For as long has been construction, there has been wood used as a building materials. For thousands of years wood has been one of the Earth’s most reliable building materials.
Today, wood continues to be one of the world’s most popular materials. It’s tops in terms of energy efficiency and lumber constitutes about 40% of all building materials. In the future wholesale wood flooring and wholesale hardwood flooring suppliers are sure to be kept busy as the United States flooring industry has seen a steady uptick in both growth and volume.
Hardwoods are more naturally durable and have a high density than softwoods. That durability makes hardwoods an ideal choice for flooring, furniture and construction and local hardwood suppliers can get you set up with the right materials for your home.
When it comes to flooring, hardwood floor is strong, durable and require a low amount of maintenance. Hardwood floors also allow for better air quality, make economic sense and are long lasting. Hardwood floors can also be aesthetically pleasing and add grace and charm to a house. While hardwood floors might make a house seem more luxurious, they require a certain amount of upkeep to maintain their elegance.
So what should you be doing to properly maintain your hardwood floors? Use the following tips:
- Keep out the dirt There’s no doubt that fresh, clean hardwood floors look great in a home. But they can also get dirty really quick and that’s not good. Mud and dirt can pile up quickly on a hardwood floor since you’ve probably got all manner of shoes walking through the house as well as dirty pet paws and bare feet. You’re going to want to keep an eye on the footwear that’s traveling through your house because you want to avoid getting scoffs and scratches on your floors. To keep dirt out, throw down some mats inside and outside where people can wipe their feet off.
- Do some cleaning Like anything in your house, your hardwood floors require some cleaning to maintain. What’s what mean? It means you should sweep, mop and vacuum on a regular basis. If you’re going to vacuum, make sure you’ve got a machine that can handle hardwood flooring, so you don’t accidentally scratch it up. If you’re going to mop, do so and then wipe up any excess water so that moisture doesn’t seep in. The last thing you want is water damage to your floors and the formation of mold. Local hardwood suppliers can likely offer you some cleaning tips.
- Show some TLC Hardwood floors look great in a home, but you need to maintain and clean them to keep them looking their best. You should be aware that hardwood floors often require a refinish about every five years or so and local hardwood suppliers can advise you on the best way to do that. Some wood floors have a protective wax layer and that usually needs reapplication once a year.
If you’re planning on refinishing your floor, take care with what sort of finishing products you use. Many finishes contain volatile organic compounds or VOCs. Common VOCs include benzene, formaldehyde, butanal and toluene. When it comes to flooring, Formadehyde, benzene and toluene are some of most common. Polyurethane is a good alternative chemical to use, but make sure a floor is cured before using it.
The best ways to go about protecting your hardwood floors are to limit the amount of dirt tracked in the house, keeping a regular cleaning schedule and taking to care to use products that won’t adversely affect your floor or the air quality in your home. Doing an online search for “hardwood suppliers near me” or “local hardwood suppliers” or “hardwood flooring suppliers” can get you set up with the right type of flooring for your home and give you all the tips and tricks you need to keep your floors looking their best.