How To Protect Your Hardwood Floors From Moisture

Wet door mats or rugs in wood floored kitchens.

How to protect your hardwood floors from moisture.

You can practically set your clock to the changes your hardwood floors go through with the changing seasons. If you opt to continue your hardwood flooring installation through to your kitchen you might be wondering how to protect your investment in a room that is highly trafficked and often synonymous with water the natural enemy of your glorious hardwoods. Hardwood flooring can be elegant durable and practical for many interior applications. How to protect your wood flooring from moisture damage november 18 2013 unique wood floors moisture causes more damage to wood flooring than almost any other factor and it can quickly destroy the beauty and comfort you ve come to count on from hardwood or engineered wood floors.

The national wood flooring association nwfa suggests that humidity levels between 35 and 55 percent are best for your wood floors. In the summer if the relative humidity in your home is higher than the recommended maximum of 42 percent your floors and other woodwork will absorb moisture. It can help protect your hardwood flooring from cupping and also limit the moisture levels in your home. Stage 3 everyday maintenance when it comes to day to day care and maintenance you can also do something to protect your hardwood flooring against being damaged by water.

Different things happen and all hardwood floors get damaged when exposed to excess moisture for too long that s why you should avoid it by all means. Installing hardwood floors adds immense value to your home. While we don t want you to close the curtains and fasten the shutters just to protect your wood floors excessive exposure to the sun s uv rays can be damaging especially over the course of many years. Understanding the susceptibility of cork to moisture can have a huge impact on the installer s schedule and on the finishes used to protect a cork floor.

Too much moisture will lead to cupping. See photo you can identify cupping in your floors when the outsides of the boards are higher than the insides. Several exotic choices including brazilian cherry wenge bubinga and some bamboos are excellent choices for hardwood floors due to the inherent strength that helps them resist dents and scratches. Businesses use hardwood floors in their offices to create an elegant and sophisticated atmosphere while homeowners use it to create smooth easy to clean surfaces that when properly sealed resist staining and look beautiful.

Don t clean your wood floors with heavy amounts of water when your hardwood floors need to be cleaned make sure that you don t use too much water particularly throughout the summer months. Moisture is your hardwood flooring s number one enemy. Be proactive about removing wet moist or damp items from your floor s surface immediately. Boots shoes coats and mittens and other outerwear.

Hardwood floor protection tips moisture.