Three basic types of flooring require waxing: hardwood floors, terra-cotta floors, and vinyl composition tile (also known as VCT). These kinds of flooring need waxing to protect them from scratches and keep them as healthy as possible.
No matter how old or recent hardwood floors have been made, they all must be waxed periodically. Because hardwood floors are relatively porous, they need floor wax to form a barrier between them and moisture that might try to seep into them over time.
Hardwood floors also tend to show dents, scuffs, and scratch marks pretty easily, so floor wax is a great way to conceal these imperfections. What’s more, floor wax can up the shine factor on hardwood floors.
Floors made out of terra-cotta material or other floor tiles without glaze need to be sealed and waxed immediately following their installation. The reason for this lies in the wax’s ability to draw out the beautiful coloring of the tiles, create a special finish like glossy or matte styles, and shield the flooring from future stains.
You can get away with waxing these kinds of floors every 12-24 months, depending on how much you use them and how they look in that timeframe.
Since VCT doesn’t include a factory finish, it needs to be waxed as soon as it’s done being installed. Usually, rewaxing this kind of flooring needs to happen every six months to a year to maintain the overall well-being of the floor.
How often should I wax hardwood floors?
When it comes to hardwood floor waxing, you’ll want to apply floor wax every six months to every 18 months. How often you should wax hardwood floors depends heavily on how much foot traffic the floors see and how much overall wear and tear they experience.
If you have hardwood flooring in an attic that only gets walked all over when you’re pulling out the holiday decorations, it’s safe to wait 18 months to wax the floor.
If, on the other hand, you have hardwood flooring on your living room floor where you entertain frequently, you may want to replace the floor wax every six months.
This process isn’t particularly challenging — all you have to do is strip the wax, clean the floor, and apply a new layer of wax. Once you’ve got that down, you’re good for the next half a year or year, depending on how often you wax.
What floors should I not wax?
If the flooring isn’t hardwood, VCT, or terra-cotta, you shouldn’t wax it. This means that engineered hardwood, wood laminate, bamboo, natural stone, luxury vinyl tiles, and ceramic tile floors are not supposed to be waxed.
Waxing these kinds of flooring materials would ruin them and, as a result, create a costly mistake. Most of these types of flooring come with some sort of factory finish so they’ll shine as much as the floors that need waxed without the same level of hassle.
Hardwood flooring can make any residence nicer and more comfortable to live in. However, knowing how to card for hardwood flooring is an important part of having it in your home. As with any floor hardwood flooring requires regular upkeep to look its best as it is walked on daily. Here are some general care rules to keep your floors looking good and lasting longer.
Five Tips To Protect Wooden Floors
Cleaners: A common question concerning hardwood flooring is can I use citrus based cleaners on hardwood flooring. The answer to that is no. While these cleaners were used in the past with modern wooden floors it’s advisable to avoid oil or citrus-based cleaners. Luckily, several cleaning agents are designed to be used specifically on wood floors that are easy to find. Look for spray-style cleaners that evaporate quickly.
Protecting Your Floor: There are several ways to help prevent starching and other surface damage with some preventative care. For example, always use felt protectors on the bottom of your furniture. This makes moving furniture safer and prevents damage, this is especially important for pieces of furniture that are moved a lot such as chairs. Also, be sure to keep doormats by your entrances as this protects your floor from mud and other outdoor debris.
Upkeep and Care: To keep your wooden floors looking their best, sweep them often as this removes build-up and things that are tracked in such as dirt and sand. This keeps your floor looking nice and prevents scratching due to friction. Cleaning tools such as brooms and sweepers should also be soft to the touch and non-abrasive.
Your Home’s Temperature: Wooden floors expand and contract as the temperature changes. Normally this is not an issue to be too concerned about. However, drastically changing the temperature in your home from one extreme to the other can damage your floors due to rapid expansion and contraction. This results in permanent cracks. Keeping your home’s temperature steady can prevent this from becoming a problem.
Watch for Sunlight: Prolonged exposure to sunlight can cause wooden floors to become dull and fade. You can avoid this by limiting sun exposure to your floors. The use of shades, drapes, and window blinds can limit the impact sunlight has on your floors.
Final Thoughts
Wooden floors are a joy to own and make any home more stylish. While wooden floors are often easier to clean than carpets they do require special care and regular upkeep to keep them in good condition.
Wooden floors are a common part of many modern homes. No matter if your home came with hardwood or you added it later, these floors are one of the best-looking additions to your living space. Like any other part of your home, you want to ensure your floors are well cared for. Knowing how to maintain hardwood floors is important because, without proper care, your floors can become faded, dull, and develop cracks. While careful care and cleaning are good ways to keep your floors clean, professional buffing and waxing offer several benefits.
4 Reasons To Hire Professional Floor Waxing Services
One of the best answers to how to protect hardwood flooring is to hire a professional. These are some reasons you should consider hiring a cleaning service that focuses on wooden floors.
1. Relevant Skills and Equipment: Buffing and waxing service providers are professionals at floor upkeep. They can inspect your floor and tell you more about what type of care you need and its condition. In addition, professionals also have the best and newest equipment to work on your floors, providing the highest levels of service.
2. It Protects Your Floor: Wooden floors (like any other type of flooring) see heavy foot traffic. The regular use your floors see can lead to surface damage such as scratching. When your floor is professionally buffed and waxed, it has a layer of protection to protect the surface from damage and staining. In addition to its protective quality, a good waxing makes your floor look shiny and new.
3. Keeps It Clean: Keeping your floors clean can be challenging, especially if your hardwood floors are found in areas of high traffic or use, such as an entrance hallway or kitchen. Buffing and waxing make cleaning easier as the protective layer keeps dirt and debris from staining your floor surfaces.
4. Makes Your Floors Look Nicer: Another advantage of professional waxing is that it makes your floors look nicer. Regular vacuuming and mopping may keep your floors clean, but the appearance of a coat of wax is something a good mop can’t replicate. While a shiny finish is often the most common aspect of floor wax, there are other additions you can add to your floor’s appearance. Some waxes provide a tint that can bring other colors out of the natural wood of your floors. This can brighten your home and make it look better.
Is your home in dire need of a floor buffing? It’s not a job that you should undertake on your own. You may think that it will save you money to do it yourself, but in reality, it could cost you more in the long run. Floor buffing is a delicate process that requires the use of specialized equipment. You could damage your floor beyond repair if you don’t have the proper tools or experience. Should I hire a pro to do my floors? Absolutely! Here are five benefits of hiring a professional for floors.
1. Lowers the Risk of Damages
When you attempt to do a floor buffing on your own, you run the risk of damaging your floors. If you’re not careful, you could end up with scratches or gouges. Even if you’re careful, there’s always the possibility that something could go wrong. When you hire a professional, you can rest assured that your floors will be treated with care.
2. Saves Time
Buffing your floors can be time-consuming, especially if you have a large area to cover. If you don’t have the time to devote to buffing your floors, it’s best to leave the job to a professional. They’ll be able to get the job done quickly and efficiently. You’ll have more free time to do the things you enjoy. You won’t have to spend your evenings and weekends working on your floors; you can simply sit back and relax while the professionals take care of everything.
3. Ensures a Thorough Job
When you leave your floor buffing to a professional, you can be sure that the job will be done thoroughly. Professionals have the experience and knowledge necessary to ensure that your floors are left looking their best. They’ll take the time to pay attention to detail and make sure that every nook and cranny is buffed to perfection.
4. Prevents Injuries
Attempting to buff your floors on your own can also put you at risk for injuries. If you’re not used to working with power tools, it’s easy to make a mistake that could lead to an accident. A professional floor buffer has the experience and training to safely use the equipment. This reduces the risk of injuries and ensures that the job is done correctly.
5. Guarantees Satisfaction
By hiring a professional to buff your floors, you can be confident that you’ll be satisfied with the results. If there are any problems with the job, they’ll be happy to come back and make things right. On top of that, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that the job will be done right.
Hiring a professional floor buffing service is the best way to ensure that your floors are properly cared for. A good floor buffing company will have the right tools and experience to make your floors look new. They will also be able to provide you with a warranty on their work so that you can have peace of mind in knowing that your floors are protected. Don’t wait until it’s too late to get your floors looking their best. Schedule a floor buffing appointment today.
Locally owned and operated Lov ‘N Kare Carpet Center in South Amboy, NJ, is the area’s top provider of professional flooring services. Polishing and waxing hardwood floors is one of our specialties and helps to make them look fantastic.
Many grand older homes in New Jersey have outstanding hardwood floors. Those floors undergo a lot of wear and tear in high-traffic areas, like near the front door, living room, or dining room.
Scrapes, scratches, and other imperfections can make your hardwood floors look less than spectacular. Fortunately, polishing and waxing your hardwood floors can help restore their natural luster and shine. Hardwood paste waxing is one of our preferred methods to bring out the best in antique hardwood floors.
What’s the Best Method of Floor Waxing Antique Hardwood Floors?
Antique hardwood floors are often made from virgin timber that has a special quality to it. The grain is tighter, which makes the wood stronger and sturdier than the wood used in newer hardwood floors.
The special quality of antique hardwood raises the question: What’s the best method of floor waxing antique hardwood floors? The short answer is to do so carefully, and to meticulously clean and then finish your floor with wax.
The process starts with cleaning the antique wood flooring by sweeping and removing any loose dirt and debris. Follow the sweeping by mopping the wood flooring with your favorite cleaning solution to remove all dirt and residue that your broom did not get.
Once the hardwood flooring is clean and dry, the waxing can begin. We highly recommend a good hardwood paste wax to get the best results.
Benefits of Hardwood Paste
What is hardwood paste waxing? It is possibly the best way to make antique hardwood floors look beautiful and glossy. Hardwood paste wax is the perfect tool to maintain and restore antique hardwood flooring.
A can of hardwood paste, a clean and lint-free cloth, and a little water will help you restore antique hardwood floors and make them shine. Just dampen the cloth, work some paste wax onto the damp cloth, and apply it to the floor.
Slow, soft circles help to work the paste wax into the floor’s wooden surface. You just need to work in enough to restore the luster and shine. Once finished, your antique flooring will look fantastic.
Call Us to Learn More and Schedule the Area’s Best Flooring Service
You can learn more from the friendly flooring professionals at Lov ‘N Kare Carpet Center in South Amboy by calling (732) 721-1582. We have been the area’s best provider of flooring services since 1948 and accept payment via major credit cards and debit cards, cash, or check.
Lov ‘N Kare Carpet Center is open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and is closed on weekends and major holidays.
what’s the best method of floor waxing antique hardwood floors
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