Protecting Wood Flooring
May 02, 2010, By Greg Hoard 1 comment
My home was built in 1917 and has natural wood flooring throughout the place: the great room, the dining room, the kitchen, the hallways, and even the kids’ bedrooms. It’s beautiful but requires lots of care.
We have friends with newer homes who have “reclaimed” wood flooring and they often admire the luster of our floors, which always surprises me. First, I am surprised at who pays attention to flooring. Second, I am surprised at the questions, primarily: “How do you keep the floors so nice? We have nicks and smudges and it seems like it is easier to cover them up than keep them up.”
Not true. Not true at all. There are basic things you can do to protect your wood flooring.
First of all, understand that there is no real difference between “reclaimed” wood floors and original wood flooring that you find in older homes.
“Reclaimed” wood floors were originally used in another building and are repaired and refinished for use in another newer or restored structure. (You might be surprised to see what a burgeoning and lucrative business this is – reclaiming products from old homes, hotels and museums and placing them in new structures, everything from bathtubs to crown molding and tin ceilings.)
Caring for these classic floors does require extra care and constant attention with an eye for protection and prevention. The best bet is to avoid problems rather than being faced with a repair, which may lead to questionable results.
Here are materials that you will need to achieve that purpose.
- Felt furniture pads
- Vacuum for hardwood floors or a Swiffer®
- Floor duster
- Damp towels and rags
- Soft bristle broom
- Throw rugs
- Professional wood floor cleaner
NEXT: Steps to Follow
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