How To Keep Your Hardwood Floors Protected During Winter in Cincinnati

During the winter, snow, salt, and rain can damage hardwood flooring. To keep yours in good shape this season, follow our advice below. When you need hardwood refinishing or installation in Cincinnati, contact Cincy Preferred Flooring to get started.

The best approach to protect your flooring during winter is to keep damaging elements like snow, ice, and salt away from them. Particles from surrounding roadways that have been salted or de-iced can stick to your shoes and damage your hardwood floors. Even the finish of the floor can be damaged by wet shoes. It's best to take off your shoes whenever you enter your home. But occasionally, especially in an office atmosphere, this isn't always practical. Place mats at every outdoor entrance if you are unable to require everyone to take off their shoes to reduce the amount of outdoor debris people track inside.

Don’t Be Alarmed by Gaps

Due to the porous nature of hardwood floors, gaps between floorboards may be visible in the winter. This is because the decrease in humidity causes the floorboards to actually shrink. The gaps should revert to normal once the temperature heats up in the spring, so there is usually no need to be concerned. If the sight of gaps really bothers you, you can raise the humidity in your home with a furnace or humidifier. Installing laminate hardwood flooring as an alternative is another method of avoiding gaps. Although laminate looks like hardwood, it is less likely to grow or shrink with the seasons.

Flooring Installation in Cincinnatti

Hardwood flooring is a great choice for nearly any room. With so many woods, grains, and stains available, we’re sure to have an option for nearly any room in the home, giving a wonderful timeless appearance. Please reach out to us to learn about your options for oak floors, walnut floors, bamboo floors, and other types of hardwood. Our hardwood floor sales and hardwood floor installation processes are specifically catered to your desires. If you’d like to request a quote for hardwood floors in Cincinnati, please give us a call at 513-849-8600.