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Placing furniture in a room with hardwood flooring fitted (Part 2)

As we have been discussing, it is important to put the care of your hardwood flooring first when deciding what to place within the room. This certainly does not mean that the room has to be empty or sparse, but you just need to bear in mind that this type of floor needs space to breathe.

So, if you do decide to put potted plants by the window, make sure you position them on a trivet or stand instead of simply leaving them on the floor.

It is the same with any furniture you have in the room. The floor finish can easily become damaged by these furniture pieces being moved around. Scratches and dents are common on floors where the furniture has not been placed on protective pads, like the felt ones which are widely available.

As well as providing protection for the floor, these pads also act as a sound barrier too. It is recommended that you get a supply of these products as they do need to be replaced every now and again, especially with the build up of grit and dirt over time.

By following these precautions you can ensure that the finish of your floor is kept looking great whatever furniture you decide to have in the room.

Placing furniture in a room with hardwood flooring fitted (Part 1)

When you have just had a beautiful new wooden floor installed in one or more rooms of your home it is only natural that you would want to ensure it looks like that for many years to come.

Such an investment needs to be cared for and well maintained so it is always in such a condition. However, in order to make sure that this is the case you need to remember a few things when it comes to furnishing the room and placing objects on the floor.

Following the installation you may have been warned about letting the floor have time to settle in to its surroundings, but when it is fine to start bringing your furniture and possessions into the room you should heed the following advice. For the rest of this article and the next one we will be considering this issue.

Firstly, if you wish to position potted plants anywhere in the room, it is not only recommended they are put within waterproof saucers, but are also not allowed to come into direct contact with the hardwood flooring. The floor can soon be damaged by the condensation which can form underneath and so the air needs to circulate through the room.

Ironing out concrete subfloors

Your hardwood flooring installer will make sure that the subfloor is in a sound condition before your new hardwood floor is installed. And some of the things they may check include:

Is the subfloor level?

When laying a hardwood floor over a concrete subfloor a moisture barrier should always be used. The moisture-stopping membrane will stop dampness from the concrete permeating into the hardwood floor and causing damage. The levelness of the subfloor is also critical. One of the things your installer may suggest on an uneven subfloor is to apply as layer of laytex screed. The screed will make the subfloor level so the hardwood flooring can be installed over it.

New concrete installations

Your hardwood flooring fitter may stipulate a time period before hardwood flooring can be installed over a new concrete subfloor. This can in some cases be in excess of 60 to 80 days. The dampness of the floor will also be checked using a hygrometer before installation. And it’s usually the case that the floor should have a moisture content of less than 4% before the floor is installed.

If you are thinking of having a hardwood floor installed over a concrete subfloor, it’s worth speaking to a hardwood flooring specialist to see if your floor is suitable. 

Hardwood flooring soundproofing options

If you are having a new hardwood floor installed in your home you may be slightly concerned that walking on the floor may generate some unwanted noise. The use of poor underlay and the use of cheap laminate flooring unfortunately gave rise to the misconception that wooden flooring is generally noisy. If your wooden flooring is installed properly and a suitable underlay used, the noise from a hardwood floor should be negligible.

If you are installing a new hardwood floor over an existing floor it is a good idea to use underlay between the floor surfaces. Underlay can however range in thickness and quality. It’s important to discuss your underlay options with your wood floor fitter so you choose something which is suitable for your room and budget.

High density acoustic damping underlay can make a significant difference to any noise which may be created when walking on a hardwood floor. However, for most rooms standard hardwood floor underlay may well prove just as adequate.

The soundproofing ability of the underlay you choose will of course be reflected in the underlay price. But when you are having a beautiful new hardwood floor installed it’s worth getting it right first time.

The importance of a good subfloor

If you are thinking about having a new hardwood floor installed in one of the rooms in your home, it might be a good idea to look at the condition of the subfloor before the new hardwood flooring is fitted. Having a good subfloor is imperative, as anything fitted over an imperfect subfloor may show the subfloor’s faults.

What can go wrong with a subfloor?

Any surface over which hardwood floor is going to be fitted should be in a sound, level condition before the new hardwood floor installation commences. If you have a concrete subfloor, this may need to be levelled using a new layer of screed or be ground flatter. A moisture resistant layer may then need to be fitted between the concrete and the hardwood floor to stop damp entering the new floor’s surface.

If you are fitting a new hardwood floor over existing floorboards, the old floorboards need to be checked for squeaks and also checked for stability and soundness. Any imperfections in the existing floor surface can be transmitted to the floor above.

It’s for the above reasons that the installation of a new hardwood floor should always be left to the professionals. They will make sure the subfloor is in a sound condition before any new floor surface is fitted over the top.

How to protect your hardwood floor from the summer sun

The majority of people know that getting their hardwood floor regularly wet is a sure way to cause damage. Wooden flooring can warp and swell if it is subjected to regular moisture. However, did you know that direct sunlight can also be a problem for your hardwood floor?

Most of the UK has seen a good deal of sunny weather already this year and it’s hoped the warm weather will continue throughout the summer. But whilst you may enjoy the sun, your hardwood floor might lose some of its surface lustre if it’s constantly subjected to direct sunlight.

Why is my floor affected by sunlight?

If a wooden floor is subjected to too much sunlight the surface of the floor can discolour, either darkening the surface or bleaching the surface. We didn’t say this discolouration of the wood is a bad thing, to the contrary, in some cases the aging process due to direct sunlight can actually bring out the wood’s natural colours.

All natural wood will show signs of discolouration over time but there are a few things you can do to slow the process down.

How can I stop sunlight damaging my wooden floor?

It’s a good idea to try to minimise the amount of direct sunlight your hardwood floor receives. You can do this easily if you close blinds or curtains before leaving the home. It’s also a good idea to move rugs and furniture around the room from time to time. This means that if the floor is discoloured you won’t get darker or lighter patches on the floor surface and the entire floor will age as one entity.

There are also products on the market that can be applied to the windows as a clear film and block out 99% of the damaging ultraviolet light.

Keep your new hardwood floor looking great

Your new hardwood floor will look fantastic for many years if you take care of it properly. However, if you don’t take care of it and instead abuse the floor you might cause irreparable damage to the floor.

Things not to do to a wooden floor

Most website will give you tips on how to look after your wooden floor. However, if you start with the things NOT to do to your wooden floor, it might help you keep your floors looking great in the long run.

The first and perhaps most important thing to note is that wood and excessive moisture don’t mix. Wet mopping the floor might get it clean but you can actually do a great deal of harm to the floor if you mop the floor with a very wet mop repeatedly. If you are going to run a mop over the floor you need to make sure the mop is well wrung out so no moisture remains on the floor surface.

If you spill anything on the floor you need to make sure it is cleaned up straight away. Any food or drink that is left on the floor can stain the flooring and cost a great deal of money to put right. It’s also important not to use any scouring pads or abrasive cleaners on the floor. If you notice a stubborn mark you need to use an appropriate hardwood floor cleaning agent.

When it comes to the time that you floor may need to be sanded down and re-oiled to bring back its natural beauty, it’s worth speaking to a hardwood floor sanding specialist as they will be able to achieve the best finish.

Choosing the right wooden flooring

If you are thinking of getting rid of a carpet and replacing it with hardwood flooring, you might benefit from some hints and tips on what type of floor would be most suitable. There are of course many types of different hardwood flooring now available with manufacturers vying for your attention. But if you go back to basics you should be able to finds something suitable.

Room suitability

Some rooms are more apposite to certain types of wood and colours of wood. High traffic areas such as the hallway might benefit from a very durable type of floor covering, whereas rooms which are used infrequently or on special occasions might benefit from a type of wood which focuses on looks rather than durability.

Wooden floor colour

If you have a bright and airy room you can just about get away with installing any shade of wooden flooring in the room. However if the room only has small windows or doesn’t see a lot of natural light, you might want to use a light shade of wooden flooring to reflect as much light as possible around the room.

Installation method

There are now many methods which can be used to install a new hardwood floor. New click methods, screwing or nailing and even gluing are all methods now used. Fitting a hardwood floor yourself can be fraught with troubles however as the inherent features of the wood make the job rather difficult.

If you are thinking of having a wooden floor installed in Surrey, Sussex or Hampshire, it’s worth talking to a wooden floor specialist who’ll only be too happy to help

How to go about cleaning a pre-finished hardwood floor (Part 3)

Now we have gone over the main cleaning tips you can put into practice with your pre-finished hardwood floor, we will go over a few additional points you should bear in mind with this.

To revive any dull areas on a floor, you could consider using a floor refresher, while steam cleaning is often recommended as an alternative method of maintaining wood flooring, this can be risky due to the moisture.

It is recommended that you do not let dirt accumulate on your floor so you may want to sweep the floors at least once a week, making sure not to ignore any corner areas which are often neglected.

For hardwood floors in the kitchen, these may need to be cleaned even more frequently due to hygiene issues and to prevent the floor from getting damaged in any way.

When it comes to removing tough stains, you can apply floor cleaner to a cloth and delicately rub the stain until it gradually dissipates.

There are certain precautions you need to take when going about the cleaning of your hardwood floor. Some of these include:

• Do not use a wet mop to clean the floor
• Ammonia, soap and detergents should be avoided
• A polyurethane finished floor should not be waxed
• Always be sure to read the instructions before applying any floor cleaner.