Undeniably one of the durable and hardwearing natural materials, timber flooring is a mainstay in numerous household. However, just as most other supplies, they will need eventual repair and restoration. The frequency at which you would need to re-sand, re-stain and possibly even re-floor your timber products would be dictated by the degree of maintenance that they are accorded.

Below are some of the common types of damage that your timber flooring may acquire and tips on how to minimise them from occurring.

Water damage to your timber flooring

One of the biggest problems that timber floors are susceptible to is water damage. Although this does not mean that you should not mop your floors, it does mean you should be wary of moisture variation, temperature changes as well as leaving your floors excessively wet. When your floors start to develop water damage, they start to cup and warp. Left unencumbered, the cupping and warping cause permanent structural damage to the floors and you would require restoration.

Fortunately, there are a couple of ways that you could prevent this from happening. First, invest in a dehumidifier in areas of your home that do not receive adequate ventilation. Secondly, an extractor fan would be an excellent investment if you have timber flooring in either your kitchen or your bathroom.

Discolouration of your timber flooring

Natural light may make your timber flooring gleam and shine, but prolonged exposure leads to eventual fading due to exposure to ultraviolet radiation. When your floors start to look dull, you would have to get them re-stained and re-varnished to restore their shine. Preventing this issue does not mean living in darkness, though. One of the first solutions you could employ is using a sealant with ultraviolet stabilisers. Alternatively, you could invest in rugs and rotate them routinely to offer a degree of protection for your floors.

Dents and dings in your timber flooring

Another recurrent issue you may have to contend with is scratches and dings on your timber flooring. The severity of these cosmetic damages largely depends on the softness of the wood. In addition to this, environmental factors will also play a huge role in how many dents your floors acquire, for example, exposure to high heels, having pets, moving furniture around and more.

When your floors become scratched and dented, they would need to be re-sanded, re-stained and re-polished to restore their appearance. Luckily, there are some steps you can take to minimise these dents. To begin with, you should consider instituting a no-shoes policy in your home, especially when you plan to host many people in your home. Secondly, fit your furniture legs with protective pads to prevent undue scratching when moving the pieces around.