Hardwood floors are one of the most beautiful improvements you can make to your home. It’s hard to believe that at one time wood floors were standard in almost every home but eventually it became the norm to cover them up under the newfangled wall to wall carpeting. Hardwood has enduring warmth and beauty that can’t be matched by any other type of flooring.
Hardwood floors are tough, but they’re not indestructible. If you want to keep them looking as great as they did the day they were installed, they require some basic maintenance.
If you have hardwood floors, place mats at both sides of exterior doors to help prevent dirt from being tracked in. During winter or rainy weather, make sure boot trays are handy to prevent water damage to flooring. Make sure that you put felt protectors under any furniture that will come in contact with hard wood flooring to prevent scratches and gouges. Some hardwood is harder that others but all can be marked when a piece of furniture is moved. Place rugs where children will be playing to prevent dropped toys from leaving dents in the floor.
Humidity changes can cause gaps to open up in hardwood floors, especially if the moisture content of the wood wasn’t suited to Calgary climate conditions when it was installed. It’s important to keep the relative humidity level in your home between 30% and 50%, and the temperature between 20 and 22 degrees C. at all times.
Hardwood flooring can be damaged by direct sunlight. Make sure you have drapes or blinds over windows in rooms with hardwood floors and keep them closed during the sunniest times of the day. If you don’t and you move a rug, you’re likely to find an area that’s a noticeably different colour than the rest of the floor.
When you want to install hardwood floors in your Calgary home, or you need supplies to keep your floors looking beautiful, visit a TimberTown location near you.
