Importance of maintenance

While specific finish types may require different maintenance, some guidelines apply to the care of all wood floors:
• Floor protector pads should be installed on the bottom of all furniture legs before furniture is placed onto the wood floor.
• Place rugs at all entrances. They help trap grit and absorb moisture before either one has a chance to damage the finish. (Check with the finish manufacturer for when these can be placed—usually they should not go down on the floor for at least seven days, and sometimes more than 21 days after the finish is applied.)
• Rugs should be shaken out, cleaned and thoroughly dried when they get wet.
• Take special precautions with non-skid pads that are frequently placed under area rugs. These pads may imprint their pattern onto the finish and/or wood floor. (Natural fibers may not transfer as much as synthetic pads.)
• Be aware that area rugs often cause color differences in the floor due to differences in light exposure.
• Expect that floors will shrink and expand with changes in humidity, sometimes leaving small gaps between boards. To minimize changes, humidity control in the home is recommended.
• Routine basic maintenance includes sweeping, vacuuming and/or dust-mopping to remove dirt and grit. (Use only vacuums that have a hardsurface setting.) The more that dirt and grit are allowed to accumulate, the more they will be tracked over the floor, leaving scratches. Floors should be cleaned immediately before and after a major event.
• Some manufacturers recommend lightly dampmopping a floor, while others do not.
• Household dust treatments should never be used.
• All shoes, especially high heels, should be kept in good repair—if they lose their protective cap, they will dent the surface of any floor.
• Pet nails need to be trimmed regularly.
• Be especially attentive to potential spill areas, such as dishwashers, sinks, icemakers and stovetops. Other potential problem spots include household plants and Christmas tree stands. Those are some of the basics.

For information specific to finish types, read the following sections that will be coming out in the next blog.