subject: Taking Care Of Your Hardwood Floor [print this page] Owners must exercise every effort to protect hardwood floors because they are rather expensive. They come from trees which are exhaustible resources and take years to produce which is why they are more tedious to care for and maintain compared to concrete and other types of building materials. Thus, if you're looking to use hardwood for your flooring, you should be prepared with the right protection methods and tools.
Tips on protecting your hardwood floor
Make sure to avoid exposing them to too much sun. The ultraviolet rays from sunlight is one of key reasons why some hardwood floors become discolored over time, regardless of its finish or stain. What we are referring to is the same ultraviolet rays that cause damage to your skin. To any other type of organic material, UV rays also do the same thing.
To shield it from the sun, install a screen on your windows or use curtains. You can use sheer drapes so it's not so dark in the room. While some hardwoods would lighten from sun exposure, there are other materials like oak and cherry that will tend to become darker. Apply water-based urethane finishes to your floor if you want to slow down the discoloration process. Although oil-based finishes are fine, when they are exposed to sunlight they have a tendency to turn yellow or amber.
Then, be sure that it's always dry. The worst enemy of the hardwood floor is water. It can cause nasty stains and decay and it can seep into the material. Keep in mind that finishes also thin over time so you have to reapply regularly even though you can protect your floor by applying coats of finishing.
Immediately wipe up spills and avoid leaving any wet rags on the floor for a long period of time. You can also use dry cloth in order to wipe your hardwood floor. A damp mop should never be used.
In order for the hardwood floor not to scratch the surface when furniture is moved, another way to protect it is to put felt glides of heavy furniture. The weight of your furniture is also cushioned by felt glides so that they don't make shallow holes on your floor.
You need to protect your hardwood floor because of this reason. You have to give it the care it needs if you want it to last longer than your lifetime. And since hardwood floors, when maintained well, can stay on even after a century, they definitely deserve protection.
