6 Common Issues you May Face with your Hardwood Floor
Just like any other flooring solution, wooden alternatives have their flaws. Although natural wood is durable and never goes out of style, you should realise that problems with the floors are possible to appear. If you consider getting rid of your carpet in the name of a shiny wooden surface, keep on reading. Before you make your decision final, get to know the most typical issues you may have to deal with when opting for hardwood floors:
- Staining - a hardwood floor or not, the sooner you clean liquid messes, the greater chance you have to save the surface from permanent damage. Although stains are a problem for any type of floor, with a wooden floor you should be even more careful. When untended for hours, the spillage may enter through wood's finish and ruin the structure of the material. In such cases, pricey repairs become necessary, which is why you should be cautious if you live with small children or pets. The presence of kids and animals increases the possibility for accidents and you should be aware of that fact when installing a hardwood floor.
- Daily wear and tear - you can say with no doubt that hardwood floors are a durable solution. They take advantage of a protective finish that preserves them in top shape for a long time. Even so, your daily routine would leave marks on the wooden floor. Dents and scratches are likely to appear unless you take precautions and delay the process of wear and tear. Using area rugs to balance extreme foot traffic and keeping your shoes off the hardwood floor are reasonable measures you should consider.
- Fading - frequent exposure to sunlight is something wooden floors usually don't tolerate. Despite their protective finish, when constantly exposed to sunlight hardwood surfaces start looking dull. Of course, this process wouldn't happen overnight and you can take actions to prevent it from happening at all. You should know that the higher quality hardwood floor you install, the more sunlight it can handle. But if you are on a tight budget and the best wooden floors are not an option, think about installing blinds or thick curtains.
- Buckling - buckling is one of the most serious problems you may face with your hardwood floor. Whether the wooden floor has suffered a flood or another moisture-related accident, moisture is always the cause for buckling. In rare cases, the proven specialist can fix the damaged boards, but typically you would have to replace the affected parts of the floor. Don't forget that before dealing with this problem, you should make sure that moisture is gone. Otherwise, you risk your brand-new floor buckling again.
- Poor finish - with a hardwood floor it is certain that over time its glossy finish would start peeling off. Usually, this process takes years to begin, but if the finish has been applied improperly, it can deteriorate much earlier. The good news is you can restore the beauty of your floor by sanding and then reapplying the finish. Let experts take care of the renovation so that you can rest assured the new finish would last for a long time.
- Limited cleaning methods - as you already know, extreme moisture is a dangerous enemy to any hardwood floor. For that reason, you shouldn't depend on cleaning techniques that involve water application, which makes your number of solutions rather limited. You are allowed to mop the floor, as long as you steer clear of the great amount of water and harsh detergents. While sweeping the floor you should also be careful, otherwise ugly scratches are likely to appear.
Despite these negative features, a hardwood floor remains a wonderful alternative for homeowners who want to add class and cosiness to their places. With the right maintenance and a few protective measures, your beautiful hardwood floor would stay in top condition for many years.
