Hardwood flooring adds warmth, texture, and charm to any room. The simplicity of the natural patterns and colors compliments any furniture. But while wood lasts generations, it also requires proper care. And even with constant polishing, the floor will eventually show some wear and tear.
Weather and the amount of moisture affect the texture of the material. Some kinds of wood expand or contract, depending on the elements reacting with them, affecting the level, or evenness, of the floor. Over time, hardwood floors lose their luster or shine and show scratches and bumps.
Old hardwood floors may show stain. Areas where friction always occurs, like doorways, develop a lighter shade. So do those under appliances or heavy furniture.
Keep the Hardwood Floor Looking Great
Some people love the charm of old-looking hardwood floors, the kind that evoke history and elegance. Of course, looking like it was from a past era is different from it looking like it went through a disaster. There are certain techniques to achieve that antique look without sacrificing quality.
A solution to restoring hardwood floors to their former glory is sanding. You may hire a contractor to do the restoration for you, as it will require a tremendous amount of time and skill to pull off a project like this.
Another procedure you can take is the reapplication of a coating to restore the shine on the wood. This can be done at a minimal cost. Eventually, though, you may have to resort to sandpapering the whole area to give it a new layer.
Maintaining the Floor
Water and friction are the worst enemies of wooden floors. Moisture causes stains and disfigurement. Constant rubbing against the surface causes scratches and bumps.
The best way to maintain the quality of your floor is through proper maintenance. Wipe up water spills immediately, do not rub alcohol on the surface, and do not use wet mops to clean the floor. When moving furniture, carry it or put rags under the legs to minimize friction.
Waxing the floors may also help prolong the polished look of the floor. Too much, however, may cause you trouble afterward. It may be difficult to sand floors that are heavily waxed. But to make sure you get your floors back to their original beauty, get expert help for the restoration.
Related Articles of Interest :
-
How To Refinish Hardwood Floors
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
If you ordered prefabricated hardwood floors and had them installed by a contractor, you probably would have gotten the standard look and design, which is usually good. The standards for producing quality material are usually high, as manufacturers compete for the market. The floor you...
-
Installing Hardwood Floors
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Hardwood floors can be secured using various installation methods such as floating, glue-down, nail-down, and staple-down. The ¾ inch solid floors can be nailed down. Adapters are used for thin flooring. The hardwood flooring can be stapled down over wood subfloor. The staple-down method is...
-
Wide Plank Hardwood Floors
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Old houses usually have wide plank hardwood floors. It was the practice during the colonial times to cut through the tree to the center. The boards produced varied in width as they moved closer to the core. The bark was removed from around the edges....
-
A Look at Solid Hardwood Floors
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Solid hardwood floors should neither be installed over a concrete slab nor below ground level because of high moisture sensitivity. Unsightly gaps appear when moisture dries and the floors contract in the winter heating months. The floors expand and gaps disappear during summers. The wood...
-
How to Properly Clean Hardwood Floors
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Good care and maintenance of a hardwood floor enhances its life and appearance. Solid hardwood floors can be easily cleaned, and a daily cleaning routine is a must in order to protect the floors from grit and dirt that are most damaging problems. They create...
-
Hardwood Laminate Floors
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Hardwood laminate floors are much valued for their being long-lasting, but also for their aesthetic appeal. They need no replacement over even a long time and their installment in a house can bring about an enhancement in the value of the house. A wide variety...
-
Long-Strip and Engineered Hardwood Floors
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Longstrip hardwood floors are wide and long, and each plank has 2 to 3 strips of thin hardwood. These planks can be floated, stapled and glued-down. The floors can be installed in all parts of the home and are made up of numerous wood plies...
-
Wood Laminate Floors
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
The laminate flooring of today no longer features high-quality photographic paper with an image of wood. More and more often, this effective but not-quite-realistic material is being foregone in favor of very thin slices of real wood veneers. This is a new hybrid product coming...
-
Unfinished Hardwood Floors
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
One of the joys of home ownership is the freedom it provides when it comes to interior design. Some do it with the help of professional interior decorators and architects. Others would prefer to get down and dirty sawing, sand papering, painting, nailing, and hammering...
-
The Benefits of Pre-finished Hardwood Floors
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Pre-finished floors come with an extended factory finish warranty unlike unfinished floors. The heavy duty finishes are urethane-based. Within a few minutes, a number of urethane coatings can be applied on planks using ultra violet lights. However, you also have the option of unfinished hardwood...