4 Tips to Protect Your Newly Installed Hardwood Floor
Posted on: 18 November 2015
Some people worry a lot about what they should do to protect their hardwood floors from damage once those floors have been installed. This article discusses four easy tips that you can implement in order to keep the new hardwood floor of your home safe from damage.
Put Felt Pads under Furniture Legs
Heavy furniture can damage hardwood flooring. The weight of that furniture exerts a downward force through the legs of the furniture. That force can cause depressions to form in the hardwood floor. Prevent this defect from happening by putting felt pads underneath the legs of your furniture. This will limit the damaging effect of the weight of that furniture.
Use Entry Mats
Substances that are carried by shoes into your home can damage hardwood floors. For instance, moisture can quickly accumulate on the hardwood floor if family members keep walking in with wet shoes when it rains or snows. Put entry mats in front of all doors so that the mat absorbs the bulk of the dirt and moisture. This will reduce the magnitude of the dirt/moisture to which the floor is exposed.
Trim Pet Nails
Pets are another potential cause of damage to hardwood flooring. Pets can scratch the floor as they play. These scratches can be very expensive to repair. Make it a habit to trim the nails of all your pets on a regular basis. You can start by checking the nails on a monthly basis. Develop a trimming routine based on your observation of how quickly those nails grow back.
Avoid High Heels
High heels can also damage your newly installed hardwood floor. This is because those heels provide a small surface area through which the pressure of your body weight is exerted on the floor. You should therefore limit how often you walk on the floor when you are wearing high heels. For instance, you can remove the high heels at the front door when you get back from work.
The tips above should be emphasised in the immediate aftermath of the flooring installation. This will give the hardwood flooring ample protection as it dries fully. Ask the flooring contractor for additional tips that you can use for the long-term preservation of the beauty of that floor. For instance, he or she can advise you on the best cleaning products to use for the specific type of hardwood that was used to make your floor.
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