Wood flooring is becoming a regularly featured material now in residential and in commercial properties. Overtime, extensive use in the shape of foot traffic can cause damage to the wood. Often the damage is cosmetic, however in some cases it may shorten the service life of the wood and so will require immediate care. Wood floors are based on two competing technologies, engineered wood and solid wood. The required solution to fix the damage is always based on the coating that was applied rather than the technology of the floor.
Common Wood Flooring Damage:
Stains – Cold water is often the easiest solution, but it must be applied locally and never on the entire floor. Start by working the stain using a soft cloth socked in cold water and apply some degree of pressure. For alcoholic related spills, warm water together with a mild detergent works wonders. Oil, grease and food residue will require a slightly different approach. Start by placing a bag of ice on the stain until the ice begins to melt. You will find that the stain has solidified allowing you to scrape it off.
Lacquered coatings – These are often used in humid rooms as the coating makes the wood almost waterproof thereby protecting the floor. Therefore, it is essential to fix damage such as scratches ASAP. A quick fix can be achieved using a lacquered pen that can easily cover small scratches. If the scratch is extensive or there are simply too many, you might have little choice but to consider complete re-sand and re-finish using a professional service. Both solid wood flooring and engineered wood flooring could be sanded a number of time over their life time, however solid wood flooring can often be sanded numerous times, whereas in the case of engineered flooring this is limited depending on the thickness of the top wood layer.
Oiled coatings – Small scratches are dealt with using a wax pen. Oiled coatings are one of the most popular types of coatings and often the easiest to fix by topping up the layer of oil when needed to cover more extensive wear and tear.
Home repair tips for wood flooring often starts with preventing steps to reduce damage. Simple tips such as using furniture pads, removing shoes before entering the room and installing a doormat to capture sand and dirt will do wonders.
Promotional Article written by Wood & Beyond. For more information on wood flooring care visit Wood and Beyond blog.
