HARDWOOD FLOORING AFTERCARE: TIPS FOR WINTER


There's nothing more beautiful than getting hardwood flooring in the house; it looks stunning and, when properly cared for, will last for decades to come. Part of that aftercare is understanding how to look after your flooring as the seasons shift. Wood is a natural product and as such, it will expand and contract in response to the moisture levels changing and the temperature dropping.

To keep the effects of these alterations to a minimum, here are a few of the top suggestions from the FLOOR SANDING GUILDFORD team for looking after your hardwood flooring from the winter.

PROTECT YOUR FLOORING FROM YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE

A hardwood floor makes the perfect setting for a beautifully decorated tree. But a real tree could lead to damage -- dropped pine blades, spilt water or debris stuck under the Christmas tree stand may mark and scratch hardwood flooring so you will need to sweep regularly and maintain the tree hydrated to minimise needle fall. You'll also need to set your tree on an absorbent mat or plastic sheet to create a barrier out of any moisture.

BE MINDFUL OF SALT

It's only natural to the footfall to increase throughout your house within winter season so your hardwood flooring will benefit from being cleaned more often to help keep it looking its best. Many wood floor owners do not really realise the salt earned from the road can actually"eat" into varnish causing the wood to become discoloured. You might have to your cleaning regime -- for instance, if you usually wash your hardwood floor once a week, then increase to ensure any obvious messes are piled straight away, as soon as they occur.

REMOVE SHOES

The winter elements and lace shoes can be harsh on hardwood flooring. One approach to depart the weather in the door would be to present mats and also have a house rule of sneakers at the doorway.

MONITOR THE HUMIDITY LEVEL AND TEMPERATURE

As we have already mentioned, humidity and temperature changes can wreak havoc on your flooring. With temperatures plummeting in winter homeowners are quick to turn on the thermostat, often not realising how this will affect wooden flooring. During the rainy months of the year, humidity levels drop and turning on your heating will dry out the air in your home. In the exact same manner that central heating may wreak havoc on your skin and make it feeling chilly, it may draw out the moisture from your flooring too, making it prone to splintering and shrinkage.

To avoid your hardwood planks suffering this fate, keep an eye on just how high you're setting your thermostat when potential turn your heating off. If you reside in a particularly dry climate, then you should also consider investing in a humidifier to help keep to enhance the humidity level in your home to a range that will be safe for your floors.


  

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