Wooden flooring is beautiful, hardwearing, and can last for decades if it is looked after properly. It is a popular choice not only for commercial applications but also for many domestic settings.
Unlike carpet or laminate flooring however, solid wood flooring does require some maintenance in order to prolong its life span. Here are a few areas that you will want to be focusing on.
Wipe Spills Immediately
An important part of maintaining the flooring is to protect it from unwanted damage such as wiping away any spills immediately. However, if any liquid is left to soak into the wood then it can cause irreparable damage.
Prevent Scratches And Dents
Another way to maintain your wooden flooring is to protect it from scratches and dents. Whilst small marks are inevitable, there are things you can do that will prevent deeper, larger scratches. For example, if possible, it is a good idea to remove footwear before walking on it.
In addition, heavy objects can cause significant indentations if dragged across the flooring. You may choose to use felt protector pads on the bottom of furniture to act as a soft barrier.
Clean Regularly
A wooden floor is extremely easy to clean. All that you need to do is sweep the surface with a soft bristle brush; we recommend that you do this every day. You may wish to use a vacuum cleaner, however will want to make sure that you have the right attachments.
After sweeping, you should then use a microfibre mop and PH neutral cleaning spray to mop the floor. Try to clean in the direction of the grain and never use a steam mop as the steam can cause damage over time. You will want to mop your floor weekly.
Sanding & Refinishing
If your floor is looking a little tired, it may need to be sanded and re-finished. Generally, this will need to be done every 3 – 5 years, however, this depends on the traffic.
Sanding & refinishing can help revive and refresh your floor as well as removing unwanted marks or stains. Depending on the finish you have, you will want to take a different approach when refinishing the floor.
If you have an oiled or lacquered finish and want to reduce the look of small scratches then you can simply apply more oil or lacquer, however, if you have larger indentations you will want to sand and then reapply the oil or lacquer which will lead to your flooring being brighter and looking refreshed. You will, however, want to leave to dry before using it.
For any type of refinishing, we certainly recommend speaking with a specialist as a badly refinished floor can look worse than a tired looking floor – as well as being harder to fix.
Do You Need Help Choosing Your Next Floor?
Whether for commercial or domestic use, Ajax Flooring is here to help you find the best flooring option for your specific requirements. If you’d like to discuss your ideas and discover the options available, get in touch with our team of flooring experts for your free consultation and quote.