Hardwood Floors

There is no doubt that a hardwood floor adds a distinct and beautiful finish to the floor plan of your house. However, vinyl floors are not for every room in the house, and you should know the various weaknesses of hardwood floors so that you can choose which rooms in your house are appropriate to this option. This article will also include some tips on how to keep the “wow” factor in the appearance of your hardwood floors for as long as possible through simple maintenance.

To begin with, hardwood floors are installed in sections, and although the gaps are miniscule to the human eye they offer ample room for water to trickle down between and get underneath of the flooring. When this happens, the floor may warp or buckle as time goes by and the wood begins to absorb the moisture. This can affect a large portion of your floor, and will add quite a bit of expense to the upkeep of your home. Therefore, although they look like they can stand a lot of punishment and will add a modernized look, hardwood floors are not the best option for areas where spills are likely to happen or moisture to accumulate, such as in the bathrooms of your house or the kitchen. IN any room where you have hardwood, make sure to wipe up any spill immediately so the liquid does not have the chance to run into the joints.

Floors made of hard woods are also deceptive in their title. It sounds as though they could stand up to a lot of beating, but the fact is that although hardwood floors are long-lasting, they also tend to dent and scratch easily.  Avoid walking on these floors with hard heels and especially high heeled shoes. These heels may dent your floor, and repairing the dents is an annoying process. If you have an indoor dog, you may also want to keep its nails trimmed short, as they may also scratch the floor’s finish.

Unfortunately, just because you have invested in a wood floor does not mean that you no longer have to vacuum, especially if you have rugs or other covers. Grit that gets caught up in these rugs can work its way down to the floor, and may scratch the finish. You should vacuum the floor and the rugs twice a week, in order to prevent small scratches. The floors also need to be swept frequently, as dust and dirt tend to accumulate quite visibly.

When you mop your floor, do not use a lot of water, to prevent water damage. Wring your mop out thoroughly before applying it to your floor. You may want to polish or wax your floor every once in a while to maintain its appearance, and make sure when doing so that you adhere to any instructions given by the floor’s manufacturer.

Hardwood floors are a great decorative addition to any house, and will add to its value. However, hardwood floors are just as important to maintain as your carpet, and taking simple precautionary steps will allow your floors to stay in shape for a very long time.