Water damage - biggest threat to hardwood floors
Homeowners have been warned that the biggest problem they are likely to face with their solid wood flooring is the threat of water damage.
Although it is common knowledge that atmospheric moisture levels have an impact on wood floors, which causes natural swelling and contracting, water spillages can cause real damage.
Accidents and spillages cause a great deal of damage but many people are unaware of the threat faced when using floor cleaners or mopping to keep hardwood floors in good condition.
While trying to keep a floor looking good is of paramount importance, overenthusiastic use of liquid floor cleaners or not wringing a mop out adequately are the easiest ways to damage it.
SCS Hardwood Floors’ technicians said: “The first step is to remove the water if any is still present. After the floor is completely dry it should go back to being flat depending on how long the water has been laying on the floor.
“Once your floor is flat again, as long as no staining has taken place, you should be able to screen, fill and re-coat to fix the floor.”
It is always important to be careful during routine cleaning and maintenance of real wood flooring, and this is particularly important when using liquids when the manufacturers guidelines must be carefully adhered to.
