Tips and FAQs to Take Care of Your Flooring Investment

No matter what material you choose, your floors should give you satisfaction for years, but only if you keep them in good shape. Here are a few tips and some common-sense precautions that will help you to maintain your floors

Keep Doormats at Every Entrance Door
In your home, always encourage your family and guests to remove their shoes before entering. Even without shoes, however, our Island habit of wearing slippers or light sandals allows a lot of dirt to stick to our feet. Place a good quality doormat outside each entrance to your home, and if appropriate, outside your office to prevent dirt, beach sand, grit and other substances such as oil, asphalt and driveway sealer from being tracked onto your floor.

Take Special Precautions When Moving Heavy Objects
Use a dolly with wide-base air tires when moving heavy appliances or furniture. But first, put down a clean sheet of quarter - inch plywood or hardboard to protect the floor. Never try to slide or roll heavy objects across the floor without adequate protection. Some objects may be too heavy to be moved across a hard surface floor under any circumstances.

Close Curtains or Blinds
Close your curtains or blinds where extreme sunlight hits the floor. A combination of heat and sunlight causes most solid surface flooring to fade or discolor.

Support Furniture with Floor Protectors
For increased crush and dent resistance, support furniture with wide-bearing, non-staining floor protectors or wide-bearing leg bases/rollers. As a general rule of thumb, the heavier the item, the wider the floor protector should be. Protectors should be at least one inch in diameter, made of non-pigmented, hard plastic and rest flat on the floor. Non-staining felt protectors are acceptable. Barrel-type casters with a minimum 3/4" flat surface width or flat glides are best for moveable furniture. If you choose to use metal protectors, make sure they are rustproof!

Routinely Clean Your Floor
Routine care and maintenance are essential to maximizing the beauty and life of your flooring. Over time, normal foot traffic and soiling will cause a change in the flooring's appearance. For hard surfaces, vacuum, dust mop or sweep the floor on a daily or weekly basis to minimize abrasive sand and dirt. In very sandy areas or at the beach, you may want to vacuum or sweep more frequently. When using a liquid cleaner, be sure to dry it or rinse it thoroughly to avoid a film. Always read and follow the manufacturer's directions for the care and cleaning of your flooring.

Blot Up Spills and Spots Immediately
The best cure for a spill is a fast response. Blot and clean spills and spots immediately to prevent staining. Begin at the outer edge and work toward the center to prevent the spill from spreading. Caution: Hard surface floors can be slippery when wet. Use extreme caution when walking on a wet floor.