A freshly sanded floor brings warmth, beauty, and elegance into any room, which makes spaces feel more refined and inviting. However, once you’ve invested the time and effort into sanding your floors, ensuring they stay pristine becomes a top priority.
This is because scratches, dents, and other forms of wear can quickly mar the newly finished surfaces, which can reduce both their beauty and value. Protecting your newly sanded floors doesn’t have to be complicated, but it does require some useful practices.
In this blog, we will discuss seven important ways to protect your newly sanded floors from scratches and dents so that you can preserve the quality of your floors in the long run.
7 Pro Ways To Protect Your Sanded Floors From Scratches & Dents
1. Establish A ‘Shoe-Off’ Policy
One of the best ways to protect your newly sanded floors from scratches or dents is to establish a ‘shoe-off’ policy in your home. Shoes, particularly those worn outdoors, can track in dirt, gravel, and all sorts of debris that can act like sandpaper on your floors.
These abrasive particles can scratch the delicate finish and over time, dull the overall appearance of your floors. Furthermore, the constant pressure and friction from shoes, particularly high heels, can lead to dents on the wood surface.
By implementing a ‘shoe-off’ policy, you can help reduce the risk of such damage in the first place and make sure that your floors retain their beauty and value for good.
2. Place Rugs In High-Traffic Areas
Rugs are also a handy help to prevent floor scratches. Rugs act as a barrier between your feet and the floor and reduce the risk of scratches caused by dirt and debris. In addition, they can help to cushion the impact of furniture legs, preventing dents and indentations.
So, by strategically placing rugs in areas with heavy foot traffic, such as entryways, hallways, and living rooms, you can significantly protect your wood floors from scratches and other types of wear, maintaining their pristine appearance.
3. Invest In Furniture Pads
Furniture pads are a simple yet effective tool to safeguard your hardwood floors from scratches and dents. These pads are typically placed on the legs of furniture to create a barrier between the furniture and the floor, which prevents direct contact and minimizes the risk of damage caused by movement or the weight of the furniture.
The importance of furniture pads lies in their ability to reduce friction. When furniture is moved across a hardwood floor, the friction between the furniture legs and the floor can lead to scratches.
In such cases, furniture pads, especially those made of felt or rubber, significantly reduce this friction, making movement smoother and less damaging.
Additionally, furniture pads help distribute the weight of furniture more evenly across the floor. This prevents the formation of pressure points that can lead to dents or indentations in the wood.
4. Trim Your Pet’s Nails Regularly
Overgrown nails can cause discomfort and pain for your pet, which leads to behavioral issues like excessive scratching on wood floors. This is because when pets have long nails, they tend to walk on their tiptoes to avoid pain, which can put extra pressure on their joints and muscles.
Hence, make sure to trim your pet’s nails regularly to reduce the risk of damage to your hardwood floors. Short, well-maintained nails allow your pet to walk more naturally, distributing their weight evenly and minimizing the chances of scratches.
Regular nail trimming, in addition, also promotes better hygiene, as long nails can harbor dirt and bacteria.
5. Tackle Scratches On Time
Despite your best efforts, minor scratches may eventually appear (in fact, even during the process of sanding the hardwood floor). Addressing these scratches immediately helps prevent them from worsening.
So, make it a priority to tackle scratches promptly because left untreated, they can deepen and become more noticeable over time, particularly with foot traffic. Timely repairs or touch-ups can restore the floor’s smooth surface and protect the underlying wood from moisture and dirt infiltration.
6. Rearrange Furniture Periodically
Rearranging furniture is a simple practice that helps to protect your newly sanded floors from scratches and dents. By rearranging furniture regularly, you can distribute the weight and pressure points across different areas of the floor, which prevents the formation of indentations or wear patterns that can occur over time.
Most importantly, furniture rearrangement can help identify and address potential problem areas. If you notice any signs of wear or damage, such as scratches or dents, you can take immediate action to protect the floor. This might involve using furniture pads, area rugs, or other protective measures.
7. Apply A High-Quality Finish
The sanding process exposes raw wood, making it prone to scratches and dents. Therefore, don’t forget to apply a finish to your hardwood floor after sanding to prevent floor scratches.
A fresh coat of finish acts as a protective barrier, shielding the wood from moisture, dirt, and other external factors that can cause deterioration. This layer of protection significantly reduces the likelihood of scratches and dents, preserving the beauty and integrity of your hardwood floors.
Above all, refinishing not only protects your floors but also enhances their appearance. The new finish brings out the natural beauty of the wood grain, restoring the floor’s luster and making it look as good as new.
Note: After applying a layer of finish to the floor, avoid walking on it immediately. The newly applied finish remains soft and delicate, and walking on it can leave footprints, scuffs, or even dents.
The drying time for wood floor finishes varies depending on the type of finish you choose. So be sure to wait for the time specified on the product label.
Final Words!
If you’ve just finished sanding your hardwood floors, you’ve taken a significant step toward enhancing the beauty and value of your home. However, your work is far from over because newly sanded floors are extremely vulnerable to scratches and dents.
A single misstep could undo hours of labor and leave you with unwanted stress. Therefore, it is essential to take important steps to protect your newly sanded floors from damage and help keep them looking spotless.
You Can Also Read: How To Sand A Wood Deck Before Refinishing?