Maintenance of a wood floor

Prevent Scratches – There is no such thing as a “scratch-proof” wood floor, but following these basic procedures will reduce the likelihood and frequency of scratches:

• Do not drag or roll furniture or other heavy objects across the floor. Rollers from refrigerators, TV’s, stereos, etc. will dent the floor.  To prevent the denting first lay 1/2″ plywood on the floor and roll the appliance or heavy furniture on the plywood.
• Place protective mats under chairs with wheels.
• Felt padding should be permanently affixed to the legs of all furniture before it is moved into the space.
• Do not allow people to wear spiked heels on the floor, which will damage even the hardest wood floors and finishes.
• Pet claws should be properly trimmed at all times.
• Work boots and shoes that may have pebbles lodged in the soles should be removed prior to entering.

Remove Grit – Care should be taken to prevent dirt, sand and grit from accumulating on the surface of your floor.  They will act like sandpaper and abrade the finish.  Walk off mats should be placed inside and out at all exterior exits, and the floor should be swept or vacuumed frequently.  All mats or rugs should be cleaned and/or replaced on a regular basis.  They should also be moved occasionally to allow natural color changes caused by light to occur evenly in all areas.  Never use latex or rubber backed mats or rugs; they will permanently stain the floor.

Avoid Standing Moisture -Water and hardwood floors don’t mix.  Never wet-mop your floor, and always clean up spills and standing water as soon as possible.  With water or any other cleaning agent, be sure to thoroughly ring out the applicator or mop prior to applying it to the floor.  A damp mop is fine as long as the moisture is limited to an amount that will evaporate almost immediately.  Moisture that is allowed to seep into the seams between the planks may cause damage to your flooring.  Do not allow soiled mats or rugs to stay on the floor as they can trap moisture on the surface.

Repairing Scratches

Blog Post by GQ Flooring, Coquitlam, BC.