We can all understand the visual appeal of a real wood floor, even the best fakes are still just that, but concerns over the durability and maintenance of wood as a floor have been in peoples’ minds for some time and yet with the advent of modern finishes, machines and maintenance products, most of these concerns can be relegated to the history books. Similarly, issues with subfloor moisture content have entered the thought processes of many a specifier but moisture issues also manifest themselves with LVT (the best of the faux products) and even sheet vinyl albeit in a different way. Better buildings and moisture barrier products have also helped eliminate those concerns provided they are properly specified and applied.
So accepting that real wood floors are desirable (estate agents in the UK and America consistently report that properties with wood floors sell faster and for higher amounts) what are the other benefits?
Let’s start with sustainability. First, the production of wood flooring is virtually 100% sustainable, wood literally “grows on trees” so aside from the mineral resources used in harvesting and manufacture, we can go on producing it ad infinitum. For the real “greens” out there reclaimed wood flooring is not only environmentally friendly it is currently very trendy, often being laid with all the old finish, sports lines etc., still on it creating a patchwork of colors and textures that designers currently love.
Moving on, the importance of air quality in modern buildings has been on the agenda for some time and organizations such as the Environmental Protection Agency in the USA have recognized the benefits of hardwood flooring in reducing allergic reactions caused by dust and other allergens.
The third benefit is repairability. How many surfaces can you take out sections where damage has been caused and stitch in new material with no visual clue as to where the problem was. I will also include re-surfacing under this category, most damage can be simply sanded away, revealing perfect wood once again at a fraction of the cost of a new floor.
The fourth benefit is change of appearance. This one confuses some people, but if you select a good timber you can change the color of your floor from Scandinavian white to Jacobean oak black (or anything in between) in a matter of days, totally changing and updating your premises without major upheaval or cost.Finally, let’s talk about maintainability because it’s the one definitely relevant to FM companies. This is the one I get most calls about from cleaning contractors because our history of wood flooring in the UK is not a long one and there is a general level of ignorance on the correct procedures. A well maintained wooden floor will have a long and glorious life without the need for regular re-sanding if it is properly maintained and by that I mean entrance barrier matting, regular dry mopping, cleaning with a neutral ph cleaner and then using a refresher or dressing that is appropriate to the finish.
Finally, let’s talk about maintainability because it’s the one definitely relevant to FM companies. This is the one I get most calls about from cleaning contractors because our history of wood flooring in the UK is not a long one and there is a general level of ignorance on the correct procedures. A well maintained wooden floor will have a long and glorious life without the need for regular re-sanding if it is properly maintained and by that I mean entrance barrier matting, regular dry mopping, cleaning with a neutral ph cleaner and then using a refresher or dressing that is appropriate to the finish.
As you can probably tell I am passionate about timber flooring but I am also concerned about the lack of knowledge in how to specify, fit and maintain floors using the correct products and processes. That’s why my team of Ultimate Floor Sanding Company experts are here to help. Give us a call if you need advice on restoring, cleaning or maintenance of your commercial wood floor.