Hardwood Flooring Care

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Caring for a hardwood floor does not have to be difficult, intimidating, or scary.  The truth is, there really is not that much to caring for a wood floor at all.  Here are some suggestions for hardwood flooring care:

  • Keep dirt and other gritty materials from staying on your hardwood flooring for too long.  These materials are your hardwood floor’s worst enemies because, after a period of time, they will have the same effect as using light sandpaper on the flooring. 
  • Avoid direct sunlight from shining on your hardwood floor for long periods of time.  Over time, the UV rays will damage the flooring.
  • Dust mop your floor regularly, or use a vacuum cleaner that has a special hard floor attachment to keep particles from damaging the floor.
  • Clean spills immediately: not only will water ruin the finish of your hardwood flooring, but it will also warp the wood eventually.

These, of course, are just the basics when it comes to caring for your wood floor.  When assessing any damage that may have occurred on your flooring, ask yourself the following questions:

  1. What is the floor’s finish?  Answering this question will help when you need to refinish, refurbish, and repair areas of your flooring.  If you are unsure what type of finish you are working with, then consult a flooring specialist or a contractor for advice.
  2. What is your floor’s condition?  If there are minor dings and scratches, you may be able to cover them up with some simple fixes (light sanding, staining, and finishing).  However, if there are areas where this is heavier damage, you may need to power sand the entire surface and refinish the entire floor.  It is also important to assess damages that may be on the flooring.  If the flooring is too damaged, then it may need to be replaced rather than repaired or refinished.

Caring for your hardwood flooring not only protects your investment, but it also preserves the value of your home.  While some homes look better with a warn-barn board country floor, other types of homes will not work with this type of floor style.  Therefore, different floor care and options will need to be addressed in different homes.  Unfortunately, it is not a “one size fits all” type of situation where one way of doing things will work across the board for everyone!  Good luck!

Flooring Basics

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Before you tackle any flooring home improvement projects, it is important to have an understanding of the product you are interested in purchasing and the pricing.  Do you know how to choose and decide from the many different types of flooring on the market, including laminates, carpeting, tile, vinyl, and many others?  This article will help guide you in the right direction.

 

Questions to ask:

  1. How large is the room (or rooms) where the new floor is going to be installed?
  2. Which room is the new flooring going to go into?
  3. What size family does this room (or rooms) accommodate?
  4. Is this a high traffic area?
  5. Do pets or children make use of this room?
  6. Does this area of the home require a lot of heavy cleaning?
  7. Will this floor need to last the lifetime of the home?

 

The question of durability:

 

How durable the floor is depends on which room of the house it is located in.  Are you flooring the kitchen or the bathroom?  If so, then a floor that is sustainable through high traffic and heavy cleaning is in need.  Choosing a flooring material that is stain resistant, that is resistant to dents (and dings), and that will handle movement of furniture or other objects without scratching.  Here are some good choices:

  • Linoleum (very inexpensive, easy to clean, and durable)
  • Ceramic Tile (tends to crack over time if there is structural movement, though)
  • Wood (very durable to high traffic)

 

Choosing a flooring material doesn’t have to be painstaking or complex.  With the large variety of flooring options available, it is easy to become overwhelmed when it comes to styles, colors, and designs.  Ask for samples whenever possible, and take your time during the decision making process.  If necessary, ask for help during the process in order to help speed things along if time constraints are an issue.

 

Pay close attention to your budget along the way.  If you find a flooring material that meets your tastes, but is out of your budget, you must keep looking.  You’ll soon realize that you can easily price yourself out of your project if you aren’t careful.  Take careful notes about the needs you have, and then look at options that fall within your price range.  If you fall in love with something that is out of your price range, consider putting the project off until you are able to increase your budget.  Otherwise, ignore these options!