When you take the decision to restore your hardwood floor it is natural
that you want the floor to look the very best it can. Whether you choose to do
it yourself or to use a specialist flooring team, there are a few essential
points to remember so that you get the maximum benefit from your Wood Floor Refurbishing to enhance the look of your home for longer.
When the floor is finished many people make the mistake of returning the
furniture almost as soon as the floor finishing appears dry and begin using the
room immediately. This is a great mistake. The floor may be hard on top but the
underneath veneer will almost certainly retain some liquidity. It needs to
fully cure, and until the finishing is allowed to dry and harden completely
your floor is not totally protected.
In order to give your floor the best chance for a long and happy life
avoid walking on it (even with bare feet) for at least 24 hours, although 48
hours is better if you can manage it.
Leave it as long as possible before returning heavy furniture to the
room and allowing children and pets to play in the room.
Apart from the vacuuming you will have carried out prior to the sanding
process if you did it yourself, don’t vacuum too much during the first few
weeks of your floor’s new life. Avoid sticking anything to the floor such as
sticky tape or edging runners.
The importance of regular light
maintenance
It is important to lightly sweep and vacuum the floor on a regular
basis, although it is not necessary to wash it every time you do so. Floors
become damaged when particles of grit become ground into the wood so regular
light sweeping goes a long way to preserve your floor’s pristine beauty as well
as keeping it fresh and clean looking. Rather than mop the floor it is
sometimes enough to attach a lightly moistened cloth to a brush head and
collect the dust that way.
If you do decide to use a cleaning product on the floor then only use
one which has been specifically designed for wood floors. Never be tempted to
use tile or laminate cleaner, which can cause a too-shiny veneer on the wood
that quickly dulls and loses lustre on hardwoods.
Moisture warps wood so if the climate calls for it you might find it a
good idea to install a de-humidifier, which is better for both you and your
floor.
Hardwood floor repairs
It is often the case that when a floor is sanded back loose or missing
boards are discovered. If this has happened to you and you would like your
replacement wood to be ethically sourced then be sure to select only wood which
has the FSC stamp of approval. This means the wood has been harvested from
responsible sources, which in turns means the sustainability of wildlife and
fair employment.
If your floor is particularly old or is of an uncommon wood type then
you may need to contact a professional wood Floor Sanding Company to help you source
the best possible match. However, remember that even if the wood is the same
type as your floor it is unlikely that it will be exactly the same shade and may
require a little wood stain to make it blend in initially.
Real wood floors in wet rooms
It’s never really a good idea to use wood flooring in a high humidity
environment. But should your find yourself in this position then it is better
to choose engineered wood, which is real wood veneer with a laminated base.
This type of wood has a shorter lifespan that real wood but does rather better
in kitchens, bathrooms and utility rooms where there is a higher level of
moisture in the air.
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