Scratched Floors

• Everyday objects and activities have the potential to damage hardwood floors. Minute particles, like sand and dirt, act as abrasives against wood. High heels clicking along the floor can create dents and scratches, and sharp pet nails might as well be tiny knives digging into your precious wood. Furniture legs scraping along the surface while being moved are also notorious culprits of unsightly scratch marks. Professional hardwood floor cleaners can remove most scuff marks. To mitigate the damage of inevitable everyday particles, however, use several indoor rugs approved for hardwood flooring around the house. Remind guests to scrape or remove their shoes at the door, and ban high heels from the hardwood. Regularly clip pet nails, and place flannel protectors underneath furniture legs to avoid scraping. If your home experiences high levels of traffic or regular activity from children, refinish the floors with multiple polyurethane layers, and/or use a finish additive like aluminum oxide, which increases abrasion resistance.
  
  

Sun Damage

• Ultraviolet light can damage hardwood, making it age or fade inconsistently from other spots on the floor. To avoid the checkered look, use curtains to shield the floor, and close the blinds when the room is not in use for most of the day. Also rotate furniture a few times a year so all areas of the floor get consistent exposure to sunlight.
  
  

Warping, Gaping and Cracking

• Warping, cracking and gaping are all results of moisture problems or poor installation. Wood naturally expands and contracts as humidity rises and falls; as the planks absorb moisture, they swell. Too much swelling results in warping, cupping and buckling. As planks lose moisture, they contract, which can cause gaping between the boards and cracking within the planks. To avoid these issues, acclimate your hardwood floors to their new environment for at least four days before installing, and hire a professional to put them in if you are inexperienced. Control humidity levels according to the manufacturer's recommendations, and take regular surveys of your floor's condition to ensure all is in order, particularly when seasons shift. Moisture issues are much easier to fix if you catch them early.
  
  

Cleaning Products Are Damaging My Floors

• Certain cleaning products do not help maintain hardwood floors; they just cause damage. The wrong kind of mops and brooms can scratch the floors, and the wrong cleaning agents can do all kinds of damage, from scratching to warping to ruining the finish. According to the World Floor Covering Association, only high-quality brooms, vacuums without beater bars and damp mops -- preferably terrycloth, rotating head mops for prefinished floors -- should be used. A damp (not wet) towel or sponge is sufficient to clean everyday messes, and liquid spills should be immediately cleaned to avoid warped planks. On the banned product list are waxes for floors with urethane finishes, ammonia cleaners and cleaners that leave a residue or film, oil soaps, steam mops and wet mops. (ref 2)