Hardwood flooring is a popular choice in many homes and businesses, due to its timeless charm and hard wearing nature. But even the toughest of flooring requires maintenance and care to keep it in good condition.
A report in Build Direct highlights long lasting durability, better acoustics and improved air quality as just a few of the benefits of installing hardwood flooring in your home. But what can you do to ensure that your floor is well looked after and to therefore prolong its lifespan?
Protect from wear and tear
Flooring, particularly in areas of high traffic, is inevitably going to develop some signs of wear and tear over the years, but taking steps to minimise this where possible will greatly improve the longevity of your flooring. Rugs can be a great tool to protect hardwood flooring, but experts recommend using those with natural backings (such as rubber), as synthetic materials can cause the floor to fade and discolour. You should also use protective pads under heavy furniture and indeed consider rotating furniture now and again to give areas of the floor a break. In business premises it is particaulr important that you purchase items such as Operator Chairs from reputable companies like https://www.bestbuy-officechairs.co.uk/office-chairs/operator-chairs/, this is to ensure that your chairs are of the highest quality and already made to protect the impact that they have on your flooring. Chairs are the most common furniture item in offices to affect the flooring. If you are unsure which office chair to go for contact the professionals and ask for their advice. In homes keeping your pet’s claws trimmed and enforcing a no-shoes rule in the home are also simple lifestyle choices that you can implement to avoid damage.
Cleaning your floors safely
Too much moisture on hardwood flooring can cause the natural molecules in the wood to distort, expand and ultimately spoil the effect of your flooring. However, a clean and shiny hardwood flooring is much more aesthetically pleasing than a dusty or dirty one. The key is knowing how to safely clean your floors. Usually this is by a combination method of dry cleaning (sweeping or vacuuming dust and debris) and wet cleaning with a thoroughly wrung out fibre cloth or mop. Only use cleaning products specifically designed for hardwood flooring.
Repairing scratches
However much care you take, sometimes accidents happen. In some cases, you may be able to repair scratches and even deep gouges in your hardwood flooring. For example, a scratch in laminate flooring can easily be sanded and buffed away. Deeper dents can be filled in with a special type of wax or putty.
Hardwood flooring is a great investment, so make sure that you treat it well and it will provide you with many years of service.
