Hardwood Floors - How Can Your Protect Them?

Hardwood floors are rather expensive so owners must exercise every effort to protect them. 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.

How can you protect your hardwood floor?

First, you shouldn't expose them too much to the sun. One of the key reasons why some hardwood floors become discolored over time regardless of its stain or finish is because of the ultraviolet rays from sunlight. The same ultraviolet rays that cause damage to your skin is what we are referring to. To any other type of organic material, UV rays also do the same thing.

Install a screen on your windows or use curtains in order to shield it from the sun. You can also use sheer drapes so that it won't be too dark in the room. There are materials like oak and cherry that will tend to become darker while there are also hardwoods that would lighten from sun exposure. If you want to slow down the discoloration process, you should apply water-based urethane finishes to your floor. It's okay to use oil-based finishes but they tend to turn amber or yellow when they are exposed to sunlight.

Second, make sure it's always dry. Water is the worst enemy of a hardwood floor. Aside from seeping into the material, it can also cause nasty stains and decay. Applying coats of finishes can help protect your floor but still, you need to remember that finishes also thin over time so you have to reapply regularly.

Don't leave wet rags on the floor for a long period and wipe up spills immediately. In order to wipe your hardwood floor, you can also use dry cloth. Avoid using a damp mop.

Another way to protect your hardwood floor is to put felt glides under the legs of heavy furniture so they don't scratch the surface when moved. 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.