So, you’ve installed wood flooring in your home or office, and you want to make sure that they look as great as they did the first day you installed it, in the long term. It’s a common goal, and a smart one. After all, should it come time to sell your home, you’re going to want your wood floor to be an ally in helping you get a good resale value. You don’t want your floor to be faded, old, and bitter like a character in a Tennessee Williams play.
And there I go betraying my background as a former literature student.
In any case, here are a couple priorities to consider, and the first of course has already been stated. Preserving your investment in wood flooring is a good idea, be it the highest end solid hardwood floor, or the highest quality (yet most reasonably priced) laminate floor that you put in to suit your modest budget.
But second, there’s the balance to be struck between preservation of your floor, and plain and simple living in your space without worrying too much about wear. You’ve got a high-performing floor, either because it’s a hardy species in the case of real wood flooring, or it’s been AC rated for your space in the case of a laminate. You’ve made a smart choice in wood floors, so there isn’t too much to worry about, since you’ve done your research on where wood floors of the type you’ve chosen will thrive the best.
Yet to this last point, it makes sense to think about frequent foot traffic. Of all of the sources of wear your floor will experience over the course of its life, this is the area that will be the most pertinent issue in the long term. A lot of the time, if you haven’t got a policy in place, the damage will be too gradual for you to notice. But, your visitors (and potential house-hunters) certainly will.
So, here are three strategies to consider when it comes to thinking about, and managing, frequent foot traffic on a your wood floor surface.
1. Use mats at entrances and exits
2. Restrict footwear in house, especially high heels
3. Use of runners and area rugs
In the next few posts coming up, we’ll explore each of these strategies in turn to help you bring these two priorities of preserving an investment while not worrying so much about it that it affects the enjoyment of your space. Because once again, your first quality wood floors are designed to be tough, either by nature or by manufacturing expertise.
When it comes to your wood flooring, think of yourself as an ally, not a protector. And stay tuned as we delve a bit deeper on these three areas above to help you do that, and be that.
Cheers,
Rob.
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