Maintaining your Hardwood Floor
You finally got that hardwood flooring that you have always wanted, or you just purchased a new home with lots of hardwood flooring throughout the house, just like you wanted, and a day doesn’t pass without walking across it and marveling at how beautiful the floor looks. What you may not want to think about are the things you must do to keep it looking that way. You get smart, however, and realize that the beauty of your hardwood floor probably won’t last long, especially since everybody in the world, it seems, is walking on it.
And just like anything else, the floor will eventually begin to show the effects of being trampled on daily. Something must be done, of course, to help the floor defend itself against that never-ending trekking throughout your home. And there are, in fact, a few things you can do, so that you can continue marveling.
Firstly-if it was not already done by the installer-the surface of hardwood flooring should be covered with three or four layers of a polyurethane resin mixture. Polyurethane resin will produce an extremely hard layer that will dry clear on hardwood flooring and is highly resilient to liquids, scratching, scraping, and damage caused by other forms of contact.
It is the near equivalent of covering your entire floor with a very sturdy pane of glass. And the wonderful part about coating with polyurethane is the stunning shine your floor will have.
The use of strong soaps and detergents may, over time, harm your floor. It is better to simply use a damp mop. Many flooring professionals say it is best to vacuum without a brushing roller making contact, instead of mopping.
Certain wood-washing products are also recommended, since they are formulated to be safe for wood. Hiring a professional isn’t necessary; numerous hardwood floor cleaning products are readily available for purchase and simple to use. Occasional waxing is also a good choice, as long as taking precautions for the possibility of slipping hazards is recognized.
It is probably a good idea to bear in mind how extreme changes in temperature, room moisture (or a room with air too dry), and direct sunlight may, over the years or decades, cause a solid hardwood floor to shrink (causing gaps between flooring planks), or expand (causing uneven sections of the floor), or warp. While it is not always possible to take preventive measures (such as maintaining a certain temperature and level of air moisture or dryness in a room around the clock), there are certain things one can do to help maintain the floor.
Placing floor mats where sunlight enters a window is one option, or maybe setting a piece of furniture in that spot. Keep the floor dry by promptly wiping up spills. Running a humidifier will help with moisture and air dryness situations (and may also be advantageous for one’s health). Another suggestion is to place foam padding under furniture, to prevent scratching of the floor when furniture is moved.
In all actuality, maintaining a hardwood floor is easier than most other types of flooring. The need for arduous scrubbing or working with aggressive and highly odorous chemicals and cleaning agents is never an issue. By simply taking a few steps now to prevent problems, a hardwood flooring owner can, in the future, continue marveling at how beautiful it looks.
Mira Floors and Interiors is Greater Vancouver’s premiere floor and window covering specialist for both home owners and commercial spaces. Mr. James Alisch and his team can assist in all aspects of floor installations, carpet, hardwood, laminate, vinyl and tile. For further information about your flooring options go to Mira Floors and Interiors