Hardwood floors are an amazing selling point. Buyers just love them and will pay a premium to win a property that puts high-quality timber under their feet.
Many owners prepared to invest in their home can spend several thousands of dollars on sanding back the floor and recoating it with varnish to make it look pristine when the time comes to sell.
That’s a pretty big commitment not just in terms of cash layout, but also in organisation. Refurbishing a floor requires all the furniture to be removed, of course.
From an agent’s perspective, I’d say this is money well invested.
You come across hardwood floors that need to be resurfaced either because of neglect or they’ve been maintained in the wrong way.
The area of the home that suffers most is the kitchen. Constant foot traffic and the inevitable spills of water, other liquids and hot food will damage a hardwood floor over time. It’s almost impossible to avoid.
However, there are a number of mistakes folks make with their hardwood floors. Here’s how to avoid them:
No shoes: In some households, this is a policy for everyday living. If you own a wooden floor, it’s a smart move. Soles of shoes and the muck they bring with them grind down the finish of the wooden floor. Stop folks wearing shoes in the house or apartment.
Legs of furniture: Lots of chairs and tables have wooden legs, and they will just bang against the floor to the point of scratching and denting it. And if anyone drags a chair, you’ll likely be left with a scratch mark. Put pads under all the furniture legs.
Avoid vinegar: For cleaning, vinegar is too acidic. It will take the varnish off the surface. It’s fatal to polyurethane finishes. Ideally, go to a specialist retailer for advice and buy a high-quality solution that’s pH-neutral. Even diluted dishwashing liquid is preferable.
Water woes: Some folks drown their floors when cleaning with a mop. Wood and water are not a harmonious pairing. The wood swells and warps when water gets between the planks. Use a moist microfiber cloth instead.
Pooch poop: It’s not so much the little presents our pets leave behind but the fluid we use to clean up afterwards. Retail products that make promises like “no more wee” are enzyme-based fluids. They take the smell away but can wreck oil-based finishes and may discolour the wood. Use a pH-neutral cleaner, as previously suggested.