Published by: Priscilla Bergeron | Photographies by: Mélanie Lafond
(Original Author is Lauzon Hardwood Flooring)
Your renovation project is done; your new Lauzon hardwood flooring is installed, damage-free. You now have your dream décor and dream kitchen, and your house finally feels like a home. You are now wondering how you should care for your hardwood floor to make sure its beauty stands the test of time. As you know, your hardwood floor needs proper care and damage prevention no matter what room, species or finish you have chosen!
1. Preventing Scratches
Sand, dirt and sharp objects can scratch and damage your hardwood floor no matter the quality of the finish.
Sand, dirt and sharp objects can scratch and damage your hardwood floor no matter the quality of the finish.
Before buying your hardwood floor
– Choose a resistant finish
Good quality hardwood floor finishes, such as Lauzon’s Titanium finish, will not leave a chalky trace if scratched, as is the case with a standard Aluminum Oxide finish. Scratches are therefore less visible.
– Choose wood with character
Some wood species do have natural character that camouflage damage done by everyday accidents better than others, such as Red Oak and White Oak and Hickory, which are all open grain species. Click here to learn more about our Open Grain texture.
After buying your hardwood floor
– Vacuum and sweep
Vacuum you wood floor weekly, and sweep it daily, using a soft-bristled attachment or a broom, especially in high-traffic areas. Do not use vacuums with a beater bar or power rotary brush head as it will damage your hardwood floor. Vacuuming prevents gritty dirt and particle buildup that can scratch the wood’s surface.
– Use mats
Place floor mats at entrances and exits—they collect and trap corrosive substances that can be tracked in, such as dirt, sand, oil, grit, asphalt, or even driveway sealer. Remember to vacuum or shake out these mats regularly.
– Use protectors
Use felt protectors, protective pads or barrel-type coasters under all furniture legs, especially heavy ones, to protect your hardwood floor from scratches and indentations. Do not use plastic coasters, as they can damage your hardwood floor. Replace these often, as dirt and debris can become imbedded on the pad and act like sand paper on the floor surface.
– Sharp objects
Beware of sharp objects and high heels that can permanently scratch your hardwood floor. Ask your family and guests to remove their shoes.
– Pets
Keep pets’ nails trimmed and their paws clean. Pets can track in substances that cause scratching and stains.
– Deep scratches
Individual wood planks that are heavily damaged can be replaced by your Lauzon professional flooring installer. Always keep a few extra planks in case you need a replacement.
2. Preventing Dents
When there is impact or strong pressure applied to wood flooring, wood fibres crush, resulting in the appearance of dents. Each wood species’ hardness is inherent and unique to the species of the hardwood you choose; no manufacturer can influence that. Wood species’ hardness is measuredby the Janka Scale, as discussed in our blog post on hardwood floor hardness.
Before buying your hardwood floor
– Choose texture
Textured hardwood floor can help hide dents. Learn more about this here!
– Choose a flexible finish
It is important to know that high-quality hardwood floor finishes, such as our Titanium finish, have good flexibility. This flexibility allows the finish to absorb heavy impact without cracking by bending with the wood underneath. Although this will protect your floor, it won’t prevent denting.
After buying your hardwood floor
– Floor protection
Refrigerators and other heavy objects should never be moved without proper floor protection. Place them on a thick rug, back side up, and slide the rug so the weight is equality divided. The best method is to pick up the furniture to move it.
– High heels
Beware of sports cleats and high heels that will dent your hardwood floor, as they focus most of a person’s weight on the small heels area. A 125-pound woman walking in high heels can exert up to 8,000 pounds per square inch. Always ask your family and guests to remove their shoes.
– Deep gouges
Individual wood planks that are heavily gouged can be replaced by your Lauzon professional flooring installer. Always keep a few extra planks in case you need a replacement.
3. Preventing Humidity Problems
Keeping the humidity at recommended level is essential to a healthy home environment, as well as for keeping your hardwood floor looking great. Wood is a natural material that reacts to changes in its environment. Therefore, it is important to keep humidity and temperature at the recommended level at all times, even when the home is unoccupied.
Before buying your hardwood floor
– Choose the right construction
Manufacturers have developed different types of hardwood floor constructions to “improve and control” wood flooring’s natural reaction to changes in humidity. Making sure to buy the right construction for your needs is key. And remember to keep humidity at the recommended level.
Expert engineered Lauzon hardwood floor
– Humidity levels: 30-80%
– Levels: Basements, main, upper floors and condominiums
– Radiant heat: Compatible
Any other Lauzon engineered hardwood floor
– Humidity levels: 35-65%
– Levels: Basements, main, upper floors and condominiums.
– Radiant heat: Compatible
Solid Lauzon hardwood floor
– Humidity levels: 35-55%
– Levels: Main and upper floors
– Radiant heat: Not compatible
After buying your hardwood floor
– Humid season
Excess moisture causes your hardwood floor to expand. To prevent your hardwood floor from expanding, you should:
– Maintain proper humidity levels with an air conditioner, dehumidifier, or by turning on your heating system periodically during the summer months.
– Avoid excessive exposure to water from tracking during periods of inclement weather.
– Make sure you leave free expansion space around the perimeter of your floor when installed and at all times afterward.
– Dry Season
Insufficient moisture causes your hardwood floor to contract or shrink. To prevent your hardwood floor from shrinking, you should:
– Maintain proper humidity levels in your home with a humidifier during the winter months.
– Be aware that wood stoves and electric heat tend to create very dry conditions, so make sure to use your humidifier when these are on.
Discover the 6 ways humidity can affect your hardwood floor by clicking here.
4. Preventing Water Damage
Exposure to water is one of the main reasons why some people shy away from hardwood flooring in some areas of the home, such as kitchens. As we saw in our blog post about hardwood flooring in kitchens, if not stagnant or in big quantity, water does not damage hardwood floors.
After buying your hardwood floor
– Area rugs
Use an area rug around the sink and dishwasher and in other similar areas to protect your hardwood floor from water and heavy traffic.
– Swipe it
Never allow liquid spills to remain on your hardwood floor; swipe it when you see it.
5. Minimizing the Effects of the Sun
Over time, sun and bright light can have an effect on your hardwood floor. Some species will gradually age when exposed to sun, and some are more susceptible to yellowing than others.
Before buying your hardwood floor
– Choose sun protection
Choosing a hardwood floor with UV protection is especially important in natural or very light-shade species, such as maple, red oak, ash and birch—the most prone to yellowing.
Most Lauzon hardwood floors with Titanium Finish have integrated Sunshieldprotection minimize the harmful yellowing effects of the sun.
– Be aware of oxidation
Some wood species, mainly exotics, will gradually age when exposed to sun, which is highly desirable. They will reach a darker, richer hue depending on the species and the amount of light the floor is exposed to. This phenomenon, called oxidation, is inherent to the wood species.
It is mainly present in exotics—Brazilian Cherry, Santos Mahogany, African Sapele as well as Black Walnut. It is also visible in our OrganikSeriesHard Maple floor.
After buying your hardwood floor
– Use protection
Use protective window coverings to block fade-causing UV rays and excessive heat from direct sunlight.
– Move
Rearrange rugs and furniture periodically to help the wood age evenly.
Remember, your new Lauzon hardwood flooring is an investment that can maintain its strength and beauty for years, especially with a little help on your part.
Love your floors, and your floors will love you back for a very long time.
(Original Author is Lauzon Hardwood Flooring)