How To Protect Your Floors from Furniture

Guide to Protecting Your Floors from Furniture Damage

When you invest in expert flooring installation, you want to protect them from scratches, gouges, stains, and other damage. You can reduce the risk of damage by using the right floor protection. At Elegant Floor Services, we specialize in floor protection for all types of flooring materials in the Washington Metropolitan Area. Keep reading to learn more about how to prevent damage to flooring from furniture, pets, children, and more.

The Importance of Protecting All Flooring

Protecting your flooring from damage will extend its lifespan, maintain its beauty, and reduce the costs associated with flooring repairs and restoration. Damaged flooring can reduce the resale value of your home and make it less comfortable. Areas of damage can even cause safety hazards, such as splinters, trips, slips, falls, and other injuries.

Common Causes of Damage to Floors

The best way to protect your flooring is to take a proactive or preventive approach. Understanding the most common dangers to floors will help you avoid or minimize damage:

• Water and Moisture – The most common cause of damage to any type of flooring is water. Water and moisture can cause mold, mildew, stains, discoloration, warping, swelling, and rotting. Water damage can occur due to a leaky pipe, overflowing appliance, flooding, and poor drainage.
• Humidity – High humidity levels can damage natural wood flooring, luxury vinyl tiles or planks, and engineered hardwood flooring. Excess humidity will cause planks or tiles to expand and contract, which can lead to cracks, gaps, and warping.
• Wear and Tear – Flooring in high-traffic areas is susceptible to wear and tear, such as scratches, gouges, stains, discoloration, chips, and other damage.
• Heavy Furniture or Other Objects – Heavy furniture, exercise equipment, and other objects can put too much pressure on flooring, causing dips, depressions, and gouges. Moving heavy objects across floors can cause scratches, gouges, chips, and damage.
• Improper Cleaning and Care – When you don’t care for your floors properly, they are at a higher risk of damage. As dirt, rocks, dust, and other debris build-up, your floors are more likely to become scratched or gouged.
• Pests – Pests and insects can also damage flooring, either from damage from their urine and feces or from them gnawing or clawing at the floors.
• Kids and Pets – Kids and pets can damage floors during play, causing scratches, gouges, chips, and spills and stains.

Understanding the Different Types of Floor Protectors

You have many different choices for protecting your floors. The method you choose will depend on the flooring material, the location and function of the room the flooring is in, and what you are protecting it from. Here are the most useful types of floor protectors:

• Felt Pads – These are small circles or squares that can be adhered to the legs of furniture to protect the floors from scratches and scuffs.
• Furniture Pads – These are foam, plastic, felt, or rubber mats that can be placed underneath large pieces of furniture or exercise equipment to limit or prevent damage.
• Furniture Sliders – These are fabric, felt, or rubber mats used to move furniture into a home or from one place to another without damaging the floor.
• Plastic or Rubber Mats – These are mats or sheets that can be placed in high-traffic areas to protect floors from shoes and wear and tear.
• Carpeting and Area Rugs – Carpeting and area rugs can be used to protect the flooring beneath from damage from kids, pets, shoes, and foot traffic.
• Rolling Chair Mats – These are plastic or rubber mats placed underneath rolling chairs to prevent the casters from damaging the floor.

Care & Maintenance to Protect Your Floors

High-quality floors require special care and maintenance to extend their lifespan, prevent damage, and maintain their beauty. Here are some tips for cleaning, caring for, and maintaining your flooring:

• Use floor mats and furniture pads to protect floors from furniture.
• Use area rugs or mats to protect high-traffic areas from foot traffic.
• Keep pets’ nails trimmed and keep them away from expensive flooring.
• Put down area rugs or play mats in areas where children will be playing.
• Regularly vacuum, dust mop, or sweep flooring to remove debris.
• Clean up spills right away to prevent stains and discoloration.
• Use the right type of cleaner and cleaning tools for the flooring material.

Contact Elegant Floor Services to Learn More

At Elegant Floor Services, our contractors have years of experience in flooring installation, repair and restoration, and maintenance. We work with residential and commercial customers to enhance the beauty and comfort of their property through quality flooring. Call us now or contact us online to request an estimate, explore your options for floor protection in the Washington Metropolitan Area, or learn more about our flooring repairs and restoration services.