A hardwood floor can add beauty and value to a single-family rental property. To preserve your rental property’s hardwood floors in good condition, you must take additional measures. Regular maintenance is essential. Inadvertently or ignorantly, many occupants frequently abuse hardwood floors by scratching and gouging them.
One of the best ways to keep the hardwood floors in your Tampa rental property functional and aesthetically pleasing is through regular hardwood floor maintenance. Understanding how to maintain a hardwood floor is vital, though. For instance, the majority of hardwood floors have surface treatments that shield the wood from liquid spillage, scratches, and other types of damage. Keep this finish intact for the best chance of extending the life of your floor.
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 wood floor cleaners that are gentle and nonabrasive. Hardwood can be harmed by harsh cleaning products and improper cleaning methods. Experts advise using a soft microfiber mop or cloth to sweep grime and dust off the floor. A hardwood floor can be scraped by vacuums, and regular mops use too much water, which could potentially harm the surface.
Avoid Excessive Moisture or Sunlight
Considering how readily moisture may harm hardwood floors, it’s crucial to prevent big water or liquid spills. Any spills should be cleaned up right away to stop them from harming the wood by soaking in. Use a moist mop to wipe the floor rather than soaking it in water. The color of hardwood floors may also 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
Working with your tenants to maintain the hardwood flooring in your rental property is one of the most effective ways to preserve its pristine appearance. Giving your tenant advice on how to properly care for and clean the hardwood floors should be one of your first actions. By showing them how to properly take care of the hardwood, you can increase its lifespan and aesthetic appeal while avoiding any lasting damage.
Ask tenants to put rugs or mats down in the entrances and other high-traffic areas to prevent dirt and grit from being tracked into 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 the furniture.
Periodic Maintenance
Even with excellent maintenance, hardwood floors need a little extra care every few years or in between tenancies. A floor’s finish may deteriorate and gather scratches or other faults over time due to use and abuse. However, if that’s all there is, you probably won’t need to refinish the floor extensively. A new coat of finish and screening, which roughens up the surface of the existing finish, are typically all that is needed to restore a worn-out hardwood floor. If your hardwood floor is severely damaged, deformed, has deep scratches, or has other problems, repairing and refinishing may be your only option. A floor needs to be refinished, which involves time, expertise, and specific tools.
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 you keep up strong relations with your tenants, they’ll be more inclined to assist you in preserving the quality of your priceless hardwood floor.
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Originally Published on November 29, 2019
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