Wooden floors – their care and maintenance

A natural wooden floor can put up with a lot of hard wear and careless treatment – and survive more serious damage.

Yet due care and maintenance will prolong its life, keep it looking good – and save you money in the long run.

Make the most of simple preventive measures to avoid unsightly minor digs and scratches:

– provide mats at the entrance to prevent the tracking in of road dirt and grit.

– place felt pads on furniture legs. Or use a rug for heavy items.

– restrict direct sunlight to prevent fading of the floor surface. Move rugs around.

– mop up food or water spills immediately.

– avoid placing plant pots directly onto the floor. Use a stand.

– check the recommended humidity level for your floor types. It may pay to invest in a humidifier or dehumidifier.

Everyday maintenance

On solid wood, engineered boards or parquet blocks, the regular removal of grit and dust will reduce the likelihood of scratching. Either sweep with a soft brush or vacuum with a soft brush attachment (not a rotary one). Avoid upright machines, as their wheels can damage the floor.

Then mop a small area at a time with warm water and dry off all surplus moisture.

You can use proprietary floor cleaners. Follow the instructions carefully.

Only use clean pads or mopheads. Discard them when they become excessively dirty.

* oiled floors will require regular re-oiling as the oil penetrates the wood quickly and the surface dries out.

* hardwax oil offers the natural look of oil but also provides a wax ‘wear and tear’ layer for good surface protection. It is useful for high traffic areas – a topup will be needed when the surface fades.

* lacquer is the most hardwearing and resistant finish – and the easiest to maintain.

Once it has lost its shine, a diluted ‘refresh’ coat may be applied without the need for sanding.

Buffing your floor after applying oil or hardwax will bring out the beauty of the fresh surface.

Small electric buffing machines are too light for this work, so use a semi-professional buffer or an ‘old-fashioned’ buffing-block made of cast-iron weighing 7 kg.

The movement of the block will warm the oil or wax, spreading it more evenly and allowing the wood to absorb it more.

When your floor has become too scruffy, marked or damaged, it will benefit from a full sanding and wood floor restoration. This involves stripping away the old sealant and refinishing with fresh oil, hardwax or lacquer.

Other problems may include woodworm on joists and unsightly gaps opening up. These can be filled with strips of timber – or a mixture of resin and wood dust from the floor.

For all these jobs, choose a specialist company who really understand your floors and will give you the best advice.

FlooringFirst! are a family firm who have restored hundreds of floors over the past twenty years.

Call us to arrange your free assessment today!

For the best advice – and the complete floor sanding service – Get a Quote or Call us on 020 7381 9408