Taking Care Of Hardwood Floors : Some Very Good Suggestions You Might Want To Read

By Ranga Dasa

The product of bamboo, birch, beech, maple, oak, teak, elm, cherry, ash or poplar trees is hardwood flooring. It may be prefinished or unfinished.

Where can hardwood flooring be installed ?

This flooring is durable. It can be installed in a room above ground level. Better not use it for some of the locations such as bathrooms, saunas, washrooms, or porches that are enclosed or verandas or in such places where there is a need for wet-mopping. This is due to the fact that it is one of the natural products. This flooring may swell, crack or warp if exposed to moisture for longer duration.

There are softer hardwood species than others. For areas with higher traffic, harder species of hardwood are recommended.

Installing hardwood flooring:

It is possible to install your own floors, if you choose prefinished hardwood floors. Basic skills of carpentry and following the manufacturer's instructions for installation completes your job. But the job of sanding and finishing should be handed over to professionals, if your choice is to install unfinished flooring.

The way you benefit by using hardwood flooring is-

It lasts longer. Most of the hardwood flooring last for many decades.

How to maintain hardwood flooring:

Professional installation of this flooring is expensive and this also costs higher. But the value of your home is increased by this. Therefore, many experts consider this as an investment. Its strength lies in its durability. Due to this property, it is not required to replace it until it gets damaged. As research shows, most real estate agents believe that it is easier to sell homes having this type of flooring at higher prices and faster than homes with other types of flooring.

Follow few tips and make your hardwood flooring last longer:

1. Areas with heavy traffic require regular sweeping.

2. If there is hardwood setting in your vacuum cleaner, then, it becomes easy to remove dirt from your flooring.

3. You can use a pH cleaner that is neutral, which is specifically made for this kind of flooring to maintain its appearance.

4. Do not be bothered if the flooring shows gaps during winter season. Wood is a natural product and it is common for it to shrink and expand during winter and summer respectively. If the relative humidity is stabilized in home, then this problem can be avoided. De-humidifiers, humidifiers and air-conditioners are essential to control the moisture in a home.

There is warmth inside and it is not cold as wood is a good insulator. Indeed, you can feel this while using it.

Engineered Flooring:

The product made of HDF, plywood or hardwood core with hardwood veneer as the top layer which is glued to the top surface on the core is known as engineered hardwood flooring. This comes in almost any species of hardwood. The product is not just a mere photographic layer as it imbibes the characteristics that are natural for any selected species of wood. In locations where moisture and heat are a problem to hardwood, this engineered product provides greater stability.

Ways to clean your hardwood floor:

For this purpose floor cleaners are recommended. Another tip is vacuum cleaning and dry mopping it. Dry mop the floor after you wet mop it, as this absorbs any water on the floor.

Tipping off the pet owners:

1. As against carpeting, these floors are recommended for homes with pets.

2. Allergens, ticks, fleas, mites or animal dander is not trapped in a hardwood floor;

3. This does not trap odors and it is easy to clean pet messes.

4. It is better to clip the nails of your pets to avoid any scratch marks;

5. Your floors get damaged if liquids and spills are not attended to; so immediate cleaning is recommended.

6. To avoid spills, water bowls with stable base are recommended and remember to place a mat or throw rug beneath the bowl of the pet for absorbing spills. But it has to be dried after removing it, if it becomes very wet. - 29958

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