Maintaining Hardwood Floors For Visual Appeal And Durability

By Author: Alfa Flooring
Total Articles: 15
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All homeowners know that a house becomes a ‘home’ with love, memories and personal touches. For some the personal touches may be about decorating the home with memorabilia collected over years, while for others it can be building the very persona of home with special craftsmanship and construction techniques. In Chicago wood flooring is one of the many features that home owners use to make their house a home.
Hardwood floors have been used in American homes since 1800s and even though they were substituted by other flooring materials over the years, they are high on popularity charts once again.
However, like any other part of a house, hardwood and laminate flooring in Chicago also demand maintenance. Changing weather conditions, accidental spoilage by some instrument, and general aging can cause them to discolor and get cracks or splinters. It is therefore necessary to take good care of them.
Here are some tips for upkeep of your flooring:
Daily dusting or sweeping
It is necessary to sweep ...
... or vacuum floors at least once every week and more often if you have small children, pets, or frequently walk inside the house wearing shoes. Instead of using a standard upright vacuum cleaner that can scratch the wood surface, it is advisable to perform the cleaning job with a light canister type machine. 
For monthly cleaning, treat the floor with a safe hardwood floor cleaner. Use professional services for hardwood floor repair in Chicago to apply fresh coats of polish in very 3 to 5 years to maintain its gloss. Also remember that even well-maintained floors need sanding and refinishing – this can be done in ten to fifteen years.
Addressing the problem of faded hardwood floors
Where parts of hardwood floors are not covered with carpet and stay exposed to sunlight from window or skylight, they tend to fade. The color difference between the parts that are shielded by a rug or carpet and the area under sunlight becomes more prominent with time. Wood is rather photosensitive and in hardwood floors color disorientation is caused by overexposure to:

 Ultra violet light of sun
 Any other visible light in the room
 Infrared light that produces solar heat

How quickly can a floor change its color would depend on the quality of floor you have installed and the hours for which it is directly exposed to sunlight.

It should also be understood that there is no direct fix to avert fading of floors unless you are ready to cover the glass windows of your house fully and make it impossible for sunlight to enter the rooms. To keep things simple, use some of these suggestions to limit the discoloration of floors:
 Change the position of your furniture and rugs occasionally to balance out the exposure of floors to ultra violet and infrared lights.
 If you are not using a room during the day and the sun is shining brightly, draw the blinds and drapes to protect the floors from excessive light.
 While using a finishing solution for your floor, go for products that have UV inhibitors.  Choose low-E glass windows that minimize the amount of IR and UV light entering through the pane without reducing the natural light you need in your rooms.
 If possible, use outdoor awning for more shade over your patio or deck - this will also help to block some light and can prevent it from penetrating the windows.

Conclusion
There are many ways to preserve the beauty and longevity of your hardwood floors and make them an impressive part of your house. Consult professionals wherever required and in particular when you are planning to apply any permanent treatment to the floor, or are going for a major home renovation process.
 
Author Bio:
An established hardwood flooring company based in Chicago, Alfa Flooring has more than 18 years of experience in its industry. It is a trusted flooring service provider driven by excellence and commitment to optimum customer experience.