Common Hardwood Floor Issues

 

Hardwood floors can be a beautiful addition to your home. They have a timeless look, and they hold up well under the pressure of everyday life. With that said, hardwood floors do have some weaknesses that homeowners have to look out for to keep their floors pristine. 

Common Hardwood Floor Issues

These are some of the most common hardwood floor issues and the ways your carpet cleaners in Los Angeles might be able to help.

Visible Dirt and Hair

Hardwood floor is an excellent option for families who have pets or allergies. With carpet dirt, dander, and other allergens can easily sink into the lower layers of the fabric. This hides them from view, but also makes it almost impossible to clean it all out with your standard vacuum.

With hardwood, there’s nowhere for all of that detritus to go. It’s all on the surface and highly visible. Sweeping every day is a great way to stay ahead, but it may not be enough if you have children or pets. To keep your hardwood floors looking clean, consider investing in a robotic vacuum designed for hard surfaces.

Scratches

Long dog nails and grains of sand are the natural enemies of a wood floor finish. It is very easy for visible scratches to develop over time, and they can completely ruin the look of your floors. Fortunately, there are easy solutions.

First, if you have a dog, trim their nails with a dremel. Dremels make it easy to sand your dog’s nails down to a short, rounded point that is unlikely to scratch your floors. As an added bonus, many dogs respond better to dremels, and you’re unlikely to cut the quick of their nails.

Next, implement a “no shoes” policy in your house. Wearing shoes in the house will increase the amount of dirt that gets onto your floors, increasing the risk of scratches. Keeping a shoe rack near the door and a few pairs of house slippers can help your family stay comfortable, while protecting your floors. 

Separating Planks

There are several possible causes for separating planks. The most common is an installation process that didn’t allow the boards to properly acclimatize first. Water damage is another common cause of separating planks. 

To limit the risk of separating planks after installation, you should limit your flooring’s exposure to water. Using a hand-held steam cleaner can help you with minor spots as they come up, but you will need to dry the floor as you go to avoid damage. 

Buckling Boards

Buckling boards, crowning, and cupping are all caused by water damage. Flooding over or underneath the floors will cause the most drastic changes. However, repeated exposure to small amounts of water damage is more than capable of damaging your floors over the years.

There are two ways you can avoid this kind of damage. First, you can have your plumbing and appliances inspected at least once per year to prevent leaks. Second, you can use professional hardwood cleaning in Los Angeles to safely clean and dry your floors. 

Protecting Your Hardwood Floors

Hardwood floors are an investment that will last as long as your home with proper care. They can be difficult to maintain at times, especially if you have a full house with children and pets multiplying the risks to your flooring. However, that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to take care of your floor.

By making a few minor habit changes and enlisting the help of a professional hardwood cleaning service, you can keep your floors in great condition so that you can enjoy them as long as you lie.