When it comes to your timber floors, you need to have it at the back of your mind that the floors go through a lot in a day. From smelly food spills to dirty shoes to pets scratching everywhere to killer heels, the timber floor suffers from all kinds of factors. If you do not do the needful, and this continues, in no time, the floor is going to be damaged beyond all repairs. For those who are aware of this, they do all that is possible to ensure they clean the timber surface regularly.
However, there is one interesting thing that must be noticed here. This is the fact that when cleaning, you need to do it properly as a failure to do the cleaning the correct way is going to cause more problems. For this reason, this piece is going to focus on the ways by which you can get to clean your timber floor without causing any damage to the texture.
So even though timber floors are known for lasting long and being durable, it is important that the floors have to be cleaned correctly. The good thing here is that it is not hard or difficult to clean your timber floors. It can be quite simple and straightforward as long as you know how to go about it. However, have it at the back of your mind that it is not the same as cleaning the floor tiles or carpet surfaces.
The first thing you need to do is that you need to pay attention to the cleaning solutions that you are using. You have to be very meticulous with how you apply and use these solutions. Even though you can be quite flexible when it comes to the tiles, you need to be more cautious and very attentive when you are using the same materials to clean a timber floor. You even need to exercise a lot more caution if it so happens that the timber floor is old.
If you plan to do the cleaning every week, ensure that you use a broom that comes with soft and not hard bristles to keep the oil finish on timber intact. With the soft bristles, take your time to sweep away all the dust that has accumulated and other kinds of dirt that can damage the surface of the timber floor when you are doing the cleaning. This is an important step if you want to make sure that the appearance of your timber floor remains intact, especially in areas that you do not use all the time.
Another very important point you need to have in mind is that you must not use water for these wooden surfaces. Some may think it is a good idea to mop the timber floors, but you should know that water or moisture will damage the texture. If there is anything that will ruin the timber floor, it is water, and you should avoid it. You could always install a small air compressor close to the area that would control the moisture of the area. However, if what you have in mind is to get rid of stains, then you can do your cleaning of just the affected area with water and soap.
You can talk to your local hardware store if you have any concerns or queries they will be able to help you with advice about what products to use on your timber floors.
Paint colour ideas for timber flooring
Did you know that you can turn an old and plain timber wood floor into something fabulous just with a few coats of paint? To some, it may seem criminal to paint wood flooring but if you want a change from the timber look then consider painting it. A painted wood floor can look just as great as the raw timber looking floor and sometimes even better. The easiest way to paint a floor is to choose the colour that you like and then paint the whole level in that one colour. For this, though you need to make sure that you are choosing the colour wisely as it can define the look of your room and will determine how that area feels.
The lighter flooring colours like grey or white and even light blue work well for those who want a minimalist look or even a coastal vibe with a few bold colours that are not for the faint-hearted.
You can go for dark painted flooring like black and deep blue, but they are very dramatic and create a paired down, urban-type look.
Geometric patterns
The geometric patterns like checkerboards and stripes are quite easy to achieve. There are plenty of more complicated designs that come in a pattern kit or stencils. If you are stencilling, ensure that the results are tidy and neat before adding the sealing coat. If you are going for a parquet floor, then you could use paint to highlight some block colours in the parquet design.
Choose paint wisely
Once you have painted the floorboards, it is going to be hard to go back to the raw timber. This is why it is important to be happy with your choice of paint and colours.
Water-based acrylic paints are the easiest option for use on timber. Before you start you need to make sure that you know what timber the flooring is as then it will guide you to the right type of paint to be used for the surface. If the area is prone to high traffic, then consider getting a harder paint that is more suited for high traffic zones.
The application
The surfaces that are being coated will need to be dry and clean from dust, dirt, wax, oil and polish. The floor paint needs to be mixed well and preferably use a flat-bladed stirrer both before and during your painting.
Ensure that you don't introduce any bubbles to the paint mixture. It is best to use a floor finish applicator brush or roller. Guide it along the length of your boards and try to maintain a wet edge, so you won't have any lap marks and lay off within the direction of the grain. When the first coat is completely dry, apply your second coat the same as above. If there is grain raising, then you will need to sand over it before applying your next coat. If you apply a gloss finish to the floor or furniture, then you want to go with a water-based gloss floor coating.
The maintenance
The flooring will need to be cleaned often and keep an eye on the surfaces for colour loss and any defects. When the flooring needs another coat of paint, just follow the instructions above.
All that is left now is for you to sit down and enjoy your new floor. Like suggested earlier, invest in the best air compressor you can think of for the domestic purpose that would control the moisture around the area.