Are You Ruining Your Wood Floor?
Are You Ruining Your Wood Floor?
Hardwood floors are some of the most popular installations for both residential and commercial establishments. What’s not to love? They bring a natural charm to the space, and there are numerous wood species that you can choose from to have the desired decor effect. They are highly durable, capable of withstanding high levels of foot traffic, and their insulating properties reduce the amount of money you spend on your energy bills when heating up the home. Add this to the vast array of wood stains available to choose from, and finish options that deliver the desired gloss effect – it all adds to the stylish nature of the premises. Moreover, when well taken care of, wood flooring can last for decades, even as old as the building itself. When the existing finish coats get worn out, simply have the floor sanded and refinished, to give it a fresh start. Despite all that the wood floors have going for them, there are ways that the occupants of the building actually become a threat to the installation, contributing to the deterioration of the structure. Here are some of the ways in which wood floors get ruined:
- Ignoring furniture pads
Heavy furniture is not just a problem when it is dragged across the floor. During the normal usage, whenever people sit on the sofas and chairs, the furniture moves slightly. These individual occurrences are miniscule, barely noticeable. However, the more frequently that the sofa is used, the greater the effect of these tiny movements. The large sets create marks on the floor, which over time become unsightly. Furniture pads come in to protect the underlying wood floor from the wear effects that are caused by these items in the premises.
- Procrastinating sweeping or vacuuming
The dust and debris particles that are accumulating on the wood floor are a threat to the health of the household members, as well as the longevity of the wood floor. They slowly damage the surface, abrading it due to the particles being grinded against the floor as people walk around the premises. You can easily notice how those frequently walked on areas are quick to develop traffic lanes, fading in appearance compared to the adjacent floor sections.
Extra Tip: Set up a mat near the door. Here, people walking in can wipe off the dirt that has collected under their shoes, preventing it from being tracked into the room.
- Harmful footwear
High heels may be stylish – but they are a direct threat to the wood floor. Their pointy nature causes the wearer’s body weight to be directed through a smaller surface area of the floor. The effect is so profound that a 100-pound woman in high heels exerts more pressure on the surface she is walking on compared to a 6,000-pound elephant. These effects cause dents to be formed on the floor, contributing to the general wear as the months and years go by. Leaving the heels by the door when you get home and switching to a pair of slippers will do your wood floor lots of good. For commercial establishments, the necessity for having a highly durable floor lacquer that can stand up to these pressures is emphasised more.
Increase your floor’s wear resistance with Bona Traffic HD
As you can see, the floor comes under loads of abuse on a day-to-day basis. Fortunately, treating the floor with a quality finish product adds a barrier of protection against these elements, serving to prolong the life of your installation. This is where formulations like the Bona Traffic HD come in. This is a two-component water based lacquer that comes with superior scratch, scuff and chemical resistance. In fact, the durability of the formulation makes it a leading choice for establishments where there are risks of extreme levels of wear, from busy restaurants, shopping malls and train stations, to airports and public spaces. Bring this protection to your premises to enable your wood floor to last for long, and look elegant all through.
- Drenching the floor
During the floor cleaning, how much liquid do you use? Excess moisture is a threat to the wood floor – which is why the installers, and almost every other wood care blog you read, warn against wet mopping. Wood readily absorbed the excess liquid, putting it at risk of water damage. When mopping one should wring out the mop such that you work with it when it is damp.
Extra tip: Using a spray mop, you can control the amount of cleaning agent that is distributed onto the floor surface. Simply top up the cartridge with the solution, then use the spray trigger mechanism to mist out a little content onto the floor as you mop the different areas. This also beats using the traditional mop/bucket system where the solution in the bucket gets soiled quickly, and can end up redistributing dirty water over the floor surface.
- Setting up the wrong rug pad
Area rugs are handy furnishing items, aiding in reducing the amount of grime that gets transferred to the rest of the open floor space, as well as adding pomp and colour to the room. Rug pads prevent the rugs from sliding on the floor, but using the wrong kind will damage the installation. When selecting a rug pad, it is recommended that you use pieces that are made of natural materials as opposed to plastic. The plastic rug pads can cause discolouration, with those made using chemicals such as phthalates causing staining on your hardwood floor.
- Pets’ Nails
With their sharp claws, dogs and cats in the premises can easily create scratches on the wood floor. They run around the premises with their claws drawn, digging into the wood surface to get traction. The greater the number of pets and the games they play while indoors, the greater the amount of scratches that wind up being formed. Keeping the claws trimmed will reduce the effect that your furry friends have on your wood floor, as well as applying protective treatments like the Bona Traffic HD.
Are You Ruining Your Wood Floor?