Hardwood Flooring Designs

Hardwood Flooring Patterns

Natural hardwood flooring provides a home with a rich, inviting and upscale appearance.  Over time hardwood floors develop a character of their own, with unique and in some cases dramatic patinas, making each and ever hardwood floor different - a one of a kind floor.  No other flooring material can boast this quality.  Hardwood has provided floors for homes for thousands of years, because they are durable and easily cleaned and maintained.

Daily Care:

The biggest enemies of a hardwood floor are dirt, grit and sand.  All of these items scratch and imbed themselves in the finished surface and can easily find a haven in the cracks between the hardwood planks.  The easiest and best method for removing dirt, grit and sand from your hardwood floor is to use a a vacuum cleaner, every couple of days, that does not use a cleaning head with a powered brush or one where you can turn the power to the head off.  Powered vacuum cleaner brushes can actually scratch and dull the surface finish of a hardwood floor. 

Use a slightly damp (not wet) mop, once or twice a month to clean any dirt that has adhered to the flooring.  The new dry mops, with replaceable cloths, although convenient, may not be your best choice for your hardwood floor.  This type of mop catches the dirt and grime and holds it on the bottom of the cloth.  As you push the mop back and forth across the floor you are in fact continually pushing the dirt and sand across the surface of the floor.  The sand trapped on the bottom of the cloth will act in the same manner as sandpaper!

It is always a wise to use small area rugs and doormats to trap dirt and sand at home entry points, before they can be trampled over your floors and scratch, dull and mar the surface.  This is especially important in all high traffic areas such as hallways.

The specially formulated polyurethanes used on hardwood floors, today, are extremely durable and for all intent purposes they provide an excellent moisture seal for the hardwood flooring planks.  However, modern hardwood flooring is usually stained and finished in a factory, which means that the cracks between the hardwood planks are not sealed which can allow moisture to seep down to the sub-floor.  With older or refinished hardwood floors, the sealing finish or a wax was applied after the floor was installed making the complete surface somewhat impervious to moisture. 

Whether your floor was pre-finished or finished after installation any liquid or food spills should be immediately wiped up with a damp cloth and then a clean, dry towel.  Paper toweling works very well.  Liquid that is allowed to remain on the hardwood floor could find its way to the sub-floor and eventually warp or curl the planks.

Water marks or stains are common after a liquid spill no matter how fast you wipe up the mess.  A quality hardwood floor cleaner (liquid soap is not a good cleaner for hardwood floors) should remove any water marks.  Always remove any traces of the hardwood floor cleaner with a very mild solution of vinegar and water.  Wipe away any remaining residue with a paper tower or clean cloth.  In rare occasions you may have a persistent water mark.  The use of some extra fine sandpaper, 600 grit, or some steel wool, #0000.  Always use abrasives in line with the grain and do not apply a lot of pressure.  After sanding or using the steel wool you may need to buff the floor to bring back the shiny finish.  Buff with a clean cloth and if necessary apply some wax, polyurethane or varnish, whichever is the original floor finish to the area that was sanded.

Quarterly Care:

Three or four times a year, depending on the hardwood floor's traffic pattern, it should be cleaned with a specially formulated hardwood floor cleaner to remove accumulated grease and grime.  It is important that the cleaner you choose has a neutral pH.

Do not use:

• Ammonia-based cleaners,

• Liquid soap detergent

• Any cleaner that has an abrasive substance in it.

Preventative Care:

There are a number of things that can be done to keep your hardwood floor looking elegant.  As previously mentioned the use of area rugs, doormats and runners in high traffic areas will trap dirt, grime and dust.  To prevent furniture legs and feet from gouging or denting the floor use felt pads.  Avoid dropping heavy and sharp items on the floor.  The sun's UV rays can fade and discolor (yellow) hardwood flooring if it does not have a polyurethane finish.  If your floor has a wax or varnish finish protect it from direct sunlight by using window treatments such as blinds, shades or drapes. 

Protect your investment, a properly maintained hardwood floor is warm, inviting and rich and will definitely increase the value of your home should you consider selling.

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