The beauty and durability of hardwood floors makes them one of the best choices a homeowner can make when it is time to decide on flooring. Yet hardwood floors are not impervious, and they can be damaged if care is not taken to protect them from environmental threats and the wear and tear that people can produce when they ignore a few basic precautions. If the right steps are taken, however, hardwood floors will look like new for years to come.
It should go without saying that water is a particularly potent threat to hardwood floors because it can cause warping in the wood. Spills should therefore be cleaned up immediately before the water has time to get in and damage the hardwood floor.
Scratches and dings from furniture legs are some of the most prevalent threats to hardwood floors, and manufacturers of these floors agree that shielding the floor from the hard tips of these legs is one of the best ways to maintain their beauty. Fortunately, it is easy to guard against such scuffs and scratches with felt furniture tips that are available at most home improvement and big-box stores. These tips are attached to furniture with a built-in, non-damaging adhesive, and they cushion the parts of the furniture that touch the wood floor directly. Furthermore, it is recommended that people avoid sliding their furniture across the floor as much as possible even after these felt tips are installed. The tips will protect the floor, but after a while they will become unglued. Those who slide furniture without being aware that their tips are gone will find a big scratch left behind when they have finished moving the piece.
Area rugs are a common site in homes and businesses that have installed wood floors, but like furniture they can scratch the floor if they slide around too much. Therefore, it is always recommended that no-skid pads be used with the rugs. These rubber backings both protect the floors and prevent the rugs from sliding around and causing people to trip and fall.
We all love our pets, but a dogs nails are yet another way that hardwood floors can be scratched. Keeping these nails trimmed is the best way to avoid the scratches that mans best friend can leave behind.
Besides our pets, we can also damage the floors with our footwear. The most likely offender in this case is a pair of high heels, which can dent wood floors if ladies walk around their home with their heels on. Not wearing the heels in the house is the best way to protect the floors in this case.
Finally, hardwood floor manufacturers agree that the most common threat to the beauty of such flooring is the dirt that can scratch and dull the surface of the wood. The solution here is regular cleaning with a broom and vacuuming with a lightweight vacuum cleaner, for one that is heavy can dent the floor if it is dropped. Besides protecting the floors of your home or business, regular cleaning also has the benefit of making the building far more inviting.
With just a little care, hardwood floors can be protected from all the ravages of the environment and people. As you can see, simple preventative maintenance is the best way to keep floors looking like new and performing well for decades to come.
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Bob Vilas Tips for Protecting Hardwood Floors — basic step for protecting a hardwood floor during moving or reconstruction from Americas home improvement guy
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Ehow: Protect Wood Floors — Ehows instructions for protecting and maintaining hardwood floors
Hardwood Floors 101 Protect Flooring Guide — basic guide to protecting your hardwood floors
Hardwood Manufacturers Association from Pioneer Thinking — lists the major enemies of hardwood floors and explains how to protect floors from them
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