Before and After Refinish

 

 

 

 

 

 

How To Care For Your Hardwood Floor

Hardwood flooring offers a great combination of visual appeal, durability, and relative ease of maintenance.

It's always the best choice to have your wood floor professionally installed. Be sure to consult with your installer to make sure you get the material and finish that is best for the area of your home in which it will be used. A professional will be sure the boards have the correct fit, tight enough to prevent gaps, yet allow for expansion and contraction. And a professional will be able to recommend the right finish so your floor will last longer and look more beautiful at the same time.

Keeping Your Hardwood Floor Looking Great

Requirements for keeping your wood flooring in top condition may vary somewhat depending on the type of wood and the finish, but there are some maintenance suggestions that are common to most all wood floors. Here are some suggestions that may be helpful.

Keep your flooring as clean as possible by regularly sweeping with a soft, fine-bristle broom. Once or twice a week, vacuum your floor to remove dirt and sand. To minimize the possibility of scratching, use a soft-brush attachment.

Remember that water is one of your wood floor's worst enemies, and remove any moisture or water immediately. While small drips of water may not harm the floor, be sure not to let excess amounts of water sit on the floor.

Wet spills should be removed with soft towels or a wet-dry vacuum, and the floor dried thoroughly. If your floor is finished in polyurethane, use a very dry damp mop when mopping, since excess water can seep into seams and cause significant damage.

In areas of high foot traffic, consider putting down carpet runners with non-skid pads. Be sure to thoroughly vacuum area rugs and runners often, to prevent dirt from working its way down through the weave and scratching the wood underneath. Area rugs can also be helpful in protecting high-traffic areas.

Avoid wearing heavy shoes or high heels whenever possible on hardwood floors. Some heels, especially those made of metal, can actually dent the surface. Be sure to wipe your feet before walking on your hardwood floor as even a small pebble caught in your shoe's tread can create difficult-to-remove scratches and dent your floor's surface.

When you need to move furniture or other heavy objects across the floor, first thoroughly clean the floor. Then place furniture pads under whatever you're moving to make it slide easily.

You should also use furniture pads under the legs of chairs and the feet of dressers and armoires.

To minimize tracking dirt onto your floors, install floor mats at each entrance, and keep them vacuumed regularly.

If your floor's surface is scratched or dented, be sure to consult the recommendations of the manufacturer to make repairs. If your floor requires periodic waxing and buffing, manufacturer recommendations are also important to follow.

If your hardwood floor is worn to the point where waxing and buffing can't remove deep dents and scratches, it may be time for a professional refinishing, which may include sanding and the application of a new surface treatment. It's best not to attempt refinishing and especially sanding by yourself since a powerful belt sander can easily create an uneven surface if you're not experienced.

Overall, hardwood requires only a little bit of care to create a long-lasting beautiful flooring for your home. Take care of your hardwood floors, and they'll help make your home a real source of pride.

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