Hardwood flooring can last a lifetime if it is properly maintained. One thing that we tend to forget is that we are talking about wood. Wood will expand and contract with improper moisture control, discolour with the sun’s rays or areas with rugs that are never moved and will definitely scratch if something heavy falls on it, or is dragged across it.

Moisture control is a must! Humidifiers, air conditioners, dehumidifiers are all essential to maintaining proper moisture content in the wood floor. If it is not maintained, flooring will show gaps if it is dry, and will expand if there is too much humidity. You always want to keep a balance of relative humidity in the air.

Wood will change colour with time. There are factors that will speed up aging such as direct sunlight on the floor. The easiest way to prevent this is to shade your windows at the appropriate time of day, reducing the sun’s damaging rays. Covered areas will also speed up aging. This can be rectified by removing area rugs from time to time and leaving the floor exposed. This will allow flooring to breathe and will slow down the aging process.

Always protect hardwood from chair legs, furniture feet and appliances. Felt on chair legs and coasters on appliances are a must in protecting your floors.

Always clean your hardwood with products recommended by the flooring professionals. Most manufacturers will supply a floor cleaner for their product. These will always be our first recommendation. Vacuuming is also a must as this will remove any grit off the floor before the use of cleaning products. You can also damp mop your floors but remember to dry mop afterwards to clean up any excess water.

If you are not sure about a floor cleaning product, always call a professional. This could save you from ruining your floors. If a wrong product is used it could mean the need for total refinishing of your flooring.