Homeowners install hardwood flooring because of its beauty, as well as its durability. Although hardwood flooring is tough, it’s not invincible. Here are some tips on how to protect hardwood floors.
Ways to Prevent Damage to Wood Floors
Walking on hardwood flooring with high heels can cause dents and scratches, but flat shoes can also create damage. If people walk around outside, then keep their shoes on inside the house, small stones and other debris on the bottoms of their shoes can scratch hardwood flooring.
Pets’ nails are another common source of damage. When dogs and cats walk or run around the house, their nails can scratch the floor. Trimming your pets’ nails on a regular basis and putting down area rugs in places where your pets like to play can reduce the risk of damage to your hardwood floors.
Furniture scraping on hardwood flooring can leave scratches or gouges on the surface. If you have furniture with legs, you can place glides or sliders underneath the legs or set the furniture on top of area rugs to protect your wood floors.
If water penetrates the surface of hardwood flooring, it can cause the boards to warp. If liquid spills on wood flooring, wipe it up immediately.
When cleaning your hardwood floors, use water sparingly, or use no water at all. Sweep or vacuum the floors on a regular basis and only use cleaning products that are specifically designed to be used with the type of flooring that you have in your house.
Refinishing Can Restore Damaged Wood Floors
Even if you know how to protect hardwood floors and you’re diligent, flooring can still become scratched and damaged over time. In that case, sanding and refinishing can restore the beautiful appearance your wood floors once had.
Refinishing hardwood flooring is a job that should be handled by professionals. Although you can find instructional videos online and rent equipment, it’s not as easy as it might seem. If you make a mistake when sanding wood flooring, you can create more damage that you will have to hire a contractor to fix.
You can trust the team at Barbati Hardwood Flooring to sand and refinish your hardwood floors. We will remove the damaged top layer to reveal a fresh layer of wood and stain the surface in the color of your choice. Contact us today at (484)354-8869 to get an estimate.