Protect Your Hardwood Floor
When you first glimpse at a new solid hardwood floor, you sense richness, warmth and natural beauty, so why not protect it with a maintenance programme that is tailor made to suit the environment that the floor is laid in.
Do Solid Wood Floors really get abuse?
In low traffic areas such as offices Solid hardwood floors are among the easiest to keep clean and protected as they get less abuse from dirt, grit and sand.
On the other hand, a solid wood floor in a very busy Pub will be subjected to the worst type of abuse with not only dirt, grit and sand attacking its protective layer, but broken glass, high heels, spilt alcohol and water, scuffs from shoes, scratches from moving furniture etc, this floor will need a lot more maintenance and protection than the office floor.
What will your Customers think?
Let’s face it, we’ve all gone into a place whether it’s an office, Pub or Nightclub and formed an opinion based on the cleanliness of the place. A dirty non-maintained floor makes a place look drab and dirty, some managers have even told me that this is the look that they wanted, “the well used” and “gives it character” look, I know for a fact that some of them were telling the truth but most of them weren’t, because I could see traces of the old Polish on the floor.
This could damage your floor
Most of these managers changed their mind and opted to protect and maintain their floors after learning that it doesn’t cost the earth.
In our survey questionnaire after Striping and Polishing floors we have learned that Customers seem to have a better perception of the place and staff morale is also boosted.
What condition is your floor in?
Follow these steps to evaluate the condition of your hardwood floor and its finish.
Finish Condition: Has the finish been worn off or is it just dirty? See if the finish is dull, chipped, scraped or gouged. To test if the finish has worn off, begin in a high-traffic area and pour one to two tablespoons of water onto the floor. If the water soaks in immediately and leaves a darkened spot, the finish is worn and water can damage the wood. If the water soaks in after a few minutes and darkens the wood only slightly, the finish is partially worn. If the water beads on top, the surface is properly sealed. Repeat this test in low- and medium-traffic areas.
Wood Condition: It the finish is worn, the wood may have been damaged. Are there stains, burns, cuts, gouges, holes, cracks or warped boards? If the wood is damaged, repair or replacement may be required before you deep clean your floor or apply a maintenance coat.
What type of finish does your floor have?
The same care and maintenance techniques are used for all finishes in good condition, but when it comes to removing stains or restoring the finish, methods differ. If you don’t know what kind of finish your floor has, please phone us and we can carry out a few tests.
Learn more about protecting your hardwood floors in the next article or ring me Ron 07944 446 312 now for more information and let us professionally check your floor and recommend the right approach to maintain and clean your floor.