Solid hardwood floors are a worthwhile invest that, when properly cared for, can last for many years. Top flooring experts share tips for selecting hardwood floors, as well as advice for keeping them in excellent condition.
Decide on your style
“Every home has a unique aesthetic. Depending on the desired look and feel, hardwood flooring can be versatile and offer contemporary or classic options. For a contemporary home you would look at options with fewer visible knots to provide an overall sleek and modern feel. Hardwood floors with visible knots show more of the wood’s character and lend themselves perfectly to a more traditional or classic home.” – Lauren Bassett, consultant at Oggie Flooring
Keep maintenance simple
Solid hardwood flooring should be sanded and sealed with an appropriate floor sealer to protect the wood against damage and deterioration. In the Woodoc range, Woodoc 25 is recommended. Woodoc 25 is a polyurethane sealer that penetrates into the wood to seal and protect it. The product has a wood-warming effect that will bring out the natural colour and beauty of the wood, similar to the effect skin lotion has on dry skin. For maintenance the floor must be kept clean by regular sweeping with a soft broom. Dirty or sticky spots should be cleaned with a damp cloth. The floor should never be washed and no soap or detergents should be used on the floor. You can further protect the floor by putting felt pads under chair and table legs, and remember to never drag furniture across the floor.” – Frikkie Greeff, managing director of Woodoc
Select a factory prefinished hardwood floor
“Factory prefinished flooring runs through the finishing production line several times and has multiple coats of finish and strengtheners applied using a UV-curing technology in a strictly controlled factory setting. This makes the wear layer of prefinished hardwood flooring very resilient, and the finish itself comes under manufacturer warranty, which is substantially better than any contractor warranty applied in the field.” – Shannon Tchetchik, marketing manager at FINfloor SA
Consider colour
“Colour is key to tie in with the décor and feel of the house, with the floors used as a blank canvas to complement the décor and finishes. We find lighter colours being more popular at the coast and rich warmer colours used inland. Designers are also doing bespoke houses in black and charcoal flooring or feature wood paneled walls which look amazing.” – Guy Hammond, owner of Hammond Timbers & Flooring
Buy a good-quality floor mat for your entrance
“Placing a quality mat at the entrance of your home will reduce the amount of grit and dirt that crosses your floors. This will preserve the wear layer and reduce the amount of dirt that enters the home and the overall maintenance required.” – Shannon Tchetchik, marketing manager at FINfloor SA
Go for quality
“When selecting a floor, we need to look at the quality of the oak, as well as the varying widths and lengths of the boards. The most popular board is 1.9m long and 220mm wide with a 4mm solid oak surface. Other popular wood flooring options are oak herringbone, chevron, and designer panels that we custom-make in our factory.” – Guy Hammond, owner of Hammond Timbers & Flooring
Featured images: Oggie Flooring
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