The temp outside is rising! Do you know how to protect your flooring investment? Here are 4 simple tips to safeguard your floors in the heat of summer!
Watch the Humidity Levels
This tip is important year-round and especially in the warmer months of summer. Air conditioning can dry out the air and in many areas of the country, humidity levels rise to extremely high levels in the summertime. Neither extreme is healthy for your hardwood floors. Some seasonal shrinking or expanding of your floors will happen – but you can keep this to a minimum by keeping the humidity levels in your home within the recommended range of 30-50%.
Give a Little Extra Attention to High-Traffic Areas
With warmer months comes more time outside! Of course, you know what that means – more potential dirt being tracked inside! Dust and grime can build up and scratch your floors’ finish. Keep dirt to a minimum with regular cleaning, paying a little extra attention to higher-traffic areas like hallways, entrances, etc.
Minimize Direct Exposure to Sunlight
You are careful to protect your skin during the warm summer months, the same should go for your floors! Just as too much sun can damage your skin, direct sunlight can easily damage your floor and cause unsightly fading and discoloration. Not only will closing blinds or drawing curtains keep your home cooler in those warm summer months, but it will also prevent unnecessary damage to your gorgeous hardwood flooring.
Check out this video for more information on how to protect your floors from the damaging rays of sunlight!
SAY “NO” TO WATER DAMAGE.
A quick swim in the pool or a run through the sprinkler is a great, refreshing way to exercise and cool off when the thermostat climbs to uncomfortably high levels. Be sure that when playtime is over, everyone is toweled off and dry before heading back into the house. Wood and water never mix – be sure to mop up spills as soon as possible to keep your floors looking great!
At SVB Wood Floors we believe in quality hardwood flooring services. We are the Kansas City wood floor installation, refinishing and restoration experts throughout the KC metro. We’ve been serving the Kansas City area for 15+ years and we pride ourselves on top quality.
Deciding on a quality wood floor company can be a challenge. There are many different aspects of the company that should be considered before an agreement is made. That’s why the experts here at SVB Wood Floors have put together a list of the six signs to look for to know you’ve chosen the right company. 
If you’re using abrasives like scrubbing pads or harsh chemical cleaning solutions, stop! They’re damaging your floors! 
You should always avoid walking on your hardwood floors in high heels. They can scratch and even cause indentations over time (especially if the heel is small in diameter because it puts all the pressure in a small space). 
Too much sunshine can cause your wood floors to dull significantly faster than they normally would. Keep the sun off your floors by closing blinds or draperies on harsh, sunny days. This way you can still let the light in without doing as much damage over time. 
According to the National Association of Home Builders, because hardwood flooring can potentially last hundreds of years, it won’t need replacing nearly as often as other flooring options. Plus, at the end of its life, hardwood flooring can be burned for fuel or recycled into other useful products.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Maintaining your home’s wood floors requires regular cleaning and
One of the easiest ways to prevent damage to your wood floors is by placing rugs in your high traffic areas. Using a rug in your entryway is most likely obvious, but remember that you can find rugs in all shapes and sizes that will work in other high-traffic areas. 
Outdoor mats in front of all your entryways are the first defense against damaging your hardwood floors. Little pieces of dirt, small pebbles, leaves and sometimes larger objects may get stuck in a person’s shoes. One may also inadvertently carry some of these objects inside so they find their way deep into your home. 
The first thing you should do when you install wood floors, or move into a home with wood floors, is put felt pads on your furniture. You can find them at any big box retailer or hardware store; they are inexpensive and may save you loads of money in repairs.
Your hardwood floors are a big investment, but a wise one that can pay you back by providing years of beauty, and by adding substantially to the resale value of your home. Like any other home investment, they require regular maintenance to keep them looking their best. You 
