Solid Wood Floors - Maintenance is a Requirement

Solid wood floors are easy to maintain and gives a level of style to every home. This floor is easier to maintain than many other types of flooring, however does requires maintenance in order for it to look great and fight against wear and tear. Several of this maintenance needs to be completed on a daily basis, while other tasks are just required once every few months.

Protective Maintenance
Having top quality floor mats available at every door of your home is an effective way to reduce the amount of dirt, stones, and grime that needs to be cleaned off in the hardwood surface. Most people do not allow anyone to wear shoes inside their home so that cleaning does not need to be done so often. Making use of area rugs in large rooms with hardwood floors or active areas of the home will cause less wear and tear than having bare flooring exposed.

Daily Maintenance
The maintenance of your solid wood floor should start with daily cleaning. This cleaning does not have to be any more comprehensive than vacuuming or sweeping, but it is essential because grit and dirt will act like sandpaper. This can mark the beautiful surface of the hardwood flooring. Mopping the wood floor frequently is a great way to remove debris that may be sticky or difficult to remove with a broom. It is necessary that the mop used to clean hardwood flooring is damp, but not dripping wet. Water and other liquids can cause solid wood flooring to become discolored if they are not removed from the surface immediately.

It is important to keep an eye on the humidity level of your home every day to make sure that it remains between forty to fifty percent. Humidity changes cause solid wood flooring to expand and contract, which may leads to cracks in the floor.

Monthly Maintenance
Using an oil or wax that is made specifically for wood flooring once per month is a good way to ensure that the floor's finish remains intact and continues to resist water and stains. The floor must be thoroughly cleaned before the wax or oil is applied, and the product might need you to stay off of the floor for a couple of hours so that it can soak into the flooring and be able to protect the wood.

Fixing the Damage
Light scratches that appeared on the solid wood flooring surface can be removed by using a buffer, but deeper scratches should be removed by a flooring specialist that has years of experience with wood flooring.

If wood flooring has not been taken care of properly and the finish is no longer present, the floor should be sanded down and a new finish should be applied to the surface. Floors that are maintained properly should not require sanding down because a new coat of finish has been applied every month.

Related Posts:

• Ways to Install a Solid Wood Floor
• What type of Wood Flooring will be best for you?