Protect your timber floor

Posted: 25 November 2009 by Boral

Tags: flooring, timber

A new timber floor is a long-term investment, expected to last well into the future. As a result, a timber floor needs to be carefully looked after in order to keep it in good condition during its lifetime.

To help homeowners maintain the smart new look of their timber floor, Dave Angus from Boral Timber provides a number of tips to minimise damage and keep the floor looking its best.

• Use mats around all doors that lead into the home in order to trap dirt and prevent it from being trodden into the floor. Small rugs and hall runners can also help to collect dirt that might otherwise scratch the floor’s surface.
• Add protective pads to all furniture, such as tables and lounges, preventing scuffing and allowing them to be moved around with no issues.
• If your furniture is fitted with castors, use barrel ones rather than ball castors.
• Protect the floor from direct sunlight and move any rugs around periodically to prevent darker and lighter patches from forming.
• In areas with extreme temperature or moisture fluctuations, try to maintain an ambient temperature indoors to avoid either dryness that could cause gaps and cupping in the timber floor, or excessive levels of moisture and/or relative humidity that can cause the boards to swell.
• Avoid wearing high heels when walking across the floor to protect the floor from dents and scratches.
• Keep pets’ claws trimmed so that they’re unable to scratch the floor.
• Regularly clean high traffic areas using either a vacuum with a soft bristle head or electrostatic attachment, or an electrostatic mop. Avoid using steam mops.
• Wipe up spills immediately with a dry cloth or paper towel to prevent staining, or for sticky spills, dampen the cloth slightly.
• To remove ground-in dirt, use a damp lint-free mop, wrung out first to ensure you only use a minimal amount of water on the floor. A pH neutral floor cleaner can also help to remove stubborn dirt.
• A recommended timber floor cleaner should be used to avoid damaging the surface seal. Do not use household detergents, polish, steel wool pads, wax or similar products, as these can be too abrasive and might damage the surface or make the floor slippery.

For more information about this product, please call 1800 818 317 or visit boral.com.au