What do Brixton floors look like? You walk into a room and see that a new floor was installed. It’s fresh, clean and bright with that new wood smell.
But what happens when the smell wears off and scratches start appearing?
How do you protect your investment so it stays looking new for as long as possible? That’s where professional floor fitting comes in.
How Often Do You Need To Refinish A Wood Floor?
Many people want their wood floors to last a lifetime which is why they hire professional fitters to install them.
The hardwood flooring services can be very expensive, so many opt to refinish instead of replacing altogether.
Refinishing is much cheaper but requires sanding down the surface layer of the wood. It also needs to be sanded evenly across the entire board. Professionals will also do an assessment on whether or not you should refinish your current flooring before deciding if it needs a fresh coat of stain or not.
Here at Brixton House we understand that everyone’s home has different needs, so we’ll give you an honest opinion on what needs doing without taking any unnecessary risks with your prized possession. If your existing floorboards are already starting to show signs of wear, call us on 020 3322 7001 and we’ll tell you whether they’re good enough to endure another coat of stain or whether it might be better for your wallet to replace them altogether. The Best Ways To Maintain A New Wood Floor Fitters London.
Keep Your Shoes Off (Or At Least Use A Proper Doormat) Whether you’re getting your cars washed or taking care of a new wood floor, the first thing that should be done is to keep your shoes off of them.
Grit from Brixton’s pavements acts like sandpaper when it rubs against the soles of shoes. This is what causes scratches in the finish and leaves marks on the surface of the wood. The scratches may not be visible immediately but it will come to light within six months where there will be a dullness around where your shoes would have rubbed.
Furniture Feet Are Worse Than You Think Furniture that can be dragged across the floor to clean underneath it can also leave a scar in the finish that lasts for life. Felt pads under every chair and table leg are cheap and prevent most damage.
Kitchen chairs that are moved often will wear the pads faster, so replace them every 12 months. Furniture pads will need replacing before you notice that they are no longer protecting your furniture or floor
Feet From Pets. Sorry, Not Sorry Pets are a problem but pet nails on hardwood are just the same as tools when they hit the wood floors if they’re not clipped regularly.
Water And Wood Don’t Mix Water is an issue regardless of how well you don’t want to spill anything. Cover up the grouting when cleaning up if you do spill something so water isn’t standing around in the grout joints which can cause swelling and no! It’s not reversable. Hot water steam mops have their place but not with wood floors, for water is water and steam can actually do damage.
Most Woods Want A Damp Mop Most Laminate and wood floors want a damp mop rather than a steam mop, and mops should be wrung out well before using them. For wood and laminate, only use a damp mop – a dirty or wrung out mop is perfect to get the dust up, and a damp mop with some floor cleaner in it is all you’ll need to get the wood or laminate clean.
What Cleanser Do I Need? Unbranded general-purpose cleansers will have chemicals that can build up on the floor and leave a haze that isn’t good for the finish. Look for a product that is suitable for use on wood or laminate floors and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
What Really Works After 20 Years? The floors that are still going strong after 10+ years are the ones that have been maintained consistently and boringly rather than those that have been deep cleaned once in a blue moon.
Doormats, felt pads, quick wipeups, and using the right cleanser will beat an expensive recoat or refinish every time. Our laminate flooring fitting service is designed for laminate rather than wood because it’s just so much easier to maintain.
Why Does Wood Change Colour?
If your flooring is getting darker or lighter that’s a natural change in tone that happens over time due to UV sunlight on wood and not caused by anything you’re doing wrong.
The unevenness of this change can be caused by using a rug or furniture to block out the sun and stop the sun from illuminating the whole room evenly. If you’re using a rug for a substantial length of time, move it around or rotate the furniture occasionally so the space is getting an even hue for longer periods of time.
What Does A Refinish Actually Entail?
Solid wood floors can be sanded and refinished multiple times over their life, and it’s worth doing at least once or twice before you hit the board gouging stage.
The more you wait, the less wood there is to work with and the more it costs to refinish.
Our fitters will assess whether you need a re-sand or a screen and recoat depending on how many boards are gouged or otherwise damaged.
Should I Just Patch The Bad Boards?
Patching in new boards that don’t match the existing ones usually ends up a $300 mistake rather than a $300 benefit.
Sanded new boards will never match the ones around them and a room of patchwork looks very strange. If your boards are gouged or stained, the most cost-effective way to fix them is to hire in a professional refinish.
What Does It All Cost?
You can get new flooring fitted for a wide range of prices, from cheap and cheerful to high-end decorative options, but we don’t recommend cheap as you get what you pay for.
Patching in new boards is not something you want to do cheaply either. We will advise you on the best choice of materials and finish for your home and budget so call us on 020 3322 7001 for a free quotation.
How Often Do You Need A Refloor?
If you’ve got one cheap wood floor with a nice patina that you want to keep, hiring a professional fitter is a good idea.
If you’ve got one really nice wood floor that’s starting to gouge, then calling in a professional refirer is advisable before it’s too late.
Our fitters will let you know whether your floor can be refinished or whether it needs replacing entirely. How Do I Keep My Laminate Floor In A Busy Home? Laminate is a much easier proposition than solid or engineered timber, which is why so many busy homes choose laminate flooring.
Sweep or vacuum regularly, wipe up spills quickly, and avoid excess water to keep your laminate looking good. It won’t gouge easily and it resists scratches better than any other option making it an excellent choice for busy homes. Call us on 020 3322 7001 for our low-cost laminate fitting service.
Why Should I Avoid Sunlight?
The change in tone over time from natural sunlight on wood floors is caused by UV rays and not by any faults on your part. Move the sunlamp around or the furniture around to prevent any one area from getting darker or lighter than it should. Call us on 020 3322 7001 for a free consultation. Do You Have Any Tips For Keeping My New Floor Looking Good?
Use a suitable cleaning agent designed specifically for wood and laminate floors and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Avoid using too much water and never use a steam mop on wood floors. Store furniture feet with felt pads to prevent scratching and use doormats to collect grit before it scratches your polished floors. Call us on 020 3322 7001 for an affordable quote.
How Long Will My Floors Last?
The average lifespan of a wood or laminate floor is between 10 and 20 years provided it is maintained appropriately and with good quality materials. Call us on 020 3322 7001 to get a quote for wood installation services in your home or office today.
How Can I Keep My Floors Looking Good?
Keep a doormat at the entrance to trap dirt before it scratches your polished floors, use a suitable cleaner designed for wood and laminate floors, follow the manufacturer’s instructions and never use a steam mop on a wood floor. Call us on 020 3322 7001 or visit flooringfitterslondon.org.uk for an affordable quote.