How Can I Preserve The Life Of My Oak Flooring?
20th Feb 2013 @ 16:02
A traditional solid oak floor is something which is built to last a lifetime. Something to be admired down the generations. Unfortunately due to lack of care this can often not be the case, so how exactly can you preserve the life of your oak flooring?
The first point begins even before the oak flooring has been laid. Before fitting, oak flooring should be left to properly acclimatise to its surroundings. This process allows the moisture content of the wood to adjust to the moisture content of the normal living conditions of the room. Proper acclimatisation helps to reduce the chance of the flooring suffering from problems such as cupping or crowning.
Once the boards have been successfully fitted, for unfinished boards, we recommend that they are finished with an hard wax oil product. There are many different brands of hard wax oils available, such as the Blanchon Hard Waxoil, all of which can be seen in our own test by clicking here. These oils have been specifically designed to provide a natural hard-wearing finish to your flooring which provides extreme durability and resistance.
Further to these initial steps, the general day to day maintenance can have a huge effect on the lifespan of your oak flooring. Any water spillages or liquids should not be allowed to rest on the surface of the flooring for long periods of time, and should therefore be cleaned up immediately. For the cleaning of your oak flooring, there are a number of soap products available in conjunction with the hard wax oils. These include the Osmo Wash and Care and the Blanchon Natural Soap For Oiled Wooden Floors. Simply add a small amount of one of these products to some water and use whenever your floor needs a damp mop.
To help prevent your floor from becoming scratched, it can be worth investigating in some felt pads. Placed under the leg of your furniture, these are designed to prevent any sharp legs from scratching your flooring.
If you would like any further information on preserving the life of your oak floor, please give us a call on 01538 304584.
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