If you own your home, then a damaged floor not only ruins the appearance of your living space but also depreciates the overall value of your home. (Renters can go ahead and take that value out of their deposit.)
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So what do you do about it?
Luckily for you, floor protectors are a multi-million dollar industry so you've definitely got options when it comes to finding easy, reliable solutions for protecting your floor surface.
In this post, we&#;ll go over all of the different options that you have to protect your hard floor as well as our personal recommendations.
Put down the polish and walk away from the scuffs. Let's get into it.
Whether it's an unruly chair leg or the sheer weight of your bookcases, furniture can unintentionally damage your floor by causing:
To protect your flooring from another gouge, follow some of the tips outlined here.
While cleaning or rearranging your furniture, it&#;s easier and faster to drag or push the furniture across the floor than to lift it. It&#;s also a great way to scratch up your floor.
Not only that, but sliding also causes the furniture to peel off paint and leave chips behind.
While it&#;s more effort to lift furniture when moving it from one spot to another, doing so will help prevent floor damage.
When furniture stays in one position for a long time, it leaves permanent markings on the floor. Placing an area rug on the floor underneath your furniture can help prevent such damage. But--
An area rug alone can also damage your beautiful floors . W ith cheap materials and poor ventilation, area rugs can stick to the hard surface, causing just as much damage to your wood floor as an unsuspecting furniture leg.
To reduce the potential damage an area rug might cause, it&#;s important to use a quality rug pad with it. The best part is that there are many benefits of using a rug pad besides floor protection. It'll also prevent your rug for slipping around and provide extra padding to further cushion the area rug, making it feel softer.
Rug pads for floor protection is our favorite solution listed in this article, but to be fair, we'll explore all floor protection options.
We're biased, we get it. If there's ever an option between a cheap stick-on floor protector and a quality rug pad, we'll always choose the rug pad. From non-skid rug pads to memory foam padding, there's a million reasons why these bad boys will protect your flooring and make your home more comfortable.
Various flooring types such as hardwood and marble require different protectors to suit their unique needs.
Furniture pads are fixed to the bottom of furniture legs to prevent scratches and dents. They are most commonly made of foam, plastic, felt or rubber so that your chair glides across your wood floor instead of scratching it. As such, furniture pads are mainly paired with hardwood flooring, though they can be used with laminate floors and tile floors as well.
Besides letting your furniture glide across your floor surface, they're also relatively cheap and easy to install (you literally just remove the backing and stick it to the bottom of your furniture leg).
Though they offer a great solution against scuffs in a pinch, they aren't long-lasting and can potentially leave marks on your floors as the materials start to break down and can leave a sticky residue that stains your floor.
Though many furniture pad manufacturers call these little felt pad stickers "hardwood floor protectors", they're not really good at protecting or lasting . They just let your chair glide across the floor a few dozen times before eventually devolving into a sticky clump of material that collects dirt, stray hairs, and other debris.
0/10 would not recommend.
Tap-on furniture pads are attached to the bottom of furniture legs using a nail or screw and are most suitable for heavy furniture that isn&#;t moved often.
The problem: If loosely installed or worn out, floor damage can occur as the loose or exposed nail scratches the hardwood floor during movement.
Self-adhesive protectors are attached by sticking onto the bottom of the furniture legs.
The problem: Self-adhesive protectors aren&#;t long-term as they loosen eventually.
Slip-on floor protectors are pads that are slipped onto furniture legs.
Designed to fit the size and the shape of the furniture legs like socks, they don&#;t fall off or scratch the floor.
The problem: They don't fit with all furniture types and are typically made of low quality materials, such as synthetic plastic and adhesive coating, which can damage your floors.
Plastic protectors are better suited for vinyl floors since there&#;s less friction between the plastic furniture feet and the soft vinyl floors.
The problem: Plastic protectors are a bad match for hardwood floors as the hard plastic material scratches the wood.
For heavy furniture, rubber protector pads are the best. Rubber restricts small movements, keeping the furniture in place.
The problem: Rubber pads used on high-traffic furniture such as chairs may leave scuff marks, especially on a hardwood floor. Therefore, avoid rubber protectors for kitchen chairs.
To protect your vinyl floors from damage, rubber pads should be avoided. Whether natural or synthetic, rubber reacts with vinyl and causes staining.
Felt protector pads are best for chairs that are moved often on hardwood floors. Their soft texture allows furniture to move smoothly and noiselessly.
Moreover, there&#;s no risk of scratches or discoloration.
For more information, please visit Laminate Floor Protector Roll.
For heavy furniture, thick felt padding prevents denting.
The problem: The soft texture on the felt pads is bound to collect grit which, if not cleaned out, may cause wear and tear to the hardwood floors.
We always recommend using rugs with quality rug pads that are designed for vinyl flooring to avoid damage. Made with an EVA backing that won't damage vinyl flooring, our Anchor Grip rug pad is our best rug pad for vinyl floors. Avoid cheap rubber pads on vinyl as they can cause damage to the vinyl surface.
Yes. Hard plastic material increases friction on the wood floors and causes scratching during movement.
You can use furniture pads such as bought or home-made felt pads. Alternatively, you can use decorative rugs with non-slip rug padding to protect your laminate floors.
Use chair pads to protect your tile floor from scratches. Also, you can place a rug with a rug pad on the floor. Finally, regularly clean the chair feet.
Yes. The chair&#;s hard plastic wheels will scratch hardwood floors. Use a caster to prevent this from happening.
No. Vinyl flooring is more durable than hardwood, so it doesn&#;t dent easily. That being said, it&#;s best to be mindful of the kinds of things you&#;re placing on your vinyl floors. Heavier items that are dropped suddenly can dent any kind of flooring.
No. Heavy furniture doesn&#;t damage laminate flooring, as long as it&#;s moved carefully and the right padding is put in place.
Yes. Furniture pads prevent laminate flooring from being ruined by heavy furniture.
Discover how to protect laminate flooring in an easy and effective way with Cabot's! Follow the step-by-step instructions on how to use ourlaminate floor restorer andcleaner to have your floors look like new again!
Laminate flooring is popular in New Zealand, and it's easy to see why; it's hyper-realistic in its replication of real wood, has a cheaper price tag, and is durable withheightened waterproofing and maintenance benefits. But that doesn't mean it's damage-proof. Here are the four biggest threats you need to protect your laminate floors from:
Following these simple tips can help protect your laminate flooring from damage and extend its lifespan. But if your floors did end up getting damaged, don't panic! Follow these next steps to bring it back to its original lustre and shine with Cabot's laminate floor restorer.
Cabot's Laminate Floor Restore is a product specifically designed to protect and restore the shine of laminate flooring.
Here's everything you need:
Your floors deserve the best. Our all-purpose laminate floor cleaner is specially formulated for NZ conditions and is fast-acting, cutting through grease and grime quickly and efficiently.
Apply with: A floor mop or Cabot&#;s Deck Coat Lambswool Applicator
How to apply laminate floor cleaner:
1. Add about 50mls of Cabot's Floor Clean concentrate to four litres of water.
2. Apply the laminate floor cleaner with a mop to loosen grime and dirt. Go easy and don't flood the floor with the cleaner. Return the excess solution to the bucket and allow the floor to dry. Be careful, as the floor may be slippery while wet.
Got extra dirty floors? Increase the amount of Cabot's Floor Clean concentrate to 100ml to 4L of water.
For those stubborn black heel marks, pour a bit of Floor Cleaner directly from the bottle onto a rag and rub gently - make sure to wear rubber gloves!
Please note that Cabot's Floor Clean will not remove coatings.
Our Laminate Floor Restore is built to rejuvenate and protect your floors from daily wear and make them look brand new. Quick recoat and easy water wash-up are more perks of this outstanding product.
Give your floor time to dry for four hours before walking on the newly-coated surface.
Your laminate floors are now restored! Maintain your laminate floors by cleaning regularly and recoating with the Floor Restorer as needed.
Maintain your laminate floors by giving them the proper care and quality products they need, and stay clear of products and tools that can seriously damage them. Here's what you need to avoid:
For the first pitfall, let's remember one of the cardinal sins in laminate floor care, which is excess water and solution. That's why we caution against flooding the floor with our cleaner and restorer. Collect the excess back into the bucket and make sure the floors dry completely.
Avoid harsh chemicals and cleaners that are not specifically made for laminate floors, especially those containing:
These ingredients can strip off the protective layer of laminate flooring or cause discolouration.
In terms of physical care, avoid using abrasive tools or harsh scrubbing instruments like steel wool or hard-bristle brooms. They can scratch and dull the finish of the laminate. Cabot's soft Deck Coat Lambswool Applicator or your regular cloth mop are your laminate floor's best friends.
While they might be efficient for other types of flooring like hardwood tiles, steam mops are a big no-no on laminate floors because the intense heat and excess moisture may cause warping or swelling.
Also, avoid using a beater bar on your vacuum, as this can scuff up the laminate floor surface.
Using a laminate floor restorer for protection is essential because:
On average, laminate floors can last 15 to 25 years if properly maintained, cleaned and coated with a protective finish. By following steps like:
...can significantly extend the lifespan of your investment.
For more Felt Flooringinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.