How to Get the Most Life Out of Your Engineered Hardwood Floors
With modern-day technology, engineered timber flooring has fast become a popular alternative to the traditional hardwood flooring used for several years. However, just like the good old hardwood flooring, engineered hardwood flooring requires a lot of care to continue looking magnificent for years and years. This is because this modern type of hardwood flooring encounters a host of different enemies, each threatening to wane its natural beauty.
If you have engineered hardwood floors in your home, you can keep them in pristine condition for a long time by watching out for these notorious enemies.
Dust and dirt buildup
One of the greatest threats to the lifespan of engineered hardwood flooring is unfortunately one that so many homeowners usually overlook: accumulated dust and dirt. No matter the time of the year it is, dust and dirt will always find their way into the interior of your home and settle on your floors. While a bit of dust and dirt here and there might not worry you, large amounts of the same elements may cause your floors to wear down quickly if left unattended for long. This is because dust and dirt particles will have an abrasive effect on the finish of your floors. Sweeping, vacuuming or mopping your floors regularly can go a long way in minimising the amount of dust and dirt that stays on the surface of your floors. Otherwise, you might end up spending a lot of money on frequently refinishing your floors.
Pet damage
You may love them abundantly, but the amount of damage your pets may cause to your flooring can be extremely costly. For example, your pet cat or puppy may have the habit of peeing indoors, leaving behind unsightly urine stains. Make sure your pets are housetrained so you can avoid having pet stains on your floors. In the event that your pet forgets its potty habits and begins peeing indoors, arrange for reminder lessons to get them right back to their usual habits. If your pet grows long claws, make sure to trim the claws so that they do not scratch your floors.
Liquid spills
Another sworn enemy of engineered hardwoods is liquid spills, with the most common type of spills on flooring being water spills. Spilled liquids can infiltrate the pores of the wood material through the edges of the panels and cause structural damage to your flooring. Since most liquid spills occur accidentally, the best way to ensure the longevity of your flooring is by choosing a hardwood grade that is less porous. For example, you can choose the white oak over the red oak because the former tree species has closed pores, making it a bit less absorbent as compared to the latter one.