Protecting Your Hardwood Floors in the Winter

Hardwood flooring is the epitome of class and style in a home. And if you own hardwood flooring, you know that keeping them in great shape through every season requires just a bit of effort. With winter upon us, it’s time to prepare your home for the changes in temperature and humidity that could wreak havoc on the house. Here’s how to protect your hardwood floors in the winter.

Regulate Humidity

Depending on your climate, you could see a rise or drop in ambient humidity. These moisture changes can affect hardwood floors by causing them to contract or expand. The movement of the floorboards could result in gaps, cracks, or splintering of the floor. It could end up causing damage to other parts of the home. A humidifier or dehumidifier might be in order to regulate the interior humidity of the house.

Maintain Temperature

The drop in temperature that comes with winter has us scrambling inside to turn on the heater. While it’s essential to stay warm, a blast of heat on new hardwood floors can cause them to dry out too fast. This usually results in cracking and shrinking. If you must run the heater in a cold climate, follow the above tip and add a humidifier to put moisture back into the air to prevent floorboard warping.

Guard the Entrances

The best way to protect your hardwood floors this winter is with preventative measures, so stop issues before they happen. Pay attention to entranceways into the hardwood area and make sure that family members and visitors can either clean their shoes before entering or take them off and replace them with house shoes or slippers. A shoe-free home will maintain hardwood floors for much longer.

Use Rugs

You might not want to cover up your beautiful hardwood floors, but a tasteful rug can protect the floor underneath from undue wear and tear. When placed in the right places, you’ll find that they don’t detract from the appearance of the hardwood; instead, a stylish rug placed in hallways or near entry doors can emphasize the look of the surrounding floor and minimize the impact in high-traffic areas.

Clean Often

A good hardwood floor doesn’t require a ton of difficult maintenance to keep it in good condition, but it does require regular maintenance. Luckily, it’s easy. All you need is a good broom or vacuum to get rid of dry debris and dust and a mop with mild soapy water or a vinegar/water mixture.

Need Help Installing Floors in Your Home? Ask the Experts at Factory Flooring

What type of underlayment should you use? How many inches thick? How do you install it? And how do you avoid damaging your floors in the process? 

When you work with Factory Flooring, you don’t have to worry about these questions. Our team of professional flooring installers will handle all the heavy lifting for you — literally. All you have to do is relax and enjoy the savings on your energy bill. 

Need to get more flooring ideas first? Our design blog has dozens of articles to help you get started. Whenever you’re ready to tackle your insulation project, we’ll be here to help. Contact us online to get started, or call Factory Flooring at 469-583-7053 .