One of the best things about hardwood flooring, and the main reason you still see it used in homes and offices across Nashville, is due to its resiliency. If taken care of properly, hardwood flooring lasts much longer than any of the other flooring materials– almost twice as long as the next longest lasting, linoleum flooring. It is properly taking care of the flooring that trips people up, which is why we put together this guide to help you maintain your antique floors.
How to Maintain Hardwood Floors
Moisture is the Enemy of All Floors, But Especially Antique Floors
The number one thing you can do, not only to help the life of your antique wooden floors but every floor, is to monitor the way it interacts with moisture and water. Since Nashville tends to be more dry and humid than wet, that means you need to keep an eye on the humidity of your floor or office. If the humidity is not in the sweet spot for hardwood floor, (about 35 to 55% humidity) then defects will occur. These defects will only magnify in aged antique hardwood flooring when compared with the younger, tougher, newer stuff, so expect to see splintering and cracking in the individual floorboards when it’s too dry. On the other hand, if it is too humid moisture will begin to seep into the individual floor boards. They will then swell, leading to warping and cupping.
Everyday Maintenance is the Key
Antique hardwood flooring needs to be treated the same way residential carpeting is: gently and regularly. For carpeting this means cleaning up food and water spills as soon as possible, which is still a great idea for hardwood flooring, but you wouldn’t want to use a vacuum cleaner on the surface. While you do want to clean away the stray pet hairs and dirt particles that seem to accumulate from nowhere during the course of the week, in this case you’d be looking to sweep with a soft-bristle broom or a dry mop. Using water and soap like you would use on a common vinyl kitchen floor is a great way to dull the finish, or remove it entirely if you aren’t careful. On a similar note, to avoid unnatural coloring, move the furniture and rugs around the room regularly. That way no one part is subjected to the sun’s harmful rays too much.
Finish with Strength (and the Correct Agent)
The best way to put a little pep back into the step of your antique hardwood flooring is to refinish the surface. This can be done one of two ways– either by stripping and sanding off the top layer of the floor and applying a resurfacing agent (the more extreme option), or by using an oil finish. An oil finish is used to cover smaller areas, like perhaps a knick or a small scratch on the floor. You don’t have to redo the entire floor surface, making it ideal for smaller projects. Either way, make sure you research the products you use, and make sure they are specifically made for antique hardwood flooring.
Whether you’re importing it from an older building or restoring it in your home, antique hardwood flooring is a great investment. Taking care of it and keeping it in an ideally maintained room with the right humidity and temperature will add decades to the life of the floor. When the time is right to get a new one, Ozburn-Hessey is here to help you decide on what comes next.
