra care, the lifespan of high-quality flooring materials can be extended by decades, especially for hardwood and timber flooring materials.
For people who have hardwood and timber flooring, there are some important tips that will help ensure durability and longevity. While almost all hardwood and timber flooring will experience some wear and tear over time, there are ways to lessen the damage.
Top Tips for Caring for Hardwood and Timber Flooring
- Take Shoes Off After Being Outside in Inclement Weather or Walking on Soiled Ground
- Strategically Place Runners and Rugs in High Traffic Areas
- Seal and Wax Hardwood Flooring
- Use Window Treatments to Block Intense Sunlight
- Keep Home Temperatures Regulated
- Clean and Polish Flooring Regularly
- Be Careful of Scratches
When it comes to quality floors Brisbane homeowners know that wood flooring is widely recognized as one of the best flooring materials for durability and longevity when they are well cared for. Even if they get scratched or stained, they can be repaired, sanded, and polished to look like new. By following these essential tips, homeowners can be assured of years of beautiful flooring for years to come.
Take Shoes Off After Being Outside in Inclement Weather or Walking on Soiled Ground- While some homeowners recommend people take off their shoes whenever they enter the home, this can be a bit impractical. However, shoes should always be removed when there is inclement weather, or there is a chance of mud or dirt on the souls of the shoes. Dirt and mud are well known to scratch hardwood and timber flooring surfaces. Additionally, water from inclement weather as well as other liquids can cause staining, warping, and damage to wood floors if left for an extended time.
Strategically Place Runners and Rugs in High Traffic Areas- Partial rug coverings are essential for people with wood flooring. Protecting against wear and tear is easiest when there are rugs in place in high traffic areas. To avoid slips and falls, the use of carpet pads and anti-slip rug adhesives can help anchor rugs and runners. Using furniture protectors is also recommended to protect flooring against furniture scratches.
Seal and Wax Wood Flooring- This is one of the most crucial ways a homeowner can protect their hardwood flooring against damage. Floors that have been adequately sealed and waxed will have a significantly longer life than wood flooring that does not have a consistent wax coating.
Use Window Treatments to Block Intense Sunlight- Exposure to excessive sunlight is well known to dry out wood flooring and can cause bleaching of wood. For homes that feature large windows or windows with broad sun exposure, the use of window treatments and window tinting should be used to reduce the risk of sun damage.
Keep Home Temperature, and Humidity Regulated- Temperature and humidity extremes in a home can cause damage to wood floors. Humidity in a house with extensive wood floors should not exceed 50%. Moisture is widely known to cause damage to the wood, which can include warping. In addition to humidity, the temperatures inside a house should be kept as regulated as possible. A safe temperature range to protect wood flooring against shrinkage and cracks is between 15 and 26 degree Celsius.
Clean and Polish Flooring Regularly- Properly cleaning the wood floors on a weekly basis will help protect them against damage. Wood floors should be swept with a soft bristle broom. When it comes to polishing, wood floors should be polished only with liquid wood polish or specially created wood soap or cleaner. The cleaning and polishing should only be done by using a soft mop that is exclusively used for the home’s wood flooring.
Be Careful to Avoid Scratches-While some scratches are unavoidable for wood flooring homeowners can reduce the likelihood of deep scratches by following some basics. Homeowners should not allow children’s toys on their wood floors, pets nails should always stay trimmed, and furniture should not be moved without protective floor coverings in place. If the flooring has been properly sealed, most scratches that occur are surface scratches that cause little damage to the actual wood.