How to Best Maintain Your Oak Flooring

There’s nothing quite like the look and feel of hardwood floors; they’re smooth, elegant and can last for decades, however, this all depends on how well you care for them. As with most things, wooden floors require maintenance to stand the test of time and when neglected, they can make a property look run-down and untidy.

Whilst wooden flooring is extremely durable, it cannot maintain its aesthetic beauty without some TLC, and oak wood is no exception to this rule. As a hardwood, oak is naturally sturdy and has a prominent grain pattern that lends itself to stylish flooring. Its attractive golden brown colour makes it extremely visually appealing and it can be finished to create a smooth and flawless floor in more or less any room of the house.

It’s not difficult to see why many homeowners opt for either solid or engineered oak flooring as the benefits are indeed plentiful, however, when it comes to maintaining hardwood floors, your cooperation is key. There are countless things you yourself can do to keep your floors in tip-top condition and, if you’re ever struggling, there’s always the option of calling in a professional to restore them back to their former glory.

Below, we explore some of the best ways to keep your oak floors in pristine condition, ensuring they’re utterly timeless.

Cleaning tips for maintaining your rustic oak flooring

When it comes to preserving your wooden flooring, it should come as no surprise that cleaning is high on the list of priorities. From dust and dirt to spillages and stains, your floors have a lot to contend with in their lifetime and regular cleaning is essential to ensure these things don’t cause any irrevocable damage.

Firstly, a simple sweep can often be very effective for getting rid of dust and other bits of dirt, and this should be done on a daily basis if possible. However, if you find that you simply haven’t had the time to keep this up, give your floors a once over with the vacuum cleaner. Be sure to use a soft attachment to avoid scratching your floor and get into all the nooks and crannies to achieve a clean and clear surface.

In the event that your oak floor becomes stained from muddy shoes or a food spillage, this should be cleaned sooner rather than later and should be tackled using a damp mop. Too much moisture can damage a hardwood floor, so it’s essential that your mop has been properly wrung out before getting to work on any stains.

On this note, it’s also important that any liquid spillages are wiped up straight away to prevent the wood from absorbing the moisture as this could cause it to warp. If it’s just water, you can use a kitchen towel to soak it up, however, if it’s a liquid that may stain, grab a damp cloth and use this to absorb the spillage before wiping the area dry.

There are also some preventative measures you can take to help keep your wooden floor clean. For example, you may want to implement a ‘shoes off at the door’ policy in order to minimise the amount of dirt and grime your floors are exposed to. In addition to ensuring your floors look better for longer, this will likely reduce the amount of cleaning you have to do to maintain them, making it a worthwhile rule to follow.

Wooden flooring products

When your oak flooring was first installed, it’s likely it would have been treated with oil or another protective finish. Whilst these coatings are designed to shield your floors from damage and help them maintain their visual appeal, wear and tear is inevitable and after a few years, the oak may require another round of treatment.

Oil is commonly used to treat wooden floors as it penetrates into the grain, keeping the wood strong from within as opposed to just on the surface. It also brings out the colour of the wood and gives it a lovely smooth finish. However, in areas that experience high volumes of foot traffic, you may find that your floor is looking tired and showing signs of age, in which case, a new coat of oil could be just the ticket to giving it a new lease of life.

Maintenance oil can be purchased from flooring specialists and application can be carried out using a microfibre roller or high-quality brush. However, if you’re concerned that you won’t do a good enough job, you can hire a professional for a sleek and flawless finish.

Whilst re-oiling is generally recommended to be carried out every 12-18 months, this will vary depending on how worn your wooden floor is. Additionally, the oil you use may come with application instructions, so for best results, it’s advisable to take heed of these guidelines.

Some flooring oils are also recommended to be paired with a corresponding soap product to enhance the natural beauty and further boost the durability of the wood. This is applied first and when it dries, the oil can then be painted on for the ultimate finish.

Refurbishing a wooden floor entirely is a major job that takes a lot of hard work and dedication and with this in mind, regular maintenance is essential to save yourself time, money and effort further down the line. There are tons of different products on the market that all claim to make your wooden floor look brand new again, so it’s advisable to seek professional advice to ensure you’re selecting the right product for the job.

Signs your 18mm oak flooring is in need of repair

Whether you’ve let maintenance jobs fall by the wayside or your wooden floor is simply getting old, sometimes repair or replacement are the only options- but how do you know when it’s time?

Firstly if your oak floor is excessively creaky, this is a sign that some of the boards have come loose and will likely need to be re-fastened by a professional. Creaking can be extremely annoying and often detracts from the beauty that a hardwood floor emanates and with this in mind, it’s advisable to get it repaired sooner rather than later.

Warped or bent boards are likely to make your entire floor look shabby and tired and will likely need to be replaced by a professional. Damaged boards may also be unsafe to walk on, so it’s essential to have these swapped out as a matter of urgency.

From deep gouges and scratches to dents and stubborn stains, there may come a time when your wooden floor can no longer stand up to the pressures of a busy household and as a result, may need to be refurbished.

However, in addition to removing footwear, there are other things you can do to protect your floor from scratches and scrapes. Felt pads can be applied to the bottom of furniture to ensure it doesn’t permanently dent or mark your floors, helping it to look better for longer. Preventative measures like this are essential to warding off problems and further to this, it will reduce the likelihood of repairs being needed.

At Pro-Fit Mouldings Ltd, we pride ourselves on being one of the leading manufacturers of stunning hardwood floors. We supply the highest quality wooden flooring at an extremely affordable price and what’s more, we offer lots of variety to ensure any and every homeowner is left satisfied.

Whether you’d like solid oak flooring for your living room or striking dark wood floors for your study, we’ve got flooring that can be applied in almost every room of the house and our products are available in a broad range of styles and finishes. Our staff can also offer expert advice on how best to maintain your wooden floor and we stock furniture and flooring oils to ensure your oak flooring stands the test of time.

To discuss your requirements with a member of our team, contact us today on 01777 872085 and give your home a new lease of life with Pro-Fit Mouldings Ltd.