Hardwood Floor Protection For Retaining Hardwood Floor Attraction
Posted under HOME IMPROVEMENT, Hardwood Floors on May 13, 2008
Hardwood floors are rather expensive so owners must exercise every effort for hardwood floor protection.
Since they come from exhaustible resources, trees, and take years to produce, 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 provide hardwood floor protection?
For hardwood floor protection first, don’t expose it to too much sun. The ultraviolet ray from sunlight is one of key reasons why some hardwood floors become discolored over time, regardless of its finish or stain. These UV rays are the same ultraviolet rays that cause damage to your skin. UV rays do the same to any other type of organic material.
For providing hardwood floor protection which is exposed to sun, install a screen on your windows or use curtains. You can use sheer drapes so it’s not so dark in the room. There are hardwoods that lighten from sun exposure, while materials like oak and cherry will tend to become darker.
To slow down the discoloration process, apply water-based urethane finishes to your floor. Oil-based finishes are okay but they have a tendency to turn yellow or amber when exposed to sunlight.
For providing hardwood floor protection secondly, make sure it’s always dry. Water is a hardwood floor’s worst enemy. It can seep into the material and cause nasty stains and decay. You can provide hardwood floor protection to your floor by applying thick coats of finishing, but keep in mind that finishes also thin over time so you have to reapply regularly.
Wipe up spills immediately and don’t leave wet rags on the floor for a long period. Also, use only dry cloth to wipe your hardwood floor. Never use a damp mop.
Another way to provide hardwood floor protection is to put felt glides under the legs of heavy furniture so they don’t scratch the surface when moved. Felt glides also cushion the weight of your furniture so they don’t make shallow holes on your floor.
The point of hardwood floor protection is this: if you want it to last longer than your lifetime, you have to give it the care it needs. And since hardwood floors, when maintained well, can stay on even after a century, they definitely deserve hardwood floor protection.
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