Wood flooring remains a highly sought-after type of flooring. Apart from its ability to make any room look more beautiful and classy, hardwood flooring enjoys a high preference because of its durability, enabling it to last for generations especially when properly taken cared of. Hence, most antique houses still have some of its original wood flooring up until this very day.
Despite its beauty and durability, hardwood flooring needs a special kind of attention to lessen its deterioration. Even if you use high quality wood as flooring, hardwood floors is still more prone to damage. Unfortunately, there are a lot of things that we do on a regular basis that can damage wood flooring.
Take a long at the list below and try to see what possible causes of wood flooring damage are we most guilty of.
Shoes
While many Asian families may not relate to this given their cultural practices, but, in many households, bringing the shoes is a common practice. Unfortunately, this habit makes us unwilling culprits of wood flooring damages, especially when we bring in wet or dirty shoes inside. Small pebbles may also get stuck in between the cavities of the soles of our shoes which may cause scratches to our wooden floors.
While the world can be a woman's runway, wearing high heels on a wood flooring is not the best idea. Because high heels are pointier, especially stiletto heels, and the body's weight is not evenly distributed, this type of footwear can scuff or leave dents and scratches on wood floors.
Leaving your shoes outside is the best way to prevent your shoes from causing damage on wood floors. If your shoe rack is inside, remove your shoes before entering your house or living space then carry it to where it is kept. A comfortable pair of indoor slippers by the door is a good measure.
Pets
Pets are adorable and are great house buddies but they are not necessarily the most endearing towards our lovely wood floors. Pet urine can damage wood floor finish and cause warping to it. The nails of our pets is likely to leave scratches on the wood floor.
How do we reduce your pet's part in ruining our wood flooring? First, when you catch your pet peeing or notice that your pet already answered the call of nature, make sure to wipe clean while it is fresh. Never allow it to sit overnight.
Make sure to also trim your pet's nails to secure our wood flooring from damages.
Sun
Although many interior design aesthetic aims to maximize daylight, sun exposure can cause fading and discoloration towards wooden floors. Wood flooring near windows are more susceptible to this than flooring anywhere else in the household. This may lead to an uneven look towards our floor.
Protect your wood floor by making sure that your window shades and drapes are drawn, especially in those times of the day when the sun is at its strongest. You may also opt for sheer curtains to still invite light without ruining our lovely wood floor.
Liquids
Water and wood flooring are not necessarily the fondest of all pairings. Wearing wet shoes or walking around dripping wet either because you caught rain outside or you just went out of the shower leave droplets on the floor which can seep through wooden flooring, causing moisture damage. Worse case scenario: liquids can cause molds or for wood to warp.
This might be an obvious tip but always stay dry, not only for your health but also for your wooden floors. Furthermore, whenever possible, avoid wet mopping and steam cleaning. When wet-cleaning the floor is necessary, which comes in every four to six weeks depending on foot traffic, use a damp (not excessively drenched) cloth or mop. Remember to work on small areas at a time.
Dirt and Dust
Dirt, dust, and debris can cause huge damage despite their size. These abrasive particles can gather and scratch your wood flooring, without you noticing it. This slowly damages your hardwood flooring.
To avoid this from happening, make sure to regularly sweep your floor. To further ensure that dirt, dust, and debris are eliminated, vacuum regularly. Doing so extends the life of your hardwood floor.
Using Your Furniture
Your furniture can also damage your wood flooring. Whenever you use a certain furniture, particularly when you sit on your sofa or your chair, they usually move slightly, causing scratches. They also dig into the floor every time you use these items, leaving marks and even gouges on your hardwood floor. Over time, these marks will only get worse.
One way of preventing your furniture from causing damage to wood flooring is by using furniture pads. Use furniture pads on all the legs of your furniture to prevent it from making any floor marks such as scratches.
Moving your furniture
Moving a piece of furniture around may also cause damage to hardwood flooring. Dragging your heavier furniture across the surface may leave scratches and deep gouges on the floor. As if it's not enough, should a heavy item fall on the floor due to the moving the furniture around, your wood floor may ensure indentations.
Should you move your furniture around, make sure to lift them completely off the floor. Set it down gently as well. You can also use thick moving blankets if you have furniture to heavy to lift. Just place them under your furniture and drag the blanket across the floor.
It is, however, advisable to work with professional movers whenever possible.
Protecting your Wood Flooring
Opting for wood flooring could be quite an investment. The longevity, however, that is attributed to hardwood flooring, makes it worth the price.
If you are still starting out, remember that your flooring should also match your lifestyle. Always choose quality hardwood flooring designed to fit your way of life will keep your floor looking great.
The lifespan of your wood flooring is dependent on how much you take care of it, as well. As such, it is very important to sweep and vacuum your floor properly and regularly.
Consider purchasing items that can provide additional protection to your floor. Furniture pads and area rugs are some items you can buy to prevent your wood flooring from sustaining scratches. A combination of felt and rubber pad is advisable for rugs since it is a gentler alternative.
Lastly, maintain your hardwood floors. Recommended maintenance should be observed. Consult with your wood floor specialists when necessary. Remember that while hardwood flooring can last for many years, it is on how we prevent wood floors from damage that makes it last a lifetime.