A hardwood floor can increase the value and aesthetic appeal of a single-family rental property. To safeguard the state of the hardwood floors in your rental home, you must take extra precautions. Regular maintenance is essential. Inadvertently or ignorantly, many occupants frequently abuse hardwood floors by scratching and gouging them.
Maintaining your Provo rental property’s hardwood flooring properly is one of the most efficient ways to keep them functional and aesthetically pleasing. But it’s important to know how to take good care of a hardwood floor. The majority of hardwood floors, for instance, have surface coatings that help shield the wood from liquid spills, scratches, and other types of harm. The ideal method for extending the life of your floor is to maintain this finish.
Avoid Harsh Chemicals
On hardwood floors, avoid using harsh or abrasive cleaners as they may damage the finish or remove the protective sealer. Utilize pH-neutral or specially formulated cleaners that are safe for wood surfaces and pH-neutral for hardwood floors. Hardwood can be harmed by harsh cleaning products and improper cleaning methods. Experts advise using a soft microfiber mop or towel to sweep dirt and dust off the floor. Ordinary mops use too much water, which also has the potential to harm the floor, and vacuum cleaners can scratch a hardwood floor.
Avoid Excessive Moisture or Sunlight
Considering how readily moisture may harm hardwood floors, it’s crucial to prevent big water or liquid spills. Clean up any spillage immediately to prevent them from penetrating and damaging the wood. Instead of covering the floor in water, use a damp mop to clean it. Additionally, hardwood flooring color may fade if they receive too much direct sunshine. Use curtains, blinds, or window coatings to filter sunlight to prevent overexposure.
Regular Cleaning and Preventative Measures
While a landlord has numerous alternatives, one of the best ways to keep a rental property looking immaculate is to work with your tenants to preserve the hardwood flooring. You should instruct your tenant on how to maintain and sanitize the hardwood floors as one of your initial responsibilities. By instructing them in proper maintenance, you can extend the durability and attractiveness of the hardwood while preventing damage.
Encourage tenants to place mats or rugs in the entrances and busy areas so that grit and dirt won’t be tracked onto the hardwood floors. To prevent scratching or denting the surface when moving or rearranging goods, think about inserting felt pads or furniture coasters under the legs of furniture.
Periodic Maintenance
Even with outstanding maintenance, hardwood floors need a little extra care every few years or in between tenancies. The finish of a floor may deteriorate and gather scratches or other faults with continued use. Nevertheless, if that’s all that’s wrong, it’s likely you won’t need to refinish the floor extensively. A screening—which roughens up the surface of the existing finish—and a fresh coat of finish are typically all that are needed to repair a worn-out hardwood floor. If your hardwood floor is severely damaged, warped, or has significant scratches or other problems, repairing and refinishing may be the only option. It takes time, skilled assistance, and specific tools to refinish a floor.
It isn’t essential to have trouble maintaining hardwood floors, but it does require extra planning and motivation to get your tenant to help. However, if they maintain positive tenant relations, they are more likely to assist you in keeping your valuable hardwood floor in pristine condition.
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Originally Published on November 29, 2019
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