Blog Archive | September 2011

Care for your wood flooring to ensure its longevity

When you invest your money and energy into first selecting and then installing beautiful wood flooring, the last thing you would want is for it to fall into disrepair and lose its luster.

As we have already touched upon, there is going to be some natural ageing of the flooring, and this is not always a bad thing as over time its colour will mellow and in fact deepen.

But apart from the oxidation, bringing these wood and finish changes, there is still a correct and an incorrect way to look after your floors.

This means that you need to take a few preventative measures if you want to care for your floors and ensure they remain as beautiful as ever for a long time to come.

To lengthen the life of your wooden flooring, you need to get into a regular cleaning routine, which doesn’t need to be too complicated. By recoating, refinishing and reoiling the floor occasionally, you can postpone the need to do any costly renovation work.

Your main issue is going to be the everyday kind of dirt and dust which collects on the floor, making it look grubby. If you sweep or vacuum the floor on a regular basis, this is the best way to keep it looking as attractive as it was when it was first installed.
 

Restoring your floors to how they once were (Part 2)

In the last article we explained how there are ways you can bring your dull wooden floors back to life again, and with a bit of care and attention go even further and make them look as good as new.

Once you have had your floors professionally sanded and renovated, you can keep them in this excellent condition by considering the following maintenance points.

Before you go about cleaning the floors, be sure to vacuum or sweep the surface to remove the dust and dirt present.

As well as not using household dust treatment products on these wood floors, it is imperative that you do not wipe food or spillages from the surface with anything other than the recommended cleaner and a soft cloth.

Make sure that the floor has room to breathe and so avoid placing potted plants directly onto the wood surface. The same goes for rugs which do not allow for ventilation.

If you have any furniture placed over the wood flooring, it is advisable to use felt protective pads to ensure the finish is not scratched or dented in any way.

By staying on top of these things, you can continue to take pride in your beautiful wood flooring.

Restoring your floors to how they once were (Part 1)

If your beautiful wooden floors are no longer as attractive as they were when they were first fitted, you can choose to get them restored or refinished by the flooring specialists. There are also steps you can take yourself to keep them in this beautiful state.

At the outset it is important to note that if you do plan to carry out maintenance yourself then be sure to only use cleaning products which have been recommended by the manufacturer. Such things as furniture polish can dull the finish and make it slippery too.

By cleaning the floors regularly, you can ensure that now it has been restored to its former glory, it remains that way. However, you need to bear in mind that wood and water are not good companions. What we mean by this is that too much water can result in swelling of the surface, so only use a slightly damp mop to clean this hardwood floor.

This may have put you off using water-based cleaning products, so if you do decide to use a vacuum instead, then make sure the beater bar is turned off - or only use the attachment with a softer nozzle for these floors. Otherwise, the surface could be damaged by the vacuum cleaner.
 

Give your wood flooring time to adapt to its environment

Despite the fact that the newly-installed wood flooring in your home is no longer part of a growing tree, it is still a living material which will respond to its environment. Therefore, when you have just had a new wooden floor fitted, there are a few things you really need to bear in mind relating to its care.

No matter what species of wood flooring you have had installed in your living room or other area of your home, it is necessary to maintain it to ensure it is kept looking beautiful and at its best.

It is important to remember that the wood will respond to many things, including temperature, humidity and light, as well as general wear. The key point not to forget is that a genuine wooden floor can take at least four seasons before it is fully settled.

So it is not unusual for the floor to take time to adapt to this setting. During this period you can expect to notice some floorboard movement, with gaps opening up. This is due to the changing of seasons at different times of the year as well as heating usage within the home.

If you notice colour changes as well, there is certainly no need to worry as this is all part of the natural process where the wood reacts to oxygen and light.
 

The popular wood that is maple

If you are about to choose a type of wood flooring for your living room or dining room in your home and want something you can depend upon, then why not go for a hardwood with a long history of usage.

Maple wood is a well-known and dependable option for your floor as it has been used for years in all kinds of manufacturing. There are many different species of this wood and each has its own characteristics, so you can go for the one best suited for your floor requirements.

Hard maple is best known for producing maple syrup, but it is also used for making wood flooring. Its heartwood variety offers you a range of tones from light to dark brown with reddish highlights. , If you prefer a floor which is harder and provides the ultimate in durability you might want to go for the hard maple.

European maple on the other hand is widely used in interior design due to its unique soft figuring and fresh appeal, but is softer than the Canadian hard maple.

So between the European and hard maple, with their different colourings and qualities, you can find something suitable for your home.

There are many things for you to bear in mind when making this decision, but if a light and calm feeling is what you are going for then maple wood would certainly make for a great choice.
 

A lighter toned solution for your home flooring

The great thing about deciding on a hardwood flooring solution for your home these days is that there is so much choice available. For instance, you will be able to find the right grade of wood for your situation and ensure it is the perfect tone and colour to go with your chosen décor.

When you are looking for a type of flooring which offers all the key benefits in terms of strength and the ability to withstand impact and also comes in the lightest shade of wood possible, you might wish to think about the installation of an ash floor.

While it may not bear fruit, ash is still a member of the olive family and the sapwood variety has many qualities which make it the ideal choice for flooring. The fact that it is almost white is very appealing to homeowners who are after a lighter floor colour.

From the variety of ash options to choose from, you can go for the tone and figuring that suits your situation, with each able to bring its own unique character. And while its colour will change by a medium degree over time, it is still bound to retain that light, freshness in tone.
 

How to go about restoring your old floorboards

When it comes to redecorating a room, there are times when you really should think carefully about starting again as it may be more trouble to try and save some of the fittings and fixtures already in place. On these occasions it will probably cost you a lot more to restore what is already there.

However, there are also times when your existing décor is not too bad and your floor is certainly far from being beyond repair, so you may wish to have this once-stunning floor brought back to how it was when you first got it.

This can now be achieved by considering an expert service where your hardwood flooring is sanded and renovated for you. By opting to have the floorboards maintained in this way, you can ensure they will be restored to their former glory and will surely last for a long time to come.

No longer will they be viewed as drab and dull, as it will look like you have just fitted a new floor in the room instead. And if you really do decide you need to have a state of the art floor fitted instead of restoring the old one, these specialists can provide a variety of suitable flooring options for your home.
 

How this traditional wood can make for a great flooring option

If you have been renovating your home and now have to come up with a suitable flooring solution, Jarrah wood flooring may not be something which immediately springs to mind. This is quite understandable as this wood has traditionally been used for making such things as railway sleepers and telegraph poles.

In the past, Jarrah has also been a material associated with the boat building industry, mainly because of its hardness and durability. What this tells you is that its benefits can span a wide range of applications, so it should certainly be no surprise that it is now becoming more common for it to feature in homes as a hardwood flooring option.

Due to its smooth surface and straight graining, it is ideal for use in the manufacture of wooden floors as well as furniture and doors. However, it is not just its texture and build-quality that will appeal to homeowners. After all, its appearance is also very important, especially when it would be chosen as part of a refurbishment project.

Indeed, one of the main reasons Jarrah would make such a difference to the flooring of any room of your home is the fact that its dark brown to reddish-purple finish is simply stunning. It is so rich in colour and this will only continue to improve over time.

Install wooden flooring in every room

Wooden flooring is well known for its beauty, durability and longevity, and it’s these factors which have made it such a popular choice with those living in so many different types of properties.
From small city centre apartments to large detached country homes, wooden flooring has earned itself pride of place, and if you’re about to invest in it, it’s an investment which you certainly won’t regret.

One decision which many have found themselves having to make when investing in wooden flooring (especially with economic times so tough at the moment) is whether to install wooden flooring in every room in the home or just rooms which are used most frequently.

As a rule though, it’s best to install wooden flooring in every room in the home. Installing wooden flooring in every room will ensure that your home looks beautiful throughout, and you can also avoid creating decor which looks mismatched.

Opting to have wooden flooring installed in every room should be a superb one-time investment, as good quality flooring is highly likely to outlive most other parts of home decor. In the event that it does need sprucing up a few years down the line, renovation is quick and affordable.

Install wooden flooring in every room in the home- you won’t regret it.